Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 256: what you’re looking at

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

et i ee ee i to A aie a eel 254 enough distinguished up to a certain point, and there they stopped. ; ‘This was at the side of the tall paling I have described. _: ‘ He had been riding at full speed, keeping ciose under the shadow of this for some time, but there was every indication of his having come to a halt. ‘But just beyond that spot no hoof marks could be seen. ‘© What was the meaning of it? “The officers searched closely all round about, and presently one discovered a splash of blood on the paling. ‘This drew their attention more particalarly to that one part of it, and the result was that they found a small door, but so cunningly contrived as to escape all observation, and almost the closest search. ‘“‘Tt is quite certain it would never have been found by the officers, although in a manner of speaking they were led to it, if it had not been for the splash of blood. ‘‘They did not stand upon any ceremony, but set about battering the door down, which they easily did. ‘Neither fastenings nor hinges were visible from the outer-side, so that the means of opening it were secret. ‘The door soon ceased to be an obstacle to them, and then upon gcing through, they found their suspicions confirmed. ‘The trees grew very thickly together, but there was a winding pathethrough them just wide enough for a horse. ‘The snow lay upon this path as it did upon the bigh- road, and there were the horse’s footprints quite plain and distinct. ‘‘ Here and there, too, when they looked, they distin- guished spots of blood, which showed that the highway- man was wounded by the discharge at ‘Tyburn, and, therefore, they calculated upon finding him in a very helpless condition indeed. “The little narrow path was ahout half a mile long. * Upon reaching the end of it they found themselves in & large and well-cultivated garden. ‘‘ Still following the track, they came at last to the ctables attached, or rather belonging to, Friendly Hall. ‘The door was locked, but they broke it open. “The stable was one that would hold about a dozen horses. There were stalls for that number, but only four horses at present occupied it. ‘One of these was in a profuse sweat, and gave every token of the hard riding it had had. “With little or no douht upon their minds, the officers left two of their number in charge of the stables, while the rest proceedcd in a body to the hall. “No single ray of light from any window indicated that the inhabitants were up. ** But having surrounded the premises in such a manner that they felt certain no one could leave without their knowledge, the officers proceeded to the front door of the mansion, and gave a loud summons for admission. “They had to repeat this before any notice was taken, and then a window in one of the upper stories was vio- lently thrown up, anda head projected from it. * When the officers commanded the door to be opened in the king’s name, the head was quickly withdrawn, and, after a little delay, they were allowed to enter. ** All was quict, and the officers began to fear, that oe all, Captain Blackford would be one too many for them. *¢ ‘Where is your master?’ asked one. *** In bed, sir,’ was the reply. **¢'Then tell him he is wanted. Ask him to step down. We will wait here in the hall till he comes.’ ** The ecrvant departed upon this errand. “The officers more than suspected the identity of Captain Blackford with Aminadab Gilchrist, and a litile time would set those suspicions at rest, or confirm them. “The highwayman had been wounded. *‘Tf the quaker proved to be unnuri, it would be tolerably good evidence that he was not the man. If he was, it would fix it on him at once. ** You can imagine how impatiently they waited for the gervant to return. ‘At length he came. *¢¢ My master is in bed, as 1 told you, and is suffering from severe indisposition. Therefore, he cannot see you. Oh! indeed! What time did he go to bed ?” ET A IT TTT TE a Sear i i a a a, TK Fitna ES, BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. 9 rg I LO Ne, ST LTTE **° At his usual hour.’ *°¢ What time is that ?? “<* Half-past ter.’ “* Did you see him then ?” *“* Of course.’ the . ery good! Was anything the matter with him en = *** Not as I know of, but he may have been took ill in the night.’ *<¢ So he may; and I consider it my duty to take you a little while, and we will go up and see your master.’ ‘“The servant was much surprised, but made no resist- ance. “The remainder of the household was now a-stir. ‘<The servant they had prisoner they compelled to con- duct them to the door of his master’s bedroom. ** They knocked, and then, as no answer was given, tned to enter. ** But the door was locked. ‘The usual command to open was given, which was not obeyed, so they broke that door down also, despite the remonstrances of the servant, who was thoroughly ter- rified and alarmed, and without any idea of what waa amiss. All made a rush into the apartment, which was dimly lighted by an oil lamp on the mantelpiece. ** As they entered, their ears were assailed by a groan. “A sight met their gaze for which none were exactly prepared. “Lying half aeross the bed, and literally bathed in blood, was the bold highwayman, Captain Blackfora. “There could be no doubt about the matter. Ile was in his well-known dress, a portion of which, however, he had attempted to remove when he secmed to have sunk back upon the bed through weakness. “© Ts that your master P’ said one of the officers to the servant. ‘ Beware how you speak falsely !’ ‘The man appeared to be much surprised at seeing his master in such a garb, and he locked attentively in hi face before he gave any reply, and then he said— **¢ Vos, that is master.’ **¢ And what is his name ?’ *¢¢ Aminadab Gilchrist.’ “This was enough. It was quite clear that the rich and respected quaker, and the much-dreaded highwayman were one and the same person.” “Ts that all?” asked Blewitt, as he perccived the nar- rator paused. “Well, almost. The wound that he had received at Tyburn was a fearful one, and how he managed to reach home alive is a mystery. He must have been only par- tially conscious of what he was about.” ‘© And did he die then ?”’ “Oh! yes. <A very little while after the officers broke in he breathed his last. He had bled to death!” ** How extracrdinary.” * Wasn't it? You can’t think what an excitement it created at the time, and especially among the quakers, who managed in some way to make out that he did not pro- perly belong to their sect, but had only joined it in order to better carry out his designs, but they were glad enough to own him when he was rich and wanted to coilect anything.” **1’]] warrant that.” But though he made so much stir, the recollection of him soon died away. I had even forgotten him myself, until your tales to-night put him into my head again.” ‘‘And so that was the end of the quaker bighway- man Pr” “Yes.” *‘ Well, all I can say is, it is a first-rate tale, Jim; but, however, it’s time we were off now.” ** So it is.” “ Good night all, then,” said the three turnkeys who were released from duty, and as they spoke they left the cell. : The other three then sat down in the seats which they had occupied, and the same sort of thing went ou. But Jack Sheppard took this opportunity to throw himself down upon the rude pallet prepared for him. He was tired and weary. Besides, he wanted to think over his own concern. though the tales he had heard had the good effect making the time appear to pass away more quickly. getting — FH = ee Oe EO DOO AUG SS 5} (SO)