Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 346: what you’re looking at

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

| . . 344 no creatures on this earth to whom it passed more slowly and more wearisomely than it did to the three fugitives in the vaults beneath St. Panl’s Cathedral. . At length Edgworth Bess, who had stood outas long as she was able, gave way. She did not expect any relicf, but she could not raain- tain the concealment of her sufferings any longer. She appealed to Jack. Blueskin was watching at the grating. “* Jack,” she said. “J—J—” * What P”? **T am so very, very hangry, Jack. Ob! what shall J doP I never suffered so before.” She burst into tears as she spoke. **T know you are hungry,” said Jack, in a voice of deep emotion, ‘‘and I can tell by my own sufferings what your’s must be ike. JI can do nothing to help you, I am afraid, until it grows darker, and then, perhaps, I may manage.” ** But at what risk ?” ‘Never mind the risk, darling. You must not pe allowed to perish of starvation.” ‘* Nor must you lose your life to procure me food. Oh! Jack, what shall we do?” ** I will ask Blueskin.”’ ** I have heard all that has passed,” he said, as soon as he heard his name mentioned, “and I have thought of a plan. What is it P” To ect you food.” “T know; but what is the plan?” “I will go back to the door through which we came, and open it.” ** And emerge into the body of the cathedral 2?” *Yes. I have noticed that it is full of visitors, and I shall not be noticed among the number, I think. J will go out and buy as much provisions as I can stow about Ine unperceived, and then return, if you will be at the door waiting to receive me.” ** No—no,” said Jack; ‘the risk is too great.” *€ Do you think so?” Yes. Let me go instead.” ** Nonsense! the risk is twice as much for you as it is forme. Rely upon it, I will return in safety.” ‘There is only one thing which would induce me to secede to such a propositiou,” replicd Jack, “and that is for the sake of Edeworth Bess.” “It is for her sake I make it,”? said Blueskin. “Then you shall not go,” exclaimed Edgworth Bess. ** Indeed, you shall not.” * But I shall.” : No; aud I will give you a good reason why you shall NON Why ? ? “ Both you and Jack are well known to many persong, and would be in imminent danger of recognition.” ** Wo don’t dispute that; but it can’t be helped.” ** Tt can.” “ How soP”’. ** Most easily.” Tell us.” ** Never.” “Why not?” ** It is impossible.” “I cannot seo that. I am known to Jonathan Wild only, and, therefore, do not run the risk that yon do; be- sides, I could purehase the things that we require without exciting suspicion, which you certainly would.” “But neither Jack nor myself would ever consent to allowing you to run into so much danger.” **I consider I should be in the least danger of all. Grant mo the favour. Letme go. I will take every care, but we cannot die of starvation.” ** We cannot.” ** Consent—it will be best for all of us.” Jack and Blueskin held a whispered consultation with each other, the end of which was that they consente:) to allow Edgworth Bess to emerge into the cathedral to pur- chase food. Tuey retraced their steps to the bottom of the flight of | body of the cathedral.” stone stuns which in the first instance they all three liad descended. ~~, = BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE, a a On reaching the top they noiselessly withdrew tho boita, and then listened. But all was still. Cautiously, then, they opened the door to the extent of about a couple of inches, and Jack peeped out. No one was in sight. He beckoned Edgworth Bess towards him, and opened the door wide enough for her to pass out of it. She giided through the portal like a shadow, and Jack closed the door behind her. Oh! how anxious and alarmed he felt when he found that she had really gone. He could hardly restrain himself from going after her, but, fortunately for both, he was stronger than the im- pulse. : He did not shut the door quite close, but left it ajar, so he crouched down on the top of the steps, and peeped through the crevice. Minute after minute elapsed, and every one that passed away increased his anxiety to a tenfold degree, and over ra 7 again he repented that he had suffered her to epart. ut these regrets were useless, and came too late. The only thing he could do now was to wait in patience in expectation of her return. But she came not. He did not, however, give her time sufficient. But to him she seemed to have been gouc an age. His suspense became dreadful. It was shared to the full by his faithful comrade, Blueskin. At last, however, when they had both worked them- selves up to an unbearable pitch of excitement, Jack’s quick ear caught the sound of a light footstep. The next moment he saw Edgworth Bess approaching. He rose from his cronching posture, and pulled the door open. The poor girl rushed in, breathless and agitated. “What is the matter?” asked Jack. ‘‘ What has alarmed you?” ; *Quick—quick! Close the door-bolt it—bolt it! Ah! that is well. Now we are safe!” ** or heaven’s sake tell me what is the matter?” *‘ Here is food. I have been lucky enough to proeure that—but—but ”?—— What, oh! what?” ‘* Just as I was crossing to the churchyard, which I did hastily, I ran against some one who was going in the opposite direction. I heard anawfulcurse. I looked up, and saw that I had run against Jonathan Wild!” CHAPTER CCXAXVIT. WITH A GREAT DEAL OF LABOUR AND DIFFICULTY, THE THREE FUGITIVES SUCCEED IN MAKING TIIEIR ESCAPE FROM THE VAULTS OF ST. PAUL'S. * JONATUAN WuLp!” exclaimed Jack Sheppard and Blueskin in a breath, for they could scarcely believe their ears. ‘Jonathan Wild?” ®° ‘Yes, even him.” ‘Did he know you?” ** JT fancy 60, but. I did not wait to sce. cathedral as fast as I could.” * Tid he pursue your” : ‘That is more than I can tell for certain.” What an unlucky chance. This will serve us fora retreat no longer.” J “You have had a very narrow escape,’ said Jack. *©T have, indeed. I have been so alarmed. But eat. Leok, here is food; and then, when you have satisfied your hunger, it will be time for you to think of escaping from Wild.” “am ‘That is good advice,” responded Blueskin. ‘‘ We can do nothing in our present exhausted state.” The small quantity of eatables Edgworth Bess was able to obtain was shared out. — The keenness of their hunger gave them a relish, and it had disappeared in an incredible short space of time. I think,” said Jack, “that the best thing we cau do is to retrace our steps to the principal entrance to the vaults, and from which place we can obtain a view of the “To be sure,” coincided Biueskin. ‘ We should then I ran into the j be able to see whether a disturbance of eny kind was | RR aR EN hg EE OO, a OT Pr 3’ DP eae a ee Pe EE es ef Pe mMICcoOooks.com CONNIG