Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 349: what you’re looking at

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

_ id From it a large quantity of blood had effused, and want of rest and food made him more sensible of its loss than he would have been. This accounted for the desponding manner in which he spoke when, contrary to the expectations in which he had indulged,’ he found that there was no outlet to the pas- e jack's example, however, had a beneficial effect upon him, and he, to a certain extent, forgot his debilitation as ne ‘saw the rapid progress they were making in their work. There did indeed now seem at least a reasonable pros- pect of their being successful in making their escape. ~ Jack worked with uncommon vigour, but then he had every incentive to‘make the utmost exertion he was able. Presently, however, Juck felt his sword strike aguinst some hard substance. But, thinking it was merely a stone which he had en- countered, he plunged his sword into the earth a few feet further off. ™ The same result followed. The point of his weapon struck with the same sharp, metallic sound, against something which it was unable to penetrate. But, uot daunted by this, he continued his work, satisfied that there was some’ obstacle in the way, but determined that it should be overcome. ~ Accordingly, he removed the earth which covered it, and then saw that a brick wall was disclosed. But it was very dark in colour, and seemed as though it was rapidly crumbling away. This effect was doubtless produced by the contact of the damp earth having a corroding influence. ‘** What are we to do now?” asked Blueskin. ** We inust think a moment. Can you hear any sounds of pursuit.” ' § No, all seems still.” ** Good, then we have a little while for consideration, and I trust a chance of making our way cut.” ** What do you want to consider ?” “Why, if 1 possibly could, I should like to ascertain whereabouts we are. I mean to try and find ovt what is overhead.” fests I am afraid will be very difficult, if not impos- sible.’ ‘No, I do not think so.” Why not?” T will tell you. I have been thinking about it for some time. You know where they are doing the repairs?” * 66 3 That is at the end of the cathedral nearest Wathing- street.” ” © Or Cheapside ?” “Just so. Itisallthe same thing. Now think. Do you recollect which way we took when we entered ?” o> 66 Yes.’ *‘ And, then, in which direction the door lay through which we entered the vaults ?”’ “Yes; that was the Watling-street end of the cathedral.” ** Of course it was.’ “Then the stairs curved round as we descended, and when we got to the bottom we found there was a passage going right and Icft.” “That is quite correct.” ** Please attend, then. The passage to the left, as you know very well, took us under a part of the cathedral itself.” cé Yes.” ‘Well, then we turned to the right. Now, it appears to me that, as we have come in a straight line from the foot of the steps, and for a very considerable distance, we must have passed under the churchyard—under the road that goes round the east eud of it, and that we are now Somewhere near Watling-street.”’ ‘‘ Stop a minute,”’ said Blueskin; ‘let me cousider.” CHAPTER CCXXXVIITT. OUR THREE FRIENDS SUCCEED IN MAKING TITEIR WAY ‘ OUT'OF THE VAULTS OF ST. PAUL'S, BUT NOT OUT OF DANGER. As he spoke, Blueskin placed his hands over his eyes, 60 as to shut out the view of the objects by which he was a Enter pa nen 7 INE IT AO BPO EF OT IE O o®,, 72 Terre game Sg wn ee Eas ea BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. 347 surrounded, and endeavoured to ascertain whether Jack ‘was correct with respect to their situation. When his eyes were thus closed, Blueskin conld see before him the cathedral with reference to the position it occupied, and, as he did so, he turned round once or twice, ao at length, stopping with his face in one direction, he gaid— “Tf I am right, I ought now to be directly facing Watling-street, for I have ceusidered our whereabouts very attentively.” So saying, Blueskin removed his hands from before his face, and, looking straight before him, he found he was exactly opposite the breach which had been made in the wall of the passage. This remarkable coincidence with Jack’s idea filled them with tolerable security. It was scarcely possible for them both to make such a mistake. “Tam right,” said Jack. freedom, I hope.” “What shall you do next P” Why, break through that wall. It looks quite rotten, and I daresay it will be doue eastly enough.” ~ “But what shall you do atterwards? How do you know where it will take you ?” ‘Why, I take it, we cannot very well tell that until we look. Come Blueskin! Or, never mind, I think I can manage best without your aid.” As he spoke, Jack jumped upon the mound of earth which he had dislodged, and fairly got up into the hole excavated. Here he screwed himself into as small a compass as possible, and began his operations upon the brick wall. As he had said, it was far gone in decay. The mortar in between the bricks had totally lost its adhesive quality, and was lke so much paste. Jack picked as much of this out round one brick as he could, and then, applying a pressure, strove to force it out. But he found that would not answer, so he threw down his sword, and took out his clasp-knife. The blade of this he inserted in the crevice round the brick, and nsed it in the same fashion as he would a crow- bar, aud to his great satisfaction, the brick moved. In a few minutes he got it out. His task was then comparatively easy. The displacement of this one brick was a key to all the rest, and dowu they came oue aftcr the other, with incred- ible rapidity. But behind the first course of bricks was another, and these seemed drier and stronger than the others. The success, however, which had attended his efforts so far inspired Jack with courage, and he attacked this inner wall with great intrepidity. As in the former instance, he first of all got one brick out, and then the others followed. When he had made a breach about a foot im diameter, he could not resist the temptation of looking to see what kind of place it was beyond, belore he weut any further. Accordingly he took the taper from the hund of Edg- worth Bess, and projected it through the orifice. He was a long time before he conld distinguish any- thing, and then what he did see was uot very satisfactory. 1t appeared to be a kind of vault. He comniunicated this intelligence to his companions, and handed back the light. Still undaunted, however, Jack continued his lahour, and in less than ten minntes afterwards he had eularged the hole snfficiently to allow them to pass through it. Then be got down into the passage. Tle exertion he had gone thronzh was immense, and the perspiration literally streamed off him. Blueskiu was better, and when he saw how much his comrade had accomplished he took heart, aud climbed up to the opening himself. Having done this, he asked for the light, and announced his intention of gettiug through and finding out what the place was into which it led. lo this Jack offered uo objection. He was much exhausted, but in spite of that he could not keep still, but crept down the passage in order to listen whether there were any sounds which indicated the prox- imity of his foe.’. In the mean:. hile Blueskin crawled through the open- ing which was no larger than was necessary. “Now we are not far from " eer =e aw Oh St ee eee = re 4 : | | © Arcee LS Ol ine sl Ea — EO DOO SS Go 5}