Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

——$— TT ee == | “but the fool provoked-his own fate. Ah! they | come. Quiek—quick! to cheat the gallows of | its due!” | — He sprang into the saddle, and striking the | horse’s flanks with his heels, urged it from the stable at the moment that Jack, followed by several of the domestics, emerged from the house, : “Stop him—stop him!” cried Jack, springing forward towards the mounted man, and grasping at the bridle. But a blow from Richard caused the animal .to rear and plunge, and Jack, to prevent being ae down, was.compelled to release his Old. . | _ Another blow, and the roan mare dashed forward, striking down a tall footman who stood in her way, and with terrific leaps bounded on towards the carriage gates, which were open. The next instant she had disappeared from the sight of those who sought to stay her career, | and bring the guilty man to justice. “Escaped,” said Jack, ‘‘but only for a time. The guilty may play with, but seldom defeat, justice. Ah! what is this?” " ce | James, with the fork still sticking in his wounds, had caught his eye, and, with a sliud- der, our hero paused on the threshold of the stable-door. : \ The others gathered round him. “Good heavens!” said Jack; ‘‘more blood _| has been shed, The villain has murdered his . dupe. The rascal has received his reward in death. But what a death! My blood chills as IT gaze upon him. Bad as he was, he deserved a better fate. This is too horrible!” , _ James was held in universal contempt by his fellow-seryants, yet they could not help bestow- ing a look of pity on the wretch who had paid so fearful a penalty for hiscrime. aa “Which is the fleetest horse in the stable?” asked Jack. | Yonder one ?”’ * Yes, sir,” - Those connected with this ill-fated establish- ‘| ment had better remain here to answer the 4 | i “The roan mare,” said one. _| “The animal which Richard Clavering has | taken?” said Jack. fe “° Yes, sir,” * “The next best ? ” 1. “The gray horse.” | questions of the officers of justice who will soon | behere. I will saddle that horse, and start in % _ pursuit of the murderer.” “T hope you'll catch him, sir,” said one, “and bring him to justice.” |} “T fear you will never do it, with the start he i has got of you,” said another. ? 2 “Nothing here can touch the roan mare,” id a third. ‘I will do my best,” said Jack. “Iam a good horseman.” ss - So saying, he assisted one of the men to saddle the gray horse, and leaping on its back, urged it from the stable. —. C bes your pardon, sir,” said one, “but | you'll doubtless be asked for. Who shall I say mer. e 2’ | “a Spring-heeled Jack.” [% ti 4 wt : a * SPRING-HEEL’D JACK: THE TERROR OF LONDON. ——_—_—_— “That we know; but your right name?” asked the man. 139 “Lizzie knows _it, and can reveal it if she - pleases, though I would rather she did not. Still, if justice demands, justice must be obeyed.” And with these words he shook the reins, and galloped through the gate out into the broad road beyond. The moment he had passed through the gate, he snatched his mask from his face. “ No further need of this,” he said, “at this hour, Now, Richard Clavering, I am on your track, andit shall go hard with meif I do not bring you to the bar for the murder of your wife and that misguided servant, whom your gold lared to aid you in your villainy.” Away! with terror in his soul, and the brand of the first-born on his brow ; away! along the high road with the fleetness of the wind, with his hair streaming wildly out, and the lappels of his coat floating behind him in the air ; away ! with that pale facein his mind’s eye, and con- science pricking at his soul; away! from the scene of his crime! Away from justice fled the libertine and murderer, Richard Clavering. The pedestrian paused in his walk, and stared after the fleeing man. The horsemen drew rein, looked surprised, and puzzled, then galloped after him. But so swift was the pace at which he went that they soon gave up the chase, and wondered how the poor gentleman would fare with his runaway horse. Many pitied him, but they knew not he was a wretch fleeing from justice, with the blood of his victim yet red on his hands—with the death- shriek of his murdered wife still ringing in his ears. Had they done so, their looks of pity would have changed to glances of dismay—their tones* of commiseration to those of horror. So away he went unmolested and unsuspected, — till the road narrowed and hedge-rows skirted his path on every side. He looked behind him then. A sigh of relief broke from his bloodless and quivering lips. He was alone. Not a soul was in sight, He had thrown off his pursuers one by one, and he drew rein, fearful of too quickly wearing out his beast. | | When he'had brought the roan mare from a mad gallop into an easy canter, he began to review his position. ; Truly it was a sad and dreary one. Great, indeed, was the change which a few short hours brought upon him. Now he was homeless, widowed, an outcast, and a murderer ; with the hand of every honest man raised against him. And as he rode, he confessed to himself that his desire to possess a poor innocent, confiding girl, had been justly eee It was mid-day, and he knew that there were yet some hours of daylight, and fancying that every person who met him would read murderer in his face, he determined to hide himself and horse if possible; till darkness set in, and then | again flee. (El a, Af lebooks (EO)