The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 160: what you’re looking at

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

‘“ T fear me we shall make as great a mistake as before,” replied Charles; ‘ however, if therd secms the least chance I will take it. Tell me, what is your plan ?” ‘‘T fear to do so,” said the colonel, in a lower tone, “ because walls have ears, they say, and I may be overheard. Be ready at midnight, how- ever, and I will come for you. I will now quit you, and tell them that your majesty requires rest.”” “ Good; Ileave it to you, my triend,” said the king. ‘“ But let me have some supper, that I may have strength to begin our adveuture. I feel weak, ill, and dispirited.” ‘¢Good, sire,’’ said Colonel Chorlton, “I will tell them to send you up your supper. At the appointed hour, be sure and be ready to follow me. There must not be a moment’s delay.” kin Be assured I shal] make no delay,” said the g. In a few minutes after the departure of the colonel the attendant entered, with food of somewhat rough quality, and a flagon of ale. “They do not indulge me with very dainty fare,” said Charles Stuart, smiling. The food that sustains the body is sufficient for any one,’’ said the soldier, gloomily. “Yes ; but even your religion forbids you to eat anything unclean,” returned the king. “ See, this bread is mouldy—ah ! no, I was mistaken.” The soldier noticed the sudden start, and at once suspected something. Let me sec it,” he said. ‘No, no,” returned Charles, gaily. ‘It was my mistake, See, I can eat it well.” The man hesitated. Should he insist on examining the loaf or not ‘If there is anything wrong it had better be secn to,” said he, ofiice more, “FT will settle the question by eating,” re- turned the king, and began to eat voraciously. The man, seeing it was no use, departed, The king waited anxiously until his footsteps died away in the distance. Then he seized the loaf, and, breaking it open, revealed to sight the mysterious hidden secret which had caused the darkness in the bread. It was a letter. *‘ SIRE,—” it ran, “you shall be saved this night. A little distance from shore is a foreign ship ready to convey you to France. Keep up your courage, sire, act boldly and discreetly, and this day shall be your last among your treacherous subjects. ‘‘ DELANEY.” | “Tt geemsa truly,’ murmured the king, “as if they meant to save me. Colonel Chorlton must be in communication with them. Well, well, I euppose I must yield to their wishes, though it is sorely against my inclinations to yield my England to Cromwell and his Republicans.” e approached his little barred window, and looked ont. Over the broad sea rippled the bright moon- light, across the belt of light standing the dark hull of [the vessel which was 1o convey him to France. On either side the high-crested waves rolled in unutterable confusion ; rolling, rolling, tambling, tumbling, ever and ever over one another, Below was the beach, on the shining pebbles of which the bright moonlight fell, while here and there a solitary sentinel paced up and down, ee oe ae aS Saeee a } aes Vol THE WATCHWORDS OF OLD LONDON. Presently he heard a long, shrill whistle, and rom out of the shadow of a rock emerged a oat. Then one of the sentinels walked hurriedly down to it, and whispered a few words to a man in it, and soon the boat retired once more within the shade of the rock, ard the sentinel disap- peared. “There is something very serious going on, that is evident,” said the king; ‘‘but whether it bodes good or ill to me it would be difficult to fay Patience, patience, and all will be well,’ At this moment the door opened and Colonel Chorlton entered. “ Sire,” he said, “ follow me.” The king hesitated. “Ta all ready, then?” he asked. ‘*‘ Yes, sire,” “You will excuse me,” said the king, smiling, “you must excuse me for asking you this ques- tion, because I recollect the last occasion, when we stuck fast in the window, and became a laughing-stock to all.” : “ There will be no laughing matter in thia, your majesty,’”’ returned Chorlton, somewhat impatienly. “ All is ready; come.’’ The king now followed him without another word, and they hurried along a dark and, nar- row passage which ended in a winding stair- case, Down this they went, passing so close to the half-open door of the guard-room that they could hear the words of the soldiers within. The king‘s heart beat high with hope and fear. Another storey was reached and passed. Beneath them, through an open door, came the sounds of the rushing sea. At length freedom seemed truly within bis asp. or euddenly Colonel Chorlton stopped. ‘‘Now, your majesty,” he whispered, “now is the most perilous part of our journey. When you reach the door, ran for your life towards the beach, and make for the low rocks on the left. Everything depends upon reaching the boat before the alarm is given. If any one attacks you cut him down with your sword, and, ron still forward.” They now reached the open doorway and passed out into the cool air of night. Both had their drawn swords in their hands, Colonel Chorlton being in advance. For several minutes they proceeded unmo- leated towards the beach, when suddenly a man darted forward sword in hand. “Halt!” he cried, ‘ Who comes here ?” The king raised hie arm so that his cloak par- tially concealed his features. . Let us pass |"? cried the colonel ; “‘ we have dispatches from Cromwell and must reach yonder ship immediately.” Then tarning to the king, he said— ‘Come on, Bertrand, we have no time to lose.”’ The man laughed coarsely. ‘Bertrand, say you ?” he cried; “we must have proofs of this, Let us have a look at your face, my friend ?” The king raised his sword threateningly while Chorlton placed himself between his royal master and the soldier,