The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 118: what you’re looking at

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

like a snake up the staircase in the direction of the giant’s room. No one heard him. Creepiug up in his stooking feet he made -not the slightest noise, and it was not long before, knife in hand, he reached the ehamber where the giant lay. His loud snoring proclaimed that he was in a deep sleep. Queif chuckled to himself.as he grasped his dagger. “ Ah,” thought he, “there is no fear of in- terruption. I shail be enabled to carry off both papers and money without striking a blow.” He knew well that the armourer kept his valuables concealed in a little room which he had to approach through the larger apart- ments. To this it would be necessary to creep gently on all fours in order that his shadew mizht not be thrown upon the bed by the Jamp which the armourer invariably kept burning on the mantle-piece. On he went noilselessly, looking with his big shaggy head and crooked limbs Hke some hideous-animal crawling towards its prey. The door leading to the inner room was not open, and when at length he succeeded in silently turning the handle he found that it was in utter darkness. He had, therefore, to retrace his steps and take -from the mantile-piece the lamp which now shed its light over the armourer’s bed. Peter Quelf was never at a loss, The natare which had made him crooked back, and distorted, and hideous, had given him a mind which, though always perverted by evil thoughts, was wonderful in its canning and sagacity. He knew well that if he removed the lamp when it was in its full glare he would certainly awake the giant, and, though, therefore, he was eager to reach his destination and clutch the long desired treasure, he calmly stood by the chimney corner and turned down the light of the lamp. When it was nearly extinguished, he took it, and slowly passed across the chamber once more, On reaching again the door of the inner room, he heard a light breath within. ‘ Here is a fresh obstacle,” he said, “who can this be 7” He gently entered—gently closed the door bebind him, and turned up the lamp again. He had no sooner done 80, when he etarted back in affrighted wonder. Some one was in bed—a small bed beneath the window. ee approached, and glanced eagerly at the per. It was Kittie Leslie. Sleeping there, with her bright curls floating over her white shoulders, her rosy cheeks pressed against the white pillow, one pretty rounded arm lying outside the clothes, she looked exquisitely pretty. If he loved any being in this world, Peter Quelf loved Ettie Lealie. For an instant, the remembrance of the treasure faded away from his mind, and he THE WATCHWORDS OF OLD LONDON. = nea ae could do nothing but gaze upon the beautiful form before him, think of nothing bet the loss of her to himself, This idea, however, reminded him that money is required for everything; and, accordingly, be thought again of the treasure he had been sent to seize, and with a sigh, quitting the side of the bed, he searched aroand him for the cheat in which the money and papers were corcealed. He econ found it. Taking a short crowbar from his pocket, he inserted it between the box and the lid, and wrenched it open. He had scarcely done—acarcely placed one bag of coin in his pocket—when Ettie Leslie made a low moaning in her sleep. He sprang up. “Leslie will be in:in sa moment,” -he cofed, half aloud; “I mast stop her noise.” He approached the bed. The gil was evidently dreaming. Beautiful—more beautifal than ever was the now, with her flashed cheeks, as she tossed her arms wildly over her head, Seized by a sudden feeling, pressed to ft by a sudden impulse, he bent over her, and kissed her 1pé. The effect was instantaneous, She uttered a lord shriek, and sprang up. Scarcely had she done so when a movement was heard in the next room, and the armourer came towards the door. There was now no time for thoughts of plunder, She continued to shriek out, and in another moment the giant appeared at the door, wield- ing his huge sword, ‘The dwarf | the dwarf !" cried Ettie, clasping her hands, and rushing into her father’s arma. Qaelf looked around him. He was seeking a place for escape. But no place showed itself, The only door which entered the room was that which communicated with the chamber of the armourer. ‘‘ Back to bed, my girl,” cried Frank Leslie, - leading her back, ‘‘ Fear nothing. This imp of Satan has trapped himself now, and shall never leave my house alive,” Shudderingly the young girl crept back into the bed, where, since the night when she had been abducted by Lord Raymond, she had always slept. b —e ping beneath the clothes, she hid her ead. She knew—#he felt that something terrible was coming. ‘Now, then,” said Leslie, swinging round his sword, “prepare to die, vile robber and aseas- sin.” Quelf was in a desperate strait. | Untike the Alsatian captain, however, he was no coward, Drawing his only pistol he took steady aim. There was very little light. In fact the only means of seeing was the moon-gleams that came in through the window, GOVE OOO CO