Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 182: what you’re looking at

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

mr” AieewrerseT . 189 BLUESKIN : **T say, shall J put you ashore P” N A ROMANCE. “Ha! ha!” laughed Wild’s myrmidons, respectfully, One of the janizaries nudged the waterman to be quiet. | as they followed their master up the steps. Ye was sufficiently quick of apprehension to take the hint. Wild was thoughtful. Ile did not wish to so readily relinquish his search for Blueskin, who, doubtless, was somewhere very close at hand; but, on the other side, he did not relish the idea of Jack Sheppard remaining so long upon Blaekfriars-bridge in no better custody than two of his men. IIe knew, from experience, what a very slippery cus- tomer Jack was, and there was the dread at his heart that he had taken advantage of his long absence to make his escape; for it must be understood that his little trip down the river, and subsequent search among the vessels, had occupied a considerable portion of time. The morning was now far advaneed, and the great bustle in the streets had begun. And, so much against his inclination as it was, Jonathan determined to retrace his steps, and, if possible, make sure of one of the two prisoners at least. Nothing so much vexed Wild as to be defeated, no matter in what 1t was, and on the present oecasion he was more put about than usnal, for from the moment he had learned that Blueskin had recovered from what he fully believed to be his death-wound, he determined to lose no pains in hunting him to death. And when he thought his objeet was all but accom- phshed—when, if there had been any present to bet upon theaffair, the odds would all have been on his side—lo! in a most mystcrions and unaccountable manner, his prey eludes his grasp. “Curse you,’ he said, as he sat down in the stern- sheets of the boat. ‘ Why, in the devii’s name, don’t you row me back to Blackfriars ?” Now, had the waterman been as eonversant with Jona- than’s sweet ways as the two janizaries were, he would have rowed on in silenee, and as fast as he was able. But he was not versed in the thief-taker’s little eccen- tricities of disposition, so, as any one naturally would do under the circumstances, he rephed, that he was waiting for his instructions. *VYa—ah!” This was the second time the boatman had heard Wild utter this particularly ferocious and wild-animal-like reply, and he hardly knew what to make of it. Did it mean an aflirmative or a negative P “A thousand curses!’’ roared Jonathan. **Do you mean to stay here dallying all day P Row me back to Blackfriars’-bridge, or ?im d—d if I don’t lift you over- board! Row, curse yon! Now, and break your back, for aught I care!” Muttering something in a low tone between his teeth, the waterman plied his oars, intent upon getting rid of his tronblesome farce as soon as possible, and praying that he might never have the 1l-luck to be hailed by him again. Crossing his arms moodily over his breast, and looking down at his feet, with an angry scowl upon his features, J ona waited impatiently for the journey to be com- pleted. The tide, however, was now against them, so that, in spite of the desperate exertions of the rower, they made but little headway. Still they did progress, and the boatman, by going in a diagonal direction, overcame, in a great measure, the resistance of the tide. At length, to the inexpressible satisfaction of all parties, the landing-place at Blackfriars was reached. The waterman guided his boat close to the steps, and Jonathan and his two satellites got out. Wild was hastening away, oblivions of the fact that he had given the man nothing for his time and trouble. “Waterman, please,’ he said. ‘Don’t forget the waterman.” The thief-taker turned round. * Wow much ?” he asked, gruffly. * Six shillings, Mr. Wild, it you please.” *€ Then send in your—ha! ha!—account to the—ha! ha! —Secretary of State, and he—ha ! ha !—will pay you. Or,” Jonathan added, delighting in the look of blank dismay that was depicted upon the man’s faee, “or you can call at my honse in Newgate-street some time when you’re passing—ha ! ha!—and I will pay you. Ha! ha!” © RN are a RE rm ae mete TO TE ID A I AR SL eT TE ea URC A eran eA The waterman gazed after them until they turned the angle of the bridge. “The devil take their wit!’ he said. ‘I wish I had known, I’m d—d if I wouldn’t have upset the wherry! And serve them right, for I don’t suppose they can swim. Ifaving thus vented his just indignation, he turned away. But leaving him to put up with bis loss in the most philo- sophie way he could, we will follow Jonathan Wild on to the bridge. It was tolerably crowded with vehicles and passengers. With an uneasy feeling at his heart, he strove to look first to the right and then to the left. But though he scanned attentively every moving object within sight, his eyes rested not upon what they sought. With scarcely less uneasiness, his men looked up and down the road, trusting that they might see some signs of their companions. They trembled when they found they were nowhere in sight. Jonathan’s anger would be dreadful. And when in one of those moods, he always took revenge upon whoever might be nearest to him. So they felt their hearts turn cold within them, and experienced that uncomfortable sensation produced by intense fright. But this time they alarmed themselves needlessly, for Jonathan was seized with a new thought. ** Newgate,” he said. ‘* Yes, they have taken him to Newgate! Quick, follow me! To Newgate! to Newgate! They would not think it safe to keep him so long in the streets, and so lave taken him there. Perhaps it 1s best, perhaps it is best.” Thus muttering to himself, Jonathan bustled along the pavement leading over the bridge. But this mode of progression was too slow for his im- patience. The people on the footpath hindered him, although they made way for him with the utmost rapidity. He looked behind him, and saw an empty hackney- coach approaching him. “Hold!” he cried. ‘‘ Drive me to Newgate!” This was to the driver, who brought his horses to a standstill. “Get in!” This was to his men. All three then scrambled into the coach as fast as they were able, ‘ Half-a-eninea!” roared the thief-taker, projecting his ugly head out of the window, ‘“‘ half-a-guinea for your fare if you drive fast. Half-a-guinea, I say!” As this was only about six times his proper fare, the jarvey cried— ‘All right, your honour! I'll have you there in no time. Ialf-a-guinea! Oh! lor!” The descent of the bridge was just at that moment renched; and so, by dint of lashing the miserable animals vigorously who were harnessed to the clumsy vehicle, he got them to go at a very creditable rate. In something less than a quarter of an hour Jonathan reached his destination. The jarvey had driven up the Old Bailey from the di- rection of Ludgate-hill, and drew rein opposite to the principal entrance to the prison. When Wild said Newgate, he meant his own house in Newgate-street ; but he did not say anything more, for of course he could not tell whether his men had taken their prisoner to one place or the other. So he alighted, and, having given the man his fare, knocked, as he alone had the audacity to knoek, at the portals of the great city prison. The sumnions was instantly responded to. Followed by his men, Jonathan strode into the ves- tibule. There were only two men present. One had charge of the door, and the other was seated on a rude kind of bench, placed there principally for their accommodation. This man rose, and advanced in a deferential manner towards him. Shall I call the governor? Mi. Wild.” *'Ya—ah! 2m SEE cComiclboooks Coin en