Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 81: what you’re looking at

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

a GC Ca ea BLUESKIN : yohnson looked around him, and then said in a] over the door, whisper— *‘T have; but it is a secret.’ ‘¢ All the better; we will keep it! I cannot stay to tell ou all that has occurred, but I will do so. We must eave this place at once. Every minute that we stay adds frightfully to our danger.” “Then come on, M~. Blake. Are you going to take Bess with you P”’ “Yes; this is no longer a refuge for her, and she must be kept in safety.” “* Well, [am very sorry that she’s going, that’s all. Bless her! She seems hke one of my own.” “Yes, yes,’ said Blueskin, impatiently. ‘ Which way are we to get out?” ‘Follow me, and J will show you. though, I must get a light.” Johnson provided himself with a lamp, and, having lit it, led them into the bar. He closed the door carefully. ““T am going to put you in secrets of the old ‘ Black Lion.’’ As he spoke he opened a door ou the opposite side, which led apparently to the cellars. *© Down there ?” ** Yes. the door.” ‘“* Very good. Still holding his hanger in his grasp, for he had not sheathed it, Blueskin went first down the cellar steps. Jack and Edgworth Bess followed, and then Johuson, the landlord, who closed the door, as he said he should. The steps were only twelve in number, so the bottom was soon reached, srl here the three fugitives paused for Johnson to take the lead. The cellar branched off to the right and left. Johnson turned to the left, holding the light above his kead, so that those who were following might see their way. This was highly necessary, for the roof was low in many places, which was owing to the peculiar manner in which it was built. It was of tolerable size, and ranged round the walls were several barrels, some erect and some lying down. Johnson paused before one of the former, saying— ‘Take hold of the lamp a miuute, Blueskin, while I move this cask.” Then, as Blueskin obeyed, and he had both hands at liberty, he moved the cask from its position, and from the ease with which he did it, it was pretty clear it was empty. He stooped down over the place from which he had moved the cask—or rather butt, for such it was—and caught hold of a ring in a stone slab, which opened after the fashion of a door. Blueskin was surprised at this. Beneath this trap-door could be seen a rather precipitous flight of steps. ‘There you are, Mr. Blake. You didn’t know of this neat little arrangement, did you?” “* T certainly did not, and I am much astonished.” ““They would be sometime before they found that out, I rather think.” *“Sodo I. Where does it lead ?”’ **T was just going to tell you. At the bottom of these steps you will finda narrow passage. Continue along it until you come to another flight of steps like these. Ascend them. You will find at the top a flat stone slab like this, Do you understand P” “Perfectly. Go on.” ** Close to where this slab, then, fits into its setting, and on the nght-hand side of the wall, you will see a small hole about the size of your finger. Put your mouth over it, and blow a good long, steady blast, and wait. In a few minutes the trap above your head will be raised.” * And then where shall we be ?”’ “© Do you know White Hart-street ?”’ ** Yes, it is the first turning to the left when you go out of your front door.” “Exactly. Well, do house there, called the “* Quite well.” “Then you know that, although my name is not up mE trace , Possession of one of the You go first, and I will hold the light and shut 33 you happen to know a Ilttle public- Fountain’ P”’ oe Stop a minute, | A ROMANCE, 79 yet that house belongs to me, and the man who keeps it is put there by me.’ Blueskin nodded. * He will open the trap, and let you out. He will say nothing, but show you the way to the upper regions. Then, if you will take my advice, you will be off as soon as possible.”’ “ Capital, Johnson, capital! This is more than I ex- pected. We shall get off all right. Good-bye, old feiiow. Wild is sure to be savage, but he can’t do anything to you. ‘6 All right. Be quick with you. You have no time to ose. The three fugitives hastily descended. “You must take the lamp, or you will not be able . find your way. I can easily get out of the cellar in the ark. As he spoke, Johnson handed Jack the lamp, and then replaced the stone slab over the top of the staircase. CHAPTER LIV. JONATHAN WILD REACHES TYBURN-GATE JUST A LITTLE TOO LATE. THE mode of communication between the two houses was certainly a most ingenious one. Those, too, who were inimical to the laws must have found it most con- venient. The close, shut-up air, however, in the passage was very disagreeable, producing as it did an unpleasant taste in the mouth, and a clammy feeling about the ungs. Jack transferred the lamp to Blueskin. ** Haste, haste!” he said. “‘ Snug as this place appears, yet i think the sooner we are out of it the better. Follow me. So saying, Blueskin set off at a trot which soon brought them to the foot of the steps Johnson had mentioned. Kidgworth Bess still retained her hold upon Jack’s arm. She accompanied him composedly—a circumstance which arose from no bravery upon her part, but from the feeling of safety the presence of her lover engendered in her boson. At the top of the steps Blueskin found the circular aperture, and covering it with his lips, he blew into it as steadily as he would have done into a tube, which it in reality was. No result, so far as he could tell, followed this. He expected to have heard some sound, but all was still. It was rather an anxious few minutes which passed after giving this summons before they heard a faint noise overhead. Immediately afterwards the slab was raised, and a man carrying a light appeared. His face was quite familar to Blueskin, who had seen him many times. The recognition, too, seemed mutual, for the man uttered an exclamation. ‘S All right, Barham,” said Blueskin. sent us here.” “Come on, then. What in the world can be up, that you come this way? Hullo! there’s a girl, too!” “My friend,” said Blueskin, quietly, “* you will find it your best policy to hear, see, and say nothing, and show us the way into the street at once.” ““ Very well, sir,” said Barham, as he placed his lantern ou the top of a cask, “‘ you must just stop a minute, while [ put the place square.” * Don’t be any longer than you can help, then.” *T won't, Mr. Blake.” The means by which the opening was concealed were precisely similar to those in the cellar of the “ Black Lion.” Having restored everything to its ordinary appearance, the man who had been called Barham by Blueskin, pre- ceded them up a flight of stone steps, at the top cf which was a door opening into the bar. Here he paused, and extinguished the light. ; Then he opened the door cautiously, and peeped .>rth, to make sure no one was observing them. Finding the coast clear, he stepped out, and motioned to the fugitives to follow him. “Now, Barham,” said Blueskin, *‘ I want vou to do ma a little service, and I can assure you it will be nothing out of your way.” ‘© Johnson has EO DOO C SS o(CO) 5}