The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 122: what you’re looking at

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

THE WATCHWORDS OF OLD LONDON. vAS 107 quick step, showed how intensely enraged she was at her loses; but ber obstinacy and avarice prevented her from yielding. Harold sat down on his straw bed, and ate his hard breakfast, and then sat himself to work to pass away the day, What could he do but think ? Think of Ettie—of his present danger and his future hopes. At length the evening came. The girl once more came in with a meal. “You will give me an order .for fifteen guineas?” she said, inquiringly. “Yes, yes. Since you insist, I will.” “ And how do you prove to me that the money will be paid ?” She fixed her eyes keenly upon him. “ My word must suffice.” “Poor security.” “Then you must seek out’ the armourer’s house, and find your proof yourself.” “Give me the order then,” said she, “and I will go.”’ He hesitated. How did he know that she would not deceive him this girl with avarice and greed in her A sudden idea struck him, however. If he had pen and ink and paper, and could write to the armourer, he might give the giant the chance of reacuing him. “Very well,” he said. “I will write to the armourer, and tell him that you are going to set me free; bat that you wish to know first if you will then receive fifteen guineas, I will ex- plain that you will accompany me, and receive from him the money this night.” “And you will give the diamond cross as well?” she said. és Yes, yes.” Her eyes glidtened with eagerness. “Very well, then,” she said; “I will bring you pen and ink.” In a quarter of an hour she returned. In her eagerness she left the door ajar; and he rushed to the door in order to see if he could not force his escape. The idea was dismissed at once. At the end of the corridor stood six grim sentinels. 4 “ You will be seen,” said Harold, closing the oor. “ Write,” returned the girl, sneeringly, as she held ber lamp close to the paper she had spread upon the floor. ‘“ You thought you were going to escape, and give me the slip. You can’t do it, so don’t try.” Harold smiled, sat down, and began— “My DEAR MASTER,—I am again in confinement in Lord Raymond’s house on Old London Bridge. The bearer of this will set me free upon receipt of fifteen guineas; but perhaps you can find means to release me otherwiee. Lord Raymond is abeent, and perhaps, therefore, an attack made now would be successful. e braggart, Captain has promised me ald, bat I place Little de- pendence on him. My room overlooks the river, ; ‘* HAROLD FORDYOR.” ** Qan you read?” he aaked. Tbe girl eyed him suspiciously. ‘No, I cannot,” she said. ‘“‘Thatis a pity,” returned the Young Appren- tice, dissembling, the pleasure he felt at the announcement; ‘“ you would see, then, what I have written. Take this carefully and retarn as speedily as possible.” She sprang to the door. “Ah!” she eried, after listening a moment, “Lord Raymond has returned. I must hasten away. Never fear; J will releage you !” Then she passed out, and the clanging door once more told Harold that he was in captivity. CHAPTER VY. THE ATTACK ON THE HOUSE. Two long dull hours passed. Then there came a light, hurried step along the corridor. ‘‘ She has lost no time,” thought the Young Apprentice, “‘ avarice has given her wings.” “ Hist |’ said the girl’s voice. At the same time a small iron grating slid back, and her face could be seen. ‘‘ Well,” said Harold, approaching, “ have you succeeded 7” “Sacceeded, you imp of Satan!” she ex- claimed; “I have succeeded in discovering what a deceiver and imposter you are. You thought to cheat me, did you, and make me the bearer of your letters? No, no. My father is the ewecutioneer here, and you'll see how heli reward you for this,” “ But ——”’ began the Young Apprentice. It was in vain. The little panel was again closed, and all was sti)lness and loneliness once more, “Some one has read to her this letter,” he said to himseif, “and she has discovered me. A good thing was it that I did not speak more openly about Captain Lackland; upon him now y P I must d d.”’ He Waited eagerly. Slowly the heavy hours passed in the dark- nese. Presently there was a murmuring noise with- out, and a voice cried— ‘‘ Stand clear in there, something is coming !” Harold withdrew into a corner. He waited anxiously. Then came a loud whis, and a huge chain was cast into the room. At the end of it was a’ wide bar. The chain was then tightened, and then the whole force of it was preased against the bars, Harold saw now what was the intention of his friends—to burst away the bars, and thus, by allowing the iron to fall noiselesaly into the river, get him away without any one hearing a sound. Anxiously he glanced up at the dark spot, less dark than the surrounding blackness. He could hear the straining of the bara—he could hear the murmur of his friends without, and presently a loud crash proclaimed that they had sacceeded in tearing away the ironwork, but with a noise which might well be expected to rouse every one in the house, Bat, strange to say, not a soul heard it. “Oome quickly now,” cried the voice of Ben Firebrace, ‘‘come quickly, forthere is no time to lose.”’ The chain was then lowered, and the Young Apprentice ascended quickly. Con EDOO q o +; 2 2)! (¢; iy SS) 7G.) = (G) aha CO