Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 82: what you’re looking at

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

? (Yea: a a a aaa eae ata armenian mee encima Se ro 80? BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. a a a nC Te Tae A ta “* What is it, Mr. Blake ? Let me know what it 1s, and it 1s done at once.” ‘‘T rather fancy, then, that some of Wild’s men are lurking about on the look-out for us. I just want you to see whether there is or not.” “Oh, very well. Of course. Just so,’’ said Barham, confusedly. He could not understand what Blake had to fear from Wild’s men. But he went off, nevertheless, in a perplexed, absent sort of way, to do his bidding. ‘Now,’ said Blueskin, ‘if Barham comes back to say all’s right, I propose we leave London at once. Our first consideration must be to finda place of refuge for Bess here, and where we know she will be perfectly safe. After that we can make arrangements for the future.” | ‘Street seems all right,’ said Barham, returning at this juncture. ** Very well, then. Weare off. Here is a guinea for your trouble.” At the time of which we are writing London streets were, after nightfall, comparatively deserted, for it was positively unsafe tor anyone to be abroad. It was very dark. Blueskin turned to the left upon issuing from the inn. Before, however, he had taken a couple of steps, he heard the trampling of many horses’ hoofs coming along Drury-lane, at a tremendous gallop. He turned round, and looked, and saw a disorderly troop sweeping down Drury-lane, in the direction of the ‘€ Black Lion.’ Jonathan Wild!” he said. ‘‘ Come along, Jack! We have got off only just in time. You must run with me as far as Long-acre, where I will get horses.” He did not wait for a reply, but set off with great rapidity, and Jack and Bess had much difficulty in keep- ing bim in view. The thought of the implacable foe who was so close upon their track nerved them to an exertion of which, under other circumstances, they would have been incapable. By the route taken, Blueskin showed that his knowledge of the locality was in no way inferior to Jack’s. Avoiding the main streets, he threaded his way through a number of conrts, and, at length, emerged into Long-acre, just opposite the place to which he was bound. his was the livery stables from which he had procured a horse on 2 former occasion. An archway of some length led into the stable-yard, and under this the darkness was profound indeed. Here Bess and Jack waited while Blueskin made his way into the stable-yard. Do not be afraid,’ said Jack to his companion. “ All will be well. I have every confidence in Blueskin, as he is called—every confidence.” ‘TI am not alarmed,’’ said Bess, quietly. “You do not speak as if you were, at all events. How- ever, we are very far indeed from being safe.’’ “ Jack—Jack!’’ said Blueskin in a undertone. ‘‘ Jack —Jack!” Yes!” Come this way.” Bess would not let go his arm, so the pair went towards Blake, whose form they could just distinguish as being a trifle darker than the surrounding darkness. ‘“Whatisit? WhatisitP” Can you ride P’ ** A little.” * Very well, then. We shall manage capitally. Wo can have a couple of splendid nags. I will take one, and you can take the other.” “ And Bess?” “She must mount behind you.” That will do.” “Hush! Goagainw the top of the gateway. I will come with the horses in a minute.” And he was as good as his word, for, at the expiration of the time he had mentioned, he appeared leading two horses by their bridles. “Now,” he cried, as he sprang into the saddle, “ up » with you, and let us be off.” Jack mounted, and then he found that without assist- enee he could not lift Bess on to the saddle behind him, so that Blueskin was obliged to get down again. SS tee os ee —_ = <= NRG maghiets war OS ee ie Oo ee All four now made their way to the front door of the little public-honse. He took hold of her round the waist, and lifted’. her on to the horse’s back with all the ease in the world. Sit firm,” he said, “and clasp Jack with both your gic and you cannot hurt. Are you ready ?” uite.” ae was on the back of his own steed in a mo- ment. “Listen, Jack, to what I am going to say. I will go first, and all you will have to do will be to keep me in yvlew. ** But where are we going ?” * I hardly know yet, except to some little distance from London. We shall have no difficulty in finding the sort of place we want.” I hope we shall not, and that we shall not be chased by Jonathan Wild.” ‘That is a vain hope, then. He has people in his employ all round about London, and he will soon find which way we have gone.” “Then if that is the case, there is no time to lose.” “There is not. However, we have got the start of him. Now, off and away.” Blueskin darted out of the stable gateway at a good speed, and Jack followed him closely. It was perceptible in a moment that they were two splendid horses, admirable both for fleetness and en- durance, and they sped down King-street with a tremen- dous clatter. . Blueskin shaped his course for the Oxford-road. The road he took was not the ordinary one, that would have made pursuit too easy. He traversed instead the wilderness of streets about Seven Dials and Soho, anc emerged at length into the Oxford-road not far east of the spot where it is intersected by Regent-street. Tus was open country then. A few gentlemen’s resi- dences could be seen here aud there, but nothing more in the shape of human habitations. The road was smooth and level, so they allowed their horses to go with imcreased speed, which, so far from being unwilling, they were only anxious to do. The rate at which they now went was one that precluded all attempt at conversation. Blueskin still kept a yard or so in advance. Riding was Jack Sheppard’s greatest delight. He had not had many opportunities for practice, but all that he did have he took advantage of, and in the present in- Jee his knowledge of equitation stood him in good stead. As for Edgworth Bess, though at first and naturally enough terrified at the apparent insecurity of her position, yet in a little while she became used to it, and held on bravely. Presently Blueskiu drew up. ‘‘ What is the matter?”’ asked Jack. p Nothing. But do you see that faint ight just before us “Yes. What of it?” ‘That is Tyburn Gate.” Oh!” Jack looked about him with an uneasy sensation. ‘‘The triple tree, then,’ he thought, ‘‘ is somewhere close at hand.”’ “We must go at a slower pace, so as not to excite the tollman’s suspicion. I will go first as before. You follow.” Wark!” said Jack. ‘* What is that?” What?” ‘Listen. Cannot you hear the beat of horses’ hoofs ?”’ Blueskin dismounted in a moment, and flung himself flat down in the roadway. For a space of time, during which one might have counted twelve, he listened. “IT can hear distinctly the beat of the hoofs of four horses. They are coming along at a tremendous rate.” ‘Ts it Jonathan ?”’ a “It may be, but I should scarcely think it probable he can hare tracked us here so soon.” ‘On, my friend, on.” ‘¢ Not so,” replied Blueskin, remounting, ‘‘ we must go along at an easy pace. Ifwe do not, the tollman will not open the gate, and then we shall be done.” ‘We should.” At an easy rate, then, they now advanced towards the gate, COMmMIICDOoOkKS.Ec@ >