Blueskin: a romance of the last century. By the author of 'Black Bess; or, the Knight of the road'

Front matter

RE-ISSUE. ■ 0NE PENNY No. 2 PKESENTED GRATIS, AND No. 1. A M AGN I FICENT.ENGRAVI NG PRINTED IN COLOURS BLUESKIN A ROMANCE BY THE AUTHOR OF "BLACK BESS; OK, THE KMIGHT OF THE ROAD," &a. JONATHAN WELD PAYS A VISIT TO 13LFESKIN IN HIS CELL. WITH ORIGINAL WOOD ENGRAVINGS j LONDON: E. HARRISON, AND ALL NEWSAGENTS EVERYWHERE OBSERVE ! A MAGNIFICENT COLOURED ENGRAVING and No. 2 are GIVEN GRATIS WITH THIS NUMBER. DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION. ' DICK TUHPIN, TOM KING, DUVAL, AND JACK ROBBING THE OXFORD COACIT. 248 BLACK BESS; OK, the former, as it made the road for a few yards very dismal and dark indeed. While he was doing this his compauiins aad not been idle. , . . . ., We must deseribo their actions separately and in detail, though, of course, they all happened simultaneously. _ According to the arrangements made, Sixteen-String Jack spurred his steed as close as he could to the conch man's box, and holding a pistol pointed at his head, com manded him not to move at his peril. _ ......

But the coachman, who was not a man to give in lightly or easily, immediately drew a double-barrelled pistol from a little pocket in the seat, made purposely for its reception, and taking a hasty aim at the dusky figure, he pulled both triggers in rapid succession. Jack managed to move aside in time to avoid the first bullet, but he was not equally fortunate with the second, for he felt something inflict a stinging sensation upon his cheek, as though he had been struck by a thin switch. He knew by this that the bullet had ploughed up the skin. " Shot for shot ! " he cried, as he pulled the trigger of his pistol and fired. In the highest part, the embankment on either side was about fifteen feet m height. The sides were as perpendicular as a wall almost, and were profusely overgrown with rank vegetation.

The top of the embankment was fringed by a quickset hedge. From the foregoing description, it will be seen that, although the road was of a good width, yet the sides were more than sufficient to cast a dark shadow over it. In th6 day time, even except when the sun was at his greatest elevation, it was a dark-looking place, and at night it was all but impossible to see your hand before you. Well suited therefore was it in all respects for the suc cessful accomplishment of the daring adventure upon which the higwaymen were bent. The ouly thing now necessary was for the coach to come. All their preparations being made, our friends did not speak, but sat like statues on their horses in various picturesque, listening attitudes. Dick Turpin and Tom King had taken up their stations close to each other on the south side of the road. Claude Duval and Sixteen-String Jack, in a similar manner on the opposite side, only lower down towards London.

Preface

. The prefixion of a preface to a 'work whieh has been so long before the public as the present would be a work of supererogation did not tho Author feel that he could not allow so favourable an opportunity of thanking his patrons to escape him. On his own aud the Publisher's behalf, then, the Author begs to express his warmest thanks for the very unusual amount of support which this Romance has received for so long a period. THE BB-ii&Lii&Y. FR^ENTED GRATtc! AVITTT NOS. 1 A NT) 2 OF " RETTERKTN7' BLUESKIN: & Romance. BY THE AUTHOR OF "BLACK BESS; OR THE KNIGHT OF THE ROAD." [JACK SHEPPARD KNOCKS DOWN THE WATCHMAN IN WYCH STREET.]

Chapter I

added that drop to-night! Curse you for doing so! Curse you for doing so ! Curse you for all tho indignities that you have heaped upon me at every opportunity ! " It was with a hoarse voice — clenched hands — and fierce gestures that these words were uttered. JACK SHEPPARD IMPRECATES HIS MASTER. — THE FALSE CHARGE. — THE ARREST. " Curse you all ! Curse you all, I say ! My bitterest curses on you ! I have borne so far all that you, in the As he finished the speaker stepped out from tbe shadow spite and malice of your disposition, could heap upon me without a word, though my heart was full of bitterness all the lirhe ! But 1 will not bear it any longer ! It is the last drop that makes the eup run over, and you hayeof the houses where he had been standing into the centre of the roadway, and shook his fists menacingly at one of the dwellings opposite. — K_<charch of St. Clement Danes,'in the Strand, chimed L_=__J1_T;Xn.

