Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 177: what you’re looking at

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

ee ee a anemanmmemnemmemnnnnmntl TE ; BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE, The one side would produce a similar appearance, so far | Death to the spy! ag solidity went, and so would the other. The most careful scrutiny would not reveal an inlet. But there was one. And now, having examined the three sides of tha cavern, the explorer would probably turn his cyes upwards to the roof. ~f It would, except at high tide, be very many fect above im. Quite out of reach, and too high up for lim fo e¢e¢ it distinctly. Could he have ascended, it is there he would have found the inlet. ‘Yet it was concealed as carefully as possible; no casual glance would have discovered it. That this was the pirates’ secret haunt the reader must already suspect. This indentation was at the base of the cliff upon the summit of which Colonel Thorne’s residence, ‘“ The Larches,” was situated. A man so wealthy as the colonel seemed to be was, of course, well known and much noticed by those who resided in the neighbourhood. His horses, his dogs, and his cquipages were the delight aad admiration of all who were fortunate cnough to behold them. In one word, they were faultless. Among his other possessions of this character was a beautifully-built yacht, but although this was the most admired of all, yet it appeared to be the one of which he made the least use, and of which he took the least notice. It was nearly always to be seen riding at anchor at a short distance from the land; but as 1t1s well known that things wear out most when not in use, so the men in charge of this yacht used at times to cruise off for days together. And now, while we are speaking of the colonel and his possessions, we may as well take the opportunity of degeribittg briefly the outward appearance of his dwel- ng. Doing so at this juncture will spare us the necessity of interrupting the narration of events, for in order to properly understand that which follows, it is requisite that a correct notion of its appearance should be had. We have already said that it was a long, low, rambling edifice, built in the Elizabethan style of architecture. The material used in its erection was a grayish-coloured stone, -ouly a few shades darker than the cliff forming its founda- tion. The mansion was uniformly two stories in height, except in one portion near the centre of the building, where it rose another story, and was then surimountcd by an antique clock-tower, or turret. The upper portion of this turret—that is to say, above the clock—was dome-like in shape, carrying upon its highest part a ball and cross, in all respects, save that of size, resembling those which crowned the spires of so many of our cathedrals. From its elevated position being not only double the height of the surrounding building, which in its lowest part was nearly three hundred feet above the level of the sea, it was @ most conspicuous object when seen from the land, but still more so when viewed from the sea, whence it could be distinguished at a distance of very many miles. Strange to say, this part of the colonel’s abode was suffered to go to ruin and decay. The other portions, so soon as they required it, were carefully repaired; this belfry or clock-tower was alone neglected. For what reason no one could conjecture. It cer- tainly had the effect of spoiling the appearance of the whole, and those who enjoyed the acquaintance of the colonel, one and all, knew him to be a man who would brook no idle questions upon such a subject. Having explained so far, we will now proceed to direct the attention of the reader to a scene of the wildest and most startling interest. CHAPTER CXXI. THE PIRATE CREW PROCEED TO EXECUTE JUSTICE UPON THE SPY. “Asey! a spy! Down with him! Slay him! lim on the head with a marling-spike! Let him have it! SUMMARY ne ae a ee 175 Will Ogden he calls himself! Dowu with Will Ogden! Down with him! Death! death!” These words came from many a fierce throat, and were wttered with gesticulations of ungovernable rage. Those who uttered them were men dressed in a semi- nautical costume. They had all seized upon one man, who, in the most abject terror, had sank upon his knees. His countenance proclaimed his guilt, and gave the lie to the words which fell faltcringly from his lips. He was dressed in a similar manner to those who made ed of such threatening language and gestures towards 1m. The scene was a large cavernous apartment. Irregular in shape. Unequal in height. The sides and roof composed of calcareous rock. The floor of bright glittering sand and sea shells. The extent of the place could be seen by the lamps which were hung at uncertain intervals around it. It was probably a quarter of an acre. In five places five veryl arge lamps were suspended by a chain from the ceiling, and as cach carried several wicks, the place was tolerably well illuminated. Of course, to any one coming in fresh out of the sunshine, it would have seemed dark and gloomy enough, but to those who had been in it for some time there was suflicicnt light to enable them to distinguish anything. ‘““A rope! a rope!” cried the men again. ‘* Put a rope round his neck and run him up! That is the death for a traitor and a spy! Death! death! A rope! a rope!” ‘** Here you are, mates!” said a voice; ** here’s ag taut a line as you could wish tosee! Don’t loose him! hold him tight! Here, Joe, you help me.” The speaker, a short, burly seaman, who, as soon as the rope was mentioned, separated Limself from the turbulent throng, and returned with the article demanded. With true sailor-like dexterity he formed one end into a running noose; then going to one side of the cavern, where a large hook projected from the wall, he, after two or three attempts, succeeded in throwing the end of the rope over it. The one he had called to his assistance understood without being told what was required of him, and from one of the many little recesses round the side of the place he rolled an empty barrel. Its appearance was hailed with a shout of delight by the others. To place it on end just underneath the hook took him but a moment, and then all was ready; for while this was going forward those who held the poor trembling wretch in their grasp, liad pinioved his arms behind him. Then, in spite of his frantic cries and struggles, they lifted him bodily upon the on-end cask. By blows they forced him to stand upright. Then the noose was slipped over his head, and drawn tight about his neck. The burly seaman took hold of the other end. “Now then, mates, say the word and up he goes, like anangel. Are you ready?” “Mercy! have mercy!” cried the man; “spare my life—spare it, and [ will confess all! Mercy! mercy! you make a mistake! AIl of you make a nistake! I am innocent—indeed, I am.” ‘We are ready,” exclaimed the other sailors; ‘* Up with him, Ben! I’ll beara hand. Now, then, one ’’— In a perfect yell, which penetrated to every nook and corner of the cavern, and aroused many « slurabering echo, the poor wretch so close to death shrieked out the one word— ‘Mercy!’? he shrieked again, with even, if possible, more violence than before. “Mercy! Mr. Morgan! Mr. /Morgan! You will puta step tothis. Spare me—spare me! Mercy! oh! mercy!” From his elevated position the accused was able to see over the heads of his late comrades, and perceived a person approaching, with wonder and anger in his looks. It was the lieutenant, or second in command of the Knock | band, assembled in the cavern. The name by which he had addressed him was the one =e & = —— 4h O52 SS SS EES STS Te) £1) a ne ee - EO NOOKS (SO) 5}