The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 167: what you’re looking at

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

THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, * Yes; or Heaven preserve Cromwell; which- ever pays best,” “ sely so; but jesting apart, where is the king ?” | At Hurat Castle,” | “And what is to be done?” “T know not ; the instructions are not given.” “ ‘When do you require the men ?” “ To-morrow night.” “They shall be in readiness. And thé re- ward ?” “Will be magnificent,” “Good, Have you any gold now?” “A little. Do you want some f” “Do I want some? What a question, Yes, Ido, indeed. Thank you; those two will do. To-morrow night at cight o’clock I will be here with nine men, determined fellows,” “¥ will be here,” said Quelf, as be passed down towards the spot where he had left his boat ; ‘and now then for making Nelly Dyser more secure during my absence,” CHAPTER XXI, THE STARTING OF THE EXPEDITIOX — THE STRANGE WOMAN ONCE MORE—THE KING ASLEEP—THE ENTRANCE BY THE WINDOW —MTHE MASKED CAVALIER ~QUELF IN TROUBLE, On the following night, at eight o'clock, Rad- stock and his men were rcady at the appointed place of meeting. So also was Lackland. No sooner had Quelf quitted Radstock on the ding night, than the old Alsatian bully ran ome, doffed his disguise, and proceeded once more to the “ Crown and Keys,’ Here he soon contrived to rob Radstock of one of his gold pieces, though he failed signally in all attempts to worm his secret out of him, Having secured the money, however, he was enabled to borrow once more the dress belong- ing to the landlady; and accordingly, when the ten Alsatians stood ready on the river-side, the strange-looking woman was standing watching them in a door-way. Quelf was punctual to his word, and a very few minutes after the hour, he landed his boat, together with a tall, masked man. hia last was Lord Raymond, “So these are our fellows,” said the latter, “ Yes, my lord,” “Anda good, strong-looking set of knaves they seem,” cried Raymond, ‘My men, enter yonder boat. It is large enough to hold twice your number. J will take the steering of it ; so row quickly, and we will leave London behind us as fast as we can.” The men entered the boats at once, and, in a very few minutes they were rowing at a rapid pace along the silent highway. When reached a of the country considerably beyond the old house where Quelf had located himself, Lord Raymond gave the word to halt, and steered right for shore. Here they landed, and, in a little solitary meadow he gave them their instructions, These were few and simple, hem, and they proceeded ina boty 70 © spe them, t na to a@ spot where a pleasant twinkling light showed where an inn awaited them. Here eleven horses awaited them, and, after partaking of refreshment, they started towards urst Castle. It was midnight at Harst Castle. The king was asleep, guarded a& usual by a grim-looking trooper. There was not the slightest suspicion in the minds of those who guarded Oharles Stuart that any attempt at rescue would be made from without, and everything within and around the castle was profoundly quiet. The king had that day been studying deeply, and his sleep was, therefore, heavy and unbroken. He did not notice, then, the strange noises that suddenly disturbed the quiet hours of early morning, nor did he see the masked faces that appeared unexpectedly at the casement. nly the noise was not loud, as the window was thrown open, Quelf and Lord Raymond entered the room before the drowsy trooper who sat by the fire knew that the prisoner was in danger of being rescued, Quelf, however, stumbled alightly as he entered the room, and the trooper sprang up. “ Quick, wake the king,” cried Lord Raymond ; “I will settle this fellow.” He was reckoning without his host, however. The trooper, seeing that his enemies were two to one, flew to the bell-rope, and pulled it violently before he attempted to make any resistance, He had but just time to exeente this plan, for in another moment Lord Raymond dashed upon him, pistol in hand, The unfortunate trooper had no time to draw his sword, and being rash enough to cry out even in this moment of peril, he paid the penalty of his loyalty to Cromwell and the Coummon- wealth by receiving the contents of the spy’s weapcn in his head. The king woke, on hearing the loud report. He sat half up in the bed, and gazed round him with some degree of alarm. “What is it yon want with me?” he cried. “ Have I not wandered about already aufliciently teat you rouse me up thus in the dead of night 7’ “ Hush, sire 1” cried Lord Raymond, advane- ing. “We have come to save you.” n an instant Charles Stuart understood the situation, Leaping Up, he was jast about to hurry on his dlothea, when a loud clamonr was heard without. ‘¢ Ha !” cried Quelf, “our men are discovered, We shall have hot work of it yet to-night.” Lord Raymond rushed to the window. Beneath it he had left the ten Alsatians hidden in the shadows of the old castle, while the few Royalist troopers, who could now bein- duced to join such an enterprise, were stationed at the great gate to create a diversion in case any disturbance took place at any other point. As he glanced out he could see a crowd of hurrying, stru ggling forms ; ceuld hear ories of defiance and the flash of swords. ‘ Sire,” corled Lord Raymond, “this is most unfortunate ; my people are engaged be- low ; there is no time to lose ; follow me at once; we may just succeed in pushing through their ranks. , “Put out the light there,” said the king, “ or we shall be seen descending,” ‘‘True, true,’’ replied Raymond, extinguish- AG a COTE DOO