The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 390: what you’re looking at

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

it THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. enough for two persons to attempt an escape, it would be still more against the chances of success if three were to embark upon the enterprise. Having partaken of the breakfast, which in due tongue, to the effect that “the Englishman need not be so haughtily proud ;” and went on their rations. After a slight circuit, Forester approached the stable; and at the same instant he saw Juliana at a little distance. She had followed his advice, by descending from her chamber with- out her bunnet: she walked about for a little while in front of the tower; and then, as if quite in an abstracted mood, passed round to the side. Forester had flung his looke hastily into the stable, and felt satisfied that no one was there. He beckoned to Juliana, who at once followed him into the Quick as thought he took down her side-saddie from the peg on which it was placed: but at the same imstant a sudden noise was heard at the farther extremity of the stable; and a bandit, who had hitherto been concealed by a pile of hay against which he was seated while dis- cussing his morning meal, emerged to their view. The fellow instantaneously suspected Forester’s de. signs ; and drawing his poniand, flew towards him. A shriek rose up to Juliana’s lips, as she thought that all was lost : but fortunately she suppressed it —for Forester, with encoun- tered the bandit—warded off with his arm the blow which was aimed at him with the poniard— hurled the man to the ground—and placed a hand over his mouth and a knee upon his chest. “Quick! your kerchiof |” he said to Juliana. “Take the —which had fallen from the brigand’s hand-—“ hola it over him! plunge it into his heart if he dare utter a word !” Juliana was in a moment all hfe and activity. She gave Forester her kerchief—snatched up the poniard—and held the point #0 close to the bri- gand’s chest that he felt it penetrating through | they his garment. In the twinkling of an eye the kerchief was thrust into hie mouth: he was thus completely gagged. « Corde —halters— to bind him !” said Forester quickly, as he now enatched the from the hand of Juliana; and while he still kept the villain down with his knee upon his breast, he held the over him—at the same time showing by his looks that he was resolved to use it if the alightest resistance were attempted. r= «2 weet =o eam ..«a- owe His proceedings were ably and expeditiously seconded by Juliana. Two or three halters were ready close by; and with these she bound the prostrate bandit hand and foot—while Forester held the menacing poniard but an inch above his countenance. Half suffocated with the kerchief, and fall of mingled rage and terror, the man pre- sented a hideous spectacle with his convulsing fea- tures. The work was promptly done: helpless and speechless the brigand lay upon the ground ; and scarcely two minutes had elapsed aince the mo- ment that Forester and Juliana entered the stable. Now to saddle and bridle two of the steeds! Juliana’e own horse was amongst them; and the quick eye of Forester showed him which was likely to be the strongest and fleetest of the rest. The process of caparisoning the two animals was speedily accomplished; and then came the most daring and difficult part of the whole transaction. the door was just high enough for a stooping down so as to eporway, they urged their the wind they galloped oping path through the vista of Ejaculations of rage and astonishment sentanels at the entrance, reached their cars, as. they thus careered past like lightning : those ejaculations were quickly followed by shote —and a bullet went through Forester’s hat, while another whistled close by Juliana’s ear. “Courage, my heroine!” shouted Forester: and the grove echoed the cry. In a couple of minutes they from amidst the trees; and in an instant shots were fired by the sentinels posted at a little distance in | that part of the precincts of the tower. “Courage |” again shouted Forester, as a glance showed him that Juliana was unhurt; and he felt that he Inmeelf was. “¥ear not for me, my brave deliverer |” cried Jaliana; and her companion saw that aho was quite equal to the enterprise. Several more shots whistled past them, but without taking any effect. Then the sentinels who were nearest ahead were seen rushing down from the heights where they had been posted, like the speed of sl madmen to intercept the progress of the fugitives _ —but all in vain. Orack! crack! again went the carbines: still were Forester and Juliana un- touched: their coursers sped hke the wind—and in a few minutes they felt themselves in compara- tive safety. But still they relaxed not their speed: knew full well there would be a chase; and it was not their purpose to throw away a single one of the many chances that were now in favow of their ultimate Presently Forester, on looking back, perceived three or four horsemen down an emmence: they were the banditt: in pursuit—but he had little doubt of distancing them. On, on sped the fugitives,—encouraging ejaculations constantly fying from Forester’s liy, as the sparks from the flints beneath the horses’ hoofs. (COL (C DOO CS (COL