Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 322: what you’re looking at

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

awe “ta eye wow ee ne me eS rs ee A “RR 390 ELUESKIN: A ROMANCE. But finding the road good, they still drove on, and passed the foot of Battersea-bridge. The further they proceeded, the denser grew the mist. It was, too, very cold, and settled upon them in large drops of moisture. a But it was in places scarcely so hign as it had been, being densest nearest the ground, so that when Jack stood up inthe cart he was able to see tolerably well about him, and direct his companion where to drive. “Blue,” he said, “it has just strnck me that some- where about here there is a clump of trees which stretch right down to the water’s edge. Now, don’t you think that would make a good hiding-place.” “T do; aud moreover, if we had the treasure not far from the river’s side, we could row down here some dark night, and carrv a quantity away in the boat and dispose of it.’ “Capital. The place must he somewhere close here. Drive carefully. I see it just before us. Pull up now.” Blueskin pulled up, and then stood up in the cart to see that his young comrade was not mistaken. Through the upper stratum of the mist he could just define a mass of something dark. ‘We won't drive too close up to the place, Blue, for fear of leaving a trace.” ** How shall you manage then ?”’ * Why, I will stand here with the horse and cart, while you load yourself with as many of the ingots as you can conveniently carry. Then, when you return from having placed them somewhere among the trees, you can stand by the horse while I take a load, and so do it by turns.” “Very well, that will do; at least, I will carry the lot, or how wil] you know where to take them to?” ** Just as you like.” Jack then loaded Blueskin with a great many ingots, who started off while he stood there on guard. Blueskin was absent some moments, but when he re- turned he said— “IT shan’t be so long next time; I had to fix upon a place, you know, and to take notice where I was going.” Away he went with load number two, and he continued this process till the whole had been transferred to the wood. ‘** There seems to be no people about; I have not heard a sound or seen a thing all the time.” **So much the hetter, then.”’ ** Just so; and I think it would be quite safe if we were to leave the horse and cart here.” **T should not leave them in the road. If you go a little further you will come to a gate leading into the fields. We will lead the horse in there.” “That will do.” Blueskin led the way to the gate he spoke of, and Jack, taking the horse by the bridle, followed. The gate was not fastened in any way, so they swung it open, and passed in without difficulty. The hnks with which the horses two fore legs had pre- viously been fastened were again produced, and the animal having been secured, they made the best of their way to the wood. There were now some very unequivocal symptoms of the sun making his appearance aud dispersing the mist. Still they thought they should have time, before any one came to the spot, to do what they wished. Just as they were passing out of the gate, Jack struck his foot against something, which fell with a clattering sound to the ground. He would have paid no further attention to it, however, if his companion had not asked— ** What’a that P”’ Jack stooped to see, and then he cried— ‘More luck! fortune is on our side at last! It isa epade ! What in the world should we have done without one CHAPTER CCXXIII. BLUESKIN AND JACK SHEPPARD TAK LODGINGS IN NEWQATE-STREET, NEXT DOOR TO JONATHAN WILD’S. Just at that moment so simple a thing as a spade was a valuable acquisition to our two friends, for without one they would have found their task of burying the treasure both tiresome and laborious. 7 ome > ~, WER =p. TS Negi E ae. * afb. With a lighter heart than he had had in his bosom for many a long day, Jack shouldered the spade and followed Blueskin to the wood with a quick step. The little clump of trees, however, which grew upon the margin of the river was scarcely worthy of being dignined with the name of wood, but still, for want ofa better appellation, we must so designate it. Blueskin had deposited the ingots of silver in one heap, and so close to the river that they had already begun to eink in the soft earth. We need not linger over this portion of our narrative. het it suffice for us to say that, with the aid of their spade, they, in about an hour buried all the ingots, with the exception of four, two of which were caniea by Jack and two by Blueskin. In accordance with the arrangement they had made, the ingots were not buried in one heavy’ Indeed, they even went so far as to dig a hole for each ingot, of which there were in all thirty-seven. By the time they had finished, however, the sun had attained a «_asiderable altitude, and the mist had heen wholly dispersed. But, to the best of their knowledge, they had not been seen in what they were about by any living creature. For certain they had not been in any way disturbed in what they were about. Going forth into the Jane, they were pleased to find the place still preserved its solitary and desolate character. ‘** Now, Jack,” said Blueskin, ‘* what is to be done next ? We must be uncommonly careful, bear in mind, for Jonathan Wild won’t be long before he hears of his loss, and he will set it down to us directly.” ‘He can’t know of it yet, Blue; and there can’t he many people astir yet. I think the best thing to do will be to get into the cart and drive straight back to Tumposki’s, in Seven Dials, if you think we can make sure of shelter there.” ; re that will be a very bold and hazardous proceeding, ack,”’ ** What, to drive through London P ” ** In broad dayhght !” ‘Not a bit of it. You may depend if we get into the cart, and drive along like ordinary people, taking no ee of anybody or anything, nobody will take notice of us. **T don’t know that, Jack.” ** Well, let us try it.” ** TI don’t mind if you don’t, of course, but still capture, now that we have succeeded so well, would be uncommonly vexatious.” **T admit that. Butdo you know I don’t think we shall run into much danger. In the first place, it will be such a bold and daring thing to do that no one would believe we had the courage to attempt it.” ** J shouldn’t wonder.” ** Get the cart out of the field, and let us start at once, and get to our journey’s end as soon as possible.” The cart was got out into the lane, and our two friends entered it and drove back to London. They tried their best to carry out the plan which Jack had mentioned, though neither of them could altogether forbear from casting furtive glances around them when they fairly got into London. owever, with a boldness which no one could help admiring, they took their course in a direct line and through the principal thoroughfares to their destination. But in this to a great extent lay the secret of their success. > Without any mischance happening to them whatever, they arrived at the door of the Jew’s house in Little Earl street, Seven Dials. They had evidently been watched for and expected, for no sooner had they brought their vehicle to a standstill than the door was opened, and Tumposki appeared upon the threshold. Qur tio friends were out with marvellous celerity, and ran into the house. ‘There was a boy standirg in the passage, and he ran out to take charge of the horse. ‘‘Don’t ask any questions, Aaron,” said Blueskin, observing the look ot astonishment which was depicted upon the Israelite’s countenance; “but tell me, is thas boy who has just ran out capable of driving » horas? “Ob! dear, yes.” ey, COMmMICOOOKS.CO > rc... YY +.