No. BLUESKIN : A ROMANCE. care not. But you shall care ! Yes, as surely as there is a Heaven above me, I will make you care ! I swear it ! and I will keep my oath ! " A sudden and piercing gust of wind swept down the street at this moment, and Jack was fain to draw his scanty clothing still closer around his person. Then the many churches in the old sleeping city pealed forth the hour of midnight. One after another did the clocks commence striking, and it was full five minutes before the last chime died away. "So late!" ejaculated Jack. " I will begone. It is folly to stay here and imprecate a senseless building ! Would that I could See you once again, John Roots, for, if you held open to me your door in peace, I feel that I could forget the past, and enter. Enter and be saved ! " These last words were uttered in a sad, half-repentant tone, and ttere is no question that if a hand had been held out to him, he would have suffered himself to be led in the right direction.

But it was not so to be. Scarcely had the words left his lips, than one of the windows of the house in which John Boots dwelt was thrown violently open. the hour of three-quarters past eleven. The pleasant, musical sounds arose distinctly on the night air, for at that hour, a hundred and fifty years ago, London was comparatively silent. All the shops in Wyeh-street— for it was there the person stood who had given utterance to such terrible words— had been louj* since closed, and the thoroughfare was dark and deserted. There was, however, just light enough to reveal a shadowy figure, and the home at which he levelled his imprecations. It was a common-looking old-fashioned structure, en tirely built of wood. The casements were small, and each story of the house overhung the other. A signboard reached over the shop-door and window.

It was black, aud had some hungry-looking white letters painted upon it. They stood out boldly from the background, and read as follows : — " John Roots, Carpenter and Joiner." From one or two of the other houses in the street a faint beam of light issued from some of the upoer windows, but the house we have specified, as well as those on either side of it, was in profound darkness. There was not the dimmest ray to show that they were in habited. It swung back against the wall with a loud crash. A face was projected from it. It looked strangely forbidding in that darksome street. "John Roots!" exclaimed Jack, involuntarily, as ho recognised the countenance of his master. A harsh, disagreeable, grating voice now spoke. " Oh ! it's you, you young scoundrel, is it ? What do you mean, you gallows whelp ?

I'll have you put in jail, I will ! Didn't 1 tell you never to come near my house again, you thief? What do you mean by coming and standing in the street at twelve o'clock at bight, and cursing me in that style ? Take that ! " John Roots threw some heavy object from tbe window at bis apprentice. Jack saw it coming, and be ducked his head. It passed him by a hair's breadth. In his rage, and seeing nothing else at hand, Jack's master had seized the looking-glass that was on his table, and hurled it at Sheppard's head. It came down with a terrific smash on to the stones, and broke iuto a thousand pieces. They tlew about in every direction. Tbe angry passions which had a home in Jack's heart, flamed up like a torch. He drew himself once more up to his full height. The foam of passion was on his lips.

" Johu Roots ! " he said, in wild, screaming tones, " listen to me ! You have called me a thief ! Heaveu knows I am not One yet, but I know not bow soon 1 may be ! Once more I curse you ! Curse you from the bottom of my heart ! You shall yet live to repent your treatment of me, for I will have my revenge upon you ! " " Ha-ha ! " "You may laugh, John Roots, you may laugh, and affect to despise what I say ! The day will come when you will wish you had rather thrust your hand into a furnace Iban treated me as you have ! My father died at Tyburn, I know full well ! But I was a child then, unable eveu to speak ! How, then, could I help what he did ? Could I control his actions ? Why should the stigma of his guilt be fixed upon my character ? It has done so, John Roots! It bas done so! No one knows that better than your self!

