Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 269: what you’re looking at

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

BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE, 0 yn pee . SS eR, EEE I er > Ee 267 =~ ments which they made showed how they endeavoured to | sew the crowd disperse; and if you wait for that, you will do so. and then all that was left was two pendant figures | hanging from two of the triangulur-shaped beams. But the ceremony was scarcely over. It would have taken some time for the mer to have strangled themselves by their own weight alone, so to put them out of their misery, the hangman seized them by the legs in rapid succession, and hung with his whole weight. A few convulsive shudders followed, and then all was over. Limp and inanimate their bodies floated idly in the breeze, which was just strong encugh to make them move to and fro. Jonathan Wild, as socm as the deed was fully accom. lished, raised his hand, and pointing towards the lifeleas orms, cried— “Three groans for the murder of John Reots His words were caught by~the foremost in the crowd and instantly responded to, and the cry was at length taken up by the whole of the assemblage. Upon this, the governor of Newgate, who had kept ag much out of Wild’s sight as possible, drew near. Jonathan greeted him with an angry scowl. Mr. Noakes observed it, and wished he had kept back, but he could not retreat, so he said— “Mr. Wild! Mr. Wild!” “Well?” “‘T trust you don’t bear me any malice for what has occurred.” Why not?” “Tt was not my fault, nor the fault of any one in New. IT wanted him hanged quite as much as yor.” c¢ Bah ! 33 ‘You might believe me, Mr. Wild.”’ “You should have taken more care.” “I took every care. ° ** It does not look lke it.”’ ‘Who would have suspected it ? (7? I never should; and whether you like to believe me or not, the turnkeys, who | t were sitting at the other end of tke lodge, were talking about his former escape, and saying how necessary it was for them to be vigilant.” ‘** And yct he escaped again ?”’ **He did, and I can’t make out how. I should say it was impossible for any one to have squeezed through so small a space.” “*Well, well, Afr. Noakes,” said Jonathan, whose blood- thirsty spirit must bave been to some extent appeased by what had just taken place, ‘‘1t 1s no good there bemg any il) blood between us; we shall get on best if we continue friends. As for Jack Sheppard, the only way that you can atone for his escape is to recapture him with as litile delay as possible,” ‘**T have tried my best to do that, Mr. Wid, end it will be strange indeed if I do not succeed.” “Do so—do so. Both Jack and his accomplices would have been safe ere now had it not been for the wound I was unlucky enough to receive. I feel it now—lI feel it now. The thief-taker reeled in the saddle as he spoke, and, per ate would have fallen to the ground, had not his riend, the governor, lent him his assistance. Jonathan was giddy. But by an effort be mastered the feeling. ** You came out too soon, Mr. Wild,” said the governor, ‘* and now you are suffering for it.” ‘*No, no. It isnotbing. [am allright now- just a httle giddiness, that was all.” *¢1 am glad to hear it.” ** Enough, Mr. Noakes. On this spot,and in sight of those two villains yonder, I swear tbat I will take no cest until Jack Sheppard swings there hke they do, It will not be long before I keep my oath, for I Puve many 1m- portant matters to attend to; but revenge sets them every one aside, and must be the first gratified.” “You will, then, take the matter personally in hand, im ,auita independent of what the government may it was “Certainly; aud, as J have the strongest motive to urge me on, I shall be almost certain to succeed.” I ehball try to beat you, Mr. Wild; but there is no weed for us to stay here any longer, withont you wish te ee ae A nd have to stay here some time; and look, the sheriffs aro e With a rumbling sound the cart was drawn quite away, | going. 7 ‘ We will follow them, Mr. Noakes.” The governor was well pleased to find Jonathan co amicably disposed towards him, and the pair joined tle procession, which was then in the act of leaving. The governor kept close to the side of the thief-taker, endeavouring to still further concihate him. By the time they reached the Old Bailey, they were quite good friends. Jonathan repaired to his own house. He had carried things off pretty well, but he was in such a state of ex- haustion that he eould scarcely support nimself in the saddle. oe Arno!d heard bim arrive and opened the door. e saw his master swaying backwa:¢s and forwards in imminent danger of falling. He ran down the steps et once,and assisted him to alight from his steed. Then he half carried him into the house. Just as they entered the hall, Mr. Snoxall, who had been up to see his patient, descended the stairs,and a meeting took place. Jonathan’s countenance was ghastly m the extreme. * Rrandy!’’ he gasped; ‘‘ give me brandy! ” “JT told you how it would be,” exclaimed Mr. Snoxeall ;y ‘TT knew very well what would be the result! Now take my advice, Mr. Wild ——”’ * Bah! silence! Brandy, I say.” Quilt Arnold had long since learned the policy of 1m- mediately complying with the thief-taker’s orders, so ho started off to fetch the brandy. He returned with it in a few moments. Jonathan drank of it deeply. The influence of the stimulant soon made itself ap- parent. But the strength which it produced was but of a fac- titious character. Mr. Snozall spoke azain, and this time ha was listened 0. “Afr, Wild, if you«culd oniy be guided by me.” In what?” “You are suffering from fearful wounds, or rather tha weakness wuich those wounds have caused. The brandy you drink, although it may eadow you with a momentary ae will seou depart, and leave you weaker than bte- ore.’ Jonathan felt the truth of all this, and the conviction also dawned upon him, that if he neglected his own health, he should be baulked of his revenge and all his schemes of aggrandizement which he had formed. This made Lim rather more temperate than usual, fez he asked— “What should you advise, Mr. Snoxall P” ‘Tn the first place, rest.”’ The thief-taker felt how acceptable rest would be to his tried and debilitated frame. “ Rest not only of the body, but the mind,” added the apothecary. Jonathan grinned. “Can you not giveme a medicine that will have the same effect, and allow me action P”’ Mr. Snoxall shook his head. “Then give me brandy!” “brandy, | say, and more of if. eried the thief-taker ; Brandy—brandy!” CHAPTER CLAAXVI. RETURNS TO STEGGS AND EDGWORTH BESS, Hap not Jonathan Wild’s constitution been as strong as iron, it could never have withstood as it did the attacks which were made upon 1t. The brandy mounted to his brain. A mist of blood secmed to envelop all things. But that soon passed away, and he again falt that he possessed a moiety at least of his ordinary strength. | For a pursuit after Jack Sheppard,to be of any avail, he knew it ought to be instituted at once, and he could trast the ‘conduction of it into no other hands than his wn. Mr. Snoxall’s proposal was one that he could not listen to at all. Turning round, then, he gave orders to Quilt to get tos Pee Fy Ke awe ew Bere ee ee ( ’ ( — et Sa ere Sane a ee (SO) 5}