Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 345: what you’re looking at

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

ee a eas “S 3 BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. (an rirer I E a C | steps, which seemed to lead down to the very foundations of the cathedral. cS Very slimy and damp, and overgsown with a kind of green parasitic moss were those steps, and, indeed, they presented every appearance of not having been made usa of for many years. ‘¢'This is all in our favour,” said Blueskin. “I do not suppose, if we had searched the whole place through, we should have found anything that suited us sc well. think the best thing we can do is to go ana wake Bess and take up our quartors here at once, for, if we ere to be seen, we should be quite done for.” *‘ Evidently.” ‘‘ Thon let us go and wake hu? * **T will do so,” said Jack, “ it~ou will remain here. I will bring her, and then woe shay not havo the trouble of finding this particular place again.” This was a by no means unnecessary precaution, for in that vast place, if they had once lost the door, they would have had a great deal of trouble in finding it again. Blneskin consented to this arrangement, and Jack Pa to the pew where he had left Edgworth Bess asleep. She was asleep still, and, with a beating heart, he asked himself whether she was dead, for she had slept unin- terruptedly. He listened, and then his fears wero dispelled, for in the silence of tho sacred edifice he could hear her breath- ing. ivieeured, he called to herin alow voice and awakened er. At first she was startled, but the sound of his voice was familiar to her ears, and the moment she heard it, she felt safe to e certain extent. oo * You must leave this place,” said Jack; “it will be unsafe to stay here any longer, because of the many persons who come to visit the cathedral. Blueskin is at @ little distance off. We shall have to seek a fresh shelter during the day.” ** Anywhere with yon, Jack, no matter where itis. I will obey you in all things. Where is Wild?” ** I havo heard nothing of him, and, therefore, I begin to hope that for the present we are safe from his persecu- tious.” “Oh! I trust so.” ** Come with me as quickly as you can, for Blueskin is awaiting as, and every moment that we stay will be dan- gerous to us.” ‘IT am ready, Jack.” Edgworth Bess opened the pew door and stepped out into the aisle. As soon as she had done so, Jack entered and pnt the cushions straight, leaving them just as they were at first. e also closed the pew door. Then, taking the hand of Edgworth Bess in his own, he led her to the epot where Blueskin was waiting for them. As yct there were no signs of any one entering the cathedral, but, as it was fully daylight, there was no knowing how soon visitors might be expected. On reaching tho little dcor in the recess, Blueskin went first down about half-a-dozen of the steps, and then stood in readiness to assist Bess to descend, who came next. Jack bronght up the rear. pas he passed through the portal, Blueskin said to im— ** Close tho door after you. If you look you will find a couple of bolts on the inner side. You had better draw them, and then you will secure us from intrusion.” This was good policy, for not only would it have the effect Blueskin had mentioned, bnt it would also serve to prevent the fact of the door having been unlocked being noticed. This done, they commenced the descent of the slippery stone steps. . Blueskin went first, cautiuusly holding the light, and showing the way to his two companions. It was positively necessary for them to support them- selves by the walls, or they would never have been able to maintain their footing. The flight of steps was of great length, but at last the bottom was reached, and then our three friends found themselves standing ina kind of vaulted passage, which stretched out to the right and the left from the bottom of the slons, epee Sane od On gaining this place, all three stopped to look about aa and then, by Blueskin’s advice, they turned to the rig te ® The atmosphere in that gloomy place wasvery attenuated, and it was with considerable difficulty that they breathed, while every moment the little wax taper seemed on ‘he point of expiring. But it struggled manfully against the foul air that was in the place. Blueskin kept on,in the hope that they would, ere long, come to a more comfortable place, where they could wait until the day had passed away, but every step he took the passage seemed to get worse, so at last he was obliged to come to a halt altogether. It was then agreed that they should turn back and re- trace their steps until they came to the flight of stone steps which they had descended, and then keep on past them, it the hope that it would lead them to a more salu- brious region. And certainly they found, as they procceded, that the air got better and better, though, of course, it was impure in the extreme. The passage terminated at the bottom of another flight of steps, and, from their breadth, and the scrupulous manner in which they were brushed, our friends- came to the conclusion that they had reached the regular entrance to the vaults. After a little deliberation, they agreed to ascend these as far as the door, which was doubtless at the top, and then sit down upon them and wait. This was poor accommodation, but still it was tha best that offered itself. it the top of the stairs, as they had expected, they found a door. It was massive in its character, and the whole of the fastenings were upon the outside. But in the upper part of it was a large iron grating. Jack looked through this and found that it commanded a view of a large portion of the cathedral. A number of beams of light found their way through this grating, making the wax taper quite unnecessary, so it was extinguished. Our friends then found themselves in a dim kind of twi. light, but still it was amply sufficient for them. Here, then, they agreed to remain during the whole of the day, provided they were not interrupted, and to talk over their plans for future operations. To guard against any sudden surprise, and from eaves- droppers, Blueskin and Jack agreed to take it in turna to stand at the grating and look into the church, so as to give notice of any one’s approach. Then they commenced laying down their plans aud speculating upon the movements of their enemies; but it Is unnecessary to set this down in full, as their plans will best develop themselves in action. More than once during their conversation they had to pause, for fear they should be overheard by tho visitors, some of whom came very close to the door. _But as one was always on the watch, no alarm was given, And so the day passed. There was one thing, however, which, though present in the minds of all, neither liked to touch upon. And that one thing was, what were they to do for food ? The question was a serious and important one. Many hours had elapsed since anything in the shape of (bod had passed the lips of either of them, but now all felt in full acuteness tho pangs of hunger, and they had dono so fora long time. And yet, with praiseworthy stoicism, not one breathed to the other a word of complaint. dack and Blueskin, however, felt far more keenly for their fair companion than they did for themselves. They knew how she must be suffering, and yet. she had uot once murmured. And 89 the hours dragged slowly by. Gradually conversation ceased. They found that the action of their lungs produced by talking sucreased their pangs, aud so they all became gradually silent. ; There were many no doubt who, happy in the possas- sion of all they desired, felt that day to glide swiftly away and for night to come upon them almost before they were aware of it; but it might safcly be said that there weie = *- TA OT CPR en ater ~~ pragmatic atenereener— W FO i A ~S— Pte oe, / I OE Ee ee a ee COmIIcboooks (SO) 5}