Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 108: what you’re looking at

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

sora ok é A et EEE isIE TIO 105 YT ostruck un one of those flash ballads of which there were’ so many about the middie of the last century. ilis voice was a powerful one, and he exerted it to the utmost. As might be expected, the noise of the file was quite inaudible. Poreeiving this, he worked away with right good will, soon, to his delight, lhe found the file had made quite a deep dent in the soft iron of which the fetters were com- osed. At the rate he was going on, of course he soon had one of the bands all but divided. Then he paused, aud began at another place. So he weut on until he was convineed that in less than five minutes he could quite free himself from them, though to a casual glanee 1t would seem they were quite gecure. By this time day had fully come, and the interior of his eell was tolerably ight. ‘Tt would have been better,” he thought, as he glanced up at the grated window, “to have waited until mght be- fore I began. However, it can’t be helped now: I must wait! I'll hide the file somewhere, and then trust to concealing how I have worked at my fetters, for 1 am gure to have sowe visitors in the course of the day.” Tie found it, though, a very difficult job to hide it, for the floor, like the walls, was composed of solid stone, and did not permit of its being burted. He wasted at least an hour fruitlessly, when the sound of approaching footsteps warned him to be prompt. One corner of the cell was in much deeper shadow than the rest, so he made his way there, and stuck the file up- right in the corner. This, it must be confessed, was a very artificial hiding- place, and where, if any seareh was made, it would be certainly found, but still it was the best there was. He sat down again quickly, and then, the fastenings having been undone, the door of the dungeon was thrown open. CHAPTER LXATI. JACK SHEPPARD CARVES HIS NAME UPON THE NEWGATE CELL, AND THEN SETS ABOUT MAKING HIS ESCAPE. Jack SWEPPARD displayed a good deal of skill in the manner in which he managed to dispose himself upon the seat, so that the state of his fetters should not be per- ceptible. But on this occasion, at least, his cleverness, as a great deal often is, was thrown away, for the man who came to the door, and whose duty it was to supply the prisoners with food, just put a loaf and a stone-pitcher inside, and, | without even looking at Jack, departed. In the silence of the place, he heard the man visit | several other adjoining cells. | The sight of the food, coarse and untempting as it was, rovoked Jack’s appetite, and as he knew he could not hope for sueeess if his strength failed him, he made a hearty meal, and drank plentitully of the water, whieh he found to he tolerably fresh. “T only hope now,” he said, “that, in their amazing civility, they won’t come troubling me with any more visits. If they don’t, I shall be all right enough. Curses on Jonathan Wild, but he shall live to repent this night's work. When I think that Bess, too, is in his power, and in that of her raseally uncle, I feel as though f was gomg mad. Will night never come?” he added, as, unable to sit still any louger, he rose, and paced the cell. “Iam out of all patience.” But, alas! his patience was destined to be put to 4 more severe trial. The day had but just began, and many a weary hour must necessarily elapse before night came again. “He knew ‘too well the utter futility of attempting to make his eseape, except under the cover of darkness, and so chafed and fretted like some wild animal confined in a eage. As the day advanced he grew calmer, and was able to take an exact survey of his present position. How many stirring and exciting scenes he had gone through sinee that night when, with wild curses and Speen os OTe Se Eee ee ee eee, BLUESKIN : maintaining his singing with uncommon vigour, and very A ROMANCE. ‘ threats of revenge, he had left his master’s roof! How greatly was he changed ! About mid-day, the governor, Mr. Noakes, paid a visit to the cell. He found the prisoner to all appearance in a state of the greatest possible dejection. This was partly real, partly assnmed. Jack feared that if he seemed too bold it might result in an examination being made ofthe state of his fetters, which was the thing he had most of all to dread. “ Well, my spark,’ cried Mr. Noakes, “‘ not gone yet, I see! But [Pm not afraid, and I skould not have come now only to deliver a rather important message.” ‘* A message ?”’ repeated Jack. ‘Yes, and as I say, an important one.” Who from ?” The governor looked round carefully, and then seit 10 a loud whisper— “ Jonathan Wild!” Curse him, I say, curse him!” “Wall you listen to the message ? ” Jack was silent. The governor chose to interpret his silence as consent. * Jonathan Wild,” he said, ‘has commissioned me to say to you that he did not come to-day to take you before the beak, because he was desirous of giving you an oppor- tunity of having a little calm reflection.” “How kind!” “He hopes you will have wisdom enough to come to terms with him to-morrow, when he will make some pro- posals to you. set free, if not” If you consent, why of course you will be The governor made an expressive movement with his fingers across his throat, uttering a clucking sound at the same time, intended to intimate the consequences that would result from Jaeck’s refusal. “Tell him Pll think matters over, according to his re- quest,” said the prisoner, at length; not that he had the remotest intention of coming to any arrangement with Wild, only he thought it would afford him a better oppor- tunity of making his escape. ‘That's right and reasonable,” said the governor ; “you'll find it your best plan. Jonathan speaks of you in the highest terms, and, let me tell you, if you value your neek you had better be friends with Mr. Wild than enemies.” This was a gratuitous piece of advice which Jack did not deem worthy of a reply, and observing his silence, Mr. Noakes turned on his heel and left the place. “That's over,’ said Jack. “Jonathan. I’m obliged to you. All I want now is darkness.” But many honrs yet he knew must pass before he could have what he required. He strove to sleep, but his thoughts were too busy to allow him to do so. He did, however, by maintaining a reeumbent posture, ae resolutely closing his eyes, manage to fall into a oze. A long weary time to him seemed to pass, and then a thought entered his mind. He rose to his feet. «¢T will leave something behind me to show I have been here,” he said. “I wish J had thought of it before, 1t Sea have found me something to do. Still itis not too ate.” While speaking these words, Jack went to the corner where he had deposited the file. Then he glanced at the walls around him. Just over the stone bench on which he sat there was a smooth piece of stonework. ‘‘That’s the place,” he cried. “‘ Plenty more have cut their names on the old walls, and why shouldn’t I? I will, too, or my name’s not Jack Sheppard! This file has got quite a sharp point, and it will do the business bean- tifully !”’ His next proceeding was to kneel upon the stone bench. “Tet me see,” he said, “there’s plenty of room, so I will begin here, and in case they should be deaf, [ll make the letters a good size.” With a laugh at what he was pleased to conceive |xs wit, Jack Sheppard commenced his task. He fonnd the stone gave way easily before the file, and before many minutes elapsed he had scratched an enormons eapital J upon the wall. much g ~~ - ee fe ee * eee ice oe ne ee wt COMIC DOO (C SH o(GO) anu ee «Ke YE TT,