When, I wonder, did you let slip an opportunity of taunting me with it ? Even when we were in the presence of those whose good wishes and sympathies I was anxious to obtain p Never, John Roots, never ! It is tbat whieh bas always preyed upon my mind, and could I help it doing so ? It is that which has soured my temper, filled my breast with angry passions, and made me sullen and morose ! It is your fault, and I curse you for it ? curse you a thousand times ! Well, full well, you know that I am innocent of the theft whieh you, in the malevolence of your heart, accused me of ! I would have scorned to have taken anything of yours ! I am not guilty, John Roots, but, through your representations, many believe I am ! For all this, as well as for your conduct on this night, will I take a terrible and bitter vengeance !

" " Begone, villain," shouted Mr. Roots, as soon as he had a chance of making himself heard ; for the rapidity But, hark ! The strange figure in the roadway, as he looks up at the dark and silent habitation, speaks again. His voice has a solemn and sepulchral tone as he utters that which may be construed into a warning. "Beware! John Roots, beware ! for the dav of reckon ing will surely come ! It is I — Jack Sheppard — your ill treated apprentice, who speaks — who curses you from the bottom of his heart, yet bids you beware ! You have driven me from your house into tbe streets, penniless — a beggar ! Beware ofthe result ! My disposition is, as you say, au evil one ! Granted that it is ! But you, as my spiritual as well ns worldly master, should have tried to make me better! How have you done so ?

Ha! ha! How have you doue so ? You huve reviled me — degraded me — treated me like a dog ! Was that the wav to improve what you are pleased to call an evil disposition ? No, John Roots, you know it is not — but the wav to make bad worse ! You have succeeded, aud will succeed, no doubt ; but, if you do, then I say again, Beware ! beware ! for, sooner or later, the hour will arrive when you will have to answer for your treatment of me! And then, when that time comes, tremble and beware ! You have made me an outcast, have driven me into the path of crime, and the consequences of your actions be upon your own head ! " He paused, breathless and exhausted from the violence of his emotions. He had drawn himself to his full height, and looked around him defiantly, and if any one had been near enough to observe his countenance, they would have seen upon it an expression of deep determination.

Jack Sheppard was at this period just over twenty years of age. He was short, and very slightly made ; indeed, he is best described by the word diminutive. But, thin nnd fragile as he at first sight looked, a second glance would show he was of tbat wiry sort which is endowed with great bodily strength and uncommon powers of eudurance. His head was small and bullet-shaped. His features were delicate and regular, but marred by the sharp cunning look which they invariably bore. It would seem by his manner that he anticipated wbat he had said would call forth some notice from the house of Mr. Roots, but it did not ; all remained just as it was before. He ground bis teeth with disappointment. No doubt he would have felt it to be a solace if be could have returned bis master some of the abuse, which, according to his account he had heaped upon him.

But though there was no one to listen to him, he spoke ; the angry passions tbat were tumulting in his breast would not suffer him to continue silent. " Ha ! ha ! you 6leep now— sleep soundly ! Wbat care you for the poor boy who was delivered into your keeping ? Nothing ! He may beg, starve, steal, anything ! You BLUESKIN : A ROMANCE. 3 with which Jack Sheppard had poured forth this torrent of passionate invective had precluded all ideas of inter ruption. " Begone, villain ! begone, I say. Come no more near my house. Begone at once ! I will not be cursed and abused thus in the onen street by such as you. I tell you you are a thief ! The gallows is imprinted on your face, and to it you will surely come at last ! " Jack tried to utter the passionate words that sprang to bis lips, but he could only give utterance to an inarticulate bowl of rage. #, " Here, here ! stop that, if you please ! stop that !

