The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 118: what you’re looking at

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

THE CHILD OF WATERLOO. 115 CHAPTER XXII. AT daybreak Captain Morton went to the chamber of his brother, whom he found already up and ready to start on bis proposed expedition in quest of Mabel and her abductor; and he related to Henry, in all its details, the information he had re- ceived from Rafferty. There was not a moment to be lost, and in a few minutes the oung man had taken leave of his relatives, and the other mem- hers of the household, and mounted his horse. Hethen emerged from the grounds belonging to the hall, and entered a green lane which led by a short cut to the village. As he had reached about half the length of the green lane, he suddenly saw a horseman in the very center of the lane, and the next moment he heard a well-known voice say aloud to him: ‘* Halt, Mr. Henry, halt. Hear what the old man has to say, and then ride over him if vou like.” ‘‘ Rafferty!” exclaimed Henry. << 'Yes, sir; I was Rafferty.” Henry was silent, and after a very short pause, Rafferty added, — ‘“You don’t speak, Mr. Henry; but it’s all thesame. You might as well say it as think it, sir. I know what’s passing in your mind. ‘Here’s the ould thief of the world,’ says you, ‘as let the vagubonds go off with Miss Mabel, That’s what you are thinking of.” ‘No, 00, Rafferty, no. Once and for all, let me tell you that, of course, I cannot help considering you were very indiscreet; but as both my brother and myself are well convinced of your affection for Mabe!, and the excellence of your motives, we do not wish to utter one word of reproach to you.” ‘*There’s no occasion,” said the old soldier, as he struck his chest with his clinched fist; ‘‘there’s no occasion, sir. I’ve quite reproach enough to last me all my life, let me use it every hour of the day, here.” ‘Well, well; that I cannot help, Rafferty. But you have something to tell me, have you not?” ‘‘T bave, sir. I have been to every house in the village, sir, and spoken to every man, woman, and child, and I’ve found out that the villains took the high road, sir, toward Burking.” ‘You are sure of that?” said Henry, eagerly. ** Quite, sir.” “Then Pie have saved me the lossof time of making the same kind of inquiry, Rafferty. I thank you; let me now pass on.” ‘‘Mr. Henry,” exclaimed Rafferty, in so strange a tone that Henry started, for he could hardly believe it came from his lips. ‘What would you say, Rafferty ?” he asked. ‘‘ Sir, [can’t know, of course, if you will listen as I wish you to what I’m going to say; but, to begin with it, I can tell you, sir, comicbooks. com