Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 273: what you’re looking at

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

| Orv queenen — 9 se Sn oe ff they left the cart just where it was, in the middle of BLUESKIN: A ROMANCKE. eee tr ———————————————————————_—_———L——————— ada the road, it would give a clue to their whereabouts. But what was to be done with them? Blueskin went a little way down the road, and then cams to a gate Icading into a meadow. It was‘locked, but that was not much of an obstacie to Blueskin. cy ’ He had it open in a trice. Then, going back, he toid his comrades what ne had} done, aud they set about disentangling the cart from the horse. When this was done, the three easily drew the cart along, for it was of alight build, and concealed it iv the meadows behind the hedge. Then there was the horsa to dispose of Thig was by fara more troublesome affair, but by their united strength they succeeded in dragging it after them, a few yards at a time, until that was iu the meadow fike- wise. Blueskin pulled the gate shut, aud finding it hac a tendency to swing open, he kept it in its proper place by means of a large stone which he rolled against it. There were now no very perceptible traces of what had happened, but their position was much worse than it had been. Altogether a good deal of timo had been cecupicd, and they every moment expected to hear the trampling hoofs of their pursuers’ horses on the road. But they were not audible as yet. ** What shall we do, Johnson ?”’ Blueskin asked. ‘We cannot do better than keep straight down the road. There isa preserve not much further ou, and if we are hard pressed we can take refuge in it.”’ This was agreed to. They started at first to go down the road at a trot, but tho pain of the bruises they had received soon caused them to diminish their speed. They went at a walk, and even that waa laborious and distressing. And now, to add to their discomfiture, they could hear quite plainly that which they had so long expected— namely, the trampling of horses’ feet. * Where is the preserve you spoke of? The sooner we enter it the better, for I cannot keep up much longer, and the horsemen behind will be upon us directly.” It was Jack Sheppard who spoke. He had said nothing before, but he had been hurt much more than either of the others, for the simple reason that he had fallen from a greater height and ina more awk- ward manuer. ‘Tt is not many yards further,’’ responded Johnson. ‘Keep up, and we shall be all mght. Do you see that black-looking mass before you, which seems aimost like a cloud?” ** Yes—yes.” That is it, then. Cheer up. My own bones ache so that Ican scarcely move. Keep up.’ Nothing more was said, except that now and then one or other of them would utter a dismal groan which the anguish motion caused brought forth. At length the plantation was reached. But they found that it was guarded from the road by a high wooden fence behind, aie close to which grew some dense vegetation. All were deeply disappointed and ready to give in, except Johnson, who said— “ Keep to the left. Leavethe road. Before long you will come to a.gap, through which yon will be able to pave your way. On with you at once. Thero ts no time to lose! ) CHAPTER CLAXXIX. JACK SHEPPARD, BLUESKIN, AND JOIINSON HAVE Af ADVENTURE IN THE PLANTATION, THERE was, indeed, no time to lose, for the lorseraen gaiued upon them with great rapidity. It was practicable to skirt the plautation on its eastern side—the northern faced the road—and eccordingly avy | friends, under the directiou of Johnson, did so. It was over a meadow that they took their way. Ere long the palings began to prescnt a dilayrdaied appearance, and they pushed op with renewed hope of quickly reaching the inclosure. any > er = FST Or we ee Re ee ee wet eo nn RRO See Aa — o_=+- ~~ On came the horsemen at a furious pace. They did not halt at any place, so 1t wonld seem they had nct noticed the fall of tho horse. All held their breaths. * There was a slight chance that they could sweep down the road, and come to the conclusion that the fuzitives were not there, and this chance was fulfilled, or the firs¢ portion of it, at any rate. They passed by tho plantation with undiminighed speed, Take cheer from that,’ said Johuson, “‘ for that isa very great piece of luck. I don’t say they won't come back, hecausa they may have known for certain that wo came duwn here. We must run the risk of that. We shall find a place where wa can scramble through directly.” “What do you say to makiug ove?” asked Blueskin. “Tho wood is extremely rotten, and I could pull some of it down in a mement.”’ ‘*No—no. Yon had better not dothat. The keepers may sec it, and besides, it will serve to show the way we have taken. Push ona little further, and we shall find a place ready made.” Blueskin was convinced that his friend was right, so he conbnace his course along the palings without another word, About two hundred paces further on, they came to& place where the fence had been completely demolished. ‘This is it,” said Johnson. ‘Yon can get in easuy enough.” And so they could. Just, however, as they were about to plunge among ths trees, they were all startled by the loud report of a gun. It was somewhere close at hand. ‘S What does that mean?” asked Jack. ) * Either the poackers or the keepers are avout. Con- found them! Ten to one if the sound of the report docs not reach the ears of the horsemen who have just passed, and cause them to return. Curse them! There they go again!” Another report followed. Something of an unusual nature wag taking placa, fora certainty, though the suppozition which Johnson had uttered was a probable enourh one. By general consent he had taken the command of thie whole party, and he now led them on through tho intricacies of the wood. They proceeded for some time in silence. No more shots followed. It was Johnson’s intention to go a3 near to the ceutra of the plantation as possible, believing that he then had the best chance of eluding his foes. Not a word was spoken, and they were careful to make no more noise in their progress than they could possibly avoid, for they knew not what unfriendly ears might be close by, but in spite of all their caro they could not present a slight crackling now and then, as a twig or dead ranch of a tree snapped under their fect. All at once Johnsou came to a halt. His companions stopped likewise, and a3 they did ao they heard a faint moaning sound. They all listened intently to it. What or who it camo from they could not tell. They had taken care when they heard the shot fired te notice the spot from which they appeared to come, and had taken a path that would lead them directly from it. Jolson touched Blueskiu on the arm. ‘You are youngerthan Tam. Creep forward stealthily a hiltle way and then return, and try if you can find out what that means. We will stay where we are. It may be of importance to us to know, and I know Jack is too much hurt, or 1 should have asked him.” This was uttered rapidly and in a low tone of voice. Blueskin replied by at once doing as he was requested. It was an anxious five minutes which elapsed between the time of his departure and his return. Neither Sheppard nor Johnson uttered a word, but bent ail their faculties to the one of listening. At length they heard a rustling noise, and dircctly afterwards, Blueskin appeared. “+ What is it?” they both asked ina breath. “ Nothing to be over alarmed about, I think. qe quickly and quietly.” te he ane Blueskin glided away, and they bad na resource but to follow him, and discover what was tus Follow , canse of the strange sovand they bsd heard. —-— =) =e seer St os EO DOO 5} SS