Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 384: what you’re looking at

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

333 But Wild was not to be daunted by such a thing as defect in the amount of light. ; With speed and dexterity he searched all about him, nor did he cease until the whole of the area of Westminster Abbey, vast as it is, had been explored. The search, however, did not resuit iu their finding any- thing, not even so much as a trace of the person of whom they were in pursuit. CTTAPTER CCLYV. THE MYSTERY OF BLUESKIN’S EXTRAORDINARY i8- APPEARANCE IS REVEALED TO THE RKEALER. Ir the truth must be told, there was no one more chagrined at this complete failure to capture our friends than the thief-taker’s son George. He had spoken so confidently abont what he should do, and had, iu a manner of speaking, taken the direction of affairs entirely to himself, and, after all, done nothing save capture Ross, the landlord. A. more favourable chance of making them prisoncrs George considered they would never have, and the proba- bility is, he was quite right. They were all close together, and yet divided, which made their hopes of succeeding look all the brighter. And yet, in despite of all this, they had failed, signally failed. George Wild was so enraged that he could scarcely trust himself to speak, and that is how it is we have beard so little of him lately. When the Abbey had been searched, Jonathan stooa for a moment or two in doubt as to what he should do next. The evidence of Blueskin being in the Abbey rested upon presumption only. It might be that he had never entered it, but had managed, somehow or other, to escape. If, however, Jonathan could have been assured that he really was within the building, he would not have quitted it until he had looked into every crevice. But in the absence of any such assurance, ke was not likely to look so closely. Still, as we have stated, he explored the whole of the area, not leaving a square foot of it unvisitca. But still to no purpose. © What do you think now, George?” he asked, Think, guy ner?” Yes!” “Why that they must have the devil himself to aid them.” é¢ Bah ! 33 ‘How in the world, then, could he have got out of that passage in the way he has?” ‘It puzzles me!” “ And me!” “Let us go outside and look again—perkaps we may find something.” “Come, then.” With these words the worthy pair Icft the Abbey and proceeded to the end of the passage. Looking up they could sce nothing but tae gray walls of the venerable structure. “ There is a window, guv’ner!” said Wild, junior, *T see it.” © Could he have got through that ?”? **Tt seems hardly possible !”’ 6¢ 7 should not like to try it, guv’ner.” ‘Tt has no appearance either of being oroken or dis- turbed. You may depend upon it he has managed to elude the men at the outlet, and has got clear off.’ ‘Tam afraid that’s it, guv’ner. Curse me, if this ssn’t the rammiest night’s work I have eve had.” ‘Why sor” *©T would have Jaid a wager to any amount that we snould have had all four prisoners by this time.” Wild laughed. ‘You were very confident about what you should do. L said nothing, because I knew you spoke in ignorance; but now you will have a better idea of the kind of pcople we have got to grapple with.” *“ Curse it, yes.” “Tt is a strange thing, George, and it often gives me a great deal of uneasiness, but if I turn against others I ' ean succeed, but with them I have always failed.” eer EY BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. * [t's astrange disappearance, guv ner, but now, do you know, I think I can tell you the secret of your unsuc- cess.” “Can you?” “Yes. You want your revenge, and ”—= 1 will have it.” “Don’t be savage, guvner. I say you want your revenge, and you try to get it, but you are rather too refined in your ideas.” ** Refined in my ideas ?” * Yes. I mean refined in your ideas of revenge. Now, if it was me, I should consider my revenge quite accom- plished when my foe was dead, no matter how his death was brought about. But you are not content with that.” **T am not.” *€ You want te capture them alive—to gloat over thicir sufferings while they are in custody—subject them to the ordeal of a trial, and then have them executed at Tyburn.” ‘Hal hal” © You laugh.” : I laugh when I think of the coming of that ay. George Wild shook his head. * Guv’ner, take my advice. If you want to get rid of them, don’t wait for the scragging business, but, the first time you have a chance, put a bullet into them.” *¢ Pho—pho.” “Have your own way.” ** George.” “What, guy ner P” Gite kuow what is always said about Jonathan rild ¢ “ oe but I shouldu’t think you like to hear it.” 0.” © Do you?” “ And glory in it.” “Well, there’s no accounting for tastes. It’s true what they do say, but I shouldu’t like to hear it if it waa What do you mean?” ‘Why, everybody says that you are the d—dest villain unhung.” “Hal” * Why, you seem as if you didn’t like it, after all.” ‘Do not try my patience too far, George ; you will find it a dangerous game to trifle with me.” “Don’t you be a fool, guv’ner. I told you what every- body says about you, and it’s the truth.” ** You go from the point.” How so?” “That is not what I meant.” “What did sou mean, guv’ ner?” “Why, all who know me sav, ‘ Jonathan Wild is a man who, sooner or later, never fuils to kcep his word, no matter at what cost or trouble.’ ” “Oh! that’s what they say, is it?” * Yes.” “hen it was a sight misunderstanding of mine, that’s all, guv’ner.” ** Now, L have sworn that Jack Sheppard shall dic at Tyburn, and on this spot I renew the oath. Already has he been tried and cast for death, and his execution will soon follow.” ** You are an obstinate pig, guv’ner, and it’s no good trying to reason with you. But, if you were a sensible man, and this Sheppard stood in the way between you and your designs, you would be content with bis death, no matter in what way it was inflicted. Butit’s no good our standing here like this, because our talk will come to nothing, after all. What are you going to do?” ‘Tam loath to give in.” “So am I, guv’ner.” “But what can be done?” “Nothing, that I know of. It’s no good our exhausting ourselves uselessly.” ** It is not.” **'You say you have spies in every part of London, whose especial duty it is to watch for their appearance.” ** Yes, and when seen not to lose sight of them, but ime mcdiately communicate with me.” ‘Then let us go back, guv’ner. We can’t do any good here. We must waitin patience for a report to come to us and the next time we must manage things better than this. 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