People ean't be woke up out of their blessed sleep by the likes of you. Stop it, or it will be the worse for you ! " Jonathan winked and blinked like an owl. But Wild was too full of thought that morning to take much notice of the intrusion of a prying sunbeam into his sanctum. He merely gave a zoological sorf of snarl. Then he seated himself at his desk, along the front of which was a row of little wooden railings placed about half-an-inch apart. Just in the middle, three or four of these railings had been knocked out, leaving an opening krge enough to allow of a hand being passed through it. This desk divided the office into two portions, and was so placed that, as Jonathan sat at it, the window waa behind him. As these words were spoken in a wheezing, gasping sort of voice, Jock felt himself clutched tightly round the throat by some one behind him, who had stolen unawares upon the scene.

An advantageous arrangement in two respects. Whoever stood in front of this desk had his face to the light, so that Wild oould narrowly watch every expression of it, and form an estimate of how far the person who stood before him was speaking the truth. But those who were thus scrutinized could not scrutinize Wild in return. Oh ! no. As he sat with his back to the grimy window, bis face was in deep shadow. Wild settled bimself on his stool.

Chapter II. Gives The Reaper Some Idea Of The Manner In Which

JONATHAN WILD CARRIED ON BUSINESS. Next door to Newgate ! That was where Jonathan Wild lived. He took off his hat, and deliberately laid it down on the desk. Jonathau Wild, the great ! That extraordinary man, who combined so skilfully and well those two seemingly antagonistic occupations, thief, and thief-taker. Then, with a very peculiar twitch, he pulled his dirty white wig over his forehead and eyebrows. This gave him a very remarkable appearance, and added to his natural ugliness in no small degree. It was one of Wild's little eccentricities to endeavour to make himself look as hideous as he possibly could. We give him credit for succeeding in hie efforts. His face could never have been a very handsome one, but now it was seamed and scarred by the numerous wounds he had received. This done, Wild produced from the side pocket in his coat a short, thick bludgeon. • At the end at which it was held it was just large enough to be gripped firmly, while it swelled out gradually until at the top it was between three and four inches in circum ference.

The house whioh he inhabited adjoined the prison wall. Gloomy — rambling — dilapidated. Those three words contain the essence of a description of its appearance without and within. We are really sorry, for the sake of our readers, tbat this house is no longer in existence. We are quite sure if it was, they would, one and all, at the very first opportunity, take a stroll along Newgate street, and have a good look at it. It would have amply repaid them for their trouble. Unfortunately, the house was burned down to the ground nearly a hundred and fifty years ago. Our readers will, therefore, be deprived of the pleasure of seeing it with any other eyes than those of their imagination. Should, however, they feel sufficient interest in the matter to go and look at the spot on which it stood, they will be able to form a tolerable idea of its size, from the fact that three large houses have since been built upon the ground it occupied.

At precisely twelve o'clock noon, on Monday, the tenth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and twenty-one, Jonathan Wild entered one of the rooms in his mansion, and slammed the door behind him. This upper part had been hollowed out, and then filled up again with about two pounds of lead. It was a most murderous weapon. Jonathan looked at it, and as he did so his mouth ex panded into a grin of extreme satisfaction. He laid it across his hat with great care. To have seen him one would have thought it was made of the most fragile materials. That bludgeon was Jonathan's pet. He had made it with his own hands. It was his inseparable companion. The smile of complacency with which he regarded it gave place presently to a peculiar cackling noise. He rubbed his hands slowly over oue another, only interrupting that operation to give his wig another twitch.

This room he facetiously designated as his " office." Why we know not, for only a omall portion of bis business was conducted there. It was a low-ceilinged, dingy-looking room at the back of the house, and very scantily furnished. The floor was bare. One of his intimate associates would have known how to translate these movements. Wild was pleased ! And that was the strange way he had of showing it. Some complicated scheme of villainy, batched from his fertile brain, had doubtless come to a successful issue. Tap — tap. Some one knocked very deferentially with his knuckles upon the office door. Wild gave his wig such a twitch that it got completely reversed, and the tail hung down most ludicrously over his forehead. So were the walls. One window only was in the room, and that was so incrusted with dirt, and festooned ivith the cobwebs of industrious spiders, who had gone on year after year spinning away undisturbed, that but a very small aud insufficient quantity of daylight found its way in.

