Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 341: what you’re looking at

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

ft | j ee I LLL LE CL TEEN EG I I SEPT OEP CIC IRE ETE OAS OS SORT SO _ BLUESKIN;: A ROMANCE, TS T am afraid it would be rather hazardous to exhibit a light here.” ‘“‘ T suppose so; and yet I don’t know, after all. Such a light as would be sufficient to answer our purpose would only look like dstiny twinkling star in this huge place.” “ That’s very true.” **T should say, light up by all means.” “T will take yonr advice. At first sight it looked a dangerous thing to do, but when you come to think of it,a great deal of that danger vanishes.” With these words on his lips, Blueskin felt in“‘his pects. and prescntly produced the means of obtaining a ight. ‘These were a bottle of phosphorus and a wax taper. The latter was small in size. When it was lighted and the flame of the wick had properly burnt up, Jack’s words were found to be quite trne, for the light did seem like a tiny star, and it searcely dispersed the darkness for a foot around it. Still they were able to see the ground beneath their fect and avoid running against any object which might be in their path. By keeping on in a straight line they came tuo that por- tion of the cathedral in which service was generally per- - formed. Edgworth Bess was very much fatigued. She did not complain, but Jack could tell as much by tho way she leaned upon his arm; indeed, as they walked, he almost carried her. Upon reaching the place we have mentioned, Jack looked about him as well as he was able, and saw that the pews in which the people sat during the celebration of the service were very large, and roomy, and comfortable. They were moreover very comfortably cushioned— indeed, everything that would conduce to comfort had been done to them. This gave Jack an idea. ** Blueskin,” he said, “‘ we may as well remain where we now are for a few hours. Bess could he down on the scat in one of these pews and have a good sleep, while we watched over her. e should have to move at daylicht, that would be all.” “JT have no objection,’ said Blueskin. “I don’t suppose you would find a better place if you were to search St. Paul’s over, and, as you say, we could watch.” This being agreed to, the door of one of the pews was opened by Jack, and Edgworth Bess entered. Poor girl, she was quite overcome, and sank on the scat with a deep sigh. Jack closed the door and left her to herself, bidding her good night, and desiring her to get as much sleep as shie possibly could, and he would sce that she was menaced with no danger. Edgworth Bess promised all that he asked of her, aud then Blneskin and Jack Sheppard crossed the aisle and entered another pew, which was precisely opposite to the one of which Edgworth Bess had taken possession. Jack Sheppard and Blueskin agreed to watch and sleep by turns, and also to defer all further conversation rela- tive to their future operations until such time as Hdg- veut Bess would be able to take part in the consulta. on. And a0, during the remainder of that eventfal night, the three fugitives remained undisturbed beneath the sacred roof of St. Panl’s Cathedral, while Jonathan Wild was fatiguing himself both bodily and mentally by a use- less search after them. CHAPTER CCXXXIV. JONATHAN WILD MEDITATES A LITTLE UPON THB TATE OF IIS AFFAIRS. It was, in fact, about an hour before dawn that a party of mien, about a dozen in number, crept wearily down New- gate-street in the direction of the prison: They were no other than Jonathan Wild’s band, re- turning from their fruitless search after the threa fugi- ves. for hours had the thief-taker kept up the hunt, but it was all in vain, he could not find the least traco of those he songht. In a frame of mind by no means to be envied, he Eee on, with his troop of inen following close at his eels, re ee Laan era) rr nen ener eee SD Nothing but fatigue, however, and total inability to proceed, would have had the offect of causing Jonathan to relinquish his search until he had succeeded. But, like his janizaries, he was mortal, and more seusible of fatigue than he would have wished to bo. Jonathan Wild was not the man he had been. All who came into contact with him could see that. It was not that his mind was less powerful and full of energy than it was of old,—on the contrary, it seemed to have been endowed with fresh strength. But his body failed him. That was his weak point. Originally he had been gifted with s ccnstitution which might be truly termed of. iron. Few men ever had a stronger. But he abused his strength, and the wonder was that it had kept up so long and so well as it had. The numerous wounds he had reccived upon almost every part of his body had produced great debilitation. For a long time he had withstood thoir effects, and the huge libations of brandy he was in the habit of taking had imparted for a time a factitious etrength, but every time the reaction came, it left him weaker than before. But, on this occasion, the first thing he did was to de- mand brandy, and when the fiery fluid was brought him, he drank such a quantity that a spectator wouid have been filled with astonishment. It was real good brandy, too, such as had never passed through the publican’s hands, but as it had come from the distillery, and very many degrees over proof. In a moment—before, indeed, he took the bottle from his hps—the brandy seemed to circulate through every vein and artery in his body, and for the instant he felt himself in pessession of his pristine strength. He laboured under the delusion that he was better. Still not even the brandy which he drank would restore rest to his weary and aching bones. Many a man would have been laid up for a month by such a tumble from tho roof-tops as he had had, and yet we have seen what he has done sizze. But the limit of his endurance was reached, and he wag obliged to succurab. Withont a word to any one (for he was incompetent even to curse his men), he made his way upstairs, and entering a bed-room, he staggered to the bed, threw him- self upon it, and endeavoured to sleep. But for a long time he tried in vain. He was almost too tired for sleep to come tohim. Ilis brain throbbed—his bones, from the crown of his head to the sole of his foot, ached excrnaiatingly—and whero the skin had been abraded and dirt rubbed into the wound, he suffered a terrible smarting torment. But at length Jonathan Wild fell into a deep sleep— exhausted nature was at last having her due. In the very next room to that in which Wild thus lay sleeping, there also lay another person, whose condition was by far more desperate than his. It is scarcely necessary to say that the individual to whom allusion is made is no other than the unfortunate Steges, who unluckily fell a victim to the blind suspicions of Jack Sheppard. He was extended on the bed, looking as lifeless as any one well could. Some one in tho house had done him that kindness, and there their assistance ceased, considering that all had been done that was necessary. The reader must be aware, without being expressly told so, that Steggs was quite guiltless of the crime which Jack Sheppard laid to his charge. He had not the slightest intention of betraying him to Wild, and when he descended the stairs, it was for the purpose stated by Edgworth Bess, namely, to ascertain whether Jonathan had returned. Io fonnd he had done so, and, moreover than that, that he had tracked Jack Sheppard to here he was. No sconer did he learn this, than he Lastened upstairs to communicate the intelligence to Jack, and urge him to make all possible speed. nee We have seen how he did g0, ana we have also scen how Jack Sheppard allowed his dislike for the man to triumph over his judgment, and so he gave him tho des- perate wound we have described. It was a great wonder it was not at once fatal, or that the fall and the kicks Jonathan bestowed upon him while on the landing did not ccnspice to produce tha’ (aE fg ad TI ek - 2 me A Me eC A T_T ET ETL PD nn a ne ee emai Sanne ee TP aes 2 Sea i§ ER pone, 220m rr. ge Ry aes Shee. eG COMmiICcooo CC S (SO) 5}