"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 th