Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 74: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

aed a En) BR ey eet Sl Had Jack Sheppard only have had suffeient mastery over himself to remain quite quiet, instead of shouting out in the way he did, it is probable enough they would have pushed off into the stream undeteeted. But as it was Jonathan recognised the voice, as the roar of anger and astonishinent he gave sutticiently evideneed. ** After those in that boat,” he eried. ‘‘ Keep them in sight, and you shall have fifty pounds reward! They are traitors to the state! and I am Jonathan Wild, the holder of a warrant for their apprehension.” “All right, sir,’ said the two watermen. ‘We'll do it, won't we, Bill ?”’ “In eourse we will. sir, I can tell you.” “After uttering the shout he did, Jack sprauy into the boat, and the meu, animated by his words, at onee pushed off, and urged by eight oars, sped over the waves at a frightful rate. Sir Marmaduke Osborn, when he heard the voice of his implaeable, and, as he at that moment thought, omnipresent enemy, fell back into the boat in a swoon. That fifty’s as good as earned, A very few words from Jack to the captain sufficed to | : | had visited this boat, and he elimbed on deck with more put the latter into full possession of the faets of the ease. There was no mistaking the truthful manner in whieh Sheppard spoke. It went direet to the eaptain’s heart. His whole sympathies were naturally attraeted towards Sir Marmaduke, and he eried to bis men— ‘“* Row! row like devils! the other boat. Cheerily, cheerily ! Jack, “‘had better see to your friend. baekwards in a swoon.” He has fallen Stimulated by the large sum of money Jonathan had } offered them to keep the other boat in sight, the two | men made the most incredible exertions. Wild, however, was elear-headed enough to see that anything in the shape of an attaek just then would be madness. All he eould hope to do, and scarcely that, was not to lose sight of them, but follow in their wake wherever they | might go. He would then be able to set, his men on the track. Like two spectral vessels, in that dim and misty light, | went the two boats; but gradually, Wild could see, de- spite the desperate efforts the two men who were rowing him made, that they were falling rapidly into the rear. ‘“*On—on,”’ he ened. in sight, and the money shall be yours—ay, double the amount! Can’t you get assistance anywhere ?”’ ‘T fear not, sir,” replied the waterman who was seated next to Wild. 1s possible. bridge,” ‘'Try—try! They are traitors both!” London-bridge could now be seen lowering in the dis- tanee. All, however, was dark upon it. of light peeped forth. ‘We shall lose them in the shadow of the bridge!’ exclaimed Wild, as he saw the boat he was pursuing dis- appear in the obseurity. ‘‘ It has gone! ”’ _ “ All right, sir,” said the waterman. ‘ We shall eome in sight of it again on the other side.” With this assuranee Wild was obliged to rest eonteut. Fortunately the tide was running out, whieh made their progress all the easier and more rapid. London-bridge was gained, and the boatmen shipping their oars, the boat darted through it with gneat velociiy. Wild looked eagerly about him. The mass of shipping in the pool confused his vision. “Where is the boatP” he yelled. “Whereisit? I cannot see it anywhere.” The waterman paused a moment, and glaneed keenly ahead. “Where is it, I say?” asked Wild, again, after the lapse of a fewseconds. ‘ Where is it 2” “Gone, sir; gone, as I’m a man!” “A man!” said Wild, “a fool, an ass, an idiot, you We imght be able to get them stopped at the mean.” “You'd best be civil, Mr. What’s-your-name, or © yap me if I don’t cast you overbourd.” “ Peace!”’ said Wild, mastering Limself with a great effort. “Peace! They have doubtless got on board one of the many craft hereabouts, und if so all search atter them ' will be useless. You shall be well paid for your uight’s =e —- Sa AE, NL EE TTY TI anita —— ty, Get out of sight of those in | You,’ he added to. Not a single ray , | walked by Wild’s side to listen to his orders. “Keep them in sight, keep them | “We'll keep them in sight if sueh a thing | I had in custody. Never mind, they shall suffer for it. een ee SOR OO we LS once. viee.”’ 0 i a IO Pred ete BLUESKIN: a ROMANCE. a esate Tie = ) work. Row on, with all speed, to Wapping, ar ef #>.. arranged.” : Wild flung himself baek in the boat as he spoke. His mind was in sueb a state of turmoil as defies all attempts of deseription. Everything had gone wrong with him. What did it portend? He, who had hitherto succeeded always in what he undertook, to have every one of his projects thwarted. It was strange indeed. The boat, propelled by the lusty strokes of the two oarsmen, glided swittly onwards. ‘““ Wapping, sir,’ said the boatmen. ‘‘ Where will you and?”’ ‘* Nowhere. her sails spread, and then wait. ime back.”’ ‘* Ay—ay, sir,” said the men. ‘* Boat ahoy!” eried a man on board the lugger. ‘All right, coming on board.” A beam of light from a powerful lantern was now direeted upon the boat. It fell upon the countenance of the villanous thief-taker, who was instantly reeognised, and a rope thrown for him to ascend by. It was not the first time by some hundreds that Wild Put me on board that lugger there with I shali want you to take agility than one weuld have thought such an unwieldy / nian possessed. As soon as he stood on board, Wild said, in a low | tone, to the man who had hailed him— ‘* Where’s the skipper?” ‘* In his berth, sir. Shall I tell him you want him ?”’ ‘“ Yes, and look sharp, for I have not a moment to ‘Very good, sir.”’ Wild strolled along the deck of the httle vessel, and looked about him with a critieal eye. As the reader has no doubt already suspeeted, this was the boat Wild employed to earry over to Holland and Belgium sueh property as he eould not dispose of In England. In a few minutes Jonathan was joined by a stout, burly-looking man, who had huddled on some part of his apparel, “What is it, My. Wild, what is it?” “Obl! that’s you, Sehilder, is it? Here.” Sehilder, wlio was the man in command of the lugger, ‘* Are you all ready to sail?” “At any moment, Mr. Wild.” ‘* Get ready, then, at onee; you must be off.” “Is there danger?” "There is ; and it is all the greater sinee you ought te have started off hours ago.” “* Indeed.” ‘““ Curses on them, I have been detained by two villains Here is a diamond tiara whieh you must dispose of.” ‘* Good.” “ Secrete it somewhere on board in ease you should he overhauled, whieh I think more than hkely.” “Yah! yah! Mr. Wild, trust me for that.” “ Get a good priee, Sehilder.” ** What 1s its value, Mr. Wild—aetual value P”’ “Over two thousand pounds.” ‘* Der teufel.”’ “You must get as mueh as you ean. It ought to realize something handsome. Above all, be eareful, for there has been a devil of a row about it. One of the parties came to me this morning, and from what passed then I judged it to be most advisable to part with it at “Very good, Mr. Wild. Hav2 you any further in- struetions r”’ “‘ None, Schilder—none at all.” “Very good; then I am quite ready, and at your ser- “That is well.” | “ You don’t seem very well, Mr. Wild.” “I’m not, Sehilder; I’m not. I have had enough hard knocks to kill any ordinary man, but J am alive, you see— alive.” “ Yes, Mr. Wild. But you seem to have quite lost your spirits.” re They shall suffer for it when I regain em. You understand, Schilder ?” (SO) (S@) >