The Armourer's Apprentice — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

threaten to fall inwards. ¥ “Stay—stay!” eried thelady Alice, passion-. ately wringiag her hands. “For the love ‘of Heaven pull the bricks outwards. Wrerch them from their place.” [hig ~The men paused, and then, dropping the Sledge-hammers and the axes, they used the pick-axes and crowbars as levers, go that th ee stones of the wali were forced crash—a fearful crash, a cloud of loose lime, which made them shrink back and cover their eyes. 2 » Then whien they looked again they beheld a strange and fearful scene. » The fallen wall had discovered a kind of ary ot of the smallest dimensions. | ys) in this was placed a bed, a small Moorish table, on which were @ few crumbs, and by the side of it wag a broken water pitcher. _ Sut what was that strange-looking object ¢ “ae ge looking only Til ‘ ; “4 - Me 4 Pte: ality their torches above their heads, ‘the men crept into the vault and gazed Gown on the bed. _ | | Alow moan, and the bundle moved. It Was &@ woman. She turned round and passed one thin hand over lier face so as to _ throw back the veil which covered it. _ it was a beautiful face even now, although the cheeks were hollow, the eyes sunken ond wild, and the features drawn. | But still beauty dwelt there, and strong men looking at this sad face had to dash their hands quickly over their eyes to brush awa y the tears which would otherwise have melion, 9 Reh, | At that moment Giaffa uttered a fearful shriek, and,’ springing forward, seized the. - woman in his arms. . *Zayda, Zayda!” he cried —“my own _ 4yda restored to me once more. Look up darting. Friends arearound you. You are sb e—safe with your own Giaffa.” | _, “ Giaffa, Giaffa !” murmured the unhappy ‘woman. “T{e is alive, and I om dead.” ~ «No, darling, no !” eried Giaifa, now alme a ‘antic, “thou art alive—saved from a cruel’ death by his leal lady. Oh } dar- Jing, place your arms around my’ neck and love me, I who thought you lost 086 for ever to mé. You have indeed returned from the grave, and the great Chriatinn God has weil rewarded me.” | The woman looked wonderingly at first, ‘at then, throwing her arms around her usband’s neck, she caught him closely to _ her breast as she exclaimed— ef Gioffa, Giaffa ! my own darling, are you restored to me again? Oh! my love, my dwn sweet love, speak to ma that J may be > this is no dream—uno vision before : rs 4 $ A . ; e @ bundle of | Land had done as well. “9 (a0 VW “7 % a | we ~ 7 : ty ae . . hak he : te ' = * s. - : oa” my oh , “ : . : o : ay - of } ¥ mn “s e", 4) a Fe i . bd . ® ; , Y ' ’ a - mw ; e r4 ’ “ ’ . = did a « ~ : om +4 rie 7". ; ee A Pees -'*. % _ ; Jey ai ran +. . . ‘ > ‘ . ‘ 2) ’ ' k \ ' . aq » . . * a ¥: bd - a . ' elk 4 Neng : : . 4 * then the wall began to tremble and to death. Oh! darling, hold me in your arms, die with me, so that even death shall not part us.” “Talk not of death,” said Stephen, gently, “but lve that you may thank the great good Power that has taken you out of all this trouble and joined you again to your ~ beloved wife. Let some of my men carry you out of this dismal place, and I doubt not that under careful treatment she will soon recover her health and beauty,” 2 At this moment Sir Stephen and his knights were startled by hearing lond shouts on the walls of the fortress, and — hastening thither to learn the cause, were delighted to behold a number of knights approaching the castle. : | “See, darling one!” cried Sir Stephen, “ there floats the royal standard of England. Jt is the king—Richard the Lion, Heart— who has come tohelp us. Let the trumpets sound to welcome our royal master.” Loudly did the men shout as Richard, followed by a hundred knights, the flower of the English army, rode into the courtyard of the castle; and loud and long were the greetings which passed be- tween the soldiers. ae “Thou hast done bravely,” said the king, as he grasped our hero’s hand. “ Would that all the knights who came to the Holy Then would the holy city be ours. But petty jealousies have spoiled all. Philip of France hath de- clared his intention of returning to Europe. Well, let him go; we can do without him.” _“ Behold, sire,” said Sir Stephen, leadin forward Alice, “the fair prize for which fought.” , Poa “And no more worthy one could be, maiden,” said the Icing, as he took Alice’s hand. “I give thee joy of having won the heart of so brave a knight; and you, Sir Stephen,on having gained the love of so fair a maiden, But I have news for thee, Sir stephen. Where is De Courcy and iis wicked uncle, De Boischene ?” i “ De Courcy is here, my liege; but I fear that Sir Bidulph de Boischene has paid the penalty of his crimes.” gece ‘* Not so, my lord; he still lives,” said Will o’ the Bow. “But if you wish to ask him any questlons you had better not lose time, for he is dying rapidly.” “ Let the villains be brought before us,” said the king, sternly. “Stand thou here, Sir Stephen, by the side of lady Alice. You shali confront this traitor, and hear from his own lips the mystery of thy birth,” “The mystery of my birth!” cried Stephen Sternhold, joyfully. “Can it be possible?” (E(O) fA (E JOO <S “Patience, and you shall see,” replied the (E(@)