Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 250: what you’re looking at

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

ae Queer SS “SS ow ne eg tgen) a ee H4e anyone knocks, do not reply to them. Jonathan himself is rrom home. If any one enters, profess entire ignorance of everything. Do you understand me ?”’ * Quite.” ‘Good, then I will conceal myself, and now be silent. If our voices were heard, we should be ruined.” With the foreboding feeling at his heart that he was oing to find that something dreadful had happened, Fonathan Wild made his way upstairs to the room con- taining his fair prisoner. He thrust the proper key into the lock. eee CHAPTER CLXXILI. GHOWS THE READER THE CAPITAL PLAN WHICH BLUE- SKIN DEVISED FOR JACK’S ESCAPE. JACK SHEPPARD is in the condemned hold, as that'portion of the prison was called which was exclusively set asids for the reception of those upon whom the dread sentence of death had been passed. The time has passed wearily for him, and as minute ied minute elapsed, he felt that he was hastening to his oom. He had given up all hopes of making his escape. The large cell in which he was placed was shared by his two comrades in guilt, and three turnkeys, who were relieved every two hours. Thus they were never suffered to be alone. At length the morrow, which was Friday, came. The day wore away. Jack heard of no one. Several, however, had come to visit Flood and Blewitt. It must be understood that just inside the door by which prisoners were admitted, and which was placed_at the top of a little flight of stone steps leading down into the Old Bailey, was a kind of vaulted apartment or vestibule generally known among the officials as “‘ the lodge.” When you stood inside this place, and the door by which you had entered closed, you would have seen several other oors. One led into a little ante or waiting-room, which had been fitted up for the accommodation of such turnkeys as might be off duty. Another led to the governor’s house, and three or four more to different parts of the huge building. But just opposite ‘‘ the wicket,” for so the door leading into the street was designated, was a door of so peculiar a character that we are obliged to describe it. It was formed of bars of iron laid crosswise, one over the other, so as to form a kind of network. When any visitors came, they had to stand in front of this grating, while the prisoners in the condemned hold were allowed to go up a flight of steps and stand on the other side of it. In this way the conversation took place, with the bars between them. Blewitt and Flood then, as we have said, had been per- mitted to go up to this grating several times, as one or other of their friends came to see them. But no one came to sce Jack until just before the closing hour on Friday night, when the agreeable intel- ligence was brought to him that some visitors were waiting for him, Like the rest, he ascended the flight of steps. To his surprise and disappointment, he found his visitors were two gaunt-looking, shabbily-dressed women, who sent up a how! of lamentation as soon as they saw him approach. Jack’s quickness of perception immediately showed him that there was something more in this than met the sje. He pressed himself, therefore, as closely as he could against the bars, and scrutinized their features narrowly. One of the women did the sameas he did—namely, ress against the bars, while the other set up a more ugubrious howling than before. “Jack!” said a voice, which Sheppard instantly recognised. ‘‘Make no movement, utter no exclamation of surprise at seeing me in this disguise, but it is the best I could think of. Jack, I have come to help you to escape!” Kscape? How the word thrilled through every nervein Jack’s body. And who was it that spoke ? ** Blneskin ! ”” TE “em! Wo. BE rats Cee LS ees — Ny —Prepeieeta mee ley on, BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. “T couldn’t eome before, Jack, nor I couldn’t think of anything, but now I’ve got a scheme all cut and dried. can’t give you full explanation, but we must set about it at once. We can talk the while.” ‘But what are you going to do?” “I will tell you. Howl away,” he added, to the other female, who was no other than the landlord of the ** Black Lion.” Jack.” * Yes, Blue.” “Do you see the top of the door?” €¢ Yes eB] ** The spikes, I mean.” ** Yes—yes.” “Do you think you could squeeze between them if one was taken out P”’ With a beating heart Jack looked up before he replied to this question. Along the cross-barred iron gate which we have de- scribed, was a row of sharp iron spikes. They were seven in number. Jack measured the distance. “I think I could get through if the middle one was broke off, but how can it be done? We shall be seen.” ‘‘ Leave that to me,’ said Blueskin, ‘‘so long as you can through. Look here.” As he spoke he produced from beneath his clothes curious looking instrument. It was a miniature saw, of the kind used for sawing timber into planks, and used by two men. It was, however, formed of the finest-tempored steel. Its length seven or eight inches at tho utmost. One side was cut into a number of fine sharp teeth. “Now, Jack!” said Blueskin, “‘there’s the little tool that will help you to escape.” “Take hold of your end through the bars, so, that’s it. I will take hold of the other. Placeit close to the bottom of the middle spike and draw it gently backwards and forwards. It won’t make much noise, because it is well oiled, and you will see how soon it will be through the spike. As soon as it is we will pull you down. Now then, set about it. Howl, Joe.” - Joe did howl, and Jack, with fresh hopes in his breast, caught hold of one end of the tiny saw, and commenced drawing it backwards and forwards in the manner that his friend Blueskin bad directed. As he had told him, the sound which it produced was slight indeed, and such as would not be likely to attract observation. : j And besides, the landlord, by keeping up a continual affectation of intense grief, drowned all slight noises. _ “* Where is Edgworth Bess?” was Jack's first question when the saw had fairly got to work. ‘In Wild’s power,” Jack groaned. ; But his companion noticed that he worked with greater eagerness than before. t was astonishing to see with what rapidity the saw cut into the spike. One would have thought it was wood. But then the iron of which it was composed was of the softest character. The turnkeys were about, and though several of them looked, not one noticed what was going forward. At length the time came for the prison to be closed. The spike was almost sawn through, but not quite. _ ‘‘We can’t manage it to-night, Jack,” said Blueskin. ‘* We had better give up at once. It’s no use spoiling 2 good thing.” * But it will be noticed.” “ What ? the place we have been at work upon P” *Yes.” ho, no danger! Let go of your end.” 50. Blueskin next rubbed what grease there was clinging te the bar, and the fine dust that had mixed with itinthe - crevice in the spike, and then what they had done was imperceptible. . j “There you are, Jack. Now le down to-night with a lightened heart. You will be all right to-morrow.” ‘Yon will come again ?” “Oh! trust us.” ‘ ‘Now then, you women,” said one of the turnkeys, i 7 nate Allin. i ee a COMmMICMOokS.GO