The Halfpenny Surprise, Vol. I, No. 20 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

LHE RIVER CHAPTER V. THE FATE OF THE EVIL DOERS. To Dick Flinter’s great disappointment he and Sir Percival were placed in separate cells. These apart- ments were not dark or loathsome, but in character with the magnificence of the palace, which, in remote ages, had been occupied by a race of people to whom gold and precious stones were held as scarcely of more value than the shells of the ocean. No sooner had the door closed upon him than Dick Flinter threw himself down upon a bench hewn out of a block of solid alabaster, and gave himself up to a train of thought. But he was not left long to his reflections. The door opened, and Naja, carrying a tray, covered with a cloth, and a pitcher of wine, appeared. “You see,” he said, grinning at Flinter, “we don’t in- tend to starve you. You disguise yourself badly. You make bad black man. Ha, ha! You shall have time enough to wipe that stuff off your skin and be white man again.” This so exasperated Dick Flinter that it was with great difficulty he restrained himself from leaping at the potter ul negro’s throat. “TI suppose,” he said, pointing to the provisions, “that the Queen of the Forest hasn’t ordered anything to be poisoned by way of a joke,” This so enraged Naja that he took Dick Flinter by the shoulders and shook him until his teeth chattered in his head. “ You speak like that again,” he cried, as he hurled the ruffian into a corner, “and I will put my foot on you and crush you like a beetle.” Dick Flinter had had quite enough without wishing to argue the question in any form, and he lay perfectly - still until Naja had departed. « A man to be strong and full of purpose must eat and drink,” he said, rousing himself. “ Courage. Dick ! It is not in your nature to whine like a thrashed cur. There is plenty of life in you, and you are worth a dozen dead men yet.” After making a hearty meal he made a detour of the cell. The walls were massive, and lighted by a small window at the top of a high, funnel-shaped roof. “No chance there,” Flinter said, glancing upwards; “a spider could scarcely crawl along those walls, much lessa man. Well, if I start thinking of what is likely to happen I may unnerve myself and go mad, so I will go to sleep instead.” Pillowing his head upon his arms he closed his eyes, and, true to his callous nature, was soon slumbering soundly. A slight clicking sound roused him. He started up, thinking that somebody had cocked a revolver close to his ear. Night had come, and the dungeon was plunged in intense darkness; indeed, so pitchy black was it that Dick Flinter could not see his fingers even when held within a few inches of his face. But one thing he noticed, and it puzzled him to find an explanation tor it. The airof the dungeon had been warm and humid, but now a current of cool, refreshing air was playing on his face. Suddenly he uttered an exclamation, and brought his hands sharply together. The mystery was solved. The dungeon door was open, and Dick Flinter’s way to freedom was clear. How the door came to be open he did not trouble to ask himself; but no sooner had the first paroxysm of joy passed away than he began to suspect treachery. “How am I to know but that some tawny wretch is not waiting to planta dagger in my backP” he muttered. “TT will swear that Naja closed the door when he left. But stay; he may have paid me a visit while I was asleep. ‘Dick Flinter went down on his hands and knees, and crawled noiselessly across the dungeon floor. He did OF DEATH. 15 not intend to be caught napping if he could help it. Not a sound disturbed the stillness. The place was as silent as the grave. oa On reaching the passage, Dick Flinter saw a ray of light shining straight ahead of him. It came from a lamp suspended from the ceiling;.whivh was so low that a man of ordinary height could touch it with his Suddenly Dick Flinter saw an odd-looking shadow fall across the pavement just where the lamp shone. To his surprise he saw Sir Percival in exactly the same attitude as himself—creeping on his hands and knees, and looking furtively right and left. “ Hist!” ; The sound came from Dick Flinter’s lips, but in so low a tone that it sounded like an echo. Sir Percival wheeled round on his knees, and was pre- paring to make a precipitate retreat when Dick Flinter called to him again. “Come to me,” said the ruffian, rising to his feet, “I cannot make out what this means.. I found the door of my dungeon wide open.” ‘*And that is exactly my experience,” the baronet rejoined. “Is it possible that they are desirous of getting rid of us by permitting us to escape P ” “The very same thing was passing through my mind at the moment you spoke,” Flinter replied. “It may be so, and if it is we shall have time to carry out our scheme, and laugh in our sleeves afterwards.” Sir Percival Greene looked grave and shook his head. “For my part,” he said, “I have done with the affair for ever.” “What a coward you are,” Flinter remarked, con- temptuously. “ Well, I am, so far as this matter is concerned,” the baronet said, “‘and I am not afraid to confess it.” “Well, let us get out of this place to start with,” Flinter observed. “For my own part if I am to die, I would much rather meet my fate in the open air than be buried alive underground.” The passage was a long one, with a gentle ascent. - Sir Percival and his precious brother grew bolder at every step. Not a creature appeared to molest them, and at last, they saw the stars glimmering in the distance. “T wonder where on earth we shall come out,” Flinter growled. “This seems more like a dream to me than a reality.” “The ascent is increasing,” Sir Percival, remarked, “and we are gazing above the tree tops. Look up and see for yourself.” In afew moments both passed beyond the passage and into the open air. They had not taken many paces when a door closed with the report of a cannon. “TI told you so,” Sir Percival cried, triumphantly, “that was the parting salute. They are glad to get rid of us at any price; and now I intend to make tracks for England as quick as possible. You will do as you like, of course; I have no wish to interfere with your movements, but I intend to make myself scarce.” “Very well. I intend to stay, and, mark me, I shall win the day yet.” “What was that P ” Sir Percival demanded, elutching at Flinter’s arm. “Some wild animal in the forest.” ‘It sounded like a peal of mocking laughter. Where are we, think you P”’ “T have no more knowledge than the man in the moon,” Flinter said. I only know that we had better keep straight on until we come to a good big tree, climb into it, and wait until sunrise to enlighten us.” “ You are a shrewd fellow,” Sir Percival said. “T did not want a fool to tell me that,” Dick Flinter retorted, with a grunt. “Here is a tree that will suit our purpose.” This is important.—No old Stories or Dlustrations appear in “The H mny S$ rise.’ The St written to order by the best authors of ea arp ories are comiclbooks.comn