Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 318: what you’re looking at

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

gre, FP Ge OE 436 caught a transient glimpse of the face of the murdered man. ‘“< What for ?” * As I toid you, I lived about these parts when I was a boy—and—and—perhaps I may know him. Lend me the light, I say.” . - There was a strange, wild incoherence in Quilt's manner that awed Wild, and he gave him the lantern without further question. The moment he had it in his grasp he hurried forward with staggering step, and directed the rays of the lantern upon the countenance of the dead. A horrible groan came from his lips as he caught sight of it, and he sunk down ina moment beside the corpse. onathan was full of astonishment and somewhat terni- fied, but he would not allow that to be visible, so he assumed an angry alr. Quilt was at first ignorant of the import of the words which Jonathan addressed to him, but when he did catch their meaning, he sprang suddenly to his feet and caught the thief-taker by the throat. ‘Villain! villain! monstrous villain!”’? he shrieked. ‘Did I come here to-night for this? But you shall pay for what you have done with your own life!” Surprise at the sudden attack for a moment made Wild incapable of defending himself, but recovering the use of his senses, he, in his turn, grasped Quilt Arnold by the throat, and a desperate struggle ensued. In this the latter proved no match for his master. Jonathan had him down in a moment, with his knee upon his chest. ‘‘ Are you mad P” he asked, with real anger. “‘ What do you meanP Whatisthe matter with you? Speak, or this moment is your last !”’ “TY will, Mr. Wild,’ said Quilt, his excitement sub- siding. ‘*I took the lantern to look in the face of the man you had killed. I hada presentiment that I should know it, and so I did. Jonathan Wild! 1 know that face. It was my father!” Jonathan himself was too much surprised to reply for a moment, and then all he could say when he did reply was to repeat the words— “Your father ?”’ ‘Yes. He was the sexton to this church.” ** Well, well, Quilt; it can’t be helped now. It would never have done for him to have spread the alarm all over the village. Besides, I didn’t know it was him. It was an unlucky chance.” **He is quite dead,” said Quilt, for Jonathan having released him, he had gone back to the body. ‘“ He is quite dead.” ““TIt is a most unlucky affair, altogether,’ said Wild. ** Tt will never do to leave him where he is. We must bury him along with Mary Milliner, and be off. Why, if ar: was found out, we should both be tucked up, as sure aa fate.” Quilt Arnold, who was at first much agitated, was now quite calm and self-possessed, or at all events appeared to be so. How much such behaviour was assumed none could tell. Jonathan Wild had him in his power, and he knew it. At the command of his master he assisted to carry the body of his father to his unholy grave, and cast him in. Quilt’s beart, bard as it was, smote him. But Jonathan produced his brandy-flask, and handed it to him. He drank heartily, and so did Wild, after which they set about ending their labour. The earth was shovelled in, and pressed down ag hard as possible with their feet. Then the turf was carefully placed over it, and no traces remained of the deed which had been done, with the exception of a mound of soil. This, however, they loaded with some trouble into the cart, and disposed of at a distance. The blood stains were removed, and everything done to prevent suspicion of what had occurred, and Jonathan wore back to London just asthe day was beginning to wn, a a a ee Te re ee = Rm a a EE NE ar a acter — BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. CHAPTER CCXX. WHICH THE LUDICROUS ADVENTURE Writ THY BOASTING TRAVELLER IS BROUGHT TO A CONCLU: SION, Botu Jack Sheppard and Blueskin broke ont into a hearty laugh when they saw the effect which the mere mention of Jack Sheppard’s name, and the bare proba- bility of his having stopped the coach, produced upon the boasting traveller. Now, most of those in the coach knew that it had stopped from the most natural of all causes. It had reached its destination, and that is why Jack spoke aa he did. But the “ Very extraordinary, ’pon honour” gentleman was quite oblivious of this, and he continued his frantic exertions to get underneath the seat, to the great dismay of the old maid, who, if ever she was in her life, must now be in a “ dither.” The guard of the coach now came to the door and opened it, and the passengers alighted. It was then, and not tell then, that Mr. **’Pon honour ” discovered that he had nothing whatever to fear, and looking very sheepish, he crawled out of the vehicle, and was off out of sight in a moment in the darkness. But Jack and Blueskin had both made up their minds that he should not escape them, so they darted off after him. The valorous gentleman slackened bis speed before he got very far, and then our two friends overtook him. Very skilfully they got one on each side of his person. ** Ha! sir,” said Jack, ‘I see you are going the same way as weare. Come along. We shall be glad of your company.” P *?Pon honour” 4 *‘ Just so, sir. You will forgive me for my little joke at your expense, won’t you?” “Very extraordinary. But did you think I was afraid ?” * Oh! no.” ***Pon honour; but just under the seat was my port- mantle, and in that I had a brace of pistols. I was trying to get them out, and if Jack Sheppard had stopped the coach I would have peppered bim.”’ “Oh! indeed. Now I trust you will forgive me for making such a mistake, but I really thought you were frightened, and were trying to hide yourself.” ‘**Pon honour, no; very extraordinary.” ** A very extraordinary mistake forme to make. But still I think London streets are very unsafe after dark ; and if you are going our way I think your company would be a protection.” **’?Pon honour, yes; very extraordinary, but I am going to Charing-cross.’ ** And we are going to Westminster, so we shall have the pleasure of your company for half the distance, at east.’ **?Pon honour, yess; I shall be very glad to protect you, Iam sure. As I told you before, highwaymen are the greatest cowards, and if it had only been Jack Sheppard pee . had stopped the coach I would have finished im. “So vou said, sir; this way, if you please—round the corner to the right.” ‘** But that is not the way to Charing-cross.” “Oh! yes; we shall save a good deal of ground, you will find, by going this way.” The valorous gentleman did not like to say nay to those who were with him, eo they turned the corner. It was into a very narrow, dark, and suspicious-looking street leading out of Piccadilly into which they turned. The hour was a late—or rather, to speak more correctly, an early one—still the night was far from gone, and no one scarcely was abroad. Just as they turned into this street, Blueskin took up the conversation. “TI dare say, sir, considering the government offers z rather large reward for the apprehension of Jack Shep- pard, that you would be glad to come across him.” **?Pon honour, yes; if you'll believe me, sir, very ex- traordinary, but the money just now would be very useful! indeed, and there is nothing I should like so much as tw meet with him.” IN SIE 9 ngage, nee ~~ Tm enters DP ee oS — eee EO DOO C S (CO) >