Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 98: what you’re looking at

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

q Es pt ee bcc? <a 96 & The only witness was Snoxall, the apothecary, and he was speechless and aghast. A struggle of a very terrible nature now took place be- tween Jonathan and his spouse, which, as a probable enough result, terminated in the pair rolling together off the bed. - The crash was so tremendous that the whole house was shaken, and in another moment there was a hurried trampling of feet, and a body of the gang rushed in. p They saw what was amiss at once, but dared not inter- ere. Their presence, though, aroused Wild from his insane fury, and he looked about him. His eye fell upon his assailant. Then he uttered a yell, caused in part by seeing who it was, andin part because his huris just then began to make themselves felt. With an effort of strength he freed himself from his companion, and scrambled to his feet. Then dealing her a heavy kiek, he prostrated her upon the floor. “ What is all this, eh?” gasped Wild, as he clutched the bedpost with both hands for support. ‘‘ What is all this, Tsay? Speak! Are you all deat?” “Tf you please, Mr. Wild’? —— “ Baht” My. Suosall came forward, and then another accession of pain in the lower part of his face forced itself to Wild’s notice. le began to comprehend. ‘Lie down on the bed, my good sir, and let me attend to your wound. You will soon be better.”’ Jonathan complied silently, but only because such a frightful sensation of pain and weakness came over him, that be found it impossible to stand up any longer. Pe, CHAPTER LXV. MARY MILIANER, JONATHAN S PRESUMPTIVE WIFE, GOMES IN FOR A SHARE OF UIS BRUTALITY. Ber although the thief-taker fell backwards on the bed in the mauner reeorded in the last chapter, yet he did not again lose his consciousness. It seems incredible that any human being could have borne up against such frightful injuries as Wild did, but the fact was, not only did he possess a frame and constitu- tion as hard as iron itself, but an indomitable mind to correspond. And so between the two he suffered with impunity what would have been sufficient to kill any ordinary mortal. To be sure he suffered some temporary incon- venience, but that was all. He controlled himself so far as to be quite still while Mr. Snoxall, whose skill in the treatment of wounds was very great, made an examination of his injuries. The apothecary probed about with a disagreeable-looking steel instrument, but Jonathan made not the least sign of additional suffering. He was trying to recollect what had taken place, and account for his present desperate position. By thus diverting his thoughts, he was able to bear the pain with greater fortitude. By slow degrees he remembered all that had taken Dat up to the moment Blueskin and Jack Sheppard fired at Him. After that, of course, he knew nothing, until he woke up and found his discarded wife bending over him. He had just reached so far when Mr. Snoxall spoke— “It is a very narrow touch,’ he said. I] never knew such a thing before in my life. However, as it is, there are no bones broke, so you will soon be all right again.” Upon hearing this assurance, Wild felt better at once, and he raised himself upon one arm. ‘One moment, Mr. Wild, if you please,” said the apothecary: “let me put a bandage on it.” To this Jonathan submitted with pretty good grace, but as soon as the operation was concluded he sprang to his feet. ** Brandy !”’ he eried ; “ give me brandy !” “Murder!” said Snoxall, terrified at the idea. But Jonathan walked to a little enpboard by the side of the fireplace, and brought out a black-looking bottle. This he placed to bis hips and took a long drausht. SS ne Sa TT ee ee BLUESKIN ; A ROMANCE. The apothecary watched him with wonder. It was by no mans the first time he had seen Wild do such a thing, but he could not get over the surprise of it. There was a marked difference in the tone of Wild’s voice as, putting down the bottle, he pronouneed the one word— “Better!” Yes, Mr. Wild.” Jonathan’s eye fell upon the form of Mary Mailliner, who had just recovered from her swoon, and raised herself to a sitting posture. Although stultified with the liquor she had drank, she was able to recoguise her husband. ‘* My poor lamb,” she howled, “‘ they told me that you was dead, and I was a lone woman; but the poor lamb 1s spared.” She got upon her feet as she spoke, and made a wild drunken rush at him. “Told off!” cried Jonathan, as stepping aside lhe avoided the encounter; “ hold off, woman, or it will be all the worse for you.” But blinded by drink, and unheeding what he said, she turned and made another staggering rush at him. Jonathan’s face assumed a terrible expression. Ife drew his sword from its sheath, and projected it before hin. ‘Keep back!’ he said, ‘for you'll have this in your vitals! Keep back, 1 say; do you hear me?” The loud tones of his voice seemed to reach her under- standing, and she brushed the hair back from her face. But the good lady was not to be so repulsed. For the third time she attempted to clasp him in her arms. Jonathan saw her coming, and stepped back a paee. Then holding his sword straight before him, he received the wretched woman on the point of 1t.* She felt the steel enter her skin, but she could not stop herself, and the sharp weapon passed completely through her chest and out at her back. Uttering a loud and fearful cry of anguish, she fell back- wards on the floor of the room weltering in her blood. “Curse you!” he said. ‘* You would have it. And I hope you are satisfied.” Now Mr. Snoxall, although present when this took place, never made the least attempt at interference. He had too much good sense to interpose his body in sonjugal quarrels. Having thus got rid of his unfortunate wife, Jonathan strode down stairs. 7 As he reached the hall some one knocked loudly at the oor. The man on the lock, who had seen Wild come down the stairs, opened the door with marvellous celerity. ** How’s Jonathan P”’ said a voice, which that individual himself recognised as belonging to Levee, so he shrank still closer in the shadow of the wall in the hope of hearing something. ‘‘ Have they brought him in dead this time, or how ?” Now, the man ou the lock happened to be on friendly terms with Levee, so he had all the inelination in the world to put hin upon his guard against saying anything imprudent, by letting him know that Jonathan was in the hall. But it was quite out of the question for him te do go without Wild being aware of 1t. ‘* How is the old villain? He hasn’t cheated the hang- man, has he? I hope not, for Il live in hopes of seeing him tucked up at Tyburn some day. So do you, Wilkinson, don’t you? It would bea brave sight! Ha! ha!” Wilkinson echoed his companion’s laugh with a groan. But ere Levee could remark on the subject somebody else laughed. A horrible laugh. Discordant. Fiendish. A laugh which he had too often heard not to imme- diately recognise. ae The blood seemed to stand still in his veins, aud the erspiration of intense fear broke out over his whole body. * This incident is strictly true. ‘‘ His accomplice and reputed wife, Mary Milliner, having on some occasion pro- voked him, he straightway ran her through with his sword,’’— LIFE OF JoNaTHaN WILD. en cS er mere a RCN tn anand COMmMICooOokS.c© re ——— am