Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 325: what you’re looking at

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

BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE, doit. Now I have made up my mind to hang Jonathan Wild at ly burn, and you mark my words if I don’t.” That would be brave—brave, indeed.” *¢ T,cavo us, then, and think it over. You may depend it will be done.” The old Jew left the room, and then Jack, turning to his conrade, said— Yon told the old Jew just now that all our plans were matured.” T know I did, and so they are.” ‘JT dou’t donbt that, but you forget I do not share in them, nor do I know what you intend to do, except that I can guess why you have taken the top attic in the house next to Jonathan Wild’s.” ** TTaven’t I told you?” No. ‘hen I thought I had. However, I will give you my plan of operations in a very few words.” “ To so, and then I shall be able to rest all the better.” Well, my plan is simply this. To-night we go to this bouse next to Wild’s, and enter upon the occupation of the attic.” ** Yes.” "he first thing we shal] do will be to climb out of the - window ou to the roof, and from thence on to the roof of Wild’s honse.” ‘That is just what I thought.” s In the root of this there is, to my knowledge, a trap- deor.’ *¢ And to mine,” said Jaek, “for I once raised it and got throngh.” * T intend for you to do the same thiug again.” “ Yet us hear the arrangements you have made.” 1 agreed with Steggs, then, that I would tap on this trap-docr in a certain manner. If Wild was out, and the eoast perfectly clear, he would unfasten it, for 1t 1s now always kept bolted. If Wild was there, and it was dangerons for us to enter, he should take no notice, and we should have to wait.” > * Gocd, that isa most excellent arrangement, provided always that Steggs does not play us false.” “ } don’t think you need fear that.” ©) hope he will not.” So do 1.” “ It he took it into his head to betray as to Jonathan, we chould be very awkwardly situated indeed.” *T fancy he hates the thief-taker too cordially for that. You mnst remember he has treated him very badly.” *¢ IIe has.” “ And Steggs is a man of a most vindictive character.” That is a good deal.” *¢ But we must run the risk of tbat. the remainder of my plans.” * Yes, do.” *¢ Should the coast be quite clear, and Steges nubolts the door, I shall remain upon the roofs to keep watch and ward, while you will descend through the trap-door, aud make your way to the room where Edgworth Bess is confined.” ‘Go on, go on.” With all the speed possible you will make her ac- quainted with what you intend to do, and then bring her to the trap-door. I shall be above, and will assist her on to the roofs; you will follow, and Steggs, if he thinks proper.” * Tt is a capital plan.” * Do yon think it likely to succeed ?”’ “1 think it certain to do so, if Jonathan is from hone.” “So do I; and as for that, Ste¢gs will be able to tell us of it. When youare all fairly on the roof, the trap-door Let me tell you _ will be closed, and we shall make our way into the attic, and thence into the strect.’” What then? ” . he next thing will be instant and immediate flignt. _ The treasure must be unburied, and we must makes the best of our way out of England, and not return until Kdgworth Bess has passed her twenty-first birthday.” Jack clasped Llueskin by the kand. “I think I can see the end of all that we have endured. Happiucss, old friend, is in store for us, 1 feel sure of that.” ‘*T trust so, Jack.” “Oh! I feel sure of it—quite sure. But stay; there is something in your plans whieh you have omitted.” ‘What P” When we descend from the attic and make our way into Newgate-street, where shal! we betake ourselves ? ” “ey barely know, Jack, where we ought to go first.” ‘¢ And how shall we escape—on foot ?” **T think so.” “But if Wild pursnes us?” ‘ T am in hopes he will not.” * Dut we must provide for the poesibility cf his doing 80. “Tt would be wisest.” “OF course it would.” *¢ What should we do?” **T leave that to you.” ** 1 do not want to excite suspicion. Now, if we had a vehicle of any sort waiting in Newgate-street, it will be sure to attract attention.” Then which way are we to take to leave England?” “You shall yourself decide.” * Shall we go to Holland or to France ?” ** Just as you please.” **T should say France.” “Very well.’ ‘Then, as for the route, I should say take the most unfrequented one yon can find, and embark from some obscure port.” : ** Certainly.” “If we were to go to Dover, or anywhere there, Jonathan would be down upon us direetly.’ ‘* Unquestionably.” **] think Edgworth Bess can ride.” What of that?” ** Suppose we were to have three horses saddled, and kept waiting for us, not necessarily in Newgate-street, but somewhere close at hand?” “That might be done.” Oh! yes, and then we should at least stand a chance of making our escape, even if Jovathan Wild should pursue us.” ** Let it be so, then, and consider that all our arrange- ments aré finally settled.” *€ I think they are.” * And now, get all the sleep you can, and so be able to endure fatigue, for it strikes me it will be a long time before you will have any rest.” *¢ } fear so.” Blueskin did not reply. He was more weary and more in necd of sleep than his younger and more active companion. But in a little while both slumbered, nor did they awake until just dusk. In accordance with the arrange- ment made, the old Jew came into the room to wake them. They started up hastily and went down, where they eat heartily, as men only can eat who do not know when food will pass their lips again. CHAPTER COCXXY. JACK SHEPPARD AND BLUESKIN TAKE POSSESSION OF TIIEIR LODGINGS. INSTRUCTIONS were given to Aaron Tumposki to have three saddle-horses waiting just round the corner of Warwick-lane, one of which was, of course, to be furnished with a side-saddle. Then, these arrangements baving been made, and as the streets were quite dark, our friends, well and fully armed, with their hearts nerved with courage, and their muscles strung for action, set out upen their perilous excursion. ao reach the place of their destination, however, they made a considerable detonr, getting into Newgate-street, in fact, not from the Skinner-street, but St. Martin’s-le- Grand end. The street was dark and tolerably full of people. But unheeding them, our two friends made their way to ~26 Louse we have so often mentioned. Upon reaching it, as a matter of course, they found the front door wide open, and, as another matter of course, the shoemaker was standing on his doorstep, gazing at the passers by in the strect. . In fact, his shoemaking business was a mere blind. The (SO) (SO) 5}