The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 361: what you’re looking at

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

344 REYNOLDS’ WORKS Having partaken of the breakfast, which in due course was brought up to his apartment, Mr. Forester, securing about his person the papers which he had written, descended the staircase, and sauntered forth from the tower in a leisurely manner. A couple of the banditti were seated on a bench in front, eating their morning meal, and according to his usual habit, he passed them by without taking the slightest notice of them. They exchanged observations in their own native tongue, to the efiect that “the Englishman need not be so haughtily proud,’ and went on devouring their rations. After making a slight circuit, Forester ap- proached the stable, and at the same instant he saw Juliana at a little distance. She had followed his advice, by descend- ing from’ her chamber without her bonnet. She walked about for a little while in front of the tower, and then, as if quite in an abstracted mood, passed around to the side. Forester had flung his looks hastily into the stable, and felt satisfied that no one was there. He beckoned to Juliana, who at once followed him into the place. Quick as thought he took down her side-saddle from the peg on which it was placed, but at the same instant 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 discussing his morning meal, emerged to their view. The fellow instantaneously suspected Forester’s designs, and drawing his poniard flew toward him. A shriek rose up to Juliana’s lips, as she thought that all was lost; but fortunately she suppressed it, for Forester, with lightning swiftness, encountered 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 kerchief!’’ he said to Juliana. “ Take the poniard,’’— which had fallen from the brigand’s hand, — ‘hold it over him. Plunge it into his heart if he dare utter a word.” Juliana was in a moment all life and activity. She gave Forester her kerchief, snatched up the poniard, and held the point so close to the brigand’s chest that he felt it penetrating through his garment. In the twinkling of an eye the ker- chief was thrust into his mouth; he was thus completely gagged. ECORNIELIOOOKS (EO)