The Armourer's Apprentice — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

Pca ne See as ge ba “ 2 ie 3 bo! ee . it: | i ae eee ep op ‘ d he cast the hammer ‘with which he had. 4 re Ne s working, and the Preece of armour on oaks ‘to. ) the gronnd. ae _. For one moment the two men stood fac- Se u ag each other in perfect silence, then a Stephen turned carelessly away, and _ stooped to pick up the dagger. scarcely had he done so, than, driven ete ed a sledge-hammer, and, wielding it eis aloft, rushed forward to strike the youth. ~ But Stephen had heard his. approach, | 4 and, turning quickly round, had time to catch his‘arm before the hammer descended, ; 2g ar ad then a fearful struggle ensued. Neither ae Y them spoke, but breast to breast and re knee to knee, they both struggled for me Head the Rennes. A Be oackwards and forwards they rolled, ag whilst Rufus the Rip, leaping note the bps ounter by the window, watched the En ggle with the most breathless interest, Piscn Arm was the stronger of the two, ‘but Stephen had youth, agility, training, he wrested | the hamyner from the smith, 4 nd flung him heavily backwards. 4 Boo Ry an stant, Robert the armourer had : a: one 7" was about to rush: at Stephen, who stood : read to meet him, dauntless as ever, when i : ne Goor was thrown. open, and Willo’ the ) i Bow, followed by some half-a-dozen men at 7 “arms, , entered the place. @ DS ‘ Hillo, hillo, hillo!” eried the old soldier, as he rushed in between them. ‘‘ What is “the meaning of this? A dagger drawn, and on m™ pupil's birthday! Marry come up! i f you will fi ae I will take the matter Me and here he whipped out his long le and stood ready on the defensive), « “ond woe be to the man who first touches | BS a Out of my way, fool! ! Think you that I fi am to be thus scofied at by my own appren- _ tice? No, stand aside, } say, or by my honour I swear I will kill you!” d Will, quietly; “I care not about that. uh But. let me tell you that Stephen is not Re "ets ar apprentice. Yhere hold in my hand ety 3 warrant for him to take the com- eh 0 nan of a body of men-at-arms about to ‘ for the Holy. Land with Richard : ne ie de Lion, our most valiant king.” . , Hed the armourer received a blow in the ts hest he could not have appeared more Me stage gered than he did at this announce- a ig snt. His eyes glittered with fury and red; he clenched the sledge-hammer in owerful hands, and glared round, es if Ao sabe whether to cast all caution to _ ¢he winds, and rush upon all ‘Present, 80 ale his passion, — % etary mE ‘HING’s WARRAN®. we ‘etoke. of fecskcia your: service,” the house. _ and great skill to back him, and eventually | to Dis ieet, and, seizing a sword, a Do what you will with your apprentice,” Luckily Gnitiail prevailed over his furions temper. Re east the sledge-hammer from, him, and, seeing Rufus the Rip grinning likes a little fiend at his discomfort, at once seized the unfortunate youth, and treated him to such @ violent box on the ear that he sent him flying from one end or the room to the a -other. ey a d by his apprentice’s coolness, Tron Arm | “Make that, thou imp of ‘mischief !” he a cried, “I will teach thee to laugh at me.” “Hold, hold! goodman Smith,” cried Will, Isughing heartily ; thou shouldst not ‘spit thy spite upon one who hath not offended thee. I have s word for thy pri- vate ear. Come, Master Stephen, come into Pick up thy things, and bia the good dame and her pretty daughter farewell. Stand outside, my men,” he con- tinued, sddressing the soldiers, but ae within earshot. 1 may want you.” The men-at-arms saluted, and at once withdrew, while Stephen, radiant with - joy; seized his dagger and hurried into the — house, Toes AC reNLARS of the confusion, Rufus the Rip crept into the ash-bin, and, conceal- Ing himself there, listened to all that passed between Will and the Smith. “We are alone now,” said the emith, sullenly. “What want you with me? =i have-no time to waste talking. It hath — iplnesed the king to take from me the boy — have reared directly he hath become use-~ ful, and therefore in my old age I must perforce go harder to work than ever.” @ — “Robert Smith,” said Will, sternly, “ talk not such nonsenseto me. I know full well that what thou hast said about that nye birth is false. He is no base-born churl!” “Hal what mean you ?” Se “That for some dreadful reyengs Dest. 9 known to yourself you have stolen that boy.. He is of noble birth. The king believes it Es to be so. Be guided by me, and confess at once who the youth really is.” . At first the smith seemed evercome with | confusion, but he quickly recovered him- self, and resting a short hammer on the anvil, with his hands crossed on top of the © handle, and his chin placed thereon, ‘he sees said, with a smile— rn eae “Beit as you will, my merry ope etl e think what you will, Tcare not. Bah! if. it be a secret, here is a chest strong enough — to bold it,” he exclaimed, as he struck his- hand violently on his hairy bosom, “a chest not all the instruments in this shop could ~ unlock. Go to! I am no child to be played with. Let the lad go to the Holy Land and © win his spurs, I shall remain here, and pas know how to work my will.” a afk: “Beitso. But the king, ever kind and generous, thinking how hard it would be | cor you to lose so good a workman, hath — : Eomilc 900 és com ? Es ~