The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 212: what you’re looking at

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

PRE MYSTERIES. 108 eending once more to the top cell, he fixed his new ! tight-rope apparatus. It answered the purpose even : far better than he had expected ;—and, with reviving | spirits, to work the Magsman went again. The clock struck two as he thus resumed his tells: and he mattered to himself, “ If nothing more happens to hiader me, I shail be safe away before that bell speaks again.” Tremendous were the exertions which the Mags- man new made to accomptish his purpose: the ma- i g sonry fel) about him in large pieces—the dust in- volved him in a dense and palpable cloud, floatmg amidst the darknese—and the perspiration streamed down hie face as if water had bee: poured over his bead. At length, immediately after the fall of a stone which had resisted his efférte for several minutes, his crow-bar stroek against the lead which covered the fiat roof of the gaol! Then he paused, and listened with the deepest sne- Freav this erwel and almost agonising uacestainty he was speedily released: for three low but perfectly sudible knocks wpon the lead, convinced him that las friends were there f | Again he renewed Ine toils ;—and every moment ant rthvw in the ceiling prow larger and Iceper Presently the lead was lifted from over the exea- vation—the fresh breeze blew upon his burning features—and as he leolked up, he saw a countenance bending down over the hole thus formed. “AN right, Mr. Warren—there’s nothing te ap- prehend !” were the reassuring words that met his ears, and which were uttefed in the well-known voice of the Kinchin- Grand A few mitmtes’ more labour sufficed te widen the aperture surfficientiv to enable the strong arms of the Kinchin-Grand and two powerful men who were also wih him, to drag Joe Warren up through the hole; —and he now stood upon the leads of Newgate! A rope, which had been fastened to the chimney of Mr. Shrubeole's keuse, enabled the escaped felon zad his three friends to gain the roof of that dwell- ing, into which they entered by means of a garret window. “Now you can reftesh yourself with a drop ef somethink short,” said the Kinchin-Grand, The Magsman instinctively thrast out his hand in the dark, and grasped the case-bottle which his faithfal and considerate friend thas tendered him. Long an@ deep was Joe Warren's draught; and never, never in all his Hfe had the ardent alcoho! seemed so welcome, so good, aad so mvigorating. ' SYon have thia night done a thing that'll immor- ‘talise you,” said the Kinchin-Grand, inspired with a sentiment of profound admiration for the daring feat which the Magsman had so triumphantly achieved and which had thus enabled him te escape from the strongest prison in all England. “Well, I don’t think it was a bad night’s work, young fellow,” returned the Magsman. “ But who are your two friends, that I may thank them fer the service they have done in helping you m this mas- ter?—for it was too dark on the leads to catch a ginn pee of their features—-and here it’s darker still.” | “I suppose that the names of Dick the Tramper and Miles the Buzgioak ain’t unbeknown to you, Mr. Warren ?” said the Kinchia-Grand, with a chuck- ling laagh. **] should rather think not?” exclaimed the Mags- man, evidently delighted to be in such good company. “Tip us your mawley, Dick my boy—now, Miles, give us your hand—and thank you both kindly for this night’s assistance.” “It was easy work 90 far as we was efncerned, after all,” observed the Tramper, who spoke in a thick, husky tone, which was natural td hin « And had it been ten times as difficalt, we'd have Gone for you, ald filer,” added Stiles the Bus- “Lord Wless ye! what a lark it was,” axelaimed the Kinchin-Grand, having drained the flask which he had passed round. “ Fuet, when we double-knocked st the door, crack went a piteh-plaster over the mouth of the old women as opened it—and she was Pitrioned in a jiffy. Then we stayed as still as death —aad up comed a tall genetman, whem we sarved | post the sama Thev odmmed the bey—aud smack goes the Burgundy plaster again. Last of all old Shrubsole makes bis appearance -——* “ Well, ‘we moet stay énateering here,” jster- rupted the Magsman, somewhat Impetiontiy, “Where's Lizry Marks 1" “ Keeping guard on the people of the house down in the kitchen,” replied the precociaus eaptain of the Kinshin-Prgs. “ We earried ‘om all down there, and took off the pitch-plasters ftem the three as had ‘em dabbead on their faeos; and your miissus is a-keepin’ them quiet with loaded pistols. But come along down stairs—and we'll call her ap”. The viltams aceordingly descended the several fights leading to the passage communicating with the front’ door; and the Kinchin-Grand harried down mto the lower regions to communicate te the Gallows’ Widow the welcome imtelligence of her | flash man’s safety. But she had already heard the sounds of the heavy footsteps on the stairs; and rashing from the kitchen, she hastily gave the pistols to the Kinchin-Grand whom she met oa her way, and a moment afterwards was hegging the Magsmnas with the moet unfeigned sincerity. Wher this transport of feeling was over—a which ever that criminal and degraded woman co experience as well as the Duchess clothed in silke and satiue,—the Gallows’ Widow recovesed all her wonted calmuese and self- “You must go out alone first—we'll follow inan hour,” she said. “ ¥es—you mst have afatbboar,” | she continued, in a low and rapid whisper, “ before we leave this howse ov allow the peopte im it a chanee of freeing themselves from the cords that bind them. Here—1 have provided you a large sloueked kat—a | cloak—and a thick shaw]-handherchie! te tie round your neek.” And as she thus spoke, the wonren toek the various. articles enumerated fom a bag whiek im tite mexn- time had been lying on the floor in the passage, The Mzageuam speedily put em the digguige 20 con- ‘ siderately provided; then having taken save of Deck the Tramper an@ Miles the Buzgienk, and having whispered two or theese wortls is the case of thd Gallows Widow, he iasued from the hemes. S COMM COMGLOO