Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. 7 Now devil’s gone and bacon too, The whole of the company then sang the words given } What need have we to fear ? ” out to a jovial tune, and to the following refrain :— Friends together we have met, We have met, We have met, Friends together we have met, In spite of all our foes. Then Joe Blake repeated the two next Hines. *¢ And he that would ovr mirth obstruct, We'll take him by the nose.” “Now!” And he that would our mirth obstruct, © r mirth ovstruct, Our mirth obstruet, And he that would our mirth obstruct, We ll take him by the nose. ‘Sure he must be some scoundrel dog, That woald our mirth obstruct.” ** Now!” Sure he must be some scoundrel dog, Some seoundrel dog, Some seo nite) do, Sure he must be some seoundre! dog, That would our mirth obstruct. We'll take him to scine large horsepond, And have him soundly ducked.” Now !” We'll take him to some large horsepond, Some large horsepond, Some tarzre horsepond, We ll take him to some large horsepond, And have him soundly ducked. ** And wher we've had him soundly ducked, And all these steps are taken,” * Wow!” And when we've had him soundly ducked, Him soundly ducked, Him soundly ducked, And when we've had him soundly ducked, And all these steps are taken, ‘yell send lim up the chiuimey-top, And dry him there for bacon.” 6 Now!’ We'll send him up the chimney-top, - The chimney-top, The chimney-top, We'll send him up the chimney-top, And dry him there for bacon. “ But if the devil he should come, Aud think this uight to have us.” Now!” But if the devil he should come, He should come, lke should come, But if the devil he should eome, And think this night to have us. “We will persuade him if we can, To go away and leave ns.” “Now!” We will persuade him if we can, If we can, If we can, We will persuade him if we can, To go away and leave ns. * But if he'll not lere* banded go, And we should be mistaken.” * Now!” But if he'll not lere handed go, Lere handed go, Lere handed go, Rut if he’ll not lere handed go, And we should be mistaken, * We'll send him up the chimney-tu, , And bid him take the bacon.” “Naw!” We'll send bim up the chimney-top, The chimney-top, The chimney-top, ¥7o2’H send him up the chimney-top, And let him take the baso. 6¢ Now ! 33 Now devil’s gone and bacon too, And bacon too, And bacon too, Now devil’s gone and bacon toa, What need have we to fearP “We'll drown our cares in brandy strong, Good wine and Johnson’s cheer.” “Now!” We'll drown our cares in brandy strong, In brandy strong, In brandy strong, We'll drown our eares in brandy strong, Good wine and Johnson’s cheer. The applause that succeeded this soug was deafening and tremendous. There was something very peculiar in this song, given out first two lines together, and then sang. Jack Sheppard could not help feeling amused, although his beart was heavy. “What fascination holds me here?” thought Jack. “T feel as though I was compelled to enter this place, and somehow I have no fear of the reception I shall meet with. J cannot stay here; I will go in.” As he spoke these words, Jack Sheppard left the wit dow, and passing through the front door of the “ Blach Lion,” and traversing a sanded passage, entered the large room where the company were assembled. | He did not know it; but be had put bis foot upon ux first round of the ladder of crime. CHAPTER V. JOE BLAKE, ALIAS BLUESKIN, GIVES JACK SHEPPA?PP # HEARTY WELCOME, “Bravo! bravo! Ifurrab! BRA’ Another glass, landlsz7.}, Hi! hi! Capital! capital! Wellsung! gain! Bravo! Blake! Here—here! Jolinson, one more bowl of your prime punch! Let’s sing it over again! Now, Joe, strike up! J irst-rate! The best song out! Them as Now, then, over again—over Bnng in all the lush, Johnson, Bravo! can’t sing can join iu! again! Go it, Blake! my boy, aud then we won't be interrupted! bravo!” Such were the words, uttered in every imaginable key, which separated themselves from the murmur of voices, the banging of jugs and glasses upon the tables, the thousand aud one noises which arise from a tumultuous assembly, and reached the ears of Jack Sheppard con- fusedly, as he stood irresolutely two or three steps within the room. The bright hglit which filled the place, and the rude boisterous clamour of its occupants, blinded and deafened him, and he sank, with a feeling of perfect bewilderment, upon a vacant scat which happened to be close to him. He acted like one who is vaguely conscious that he is doing something and nothing more. His intrusion was scarcely noticed, except by those next to him, and they simply honoured him with a Jong stare. But Jack soon began to recover himself. Observing near him a stout serving wench, who was assisting in the performance of the waiter’s duties, he called for a glass of hot brandy-and-water. The steaming spirit was in a few moments placed is him, and he tossed off the largest half or it at one gulp. Its effect was instantaneous. He became confident and composed. Although, from living so long in the neighbourhood, he was acquainted with the outside of the “ Black Lion,” yet he had never before beheld its interior, and he looked about him with some curiosity. The room tn which he was sittinys was low pitched, but spacious, and tables were arranged in it in such a manner that a large number of guests might find »ceommodation in the shape of seats. But as Jack glanced rapidly around the placs, Lis eyes soon lighted on an object which filled him with wonder = ) ee A ee and surprise. It was the countenanes of the men wha sat at the haad ar ee + an old English word, meaning empty, ‘i IE SF OO a GI, og Tg ELS OEE Ea me Cee Eee. 2a” Ga ay te Se eee SA ry ore, 7 7c. CloOOO|KKS.€O COIN