There was, however, one inquisitive sunbeam wbo used, with praiseworthy perseverance, to try for about an hour every day to take a peep at the interior of Wild's office, but he always had to give up the attempt in disgust. But, although be had been baffled some hundreds of times, he did not relinquish the hope of gratifying his curiosity, but renewed the attack every day — that is, when the envious clouds would let him — until at last it grew into quite a settled habit. On this particular morning, however, the curious sun beam found the atmosphere in the yard at the back of Wild's house so clear and free from smoke tbat he re solved to make one last and desperate effort to accomplish his purpose. He succeeded, aud actually had tbe audacity, when Wild entered the office, to look the great thief-taker full in the face.

" Come in," he growled. The door was opened about six inches, and a man put his bead into the apartment. " Mr. Wild, sir," said a voice in very respectful tones. " If you please, Mr. Wild, sir ! " " Ya— ah ! What is it ? " " Yes, Mr. Wild. Pinching Tom, if you please, sir ! " " What are you grinning at, you villain P Tell me at once, or — ya — ah ! " Wild seized his cudgel and shook it menacingly. " I, Mr. Wild ? I grin in your presence, sir ? " said the man, whose fancy had been tickled by the way Jonathan bad twitched his wig. " No, Mr. Wild, sir ! I hopes as I knows myself and you know me too well to think of doing such a thing for a moment, sir ! " BLUESKIN : A ROMANCE. 4 Jonathan scowled at the man for a moment, but as the man looked perfectly grave, he added— _ " Begone wretch ! Tell Pinching Tom to come in. > The man, who was one of those belonging to Wild's gang, withdrew his head and closed the door.

Then he went through some remarkable pantomimic evolutions, caused by the endeavour to laugh heartily, without allowing the sounds of mirth to escape from his He distended his cheeks until one would have thought the skin would havo given way, and for so long that he grew first red, then purple, then black iu the face. He waved his arms in the air. His legs, which were long and thin, cut tbe most fan tastic capers imaginable. But be was destined to receive a summary punishment for thus indulging in clandestine laughter. No sooner did tho door shut than Wild took up bis cudgel, and, with the stealthiness and silence of a cat, got down off-his stool. On tiptoe he crent across tbe floor. With the greatest imaginable caution be slowly turned tbe handle of tha door, and opened it a little way. Then he saw the man in the attitudes we bave de scribed.

Scarcely bad the great thief-taker adjusted himself and composed bis face a little, than Pinching Tom entered. There was not much respect visible in the way he walked up to the desk, and looked through the littlo gap in the railings. But he had an eye to business and dispatch. He dived his hand into his pocket, and produced a magnificent diamond necklace, such only as one of very high rank could wear, and worth probably somo thousands of pounds. " Here's a sparkler, Johnty ! " ho said, as he laid the bauble on tbe desk. " What do you think of that, eh ? " Wild glared at the speaker. In common with those base spirits wbo find or conceive themselves to be in an elevated position, Jonathan had a very exaggerated idea of tbe importance of his situation, and of the amount of deference that ought to be paid him.

Henco he was deeply offended at the manner in which Pinehine: Tom had chosen to speak to him. But Wild never allowed his anger to interfere with his interests. The diamond necklace, he saw at a glance, was a very valuable booty. He dissembled. He opened the door a little wider, and waited. Waited until he imagined his officer's jocularity had reached its culminating point. Whack 1— thud ! With two just such sounds did Wild's pet come down on tbe back of the unfortunate officer. Of course, no one could stand up after receiving two such sudden and unexpected blows, so tbe officer fell to the ground at once. "Murder!— murder! Oh! Mr. Wild!— Mr. Wild! please, sir ! No, sir ! " he yelled, as he writhed about on tbe floor. Jonathan was quite delighted, and so overcome with his own cleverness, that he actually laughed aloud.

