Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 317: what you’re looking at

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

Sa nce SE = FI RO CR 8 EN So atill, indeed, as to become painful, and the thief: taker and his accomplice both wished that they could hear some sound to indicate the presence of some other living creature. On reaching the remote corner of the ckurshyard referred to, they deposited their burden. It was quite a rehef to Quilt when Wild said~ ‘6 Light the lantern.” He immediately obeyed. It was a dark lantern, and, by his master’s orders, he only partially withdrew the slide, lest its hight should attract attention to them. Jonathan sat down on a contiguous tombstone, and hetd the lantern in his hand, directing tne whole oI 11a rays upon one spot, while Quilt Arnold began very diligently to turn up the earth. ** Dig deep,” said Jonathan, ‘‘ and as quickly as youare able, because every moment we stay increases our risk of detection. When you are tired and can dig no longer, I will help while you rest.” Quilt by no means wished to be discovered in what he was about, so he set to work in good earnest, and soon had a Jarge mound of earth and a deep hole. But digging is hard work to those who are not accnstomed to it, and Arnold was soon obliged to give in. Then he held the light while Jonathan jumped into the grave, and turned oud the earth in ineredible quantities. CHAPTER CCXIX. RECORDS THEH HORRIBLE SCENE WHICH TOOK PLACE THE GRAVEYARD OF THE RUINED CHURCH. JONATHAN set about his task too vigorously at first to be able to keep it up loug. Still, in a very little while, he had done a great deal. But his strength suddenly left him, and he was obhged to jump out of the grave to allow Quilt Arnold to finish the task. That worthy was tolerably refreshed by the short rest he had had, and he resumed his work steadily as before. At the expiration of a quarter of an hour he had dug a hole some eight or nine feet in depth. ** Is that deep enough P”’ he asked, Go a little lower, Quilt; you may as well while you are aboutit. I want to bury her so deep that there won’t be any risk of discovering her when they come to dig upon this spot to bury somebody else. Do you uuder- stand me? ” ‘ Allright, Mr. Wild,” replied Quilt, and he went on with his arduous labour. As he sat on the corner of a tombstone, holding the light, Jonathan had an ear to catch any sound. But all was silent still, and he began to indulze iu the hope that he should finish his disagreeable duty without interruption. Once more Quilt asked the question whether the grave was deep enough, and this time he coupled it with the assertion that he could not dig it any deeper in conse- quer of the difficulty he had in throwing out the mould. “‘Come ont, then,” replied Wild, “and let us get the job over ag quickly as we can. J am tired of it.” “So am I, sir,” said Quilt, as, not without some trouble, he scrambled out of the deep grave he had dug. He straightened his back. Jonathan put the lantern down just where he had heen eitting—that is to say, upon the coruer of the tombstone. Then they once more stooped over the inert body of Jonathan’s mistress. Catching hold of the sack at all four corners, they staggered with it to the edge of the grave, and then, giving it one swing, allowed it to fall in. It struck with a dull thud egainst the sides of the grave, and finally reached the bottom with a crash that caused a sickeniny sensation in the breasts cf the thief-tales and Qpilt as they heard it. Bunt at that moment their ears was assailed with a ery that made them forget all about the other. That cry was vttered by a human voice. **Help! help!” it said. “Murder! muaer! help! They are robbing a dead hody! Help! help! good people all! Arrest the villains! Murder! murder! hese words were enough to terrify Jonathan Wild. IN RARE A eggs, PCI Race OO A ON Free@ 6 Ow ere 315 Although personally it might be said that he had nothing to fear, yet he did not wish to he mixed up in any way with the transaction, and he would have deputed the job altogether to other hands, only in that case his mind would not have been so much at rest as it would be if he had seen it done himself, Looking through the gloom in the churchyard, he saw in ne distance the figure of an old man, who was running rapidly. The moment he caught sight of him he made up his mind what to do. Quilt Arnold had taken the spade with the intention of hastily filling up the grave. Jonathan snatched it with great rapidity from hi hands, and then, heedless of the obstacles that were before him, he ran after the flying form. It was wonderful to see how he jumped over the tomb- stones, which were placed very thickly together, and almost every time withont sustaining the slightest injury. But who it was that was flying before him to spread the alarm, must either have had fleeter running powers than Wild, or else, which was more likely, possessed a more intimate knowledge of the graveyard. In spite of every effort, Jonathan could not overtake him, and he hegan to grow terribly apprehensive that he would get out of the churehyard, and running to the village, spread the alarm. This dread made Jonathan double kis endeavours. At length, just before him, he could see the palings which formed the boundary of the churchyard, and the little gate in them. The flying form, still uttering cmes for help, made its way iu a direct line to the gate. He reached it. But be had to stay a moment to undo the fastening. That moment was fatal. It allowed Jonathan to come up with him. ae was nervous and agitated, and could net find the atch. At last his hand rested upon it. Then he lifted 1. Another second, and he would have been fairly out into the lane. But Jonathan was tco close behind him. He saw the person he was chasing fumbling at the gate. x =. grasped the handle of the spade tightly with both ands. He raised it above his head. Then, just at the very moment when the man, having litted the latch, was about to pass through, he brought it down with all the force he could impart to 1. His aim was accurate. The sharp edge of the heavy implement caught the man fairly on the top of the head. He fell with a gasping sob, with as much suddenness ag if he had been struck down with lightning. Had there been any one to see the countenance of the thief-taker at that moment, it would be seen to be dis- torted with one of his hideous grins. That was because he had been successful. The man he had so brutally and ruthlessly struck down lay just where he had fallen, and exhibited no signs what- ever of returning animation. And now Quilt Arnold, holding the lantern with au unsteady grasp, appeared upou the scene. He had followed his master, picking his way among the gravestones carefully. His heart turned sick, callous as he was, when he saw the brutal murder committed. But the first words Wild uttered showed not the least signs of pity or remorse. ““Ha—ha! Quilt, there he is; I thought I chould have him! Lend me the light. Ah! justas Tthenght; he is ag dead as a nut,’’ Jonathan had taken the lantern, and wheu he lecked at the prostrate form, he saw that the head had been clove in two with the edge of the spade, and ihe brains scat- tered around. . Curse him!* growled the thief-taker, in a voice of extreme bitterness. “ Curse him! I have caught him, to be sure, but we shall have no end of extra trouble. Look, there is a pool of blood.” ‘Tend me the lantern,” said Quilt, sxddenly, ag he = = ae eee oe a ome * SR AR ITER NA SPT AG CRY NR i cline a RS Teo I PR _ ape a + BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE, SS EO DOO (SO) 5}