The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 140: what you’re looking at

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

THE WATCHWORDS OF OLD LONDON. “ Hold,” exclaimed a loud voice, that of the Constable of the Tower, who was now standing upon the scaffold, “ if there is a pardon, let me 560 ity that I may puta stop to all this blood- “ Here, there it is, then!” cried Ben Firebrace, holding it up to the side of the scaffold, ‘1'il warrant me my youns friend there would have brought you one if it hadn't been stolen for him,” In another moment there was a loud flourish of trumpets. “Stay all—hold all—stop this fight!” cried the herald, “ Frank Leslie is pardoned !” In an instant the fight ceased. Men paused with their hands on each other's throate—with their swords raised & strike—with daggers grasped ready. The cause for enmity was gone ; they were no Then, in a loud voice, the pardon of the armourer was read, and the soldicra regained their several positions, and the useless battle was over. “ T shall have you yet |’? whispered a voice as the armourer prepared to depar: with the Young Apprentice, He knew it not; and when he turned to glance after the fos he was gone. The Young Apprentice, the Man without a Name, together with the armourer, Simon Law- less, and Ben Firebrace, passed away at the head of the remnant of their band, until they emerged into quieter quarters. Here the Unknown stopped. “You, Firebrace,” he said, “and Harold Fordyce, our brave apprentice here, can escort Frank Leslie to his home in safety. I have business elsewhere, To ell of you my thanks, you have done well your daties.”’ Then bowing with that stateliness and hauteur which he sometimes assumed, he passed away. CHAPTER XII. THE OLD HOUSE BY THH RIVER —QUELFS CAPTAINCY—THE PROJECT OF REVENGE — THE DISMAL VAULT — THE EXPEDITION AGAINST THH APPRENTICES — THE DE- STRUCTION OF THE “LEATHERN BOTTLE” —MURBRDER OF THE LANDLOED—HAROLD TO THE RESCUE—DEATH OF A TRAITOR—THE RED LIGHT IN THE SKY, AxsouT a mile from the old house in the little Jane near the home of the giant armourer, stood another house as ancient and as dilapidated. It was situated upon the margin of the river not far from the hunting-box which the river boys had selected for their home. Towards this house, about a fortnight after the terrible scene on Tower Hill, a number of dark figares might have been seen making their way. Some came in boats, some on foot along the high road, and some even on horseback ; but, although none of them wore masks, it was diffi. cult to see who and what they were, Presently, however, after some twenty or thirty had entered the dilapidated tenement, another figure approached which by anyone familiar to it would at once have been recog- It was that of Quelf the dwarf. He looked around him etealthily in order to ascertain whether he was watched, and then passed in to the house with a key. As soon as he had entered, the door was closed and the outward part of the house relapsed into its accustomed silence. Within all was activity. In a room lighted by brilliant oil lamps, nearly thirty cloaked figures were assembled, among whom could have been at once distin- palahed the enemies whom the Young Apprentice ad met with at the time of his election as ca of the London Apprentices at the “‘Leathern Bottle.” At the end of the room a dais was raised upon which sat Quelf the dwarf. At leogth the villanous traitor had achieved the position which he had so much sought after. He was now captain of a band quite as powerful as those over whom Harold Fordyce himself presided ; more powerful in one way, inasmuch as they were less scrupulous and far more maili- cious, and careless, therefore, as to what weapons they employed towards achieving their ends, “ Friends,” said he, rising and addressing his friends, more numerous than of yore, for their ranks had been swelled lately by numberless malcontents, always to be found among the useless.and the do-nothings, ‘‘ friends, we have met here to-day for serious business. At length I am prepared to lead you along the path of honour to which J have so long pointed. We will march to-morrow night against our former friends—those who vilely deceived us, the ap- prentices, led by Harold Fordyce, our worst foe !”’ A loud cheer responded to this announcement. They were eager for action, partly from feel- ings of revenge, partly from motives of plunder. “ Yes,” said Quelf, “to-morrow evening the apprentices meet at their old rendezvous, the ‘ Leathern Bottle.’ Harold Fordyce will be there ; "e must come on them unawares and destroy them.” A howl of malicious pleasure answered him. ‘Ha |” hecried, in delight, ‘I see, my frien you appreciate me, At nine to-morrow we march from this spot to the stairs at Lambeth ; we will then go in boats on the river, and pro- ceed to the ‘ Leathern Bottle.’ Beneath the large room where the apprentices nerd sae are uge vaults, built partly o partly of wood, the entire ceiling being of wood. Beneath this place I have already placed barrels of powder, so raised that the explosion will force up the flooring. By one blow we may destroy the whole of our enemies, and, at any rate, will destroy many.” “ Yes,” he continued, warming with his sub- ject,“ this leader who so grossly lted us bas now been the means of saving another of our Hgitiz@a(D)[ TATICD NLOXO) ~~ in, '