The Armourer's Apprentice — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

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Dh ae . - 7 _ Shi 5 ee «ss - by . . es J ’ (<< ' ; gm? 6 a 4 . “Ishe not acoward?” ie _“ Would he not, if thers was any danger, at once give up his accomplices—sacrifici ese uchard’s fearfn!l wrath to save him-~ self.’ “Take enough Prince John hath done such things before; but I think he would not care to injure me, Algernon de Courcy. under the heavy taxes which Richard hath imposed upon them to carry out his wars. Trade and commerce are at 2 standstill. War, war! nothing but the ery of war fills the air. The people have grown tired of a glory which they do not share. All the lustre rests upon the Crown. The gloom gathers upon the brows of the people. Prince John knows this, and he hath with an open hand scattered largesse around. He hath forced the rich Jews to open their gold bags, promising them sig king! eaven alone knows what favours when he These Hebrews know how much Richard bates them. By St. Paul, have eould. oy i OYA . a4 ; 7 ="s = - * > 1 ; ~ rm. --pome one approaching AN walter.” | “My lord! my lord!” said a knight ina hoarse whisper as he entered the apartment, “allis prepared. The Saracens have seen the order of the Old Man of the Mountain, they not reasonto? Do you think that they will easily forget’ the massacre of their tribe in London when Richard was crowned? No! nor the general massacre at Stamford, St. Edmundsbury, Lincoin, and York. They would be more forgiving than Christians to do so.” “Jn good truth the unbelievers had but whai they deserved,” replied De Courcy. “Go to! are we the ones to talk of belief andfunbeliei? Yesterday we were Christians ; to-day we follow Mahomed; and in @ year or less,if we have good fortune, we shall east away the Crescent and resume the Cross. Be the matter as it may, John hath used all his brother’s faults as only so cunning and smooth-tongued a prince The clergy are all for John. Already Philip of France looks with jealous eyes on Richard’s fame. The leopard likes not to see the lion carry off all his glory. They will quarrel; Richard will be removy- ed eithex by poison or steel. The people of England will proclaim Prince John the - king, and all will be in our favour. You, De Courey, will marry the lady -Alice; then we can laugh at our foes; King John will confirm your title, and Sir Stephen may then go back to the armoury and work.” ~ “That he shall never do. power he shall be tortured to death.” Yf I have the But hark! I hear -it must be Fitz- “Be it so; I care not. the prophet to be and have sworn by rr to be true to you. The Sheik Mahomed Altis él , ¢ i ss ’ Ad cop 1g ~ &'j rz. et © — -) ‘ . ART ah. . y 7 —? ° 2 ‘7 / tia! Se JAD and the deed can be done at once.” | ; “Ms well. By ury faith! I tha magicsn for ha shown me the way do this deed. Ah! Ishall now carry ot his plan. Follow me, gentlemen. To- nicht this castle shall ¢ eowners, Gisffa and Sir Stephen waited until they deemed the apartment would be empty, all — the conspirators having departed on their ~ mission of murder, and then, pushing the © door a little further back, he looked into the room, Lge oe Beet. | | “They have gone,” said Giaffa. “My revenge is close at hand. The sheik will © die. ould that mine had Been the hand to strike the blow!” + np hae et ace “What shail we do?” exclaimed Si Stephen. “Whatcanwedo?” “Nothing,” replied Giaffa. “You have heard whatisto be ourfate?” = © “T thought not of that; “ but it seemsso herrible to stand idle here and know murder — is going on. Percheance, at this very moment the old man’s life-blood may be gushing forth.”’ 4 “T pray it may beso. Have you forgot- ten the lady Alice? I have not forgotten Zayda.” | oc see “ By Heavens! you call me back aie purpose. Let the sheik perish! He hath deserved his fate. But how are we to rescue Alice ?” _ A ee “IT know not. But stay! there may bea ~ chance of seeing her if only for a moment.” — “Tell me your plans, good Giaffa. Keep — me not in suspense, but speak at once,” “Took that your dagger is ready for use, — then. Down yonder corridor is the harem, ~ which is guarded night and day by twoof the most powerful Saracens in the sheik’s © bodyguard. If we could overcome them and disguise ourselves in their clothes we © might pass into the harem and so see he lady Alice, although we could not rescue ~ “ A good plan, Giaffa. Let us not lose a moment but start at once,” cried Sir Step-— hen. “If she were guarded by twenty © giants I would attack them to cut myWwes ¥ to Alice.” | Sete hs. “Be calm and follow me.” said Giaffa, a ct + "y 7 4-4 = a . ‘fA . ae Rb: £ “and be ready to attack them when I say. The end of the corridor was soon reach- ed, and pushing open a door Giaffa entered — the outer apartment of the harem, follo ra closely by our hero. | ier ued , Two gigantic Saracens, haying their” a ee Tt) drawn seimitars in their hands, sprang 7 p from the couch where they had been seated and in tones of thunder demanded by what . Pex o Oa a the harem, | ae > ECOMIEDOOKS com oe A Os