Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 257: what you’re looking at

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

oan BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. Flood and Blewitt were evidently anxions to drown thought, and certainly the means they took were best qualified to achieve this end. — Even now they were in a state of sem}-intoxication. But they continued to pour down their throats giass after glass of the hot hquor before them, until, at length, their boisterons mirth and mock joviality lapsed into silence. Overpowered with drink, they sunk mto a deen sie«p, from which tkey did not awake till late the next morniug. Jack slept, too, and for a long time also. His stomach was not used to excess of liquor, and what he drank pro- duced a great effect upon him. But he felt thankful when he learned that it was almost mid-day. There was all the less time to wait antal his friends arrived and helped him to escape. CHAPTER CLXXVII. JACK SITEPPARD SUCCEEDS IN EFFECTING “33S SECOND ESCAPE FROM NEWGATE. A REMARKABLE contrast was afforded by Jack Sheppard and his two companions. He felt cheerful, and even happy. They, on the contrary—the artificial spirits which the drink had caused having evaporated—were moody, sullen, and despairing. Jack was longing for the time to pass, and cared not how quickly one minute succeeded to another. They, on the other hand, cursed and swore because they had not longer to live. With two such characters the reader can feel but httle sympathy. , pach wretches as they were deserved nothing but eath. They were not fit to live. During their long and iniquitous career they had per- etrated a whole catalogue of crimes, the bare recapitu- ation of which would make any one shudder. More drink was called for, which they drank with re- donbled thirst, but Jack refused to take any of it. He wished to keep his head as cool as possible, and his hand steady and ready for work. The difference in the elapsion of time when one is anxious for it to pass, and when we are a little behind in what we have to do is very great, and must have been noticed by everyone. Jack found it so, but at length the welcome news was brought to him that some friends of his were waiting to see him. He could not forbear giving a glance round his person and at his two companions, so certain did he feel that he was then seeing the last of them. Then, with a ight heart, he sprang up the Little flight of stone steps, and a moment afterwards stood at the grating. Blueskin and Johnson were standing there, attired as they were the day before. The former spoke first. Jack !’’ he said. ** Yes, what is it P” ** We are rather late, so you will have to be quick.” ‘Yes, yes. Give me the saw.” ** Here it is.” ** All right.” ; ‘**But be careful how you use it. The turnkeys are about.”’ ** Where P” ** In the ante-room.” ** What are they doing P” ** Having their supper, I think. Something to eat and drink, at ail events. Now, Joe,” he added, turning to his companion, ‘* howl.” Johnson obeyed by taking a handkerchief from his pocket, and pretending to cry. Quickly and silently the saw was drawn oackwards and forwards across the spike, having been fitted into the crevice made on the preceding evening. The time they had chosen for attempting to carry out their enterprize was certainly best. It was Saturday. The hour was that just before the prison doors were eloe-d. The men, feeling that the day’s work was over, were ad a 955 generally in the habit of assembling in the little roo set aside for their use, and here they were at the present. Even the man on the lock had joined them. Our friends had the lodge all to themseives. To be sure, from where they sat, more tlran one of the turnkeys could see into it, and more than once they looked, but Pas not see that anything unusual was going for- ward, The behaviour of Johnson, the landlord, was a finished piece of acting. They had no idea that he was <ther than what he seemed, Jack, too, from his daring, was rather a favourite with the prison offivials, and therefore they were willing to allow the interview between himself and his two female com. panions to be as private as possible. Great credit is due to Blueskin for having hit upon the idea of choosing female apparel for a disguise, since there was no other that would have been so well calculated to avert suspicion as that was. Backwards and forwards, with a rapid, yet steady motion, went the little saw, and every time its teeth sunk deeper and deeper into the iron. At length the spike was so far sawn through, that Jack thought it not worth while to continue it any longer. Releasing the little tool which had been of so much pence to him, he caught hold of the spike with his right and. Then putting out all his strength, he bent it backwards and forwards until it was broken off. Now came the most difficult part of all. His heart beat with painful quickness, but there was no time for hesitation. Indeed every thing would depend upon the rapidity of their actions. No sooner was the spike fairly broken off, than by the command of his companions, Jack climbed up the gate, and thrust his head and shoulders through the space between the other spikes. There was only just room, and bad he been bigger than he was he could never have got through, but he was remarkably slender. With a great effort he got his arms through, and then his two companions caught hold of them and pulled him through. A moment more, and he stood upon the stone floor of the lodge. One obstacle, and a most formidable one, that inter. posed itself between him and freedom was overcome. But scarcely had he fairly gained his feet, than one of the turnkeys in the ante-room got up off his seat, and came towards them. Fortunately he was perceived by Johnson, who pushed Jack close against the grating, and stood before him, speaking as though he was on the other side. Blueskin assisted him in this manceuvre. The turnkey evidently did not perceive that anything was wrong. He paused just on the threshold of the ante-room, and said— ‘* Now, you women, make haste; we are going to close the doors. ‘Time’s almost up, you know.” Joe Johnson responded to this speech by an admirably- affected burst of grief. Oh! hold your row!” cried the turnkey, turning away. ‘Make haste and say good-bye, and stop that awful howling.” He then resumed his seat. Jack had searcely dared to breathe while this was taking place. Discovery, indeed, seemed imminent. But he was all right again directly. ** What next, Blue?” he whispered. ** Be quiet ; don’s speak so loud.” ** Be quick, then.” ‘‘ Stand where you are; I will shp across to the door. Look, the key is in the lock.” Jack did look, and by a rapid glance assured himself that the ponderous key of the outer door had been leit sticking in the lock. ** Well—well.” . ‘© T will ateal across, turn it rapidly, and fling the door Rp 9 PE SP PC SPT ITE IEEE AY Detea tne mes A QML ee GETTER a (AP 209 8 Ee a NE, ET PRT Ra & CO JOO C SS (SO) 5}