Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 84: what you’re looking at

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

ES nea eeanaes Aan a = Ree ee ang eo ie “Open the gate!” he yelled. ‘Open the gate! Then came another volley of oaths, during the utterance of wkich his men arrived. “Oh! now. Be aisy, will ye. Shure, didn’t ye say, ‘Shut the gate!’ and, by the powers, haven’t I done that same ?”’ * Open the gata, L say! Jonathan Wild.” “T know that well enough,’ said the Irishman, in a whisper, as he undid the gate. Jonathan did not waste any time in swearing at the toll-man after the gate was once open, but dashed through it at full speed, closely followed by four of his men, who were almost but not quite so well mounted as himself. Although the delay did not amount to more than a minute and a-half, yet it was enough to give the fugitives a tolerable start, and the circumstance was, for them, a most favourable one indeed. But if it enabled them to get out of sight, it did not enable them to get out of the hearing of their pursuers. * On—on!”’ Blueskin cried, at intervals. ‘‘ On—on, or we shall be overtaken.” Refuse at your peril! Iam The pace at which they went was really something | p alarming. Edgworth Bess was terrified, and clung tightly to her preserver. But so long as she did that she was safe. It was along the Uxbridge-road they went at this terrific ace. i. At last the sounds of their pursuers no longer reached their ears. ‘We have distanced them,’ said Jack, as he reined in a little, for his horse had began to show signs of distress. “Pull in a bit.” Blueskin did so, and listened. Not the faintest tramp was perceptible. ‘“¢ Can you hear anything ?” asked Jack. No. Iam puzzled.’ “Why? We have come along at a furious rate. I have hardly been able to get my breath at times.” ‘ T can’t understand our getting out of earshot of them. Something has happened.” ‘‘So much the better then; but come, while we walk the horses up this hill—aud they will be quite knocked-up if we don’t—just tell me what is your plan of opera- tions P”’ ‘¢ Jonathan being so soon at our heels has disconcerted me. The best thing we can think’about, Jack, in my opinion, is to get as far away as we can.” ‘But where shall we go?” ‘That I must think about. And now, don’t you run away with the idea that Wild has given up the chase, be- cause, if yon do, you will be very wrong indeed. So long as we keep on the road he will follow us up.” ‘“¢ T suppose he will.” ‘You may depend upon it. If you will be guided by me, you will keep on at a good speed. The road is smooth and dry. Jonathan will soon make himself heard in our rear; but, having distanced him, as we appear to have done, we had better maintain the advantage we have gained.” This, supposing that they had really outstripped Wild, was the best possible advice, but neither of them put a proper estimate upon the cunning of their foe. It was a mistake that they fell into, as will be shortly seen. The top of the hill was soon reached, and the horses were much refreshed by the kind of rest they had had. They were really first-class animals, as was shown by the readiness with which they obeyed the impulse to set forward again. Blueskin resumed his former position, and down the hill they swept like the wind. They paused now and then to listen, but all behind them was quite silent. The more Blueskin thought upon this circumstance the more he was puzzled, and, to tell the truth, alarmed. No one perhaps knew Jonathan Wild better than he did, very few so well, and from his conduct on this occa- gion he felt there was everything to dread. It was part ef his policy to lull his victims into a state of false security. But he thought, whatever he may attempt, the best thing to do is clearly to make as much speed as 1s possible. LET g CTA AE OT EH BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. ree Sr ee D With this conviction upon his mind, he urged his horse forward, and as the bargain was that he should be kept in view, Jack had to follow his example. _fn the far distance a few twinkline lights came in sight. "** What is that P” eried Jack at the top of his voice. ‘‘Kahng,” was the reply. ‘‘ We will pull in a little as we go through the village.” They reached the outskirts of it in a few minntes, and reduced their gallop to a canter. The high street was quite deserted. Lights gleamed from many of the windows, showing that the inhabitants had not yet retired to rest. But, without attracting anything in the shape of obser- vation, they emerged into the bleak country beyond. And now the moon, which was only a few days beyond the full, rose above the mass of clouds on the horizon, and hghted up the landscape with a silvery misty radiance. ** Forward, Jack!” cried Blueskin, again touching his horse with the spur. “ Forward! forward! Weare, as yet, a great deal too near London to be safe.”’ Scarcely, however, had his horse resumed its former ace than he pulled up with great suddenness. “Halt! Jack!” he cried. ‘‘ Look to your pistols! We shall have to fight for it yet.” Jack Sheppard gave a hasty glance before him, and then, uttering an exclamation of astonishment, did his companion’s bidding. By the aid of the moon he saw, at a short distance, four men completely blocking up the road. * Surrender!” cried a voice, which reached them with the utmost distinctness. ‘‘ Surrender! or we fire!”’ The voice was Jonathan Wild’s. Yes, impossible ag it might seem, there was no mis- taking it. Jonathan Wild, whom they thought they had left in the rear, was actually before them, barring their further progress. They heard, too, his discordant laugh, and if any doubt as to his identity bad been lingering in their minds, that would have at once dispelled it. ** Surrender !”’ he cried again. “ It is your only course. If you give in quietly you shall have no ill usage.” Jack made no reply, but crept closer to Blake. ‘‘ What shall we do now?” he said. ‘‘ It strikes me it is all over with us.” ‘T am a fool,” replied Blueskin, “‘ worse than a fool! I have allowed myself to be entrapped by Wild. There is only one course open tous. To retreat would be madness, because we should be sure to be intercepted by some more of the band. We must ride through them.” This was rather a bold course, but yet as he had truly said, it was the only one open to them. Jonathan still maintained his position. Surely he was playmg some very deep game, or he would have dashed forward to attempt their capture. But no. There he remained. He called ont again. His object was to keep their attention occupied. R He would have succeeded had it not been for Edgworth ess. ‘“« Look, look,” she said,in Jack’s ear. ‘* Look over the hedge to the right and to the left.”’ He turned and did so. ‘By heaven! Blake,” he said, “we are done. The remainder of his band, in two positions, are crossing the meadows on either side of us.”’ Blueskin only gave one hasty glance, and that sufficed to enable him to comprehend all the danger of their position. ‘On, on,” he said. “We are forced to it now. Fix ourself firmly in your saddle. Be ready with your pistols. y making a sudden charge we shall be able to force a passage right through them. Be ready at the word.” “All right, Blue. ‘* Now.” With an impetuosity scarcely to be conceived, the two horses sprang forward in obedience to the sharp appli- cation of the spur. So utterly unexpected was this manmuvre that, as Blueskin had rightly enough conjectured, Wild was for a moment completely taken aback. __ But a man so used to sudden surprises as he was would sure not to be long recavering himself. Pa ee a~arecre—1aevosearepe aera smpamapamnmanmeansnsmnammmagungnartansrcnnapratin EASA SC TASC ° (GO) (C SS} o(CO) DOO