The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 130: what you’re looking at

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

wretched beings have taken their last view of the world and its sunshine. The cell into which Frank Leslie was thrust was dark and gloomy, with vaulted roof above and stone floor below, with diemal heavy pillars supporting the ceiling, and only a narrow barred opening to admit air, Damp and murky it was too, for it was close to the river, and below the level of the Thames at high-water, so that the water oozed through the cracks in the green wall, and left a slimy deposit at every rise of the tide, He was not alone. This was his onty comfort. The stern judge who had condemned him had xo willed it, lest the scaffold might be cheated of ite victim. There was no need for such precautions ae these, Frank Leslie, the giant armourer, had a lion’s heart within his huge frame, and there was no reason for fearing that he would prefer a coward’s death to the public martyrdom in store for him. His companion, however, was but a gloomy one. A Puritan trooper, he was full of the dismal religion of his time, and spoke in that sanctified style of which we hear so much in connection with “ Praise-God Barebones !"’ The armourer could say nothing to whieh this man had not a reply; so that in no spirit of scoff- ing or of mockery, the giant said, at length, «My friend, I have so little time left me in this world, that I should like to ‘speak of it.” “It would be better to think of the next,” “T do,” said the giant; “ but what I think it is not necessary to proclaim on the house-tops.” “T can tell from your discourse that you hope even now for escape,” said the man; “your manner teathes me #0.” “While there is Hfe there is hope,” returned Lestie ; “if my friends can save me they will If my of friend, Morris Lambert, were alive, he would do it or perish himself.” The man did not start, It was against his nature to express his emo- tion in that way, but he looked upeuddenly and sharply. “Did you say Morris Lambert 7” ‘Yes. Did you know him?” “Tell me of him,” returned the r; I may then know if it be the same who was a friend to me.” ‘“ Well, then,” said the giant armonurer, glad of an opportunity of spending the time more pleasantly, even if he were obliged to do all the talking himeeif, “well, then, I will tell you. When I was but a youth, which as you see is some long time ago, I was proceeding hastily along the street somewhat late at night, when I heard cries of distress. It was very dark, and I might have fallen into an ambush; but I fancy Nature intended me to get into scrapes, she cer- tainly gave me a most devoted love of fighting ; so drawing my sword, I rushed towards the spot where I fancied I heard the cries. ‘“TLondon is bad enough now at night in these days of civil war and revolution ; it was worse then, as you know, and though I ran so eagerly to the rescue, I yet felt doubtfal whether I was not doing a foolish action. THE WATCHWORDS OF OLD LONDON. 115 “ However, there seemed a magnetic influence in my sword, and no sooner had the weapon flashed out in the dull rays of the oil-lamwps, than I followed its gleaming point as if it had been a loadstone and I a piece of steel. ‘Darting along a dark court, I saw a youth about my own age struggling on the ground, while a man of huge stature was standing over him sword in hand.” “ You saved him?" said the trooper, eagerly. “Stay, cried the armourer, “you are in a hurry, The tall man was apparently awaiting some one, whose footsteps he was listening for, and I ssw now as I approached the scene that the youth was bound. ‘“*Save me! unbind me!’ cried the latter. ‘In a few minutes they will be here and it will be too late |! “Tdid not wait to ascertain the meaning of the affair ; it was enough for me to see that the youth was in trouble, and in the power of one in every respect his superior in strength, “Stand off!’ I cried, and dashed upon the stranger, who at once furiously responded to my challenge, ‘‘ Olash—clash—olash ! resounded through the quiet court. “Tt was a silent duel. ‘““No words were exchanged; not a sound uttered, “ Only the clash of the sparkling steel and the loud breathing of the combatants, “T was no mean swordsman, and in a very short time I had the satisfaction of seeing my adversary becoming tired. “Then at length I made a lunge forward and he fell groaning at my feet. ‘““T lost no time in releasing the youth from the bonds which held him, and he gprang up. ~ ** Follow me,’ I said, handing him my adver- sary’s sword, ‘for your enemies may follow you even now.’ “As soon as we were out once more in the open street we halted. *¢ You are safe now, my friend,’ I said, ‘so I will say adieu.’ ‘** Not so!’ he cried, seizing my hand, ‘not so. Not till I have expressed my gratitude.’ “‘ For what? I have only done my duty; what you would do in the same cironmstances,’ “¢You know not what you have done,’ ex- claimed the youth, excitedly. ‘You have saved my father’s life; my-.mother and myzelf from disgrace ; my brother and wy sister from star- vation. My life is yours. Let me but know when you are in danger and I will save you or perish.’ ‘‘ He then hurriedly told me that his name was Morris Lambert; that his father was under sentence of death for a crime of which he had now the means of proving him innocent. He was to have died on the morrow, but it seems that I saved him from it, I saw this Lambert many times after, and we were very great friends, although he was merely a simple soldier, and I— but never mind that, he was a good fellow, and I regretted very much when I heard that he had come to a melancholy end.” “ How did you hear that he died, then ?” asked the guard. ‘‘T was told,” replied Leslie, “that he de- serted from the King's army and joined Crom- VOR GOVE OO © A d CO