Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 152: what you’re looking at

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

- Fn er ee 150 On entcring, he found the place in the utmost disorder. He was not long in learning the cause of 1t. Lf can imagine with what anxiety he awaited the result. Althongh so much in the habit of frequenting the tavern, no one recognised him in his present castro, Seating himself in the tap-room, he called #21 drink. The seat he chose was one where he wus izost likely to be free from observation. We could not help feeling amused at the manner in which Jobnuson treated him. It was plain to be seen he kad no suspicion of hus identity. The length of time the officers took with their search, inspired Blueskin with the hope that they would be unsue- cessful in finding Jack, and the result proved that he was quite nght. When the last of the police had withdrawn, Blueskin ealled Johnson, and told him who he was. The landlord’s delight, npon beivg made the recipient of this intelligence, knew no bounds. Blake cautioned him, however, not to let it be known, as so much depended upon his existen @ being for the present kept a secret. Johuson then confided to bim the piace in which he had hidden Jack. By his advice he waited for some time yet, in order to make sure that none of the police-oflicers were lurking about. Then, as we related at the end of the preceding chapter, Johnson had gone up stairs, and released Jack from his place of confinement. He felt it to be no inconsiderable relief to be able to move his limbs freely. He was shown by Johnson into a room on the first floor, the door leading to which was clcse to the foot of the stairs, so that it occasion should require it, he would be able to return to his place of concealment without loss of time. These preliminaries having been arranged, he broke the intelligence to him that Blueskin had not, as he thought, been slain, but that he had most miraculously recovered from the terrible wound Wild had given him. Next to seeing Edgworth Bess in a situation of perfect security, nothing would havo given Jack so much real de- light as to learn that bis friend was spared to him. But Johnson, bidding him to compose hiniself, said he would go down and send Blake up to hin. Tn less than five minutes after the landlord had left him he heard some one ascending the stairs. He could not control his impatience, but going to the door, opened it and looked out. Tfe drew back again snddenly and disappointedly, for Johnson had not told him Blueskin was disguised, and, like the rest, he failed to recoguise him in his present attire. Blueskin walked straight up to the door of the room, and spoke. Jack knew the tones of his voice again instantly. Taking him by the hand, be dragged lim into tke chamber, and sitting down near him, began to talk. But to relate the mutual explanations which took place between the pair would be as unnecessary.as it would be uninteresting. The reader already knows all, and there- tore he will be at no loss to imagine what passed between them, thus enabling us to proceed with our narrative without hindrance. When Jack had finished the recital of his own extra- ordinary adventures, and narrated how he had snceceeded in setting Edgworth Bess at liberty, but that since then she had disappeared, leaving no elne by which he could find her, Blueskin’s face assumed a grave expression, for he anticipated the worst. For a long time he was quite silent. deavouring to account for her disappearance. But in all his speculations he was a long long way off the truth. The anxiety and interest which Jack felt were plainly depicted in his countenance. ‘What will be the best way to act, Blueskin?” he asked; ‘J know I can leave it safely in your hands to decide. What shall Ido?” “Phat isa difficult matter, Jack, uuless I say in two words, find her. They just express what | mtcnd to do niyself.”’ Ile was en. 8 wo ee wy BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE, ‘But how? In what way shall you set about it ?” ‘That is the question. Have you any money?” ‘* None.” “J thought not—nor have I, worth mentioning. But if we are to do any good some must be bad, and that at once.” ‘“* T don’t dispnte it; J want some even now.” “We cannot do without it. Now, Jack, you are a brave and likely young fellow! What do you say to going ont to-night with a good horse and a brace of pistols to cry ‘Stand aud deliver!’ upon the highway P ” CHAPTER CIITI. BLUESKIN’S SEARCIE AFTER EDGWOTH BRSS IS A VAIN ONE, AND HWE PERSUADES JACK TO ACCOMPANY HIM UPON A LITTLE EXPEDITION. “At any other time,” said Jack Sheppard, “I should have jumped at such a proposal, for there is nothing that would suit me better; but as it is, I feel the whole of my energies should be turned in one direction !”’ “And so they ean be all the same for that. Luisten to me!” “*T am doing so. “You perceive what a difference changing my dress has madeinme. Even you did not recognise me—no more did Johnson! DoasI did. Remain where you are, and send some one out to purchase you some things of a simi- lar character, and we might walk past Wild himself with- out his knowing us!” “But the money ?”’ “TJ have, I think, enough for that. sent ?”’ Willingly—if I thought I conid get out of this place.” ‘¢ Tt will be most imprudent for you to attempt to do so before nightfall. By that time the vigilanee of those officers who may be watehing in the neighbourhood will have relaxed.” “Tt will kill me to stay here inactively all day !”’ said Jack, pacing up and down the room. ‘Yon must be as patient as you can. will rnin all. Surely you can see that!” “T will be guided by you, my friend; your head is clearer than mine; and you will know what is the most prudent eonrse of action.” “Do so, then. Remain qniet and patient where you are—will you ?” ** T will try.” “Tf you cannot leave the house, that is no reason why I shouldw’t. In this disguise I am certain they will never know me. I have the welfare of the young girl quite as much at heart as vou have, and I will go forth alone, and try to find her. What say you?” “Can I say anything but Syes??” “T will do my best to be successful; but whether I am or not I will return at dusk, and we will be off upon our excursion, for money must be had!” “You say yon have enough to purchase a disguise P ” “To have. J will eall myself upon a man who can be trusted, and send him here to you. He will also take away the clothes yon have been wearing. Above all, be careful of your liberty, and take my advice, do not move from here until I return.” Blueskin then withdrew. A few words passed between him and Johnson, and then he sallied forth into Drury-lane. By this time the ordinary business of the day had fairly commeuced, and the thoroughfare was crowded with eople. 7 He threaded his way through the busy crowd without attracting much attention. His first visit was to a clothier’s in Holywell-street, to whom he gaye a deseription of what he required, and paid him in advance for the clothes. As the sum he got was about three times as much as he ever expected, the shop-keeper was civil to obsequiousness, and promised that it should be seen to withont delay. This over, Blueskin commenced his search after Eig: worth Bess. IIe felt more alarmed and frightened at her disappear: ance than he would have liked to eonfess to himself. Full of deep, anxious thonght, he wa'ked down Holy- well-street, and emerged into the Strand. Say—do you econ. Precipitation 6 eOOOEEOEeee sae NOOlKKS CO (SO) C anu