The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 181: what you’re looking at

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

178 THE CHILD OF WATERLOO. In afew moments more he heard the turnkey coming toward him, and his cell, which was a secret one, was at length visited by the turnkey. He could hear the teck turn, and then the bulky form of the turnkey was seen entering the. cell. ‘“‘'Well,” he said, ‘‘ what have you to say for your supper? Here it is, light and wholesome.” As he spoke, he placed some bread and water on the table. ‘* You'll have some swiggins for breakfast; that will be warm. Ain’t you grateful ?” ‘‘Oh, yes,” said the mendicant; ‘‘ here’s your health!” and at the same time he lifted the water asif be were about to drink it, and suddenly smacked it into the turnkey’s face. The man gasped and staggered from the effects of the water, and then the mendicant felled him by a blow upon the temple. which caused him to drop as if he had been shot. In an instant the mendicant took the keys and some silver from the fallen man, opened the cell door, and stepped out. At the same time he locked the door, securing the turnkey in the cell, and freeing him- self from immediate pursuit. For a moment he paused; but he recollected which way he came, and he groped his way in the dark, until he came toa lace where the passage entered another, which led right and eft. He walked down lightly and rapidly, until he came to the end of the passage, which terminated in a cross-way, that seemed to lead to several rooms. A door was suddenly opened, and a man came out and went away. He was one of the turnkeys, aud when he came out of the door, the mendicant at once saw that this was the wicket-gate which led into the street. He heard voices in this place, and yet, to get out, he must pass through this place. There was a door that led into it, but it was only ajar, and he crept softly toward it and peeped in at it. The door was shut, but the key was in the door, and he deter- mined to make the attempt. The odds were formidable, because there were three men in the room. He had not expected so many. He pushed open the door very gently, and walked into the room without being seen, and had seized a large walking- stick which lay in one corner. He hesitated; how to act he knew not. Whether he had better risk a rush at the wicket- gate at once, or whether he should make an attack upon the turnkeys and stun them. It was a moment of indecision; but there was no time to lose, for there was a desperate noise in the passage, made by the imprisoned turnkey. ‘“What can all this noise mean?” exclaimed one of the turn- keys. *‘ What can be the matter?” “T don't know. Some of the visitors are not very quiet. It seems to me asif some of the good fellows, by way of amuse- ment, had begun to kick at the doors.” ‘¢ Ha! what is that?” This last exclamation was caused by the mendicant havin touched the key with his hand, and turned it in the lock, and made a slight noise. ‘« The devil!” exclaimed one, comicbooks. com