Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

sme Ei ng APO OE EET TINA LF OT AIT ee oO eS eS TOE EE EEE a nw w= = = 2 “Seen ae &6 BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. a eA Si SS a SS fhanoe bullet, if Jonathan had taken it into his head to fire another at random through the door. Jack accordingly took up his station with his back against the wall, so that by reaching out his arm he could reach the door. Sir Marmaduke watched his motions with the most feverish impatience. ; Jack took from his pocket the clasp knife which nad done him such good service at the “ Grange.” It was a large and formidable-looking affair with a very large bone haft. The baronet’s impatience merged into curiosity. But he soon saw to what purpose he was going to put his knife. Holding it firmly in his hand, with the butt downwards, ‘| ack extended his arm, and knocked loudly at the cell door. The sharp rapping sound, which he thus produced, inade itself heard above the din. Wild heard it. He stopped at once. Making a rapid motion with one band to Sir Marmaduke to open the door and get through it, Jack knocked again three times, distinctly and deliberately. Shen he waited for a reply. {t came in the shape of a wild animal sort of howl, which, even through the thick cell door, could be heard with tolerable plainness. “Jonathan Wild!” said Jack, in a loud tone, and then, tuning to Sir Marmaduke, he added, in an emphatic whisper, “ Quick! quick! open the door ! ” < cannot,’ groaned the baronet, “ the spring dors not act. “* Curses “Tt is quite firm! Weare lost!” Another howl came from Wild’s cell. Ife could tell something unusual was going on, but what it was he could not exactly make out. Besides, his head was by no means in that clear con- dition that it usually was. Jack liad no other resource, so he tapped again. “Jonathan Wild!” he said. ‘‘Jonathan Wild! Do you hear me speak P ”’ “Yes,” Jack heard him reply. “Whoisit? Let me out at once!” From this speech it was pretty clear that Wild did not recognize Jack’s voice. At least, Jack thought so, but after all Jonathan might only be playing some deep game. He was at a loss what to say. ““}¥ will pretend I have not heard Lim, and ask him to speak again, and then be off.” At this moment Sir Marmaduke pressed upon the ; Spring in the right manner, and the secret dcor flew open. He passed through it instantly “What did you say?” cried Jack. Speak louder, I cannot hear you!” Then, in accordance with his plan, he did not stop to hear his reply, but ran swiftly, yet lightly, to the secret door, and closed it after Lim. One difficulty was overcome. Both the fngitives crouched as close to the wall then as they could, and Listened. All was still. The darkness in the corridor was, to some extent, dis- pelled by a large iron oil lamp, which hung fiom the roof, near the centre of it. Of course such a mode of illumination could not fail to throw many confusing and perplexing shadows, so that had anyone come by chance into the place, they would most likely have seen neither Jack nor his companion. But as soon as he had assured himself that the coast was clear, the former hastened along the passage to the massive door at its termination. This, had it not been for Jonathan’s master key, would have been an insurmountable cbstacle, lout, as it was, it was nothing. ; “a hesitated a little before he put the key in the ock. Bor what do you wait ?”’ asked Sir Marmaduke. “J am uuarmed,” said Jack, * that is all.” ** And I, too.” } 99 one assailant’ want.’ which fits across the cell doors. ouP” house. sional intervals could be beard the rumbling sound pro- duced by some vehicle in the street as it rolled past the house. and in sucha position that he could, if ueed be, mstane eo LT LC TT OE sc OTE TATED EAD. ar tO Tag ‘I must find a weapon of some sort,” said Jack. ‘t ought to have thought of that before.” * You havea knife. I saw you with it.” ‘* ] know I have, but that would only be useful against It is some weapon like a sword that I “ fook!”’ said Marmaduke, “there is a wooden bar Would not that serve “yt is the very thing.” * And the prisoners who may be here ?” ‘“‘Okh! they are not of importance. The authorities are aware of this place, so that none would be confined here without good reason.” Jack, as he spoke, took from its setting one of the cross-bars of wood, which were used as an additional fast- ening to the doors of Wild’s cells. CHAPTER XLV. JONATHAN WILD GETS DESPERATE INDEED. In the hands of a desperate man like Jack Sheppard this bar of wood was a deadly weapon. In length it was about five feet. In breadth three. It was formed of some very hard heavy wood. Jack swung it round his head. ‘*Now I am prepared,” he cried, “for all assailants. Take the key, Sir Marmaduke, and open the door.” For convenience and safety Jack had slipped the chain over his own head, and the barouet took it off. ‘ Tt will be the largest key,” said Jack. Sir Marmaduke inserted it in the keyhole. The effort was almost beyond his strength, but he did manage to turn it. The lock was well oiled, so that scarcely any sound was caused by the process. It was an anxious moment when Jack, who went first, pushed the door open just wide enough to allow his slim anatomy to pass through. The staircase before him was profoundly dark. Atthe very top, however, he could see a faint gleam of pent, which no doubt proceeded from the lamp in the hall. Motioning to the baronet to follow him, with the utmost caution and silence Jack mounted the stairs. He reached the top. He crouched down and looked about him. The iron door was within reach of his hand. As usual a man was seated there. He was very still. Whether he slept or not Jack could not determine. Having seen this, he proceeded to look yet further in advance of him, not only for the purpose of making himself familiar with the position of the different objects, but to see what else he had to contend against. At the street door he could see the dim, shadowy form of the man on the lock. On that night all was -very still in and about Wild’s Not a creature seemed stirring, and only at occa- Jack fixed his eyes upon the door. On the other side of it was freedom. oS But to reach this he felt was all but an impossibyity. He felt assured that after that night’s work every- thing in the shape of coalition was at an end between him and Wild. The alliance had been but a brief one. Henceforth Jack felt that Jonathan Wild and himself would be enemies. He shuddered at the thought. It was only for an infinitesimal space of time that this thought influenced him. Ile was recalled to himself by the imperative necessity there was for instantaneous action. Not only did Lis own safety depend upon the events of the next few moments, but his companion’s also. Sir Marmaduke crouched close beside him. Jack held out his hand for Jonathan’s master-key. The baronet placedit in his grasp. Then holding the wooden bar firmly in lis feft hand, | eA) art ae ee > COMmMICcDOokS.G©