The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 107: what you’re looking at

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

THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, Harold, “I am in search of one Ben Firebrace, who is hiding here from his enemies.” The captain uttered a long shrill whistle. “Ob, does the wind lie in that direction? It strikes me that I can assist you in this matter. Are you acquainted with one Raymond—a lord he affectato be? He isa friend to that misbe- gotten imp—Peter Quelf.” “ Know him !” cried Harold ; “I do, indeed ; I have too good a reason to do so.” “ He is here, then, searching for you,” said the desperado, ‘Follow me, and I will take you somewhere where we can avoid him.” “But what about Ben Firebrace !” said Harold, ‘“‘T would rather find him and risk a meeting with Lord Raymond than lose him by en- deavouring to avoid him.” “That is my meaning,” said Captain Lackland. “Tam going to take you to a place where we shall be able to discuss the subject without bein overheard by traitors. Come, follow me, an fear nothing.” “T fear nothing,” returned Harold, “except the possibility of delay. Lead on and I will fol- low you, for in this place we run the risk each moment of being separated.” He did not speak without reason, for the Alsatians and the soldiers, now massed together in d te fight, were surging down upon them in a shouting, struggling mass, Without waiting to see which side was vic- torious, the Young Apprentice and his newly- found friend made their way out of the narrow dark street, and after descending a few steps, passed out by a broad terrace overlooking the river, Harold drew back. A suspicion entered his mind that he was being betrayed. Unsheathing his sword, therefore, he cried, “JT will go n> further, I suspect I am being led into a trap.” The captain turned half round and shrugged his shoulders. “ You can please yourself,” he said, “If you think that I am leading you into an ambuscade, you are at liberty to go. It would be far better for you to persevere, however. Let me say a word in your ear.” With these words, he appproached nearer to the Young Apprentice. ‘¢ Perbaps it will surprise you, my young friend, when I teli you that I have been paid to cut your throat.” ‘It does not surprise me,” returned Harold, drawing his sword. ‘ There seems to be a con- spiracy with one and another to take my life.”’ “Yes ; but you see,” returned Captain Lack- land, “‘you can’t call this a conspiracy. Had I chosen, I could Have whipped my sword through you like lightning. But I would have nothing to do with it. You looked a fine noble lad, far too good to be assassinated, and I accordingly resolved to play double game with my Lord Marderer. I shall allow him to think that you are dead, and I shall get the reward that I have been offered without staining the bright blade of my unblemished sword with the blood of the innocent.” ‘Well, well!” cried Harold. ‘There is one thing certain—I have a sword and know how to use it, No one can destroy me except through treachery,” -The captain gave his usual shrug of the shoulders. *“ You follow me, then f” he asked. “Yes, yes; lead on, and St. George be my protector 1” said Harold, grasping his sword rmly. They now approached a narrow ledge of jagged, stone pavement, where there was only just sufficient room to allow one to pass. Along this the captain passed, followed by the Young Apprentice, feeling along one side of them, holding on, as it were, by the rugged wall, and thus preventing themselves from sliding down into the ooze and slime of the river. The night was very dark, and little could be seen around them ; but had Harold glanced back he would have seen that they were dogged by a shadowy figure, whose outlines he would have been unable to distinguish, but which was evidently watching his movements. However, our hero thought not of going back. His eyes were directed towards his conductor. His thoughts were of brave Ben Firebrace, and the good news he brought him. Presently, having descended the sloping pave- ment in safety, they halted at the door of an inn, which was older and more rugged-looking even than those to which I introduced my readers before. Its windows were scarcely more than a foot in width, and twinkled out dismally over the broad expanse of water. Its firat floor bulged out over the shattered pavement beneath, and from its doorway, situ- ated at the top of staira which were covered at hightide, there oozed ont a murky smell of what the Alsatians, no doubt, called good living. It had a dangerous, dirty, disagreeable look about it, and the dranken gurglings that could be heard issuing from it were no leas unpleasant. ‘This is a queer place to bring any one to,” said Harold. “Very queer,” returned the captain, “ but nevertheless the right one. You wish to see Ben Firebrace, do you not?” “T do.” “He is here. To take you elsewhere would be to deceive you. Eater boldly. With me you have nothing to fear.” The captain, as he spoke, assumed one of his most braggadocio airs, and with his hand on the hilt of his long sword swaggered into the tavern. A heavy, fat, greasy man, stood behind a bar, on which leaned, perhaps, a dozen choice spirits of the Lackland order. “ Ah ! Gobbler,” cried the captain, addressing the proprietor, “I trust I see you well. I have a new Alsatian here—a young one, yet a true one. 8So let us have two glassesof your beat ; my young friend will pay.” Harold smiled. ‘‘ Have you no money, then?” said he. ‘Money! exclaimed the bully, ‘money! why, here in Alsatia we scarcely know the name. Itisa thing we dream of in large quantities and in small. You have money ; pay. It will be a charitable action.” ‘‘I thought you had been paid for assassinat- ing me,” ‘Not paid, promised. But come let us not talk of such things as that. Here comes the ale ; pay, and we will then ask for Firebrace.”’ GOVE OOO