Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

a a es eet tis tte, ante TT OEE I TAT, CI, LUESKIN : ¢ o tow wan. The boisterous company, which had assembled at the * Biack Lion,” had gradually dispersed. To tnem, as to wild predatory animals, the advent of the dey was the signal for them to seek some place of concealment until ‘i ee again descended unon t*¢) earth. So one wy one, as the faint hght of the approactnug day straggled into the kitchen of the old inn, its noisy occupants slunk away. Some went into Drury-lane, who lost no time in diving into the numerous eourts that there abound, and others into odd nooks and corners of the inn itself. These were the favoured few to whom the landlord, Joe Johnson, extended his protecting arm. And so, ere the rising sun had shed his first beams upon the roof-tops, Joe Blake and his old comrade’s son were the only persons left in the apartment. Jack was sleeping heavily—so heavily that Blake could not awaken him. His arms had fallen upon the table and his head on to his arms, and there he lay like one dead. Hiz breathing was heavy. He ws sleeping off the effects of the deep potations in which he had indulged, and to which he was so un- accustomed. Upon Blueskin they appeared to have taken no effect. He shook Jack roughly, and lifted up his head. But even that failed to arouse him in the least. He let his head fall again on to his arms. ** Its no good trying to wake him up, I see,” he said. *“ If IL did he would he as stupid as an owl. He must sleep on, not here, though. Johnson, Johnson, my hoy! come here!” In obedience te his call the landlord appeared upon the threshold. “his is a particular friend of mine,” he said, “and you must fird some place where he can have an hour or two's sleep.” *him upstairs.” ‘that’s no trouble,” said Blueskin. ‘* Here you go!” So saying, he raised Jack in his arms, and followed the landlerd out of the kitchen, along the passage, and up two flights of stairs. ero the landlord pushed open a door, and Blake fol- lowed him into a double-bedded room. In Blueskin’s powerful arms Jack was no more than a child would be in the hands of most persons, so he aired across the room without an effort, and laid him on the bed. ‘* And what are you going todo, Blake?’ asked the landlord, when Jack was thus satisfactorily disposed of. ““1 must be off to my old quarters. Jonathan may Sout me, and I never like to be out of the way when he oes.” “I s’pose not,” said Johnson, descending the stairs. “Ah! he’s a wondertul man, is Mr. Wild—a wonderful man! Ar; one could see that with half an eye!” *“* And,” said Joe, “‘if you could look at him with both your eyes wide open, you would think him a wonderful man indeed.” ** I daresay, I daresay.” ‘* But, Johnson, my boy, the lad upstairs is the son of my eld comrade! Look after him carefully. When he awakes, let him have just what he likes. I will be answerable for it.” “ Very good.” “Do not, however, let him leave the place on any account. It will be some hours, I rather think, Lefore be opens his ejes aguin! Tell him to expect me every minute !” ‘- ‘then you are coming back to-day ?” ‘‘Uun! most certainly, yon may expect to see me soon after noon.” “Very well, Mr. Blake; you may being just as you desire. Good-bye! The landlord watched Blueskin cross Drury-lane, and turn aown White Morse-yard on the opposite side of the Way. * An!” =s said to bimself, “strange fellow, :uat! He eundid, hut I can’t make him out a seems all cpen 2. kit—not a bit! tie’s a ve fect mystery to me. Here sometimes he speaks like a >lackguard, sometimes like a bora gentleman! !t’a very strange. Perhaps I shall know ! depend upon *hings ee > ome OE @ TRE Se ere pqs FP oe ee mp Ona, a ES, OBE Se ae ee ee ae) ee TE A ROMANCE, a RE To en cp G ' who he is some day. I’ll warrant, now, his name is no more Blake than it is Blueskin! I'd give no small trifle to hear his history, that I would! Perhaps ! skall know it some day. Those that hve longest stand the best chance of seeing and hearing most.” With this trite observation, the landlord of the “ Black Lion” turned away from the street door to attend to his household dr ties. It war aln ost twelve o’clock when Jack awoke from bis lethargi> slu ober. He Jo «er! about him for a few moments bewildered and surprised. He could not make out how he came to be where he wag. There is scarcely anything more cenfusing to the per- ceptions than to wake up suddenly in a strange place which we have never before secu. Jack just took one glance arouud him, and then closed his eyes again. A measured and heavy footstep on the stairs attracted his attention. He raised himeelf up a little on kis elbow, and listened. But the effort was a painful one. His lead ached horribly. Nearer and nearer, howeve:. came the lumbering footsteps. The door opened. A face and form, of which he seemed to have some dim recollection, stood upon the threshold. It was Joe Johnson, the landlord. *“So you've woke up at last, have you?” he said, roughly, but yet kindly.“ Blest if I didn’t think you had gone to sleep for good!” “Who are you?”’ said Jack; “and what place is this? I seem to know your face, and yet I cannot recollect who ou are.” “Me? Oh! I’mthe landlord here. The “ Black Liou’, you know. This is one of my bed-rooms. Joe Jolinsex 1s my name. -Mr. Blake put you there, and told me to look after you. Understand? He will be here directly.” ‘“* Blake—Blake!” repeated Jack, confusedly. “‘ Blas . Who’s Blake ?” ** Oh, I can see there will he no good done with you in the way of talking just yeta bit. Take my advice. hie still for half-an-hour. Don’t go to sleep, though. You will find yourself better then, a getting out of a tangle, jump up and pour this jug of cold water over your head. You will be as right asa trivet then. Good bye to you. Don’t forget, Mr. Blake will be here soon.” The landlord left the room. Johnson’s words exactly expressed the state of Jack’s mind. It was in a tangle. By slow degrees, however, as he lay upon the bed with his eyes closed, all that had occurred on‘ the previous night arranged itself chronologically in his thoughts. He recollected the quarrel he had had with his master. IIow he had been taunted with being the son of a man who was hanged. How he had been called a thief. How he had rushed from his master’s house into the streets with fierce, vindictive words upon his hps. How he had returned at <°-1t still hour of the night when first we saw him, and heaped curses uvon his master’s head. Then came the struggle with the watchmen. His escape. His entry intothe ‘Black Lion.’”’ The man with the blue face. The mention of his father’s name. What had beeuw said ; and after that all was blauk. But it was no dfficult matter to fill up the hiatus of iis thoughts. By the time he had done this he felt wonderfully better, “His head ached, but his brain was no louger perpiexed. He sprang from the bed, and seeing a huge pitcher of water, he followed the landlord’s advice, and plunged his head completely into it. The water, when it touched his inflamed skin, seemed icy cold. It bubbled pleasantly about his ears and neck. “he pain ceased as if by mgic. | It was such a relicf, and so celightful to Lave his head under water, that he could not draw it om util bis failag breath compelled him. Then he telt wonderfully better. Re oz - —— ta ome od = we gy When you fiud your ideas - Lt nu EO NOOKS (SO) 5}