Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 185: what you’re looking at

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

ar IIT BLUESKIN : ne ae a a: TT cc ae ae ete aad ; *¢ What are you driving at, Jack P”’ *€Can’t you see?” ‘6 Not exactly, and you had better go on explanating.”’ **T will do so, because you have so far listened to me; and so I feel emboldened to make the proposition in plain words.” = Y» that’s the way to doit. Weshall understand you then.’ “Very good. Then, Matthew and Willam—what’s your other names ?”’ ** Tt don’t matter.” ** It will be best to tell them.” , Mine, then, is Matthew Flood.” ) ** And mine William Blewitt.” *T know your name well.” Do your” ‘Yes; and you, Matthew, if I recollect right, have got a bit of a grudge against Jonathan P”’ “You may say that.” **But you would be nearer the mark,” interrupted Blewitt, “‘ if you said Jonathan had got a bit of a grudge against him.’ Oh! that’s it.” ** Rather different you see.” **Oh! very different; and being different, is so much the better.’ ** How do you make that out ?” ‘In this way. In plain words my proposal amounts to this: Blueskin and myself set up against Jonathan Wild. Will you join us ? ” ** Join your” “Yes; be on our side. If you make up your minds to do so, take my word for this, you will have all the advan- tages you at present enjoy, without any of the disagree- ables.’ ** It is a serious matter.” **T know that; but you don’t seem to see that if you do as I wish you cannot, by any possibility, make your position worse, while you have all the chance of making it etter.” **There’s something in that.” ** Everything. Jonathan Wild will never be what he has been. He has reached the top of the hill, and now he will begin to go down, and, mark my words, if he don’t descend a great deal quicker than he went up.” ** But how do you know that he has reached the top P”’ **T will tell you. Jonathan Wild would never have been what he has, and is, had it not becn for Blueskin.” * Blueskin ?” ** Yes; and now he has set up against him, down he will go. Did you ever notice that while Blueskin was with him all went well?” “No, I never noticed it; but now you come to speak of it, 16 certainly did.” ** And how have things gone since they parted?” ** Better.” ** Better P” ‘* Yes, better.” ** But how P” ** In all ways.” “You are making a great mistake, my friend. He may have made a few Fucky strokes, but they ought, instead of inspiring you with confidence, to fill you with doubt.” The two men were staggered by the cool, deliberate way In which Jack spoke. They hesitated. There was nothing but the fear of their lives to tempt them to remain in the service of the thief-taker. And as Jack had very truly said, they could not make their position any worse than it was, while they might make it better. They would have consented at once, but the great awe and dread of their master in which they stood, made them hold back. Jack saw that they were wavering in the balance, and that a very little thing indeed would turn the scale. His liberty, and probably his life, depended upon their | decision ; so, as may be expected, he looked for it rather anxiously. He was impatient, too, though he did not deem it politic ty show it. He every moment expected to see Jonathan A ROMANCE. 183 make his appearance, and then all his hopes would be dashed to the ground. | From where they sat on the stone bench in the recess, they were able, by turning their heads a little, to see dowu the river as far as London bridge, although that structure, owing to its distance, was only dimly discernible. He could see nothing of Wild’s boat returning as yet, but then it was as likely as not he was returning by land. So he determined to press his suit yet closer. ‘“* Have you considered P” he asked. “Don’t answer has. tily, and without you have made up your minds to abide by your decision. I have plans under hand, which, in con- junction, must prove to be profitable. We are in want of two to join us, and you have had the first offer; if you oon to accept it, we can look out for some one else !’ “But you seem to forget ’”?-—— ‘That Iam your prisoner. No, I don’t. That gives me no uneasiness at all; for if Jonathan was to load me with chains, and put me in the deepest and strongest cell in Newgate, it would not hold me; I should be sure to get out.” ~The easy, off-hand assurance with which these words were uttered is perfectly indescribable. But it had a great effect upon the two men. “There is only one thing, Jack,’ they said, after a little pause, “‘ that we want to assure ourselves of.” ** And what is that ?” “Why, that all you have been telling and representing to us is quite right; because, if it is ’’—— What!” ** J don’t say what! but is it true?” * Every word of it.” “JT believe you, Jack; and so I for one say, I’m with you; and I know Blewitt will say the same.” **T do just the same. If what you say is right, we are with you.” “Depend upon it. and let me assure you that, with Blueskin as our leader, we shall be able to set Jonathau at defiance. Our policy will be this—not to interfere with him without he interferes with us.” * That’s only fair!” *€ It is reasonable; and if the villain seeks an encounter with us, his overthrow is certain. Are you with us?” ‘We are; and we should have said so long ago, only we wanted to try you, and see that all was right. We were sick and tired of Wild’s service, and were studying how to leave it best. So we are with you!” They released their hold upon him as they spoke. ‘ Hurrah !’? said Jack, as he felt himself free. ‘ Come on, my friends; and you will find yourselves more than a match for Jonathan Wild!” Tl] hang him!” said Flood, malignantly. ‘1 have sworn it, and I will keep my oath.” Jonathan had sworn to hang him. We shall see how the oaths were kept. CHAPTER CXXVII. EDGWORTH BESS DISCOVERS THE SECRET EXIT FROM TIER CHAMBER, AND PERFORMS A MOST DESPERATE ACHIEVEMENT. FRruGAL asthe meal was of which Edgworth Bess partook, yet she felt all the better for it. She was stronger, and not so dejected as she had been. Consequently she was able to look about her with greater calmness, and reason a little upon the events which had lately happened. There was much to perplex and bafile her. Two circumstances particularly did so. The reader can guess what they were. One was the mysterious manner in which the clock had struck. What did it mean ?P She had only one answer to the question, and that was that it was a signal of some sort. But a signal of or for what ? There she was bafiled, and unable to proceed. ‘Then there was the other circumstance. The mysterious and inexplicable manner in which the colonel had first acted and then disappeared. W a een COMICLOO© SS (SO) 5}