An essentially brutal disposition was Jonathan Wild's, and nothing afforded bim greater pleasure than inflicting pain npon others. It had grown with him. When a boy he was always playing some diabolical trick, and torturing any living creature that was unfortu nate enough to net into his clutches. Now he tortured human beings. " Oh ! Mr. Wild— Mr. Wild, sir ! Oh ! if you please, you've broken my back ! Oh ! murder ! murder ! " " Get up ! " said Wild. " Get up ! I hope it will prove a lesson to you ! Get up at once, I say, or you shall have some more ! " He stretched out his band and took the necklace. It underwent, a close examination. "You needn't Heso blessed particular," said Pinching Tom. " There's no paste about tb9t ! " Wild growled. " Hold your row, will you ?" he said. " How much do you want for this kickshaw ?

" He flung it negligently upon tbo desk as be asked this question, but he took good care it should fall where, if Tom felt ever so inclined to take possession of it again, bo would find it beyond tbe reach of bis fiugers. " Well," said he, in reply, " it's rather hard to estimate. You see that is a kind of heirloom, or what-you-call-it." " Bah ! " " It is, indeed, and belongs to Lady Ingestrie." " Lady Ingestrie ! thc deuce it does ! " Wild tobk up the necklace, and it underwent a second examination. Pinching Tom grew impatient. "Come, come, Mr. Wild," be said, "tbis here ain't business, by no means. How mucb will you give me for it P I needn't tell you that Lord Ingestrie will be hero hefore the day is ou'' and he will give a good sum to hava it back again." " Ya-ah ! " Wo use these letters to express tbe wild beast sort of noise Wild made when anything was not just agreeable to him.

" No, Mr. Wild, please don't ! Mercy ! I am getting up, Mr. Wild ! I am, indeed ! " With many contortions of his body, and groans and lamentations, the officer rose to bis feet. He stood in a doubled-up 60rt of fashion. The blows were doubtless severe, for Wild had dealt them with the whole strength of his arm. The officer had much ado to stifle the yells that rose to bis lips ; he knew he did not dare give utterance to them, or if be had, that he would have reoeived some further ill usage. " Fifty pounds," said Jonathan. Pinching Tom looked aghast. " Fifty pounds ? " he repeated. " Yes. Here you are." Wild produced a bulky pocket-book, and began to rummage over its contents. " No, I'm blest if I do ! Why, Johnty, you must be clean off it to offer me fifty pounds »for a necklace worth five thousand.

It really isn't enough, Mr. Wild." Jonothan reflected, or rather appeared to do so. " Well, Tom," be said, at length, " you are a good hand, and deserve to bo encouraged. Now, I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll sacrifice my owu profit, and give you a hundred pounds for it." " Confound you for a downright rascal ! " said Pinching Tom. You won't let a fellow live, you won't. I leaves you at once. Give me the necklace back again, I'm off! " Jonathan looked at him witb one eye. " Are you, indeed ? " " Yes, you come it too strong ! I shouldn't mind taking a small sum, because you save all the trouble, but I won't part with a valuable thing like that for nothing. Give it us back." " Ya-a-ah ! " said Wild, in a voico like a hyena's. "Laugh again, Tobks ! laugh again ! Ha! ha! why, it's quite fuunv !

Tonks, you villain, why don't you laugh ! ha! ha ! You don't half take a joke ! ha ! ha ! Tonks distorted his mouth, but be looked about as unmirtbful as any one well could. "Ha ! ha ! That's right, Tonks ! that's right ! Try it again on the other side of your face, and then tell Pinching Tom I am waiting to see him." Glad of the chance to escape, Tonks hobbled off to the hall, where Jonathan's visitor was waiting, while tbe thief-taker reseated himself at his desk, and prepared to receive him. Tom made a sudden grab at tbe diamond necklace, but Jonathan had put it just out of the reach of his fingers. " Ya-ab — ya-ah ! Will you take the hundred pounds, Tommy ?" "No, never! I" " Very good— very good. Hi ! hi ! Blue ! Blue ! " shouted Wild, banging the desk all the while witb his cudgel.