“Then you’ll never know more than this,” retorted Blueskin, with a grin of satisfaction;—­“they’re in a place of safety, where you’ll never find ’em, but where somebody else will, and that before long.”

“Hear me, Blueskin,” said Jonathan, restraining his choler.  “If you’ll tell me where to look for these things, and I do find them, I’ll set you free.  And you shall have a share of the gold for yourself.”

“I’ll tell you what I’ll do,” rejoined the other.  “Set Captain Sheppard free, and when I hear he’s safe,—­not before,—­I’ll put the money and papers into your possession, and some other matters, too, that you know nothing about.”

“Impracticable dolt!” exclaimed Jonathan, furiously.  “Do you think I’d part with the sweetest morsel of revenge on those terms?  No!  But I’ll have the secret out of you by other means.”

So saying, he violently shut and locked the door.

About ten days after this interview, Blueskin, having been indicted by Wild for several robberies, and true bills found against him, was placed at the bar of the Old Bailey to be arraigned; when he declared that he would not plead to the indictment, unless the sum of five hundred pounds, taken from him by Jonathan Wild, was first restored to him.  This sum, claimed by Wild under the statute 4th and 5th of William and Mary, entitled “An act for encouraging the apprehending of Highwaymen,” was granted to him by the court.

As Blueskin still continued obstinate, the judgment appointed to be executed upon such prisoners as stood mute, was then read.  It was as follows, and, when uttered, produced a strong effect upon all who heard it, except the prisoner, who, in no respect, altered his sullen and dogged demeanour.

“Prisoner at the bar,” thus ran the sentence, “you shall be taken to the prison from whence you came, and put into a mean room, stopped from the light; and shall there be laid on the bare ground, without any litter, straw, or other covering, and without any garment.  You shall lie upon your back; your head shall be covered; and your feet shall be bare.  One of your arms shall be drawn to one side of the room, and the other arm to the other side, and your legs shall be served in the like manner.  Then, there shall be laid upon your body as much iron, or stone as you can bear, and more.  And the first day, you shall have three morsels of barley bread, without any drink; and the second day, you shall be allowed to drink as much as you can, at three times, of the water that is next to the prison-door, except running-water, without any bread.  And this shall be your diet till you die.”

“Prisoner at the bar,” continued the clerk of the court, “he against whom this judgment is given, forfeits his goods to the king.”

An awful silence prevailed throughout the court.  Every eye was fixed upon the prisoner.  But, as he made no answer, he was removed.