The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 123: what you’re looking at

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

THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, The fresh air of Heaven once more fanned his brow, and, with a fervent prayer, he slipped through the opening, and slid downwards, A boat was below, and, descending into it, he found himself with Ben Firebraece and the Alsatian captain. In less than five minutes they had cleared the abadow of the old house, and were proceeding towards the middle of the river. They had not proceeded far before they saw another wherry pushing off after them. “We are pursued!” cried Ben Firebrace. “Come, my men, pull together.” The men in the other boat were stronger and more numerous, and they soon came nearer and nearer, After some time they came alongside. ‘‘ Surrender |" shouted the voice of a stranger. ‘‘ Never !”" cried Ben Firebrace, firing a shot right into the group in the boat. A man fell over, plump into the water, with a loud cry that resounded through the air, and went wailing away like the cry that had brought horror to the mind of Captain Lackland's friend, Radstock. The friends, or, rather, the servants of Lord Raymond, fired a volley instantly, killing one of Firebrace's friends, and wounding another. ‘Oh |” shouted Lackland, lying down in the bottom of the boat. “Oh! I am wounded ! Oh! Tam killed! Iam dying !" There was no time to laugh, so planting his foot on the stomach of his treacherous friend, Harold took the coward’s sword, and prepared to do his best towards resisting the attack. The boats were soon alongside of one another, and the contest began in earnest. Eagerly Harold sought for the form of ,the detested dwarf. But Quelf was nowhere to be seen. He had, in fact, no desire to be engaged in such a warfare as this, What he delighted in—brave as he might be— was anything in which his cunning and sagacity would be pitted against other’s open courage. The fight was desperate though short. Many found their last home in the cold river that night, but at length the bravery of Harold’s friends prevailed over the hired enthusiasm of Lord Raymond's followers, and they rowed triumphantly away. ‘Once more free!” thought Harold, “For how long?" CHAPTER VIL. THE BUBPICIOUS WATCHERS—THE CLOSING IN Ok NIGHT—THE ARMOURER’S WARNING— ON THE WATCH—THE SUMMONS—THE PURI- TAN TROOPERS—THE ARREST, THREE nights after Harold’s return four men might have been seen making their way along the Berand, from the direction of the village of ng. When they arrived opposite the house of Frank Leslie, the armourer, they glanced all ways to see if they were observed, and then con- cealed themselves in the archway where Harold had hid himeelf to watch the conspirators, who had emerged, as will be remembered, one by one from behind the statue of the Virgin. Harold was sitting at the window with Ettie Leslie, telling her o angers an when he observed the four men prowling round the house, and finally concealing themselves in the shadowy archway. y “ Bee, Ettie,” he said ; “ more danger threatens He pointed to the archway. The girl leaned upon his shoulder, and glanced over at the place he named. ‘‘T seo nothing,” she said. “ Not now,” answered Harold. “No doubt in the darkness they are concealed from you. Bat I saw this moment four men enter that dark archway and plant themselves so as to keep a good watch on this house,” ‘Who are they, think you ?” “They seem Puritan soldiers by their dress. 7 hey surely should not be searching for your father, who is their best friend. But hark! I hear drums in the distance, The soldiers are coming.” Throwing open the casefment he leaned out. There along the Strand he could see the troops advancing steadily to the number of two hundred or more, with a band of music before them. “Something is meant by all this,’”’ he cried. Kittie, keep a sharp look out. I will go down and inform your father.” Though the Young Apprentice was resting, the giant armourer was not. Recovered now from his wound, he was at the forge—working like a blacksmith—hbis sinewy arms wielding his huge hammer aloft, and fashioning a piece of heavy armour. Merrily he sang at his work— “ urrah! for the freedom ef England— Hurrah! for the hammer and forge!” ‘Ah! Harold!” he exclaimed, stopping in his work, and wiping with his arm the great drope of perspiration from his brow. ‘“ Ah! my brave boy, are you come to help me?” “No, sir, 1am come to warn you. Four men are watching this house—four suapicious-looking men, and & company of soldiers are advancing towards it as well.” ‘What costume do they wear?” ‘That of Cromwell’s men.” “ Then, we are safe ; fear not.” “T doubt it. The men of whom I speak are hiding away suspiciously in the dark archway opposite our house, and I obeerved them point- ing upwards to your windows before they concealed themselves, I think, at least, you should leave your work and come upstairs to see what you make of them,” The armourer smiled, ‘‘ If the truth were known, Harold,” he said, “ these are some of your kind friends come after you again. However, I will come up with you.” So saying, he flung down his huge hammer, and still humming to himself the merry tune he had been singing, he ascended to the first floor, They were met at the door by Ettie. “Harold,” she said, “your suspicions are correct. No sooner had you descended to the workshop than that villanous dwarf made his appearance, This is another specimen of the way in which he intends to work out his hatred against us.” Con EDOOo