The Armourer's Apprentice — page 62: what you’re looking at

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

- ae oa ey itr ‘ af ah a . a ae | ’ - gh eo - - ow Ss « i) a . j ; { ” . Aa Ay Ae > ‘ 7 ' *~ “. , Zhe + > ion) ’ . f ' a ‘Ao Se € ~ . A a &, where traces of the fight were visible. #, - and weary, & stranger ewcastle. self alone, and the word was given to fall back. At this moment he received a blow upon the head, from what cause he knew not, for be reeled at once, and fell. Hie could not have lain long. When he awoke it was daylight; but the -place where he found himseif was deserted. He rubbed his head, and found a little blood, - which he wiped with his handkerchief, but he seemed to have nothing but a bruise. | After resting a few moments, he felt quite revived, and determined to go on at once in saarch of his comrades. To those who haveever listened for noises real or fancied, in solitary places, where there.is no wind, 1¢ will not seem strange that Hayes felt doubtful in which direction the body of the army lay; for sometimes he seemed to hear a confused murmur upon either side, and sometimes a noise like one hallooing ata great distance. Not doubt- ing PAowever, that he should rejom his comrades, he wound his way round a low hill till he came to a field of brushwood. The flush of sunset filled the sly, like a crimson vapour risen from the battle-field; but the light was beginning to fail. Hayes walked quickly till he sunk again into a hollow, and there, a little off the path, beside a pool of water gleaming crimson in the sunset like a pool of blood, he found the body of 2 man, that lay there motionless, as if he had striven to gain the pool and drink, but had died before he reached it; and, being then some distance from the battle- field, had remained there unobserved; for Hayes knew, by the richness of the uniform, _ that he was an officer of superior rank. Yiayes paused a few moments, watching the body for some sign of life, but it gave noné. His epaulettes and sword-hilt glit- tered even in the waning light, and seemed to dazzle the young soldier's eyes. The unconirdllable madness of the night before came upon him once again. The lust for ‘Money: tha yearning aiter his abandoned j 1d, and he Imew that they felt a satis- ‘faction at his losses. Indeed, as he cast down his guineas and left the spot, a half- - amothered laugh caught his ear, and roused in him thoughts more bitter still than he had feltupon that New Years Day when he wandered hun in the streets of ~ There was a great battle on the next day, - which lasted from daylight till near sunset, _ many hundreds being slain. The fight had spread over 9 wide country, many sharp struggles having taken place at distant - points. Thecompany to which Hayes be- _ leuged had been pushed on to the front; — until near the close of the day it found it- home: the easuistry thet made the ae gt thing seem good, all drew himon. 7 pe It was too late to help the maw. Th)™ gold and other things about him could hb” useful to him no more. Beforemanyhour | - a —_ & MS, as t: ane - vs: 7A LE ge of hs C ft = ot P ‘>> iii aces 4 ” = ; x. : i. . Py = ie 5 T Sed e LF, °, ’ w ¥ A Pm 490 " ie a) a mn Fy ws Farad y %- = A y i : - ag | 5 rs | fr ‘ IS a” fe S i: 3 tule t mh a .- . ig mee ¥ a age. c. at a al ; Py ( : a . ‘Sy i ‘a if ty : , : ; iy. C7 > we ie oy me, ig Fa » . . f os : # , 4 Pas ee pe : dn. . rae te ’ Z | 432° Y See fon ; ts. A x +. . ; es ame hd > ; 3: Pape = ye as , ; Ee MOR 0 8 OSS DD LES APPRENTICIS 5000/0) He) ene _o ap é ~ a : . 7 - vu - > : - 4 ; he ' ‘ ’ , ‘ ol v) ‘. 5a ar <4 Ly -. ’ Pere} DO OEE VUE EEA SIRS LAUD: B33. APRN OE SE Te ee ec _ + emt + A o- a = as rs eo i. 2 ¥F tn = ss ’ hd. dé 4 i] Mir or 2 « aon se” a I Be Pas | 7 : > a me i i #4 ce” ‘> AEA et F ee Se Ia c? ‘ J : oF 5 -, , a - 7 Fie c. " ~ S Ry Oe Ae : - it. Aw (md ie ( v¢ Vy, ry Fs ) | au the wretches who hover about a_battle field would plunder him of all. Hay sa comrades had never yet shown scruples on » this point, He stooped quickly beside the body, and drew forth a purse. The man” lay sideways, and Hayes perceived a rib Don : that was round his neck, as if fastened to some trinket worn beneath his shirt. He” clutched it greedily, and found a cross thickly set with diamonds, that sparkled as he drew it forth. Hayes shrank from touching the body as he stroye ‘toy disentangle the ribbon, when, to his ¥ astonishment, the wounded man uttered ay” Hayes started, and then paused, holding the cross still firmly. The man was evidently awakening from a swoon. Ig hand passed quickly to his breast, as if to feel for the cross there, and as quickly | caught his plunderer by the wrist. 5 | | “Laissex-moi ca. Mon Dieu! le croix!? Cc a4* exclaimed the officer, as if still half-dream> ~ ing. Y | we SOR ayes strove to disengage himself, bub he himself was weak with recent loss of blood, and the man’s strength was return= ing. He half-raised himself, and clutched Hayes with both hands, and they: fell together, and struggled with their whole strength. Hayes held the cross still, ! instinctively, which engaged his hand, and ~ his antagonist drew a pistol from his b elt. in another moment he would haveshoh his 7 opponent dead; but Hayes held off his arr and, blinded by the fury of the struggle,” drew a pistol from his own breast, and fired’ at his opponent. The officer uttered a > groan, his hold relaxed, and he fell back heavily, Horrified by the dreadful act into” which his cupidity had betrayed h m;- Hayes fled from the ground. © 4 * -Night had fallen as he hurried over fields” and through lanes, till he must have jour a neyed some miles. He discovered no trace of his comrades, nor did he desire to meet them again. The words of the preacher © who had left him at Newcastle rang in| 18 ears, and reproached him with his erme! He would have given all that he possessed —all hopes that he had ever cherished, to * go back and wipe out that one day from ~ 1 memory tor ever, Towards ne yl he met some labourers, who directed « to a little village, where he purcha blue linen blouse, and a cap and trousers; ~ which concealed his military: unifc rm, In this garb he wandered about for: some time 1gnt reer 7 Ca. ‘ re ; ~ ay Fe of 7 > - ’ a) <5 . — > i. if Gg / + = . : ’ : - - , . : . Pe ne - a4, ‘ 4 » «4 ¢ - th a” . . — : . +& a . a “ Ft _ comicbooks.com i ; 2 Pe * ah ~™ : i . A at! oak oi a ' ¥ oo iggon OF MR ee i Ree ees ae