Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 103: what you’re looking at

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emmy FFG o——= = ats a EERO eS a ee. BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. 0 Engg nee r ce ne te tl TT NE NR, paca aE a MTT ‘This is news,” he said, ‘‘ indeed.” “From all 1 can hear,” said Wilkinson, “they ap- pears to have taken the direct road to this place, and J fancy it is just there where they would hide.” “You may depend upon it,” said Wild. ‘‘ Get ready to accompany us. We shall start directly. Order a horse, too, for this gentleman.” “Tf what you have said turns out to be right,” said Lord Donmull, “TI will take care you de not go un- rewarded.” “Bah!” said Jonathan. ‘* Be off.” Wilkinson disappeared. Wild rubbed his hands gleefully, and an exultant smile appeared upon his features. “We have them, my lord,” he said. “ You are confident.” ‘T feel I am right.” think the best to hide iu.’ “TI only hope we an be lucky enough to capture them, Mr. Wild. This fearful anxiety is killing me. And uo one to have looked in the haggard countenance of his lordship would have doubted his assertion, that it was indeed acting most prejudicially upon his health. “Console yourself with the idea that your anxiety will soon he at an end.” ** T hope so—1 hope so.’ *¢ Are you ready, my Pal p”? 6c Quite.’ ‘Then we will start at ance. You cannot think what a satisfaction it will be for me to get her companions into my power. But before we start let us defend ourselves against eur long journey. Drink that!” Jonathan, as he spoke, went to the cupboard and pro- duced a bottle and two glasses. He filled one for himself and one for his visitor. * Let us drink success to our endeavours,” cried Jona- than. The two villains lifted the glasses to their lips, aud emptied them at a draught. Then Wild led the way down stairs. On reaching the street they heard the clattering of horses’ hoofs in the quiet street, and the next moment Levee and the band rode up to the door. There was a spare horse for Wild, and one for Lord Donnmull. These worthies sprang into their saddles at once. “Now, Wilkinson,” cried Wild, “where are you P”’ ‘i Here, sir, if you please.” “Very good. Keep close to me, and direct us.’ At a sharp trot they took their way along Holborn to -he Western-road. This was a pace that enabled them to get over the ground at a very fair rate, without much exhausting the horses. It was a long and weary ride, but at last they came in sight of the wood, and the tops of the ruins peering above it. “According to the description, Mr. Wild,” said Wilkinson, in reply to some remark the thief- taker had made to him; ‘‘according to the description I heard Geoffery give to Blueskin, that must _be the place.” “We will inquire, if possible. Can you see a house hereahouts ?”’ ‘“* There is a cottage, yonder, if you please, Mr. Wild.”’ “ Very good. Call at it.” The cottage turned out, on a nearer approach, to be one of those small country inns which are met with so fre- queutly in England. Its inmates appeared to be upon the point of retiring for the mght when the party arrived. Wild deemed it advisable to make a bit of a halt here. The horses would be all the better for a few minutes’ rest and refreshment. There was the return journey to be made. Ale was provided for the men, and Wild, by means of a a few adroit inquires, managed to elicit the information he required. Not only did he learn that the ruins in the wood were those of Tylney Abbey, but also that the place was hauoted by evil spirits. Observing Jonathan smile contemptuously upon hearing this, the landlady, in confirmation, stated how durmg the past uwo nights a mysterious light had been seen in the sesrth turret. ‘We have them.” lt is just the place they would eR, Ran RF PSA ERS ge See Prva ee... ee sss SSS SSS TS RS RSS = Sh el a tS SS ep hs a lps Sf SEE fh eo Bs Sp 7 Fates | 10, = ®r This seemed conclusive that the fugitives were really there, for that there was anything supernatural Wild did not for a moment believe. ‘* And I daresay,” said the landlady, rather neignantly, “af you go to the door you will find the hght visible. was just at this time last night that we saw it.” h! indeed,” cried Jonathan. ‘Then Til pay you for what we have had, and go to the door and see. He did so, and the landlady rather triumphantly pointed to a stream of hght which issued from the highest part of the ruins. “There,” she said, “that is the north turret, and there is the mysterious light. This is the second night of ite appearance, and I know on the third something terrible will be sure to take place.”’ “J don’t doubt that for a moment,” said Jonathar. “Good night. Forward, forward!” The little cavalcade was quickly in motion. As they drew nearer to the wood, the light 1creased in brightness. The reader 1s aware that this proceeded from the fire Blueskin had lighted. Little did those three persons think, in whose well-doing we feel so great an interest, that they were upon the threshold of so much dauger. They fancied themselves secure when they were really in the most peril. So well had Wilkinson listened to and kept in mind the description given by Geoffery, that he was able to lead Jonathan and his party to the place with as much precision as Blueskin had. So great was the exultation of the villainous thief-taker, that he had the greatest difficulty in concealing it. ao the court yards of the old ruins they took their Presently they came to the httle enclosed garden where | the two borses had been left. If there had been any doubt hngering in Jonathan's | mind, the discovery of the cattle in this place would have dispelled it They were on the right track now. Whispering a command to his men to maintain as pro- found a silence as possible as they followed him, Jonathan crept stealthily to the door leading to the circular staircase in the north turret. This door was not much of an obstacle to those who now wished to pass through it. With the aid of their tools they very quickly had it open. Lord Donmull, when he thus found the enterprise he had come upon almost crowned with success, trembled so excessively that he could scarcely stand. A draught of brandy from a flask Jonathan took from his pocket, and made him drink at the bottom of the steps, served a little to steady his nerves. With a tread as silent as though they had been a band of spectres, they all with great caution ascended the turret steps. It will be recollected by the reader that Jack suddenly interrupted himself in what he was saying, because he fancied he heard a slight sound from the direction of the staircase. That was Lord Donmull, whose heel struck against the stonework. Feeling that they were almost, if not quite, discovered, they bounded up the remainder of the stairs. The door was dashed open. Then, as stated at the end of a previous chapter, a number of armed men rushed into the chamber. It required but one glance for Blueskin and Jack Shep- pard to realize the extent of their danger. Jonathan Wild—that foe they had upon every account so much occasion to dread—had discovered the secret ot their hiding-place. CHAPTER LXIX. EDGWORTH BESS FALLS INTO THE HANDS OF HER WORST ENEMIES. To place themselves in an attitude of defence was but the work of a moment. Edgworth Bess uttered a shriek, and shrunk for pro- tection behind her defenders. Blueskin, as soon as he saw what an overwhelming force was opposed to him—that all possible retreat was cut o%—~ gave up all hope. re i : = | | | | J COMmiICcooo ( SS CY, (SO) >