Guided by the glare of the forge, which threw a stream of ruddy light
across the road, Jack soon found the place of which he was in search.
Entering the workshop, he found the blacksmith occupied in heating
the tire of a cart wheel. Suspending his labour on Jack's appearance,
the man demanded his business. Making up a similar story to that
which he had told the old woman, he said he wanted to purchase a
hammer and a file.
The man looked hard at him.
“Answer me one question first?” he said; “I half suspect you're Jack
Sheppard.”
“I am,” replied Jack, without hesitation; for he felt assured from
the man's manner that he might confide in him.
“You're a bold fellow, Jack,” rejoined the blacksmith. “But you've
done well to trust me. I'll take off your irons--for I guess that's
the reason why you want the hammer and file--on one condition.”
“What is it?”
“That you give 'em to me.”
“Readily.”
Taking Jack into a shed behind the workshop the smith in a short time
freed him from his fetters. He not only did this, but supplied him
with an ointment which allayed the swelling of his limbs, and crowned
all by furnishing him with a jug of excellent ale.
“I'm afraid, Jack, you'll come to the gallows,” observed the smith;
“buth if you do, I'll go to Tyburn to see you. But I'll never part
with your irons.”
Noticing the draggled condition Jack was in, he then fetched him
a bucket of water, with which Jack cleansed himself as well as he
could, and thanking the honest smith, who would take nothing for his
trouble, left the shop.
Having made a tolerably good meal upon the loaf, overcome by fatigue,
Jack turned into a barn in Stoke Newington, and slept till late in
the day, when he awakened much refreshed. The swelling in his limbs
had also subsided. It rained heavily all day, so he did not stir
forth.
Towards night, however, he ventured out, and walked on towards
London. When he arrived at Hoxton, he found the walls covered with
placards offering a reward for his apprehension, and he everywhere
appeared to be the general subject of conversation. Prom a knot
of idlers at a public-house, he learnt that Jonathan Wild had just
ridden past, and that his setters were scouring the country in every
direction.
Entering London, he bent his way towards the west-end; and having
some knowledge of a secondhand tailor's shop in Rupert Street,
proceeded thither, and looked out a handsome suit of mourning, with
a sword, cloak, and hat, and demanded the price. The man asked twelve
guineas, but after a little bargaining, he came down to ten.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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