Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 151: what you’re looking at

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

_ ee age a BLOESRIN : kitchen, whiling away the time till daylight by something good to drink. They were quite contented in their minds about their prey, for their measures in stationing men in different places were so well taken that they were convinced he could not leave without being seen by one or other of them, Johnson noticed that, as he came down stairs, they looked keenly and inquisitively at him. But whatever suspicion may have had a place in their minds was pretty well dissipated by the words he uttered. “I have just been up to my wife, gentlemen, and she Bes given me leave to let you have just what you lke to order. There was a general laugh at this, for those whe fre- quented the ** Black Lion” were well aware that in thut pel, like many others, “‘the gray mare was the better orse. So, as his wife was at the time actually up stairs in bed, the sentence seemed quite a natnral one to utter. But as soon as the laugh had died away, the officer in command of the rest exclaimed— “Come, my lads, no more dallying. We have light enough for our purpose now, and if the young rascal is anywhere in the house, I’ll bet you a five-pound note I find him.” Nothing would have pleased Johnson better than to have called out, ‘* Done!’ only the manifest impolicy of doing so restrained him. The manner in which this officer gave his orders to the men was quite suffivient to show that he had not only attentively considered his position, but was also well used to that sort of thing. Every portion of the building was submitted to a most searching investigation. Indeed, so systematically was the search pursued, that Johnson began to dread that the cunningly contrived hiding-place would, after all, be discovered. But this dread proved unfounded, and, not to unneces- sarily prolong the narrative, after prying into every nook and corner of the building, and then searching the neigh- bouring houses, the officers withdrew, baffled and defeated, perfectly convinced that, despite all their precautions, their prey had managed in some way to elude them. When he deemed it safe to do so, Johnson went up- stairs, and released Jack Sheppard from his place of durance. He would then have quitted the place, and commenced the pursuit about which he felt so anxious, only he suffered himself to be restrained by the landlord, and he was after- wards glad he did so, for an unexpected event took place, which we shall immediately proceed to describe. CHAPTER CII. SHOWS THE MANNER IN WHICH BLUESKIN ESCAPED FROM JONATHAN WILD, AND MET JACK SHEPPARD IN DRURY-LANE. WHEN Blueskin heard the ratthng sound which Wild’s key produced when that worthy rather roughly thrust it into the lock of the front door, he felf that to hesitate would be fatal, so he sprang up the remainder of the steps. He was in hopes of being able to reach the hall before Jonathan got the door open, which would have given him an immense advantage over his foe; but in this he was mistaken. Wild got the door open first. An angry howl came from his lips when he saw the condition of his janitor, and anticipating that something unusual was amiss, he, with great presence of mind, put a whistle to his lips, and blew a shrill blast upon it. This was a general signal to all those members of his band who might be within hearing to hasten to his assist- ance. The last notes had not left the instrument, however, befora Piueskin reached the passage. Hie drawn sword was in his hand, and its brightly polished blade appeared to collect all the rays of hght that were scattered about the place, and reflect them with tenfold brilliancy. For a brief space of time, during which, perchanve, a person might have counted three rapidly, Jonathan stood estounded and bewildered. Bat recovering himself, ho drew his hanger with his ‘<ir —_ Naame BPRS eee - a ES eS ) Lo _ eee I gp cee Mee ge 149 ~ a right hand and a pistol with his left, and again uttering a yell that might have been heard in any part of the house, he planted his back firmly against the door. “Who are your” he yelled; for he did not recognise Blueskin beneath the splendid disguise which he wore. ‘Who are you? Speak, or I fire!” But Blueskin took care not to utter a word, for fear that some familiar* tone should strike upon Wild’s ear, and raise a suspicion of his identity. Rushing forward with his drawn sword before him, he aimed a furious blow at the breast of the thief-taker, who mith much ado, succeeded in warding it off, but that was all. Finding himself thus resolutely attacked, he lost a por- tion of his usual courage. Blueskin was not slow to take advantage of it. An accomplished master of the art of fencing, and, moreover, having the advantage over Wild in height and length of reach, he stood every chance of being the victor —that is, provided he did not give the janizaries time to arrive. Animated by this feeling, he attacked Jonathan with great impetuosity, and wouuded him severely in tio places in the breast. But Wild would not give up. Suddenly raisin: the pistol to a level, he took a good aim with 1t at his oppo- nent, and he would have assuredly succeeded in hitting him had not Blueskin’s eye been quick enough to perceive and wrist quick enough to change the direction of the barrel. The pistol was discharged, but its contents expended themselves harmlessly against the woodwork of the stair- case. The hurried trampling of many feet, and the confusion of many voices speaking excitedly together, reached Blake’s ears, and warned him to be speedy in his movements, if he wished to escape with his life. Collecting all his energies, he gave Wild a sudden and violent thrust. The thief-taker tried to avoid the blow, but in vain. The sword passed through the upper vart of his chest, near the shoulder, pinning him to the dour. Steggs, who had hitherto kept close behind Blueskin, now came forward, and, when he saw his enemy thus worsted, struck him a heavy blow with his fist, which at once rendered him insensible, and, upon Blake with- drawing his weapon, he fell heavily upon the floor of the hall. Some half-dozen men now rushed down the staircase, but they knew not for a moment how to act. Blake seized upon that moment to undo the fastenings of the door and fling it open. Then he dashed out into the street, closely followed by the two men he had delivered from the dungeous. He ran but a few paces, and then he stopped. He rejoiced that he had set the two prisoners free as he had, because now, they would be the means of diverting pursuit, if any was attempted against him. ** Separate! ’”’ he cried, ‘* choose, each of you, your own road, and if you run fast enough you will effect your escape. This is my way.” He ran down Skinner-street, as he spoke, but before he reached Snow-hill, he turned down one of the narrow turnings on his left, which, by a circuitous route would take him into Fleet-market. The place was dark, but all its intricacies were so familiar to him that he could have almost found his way blindfold. Crossing Fleet-market, he wound his course through the numerous courts which he between Holbova-hill and Fleet-street. The result of his search in Wild‘s house filled him with mingled feelings of hopes and fears. Jack’s indomitable resolution to overcome all possible obstacles was well-known to him, and he thought 1t by no means improbable that he had found some means of escaping from Wild’s clutches, and taking his companiou with him. But if this was the case he made sure he should leara some intelligence of them at the *‘ Black Lion,’’ so bo resolved to repair thither without delay. Little prepared was he for the startling intelligence which awaited him there. By the time he reached the well-known spot it was broad dayhght. ee Oe a I a ESS SR er Free ee arta of taped ae -e e” ~—— EO DOO CG SS (SO) 5}