The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 133: what you’re looking at

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

. 118 2 THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, thrast his service upen me; but I have found him good and faithfvul, and shall retain him.” They hurried on until, arriving at the corner of the river lane. they passed down towards the Thames—towards the place where firet the Young Apprentice had emerged from the dark- ness—which had been as it were the birth-place of his fortune. Round it were assembled a large number of troopers. “ See,” said the Unknown, as he neared them, ‘*T stand in good company now. Had I been attacked near your master’s house, my page wou at once have summoned these men to my aid, ©n entering the house, they found Captain Firebrace seated in the large room with six other officers. “ Welcome, Harold,” cried Ben, rising, and grasping his hand. “Weare bound to go into battle together. Fortune seems to have selected us to teach special lessons.” “Yes; if you except me you are the most unfortunate in that respect of all present,” said the Man withont a Name. “ But, come; to business. In three days Frank Leslie dies unless we rescue him.” “ Then we must rescue him,” said Ben. . “We must. But we have little time. In the first place, amicable measures must be tried. Where is Cromwell now ?” ‘ At Braybridge—on the road to London.” Are preparations made to receive him ?” “ Aye; the city gates are closed against him ; the train bands are ready for action; and the wortby civic dignitaries are ruffling up their feathers like angry birds, But I'll warrant me they lick the dust off his feet when he does come.” “Yes; and hail him king, if he wishes it,’ returned the Unknown. ‘But since he is at Braybridge, will he remain there ?"’ “ Only one day.” ‘Then some one must go to him at once. My presence is required in London or I would go myself. Who will go ?” “TY will!” cried Harold, eagerly. “ And J with you,” said Firebrace. “Two stout hearts together,” said the Un- known, ‘Well, I will give you a letter for “Cromwell. If he refuses to pardon this man we must tear*him from the hands of the executioner. I have sworn it, and we will do it, Firebrace, how many men have you ?” ‘“Tand my friends here can muster a thou- sand,” returned Ben. “Then if Cromwell refuses this boon we can take it for ourselves,” said the Unknown. “And now, since thus far we have gone, let us record an oath—standing up thus—before Heaven, that we will save our friend and cromrade, Frank Leslie, or die in the attempt.” The Unknown raised his hand solemnly to- wards Heaven, and his companions followed his example, ‘““ We swear !” they said, with one accord. The Unknown then sat down, and taking writing materials from hia pocket, proceeded to write a letter to Cromwell. It was very brief, evidently, for he had soon completed it. Then he copied it, and gave one to each of his messen ers. ‘‘You may separate,” he said, “for who can answer for.it that you will not be pursued ? Whoever receives the answer first must leave the camp at once and hurry homewards, I shall be here in this house awaiting your return, or if I am not here, my page will be able to tell you where Tam. So now, gentleman, since we have completed the more serious part of our work, we will drink success to our brave friends who are setting out on a dangerous adventure. Ambrose,” he added, turning to the page, “‘ bring in the wine.” The page—who was, cvidently, very young and exceedingly handsome, with fair curling hair and soft, womahly blue eyea—bowed in silence and retircd, | | In a few moments he returned, bearing an abundant supply of wine and goblets, which he handed round to the guests. One and all having drank success to the Young Apprentice and Captain Firebrace in their enterprise, the party disperaed, and the officers having conferred again with the Unknown as to their place of concealment while awaiting the result of the dispatch, the troops quitted the river lane, and the old house and its surround- ings once more relapsed into quietude. Meanwhile, our two young adventurers, after leaving the old house, proceeded together to the armourer’s, They had news for Ettie and Alicia, and they had, moreover, to take farewell—the one of the giant’s gentle daughter, the other of Lizzie Woodhead, who was still under protection at the armourer’s houee.. Their news was soon given, the farewell taken, and, mounted on two of the finest horses which could be selécted from the troop, the Young Apprentice and the gallant Captain set out on their journey towards Bray bridge. nn CHAPTER a. THE JOURNEY—THE CAMP—THE LETTER—THE OLD FARM HOUSE—THE CAMP OF CROMWELL —THE RUSE—TREACHERY ONCE MORE--THE DRUGGED ALE—IN THE TOILS OF THE DE- STROYER, THEY pursued their journey uninterruptedly for some hours, and rested at dawn at a little village which was stated to be but ten miles from Bray- bridge. There was evidently some great body of men in the vicinity, for frequent military messengers passed on horeback ; and now and then bodies of mounted men dashed past, or stopped to regale themselves with the very capital ale which the old hostelry where Harold and Ben put up, afforded them. About noon our adventurers pressed o=ce more forward, and it was not long before the white tents could be seen in the distance. With beating hearts they rode onwards, giving to the outposts the watchword “ England and = N a . : Ad, : . oT rs a . C | ’ lg " . oa av . ° - aK .Y = GOMES O16S