The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 182: what you’re looking at

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

ee el eee ee al THE WATCHWORDS OF OLD LONDON. 165 They were not so long. The clash of steel brought fresh assistancc to the brave heroes, A Joud shout was heard from the neighbouring strect ; then the pattering of fect, and then a crowd of young men rushed into the road way, With shouts of “ Apprentices to the rescue ! ” “ Hal ha! my friends!” exclaimed Harold ; ‘ha! ha! are you there, Max Bowden?”’ “© No,—but I am—lI, Greg Anvil,” said a ring- ing voice. “ Now, then, ye knaves, stand on one side while we make our way to our fricnds.”’ The conflict now became more desperate than ever. Attacked on both sides, the strangers had, us I have said, a strong motive in rebisting as they did, for they fought bravely, lise men who had a personal object in all they did. Renewed, as it were, in strength and in spirit by the sudden advent cf friends, the Armourer and the Young Apprentice now darted once more from their placc of concealment, and shouting, “ Apprentices to the rescue!" rushed with overwhelming force into the very midst of their foes. The street was now full of strange cries and noises, On the one side Gregory Auvil and his friends, who had jast returned from a jovial meeting, shouted loudly, as the swords flashed and re- sounded in the night air. On the other, the armourer and Harold answered by sounds expressive of their appreci- ation of their friends: courage and their deter- mination to join them. At length, by dint of couraze and determi- nation, they succeeded in joining the ranks of the City Apprentices, and together they made a rush upon the hired band which they could not Withstand. Driven back—trampling over the bodies of their slain friends—tbey at length broke their ranks, and falling into utter disorder, they found themselves in a very few moments in complete rout, rushing in headlong confusion along the street, It was not until the advance of lights in the distance showed that the watch was coming, that they ceased the pursuit, and returned to the scene of the combat, where one or two of the apprentices Jay wounded on the gronnd. They found their friends where they had left them, but already attended to. When the great body of the combatants had cleared away, and the darknees had fallen over the spot where the wounded lay, the great gate- way, under shelter of which Harold and his master had fonght, opened from the inside, and two women issued from it. They had scen bow young, and yct how brave, those were who had fallen beneath the ruthless swords of Harold's enemi:s They had seen them foremost in the fight ; they had beard the ra!lying cries with which they bad rushed forward in the combat, and they had recognised them as belonging to trat body of brave youths in which some of their own friends were enrolled, and which they had never heard spoken of except in tones of honour and respect. Gladly, therefore, they hurried to the rescue of the two youths who lay bleeding on the hard stones. When Harold and his master, therefure, re- turned to the apot where the bittle had been fought, they found tid gentle beings minister- ing to the wounded, and they aided at once in carrying them into the house with the iron ates. Here they left them under the care of their strange nurses. On reaching the street once more they dis- missed their friends, and proceeded towards the house of Lord Montazue. ‘JT don't believe,” said the armourer, as he rang the Joud-sounding bell, “I don't believe for one moment that we’re wanted here, I bre-. lieve that the whole thing is a trap.” So do IJ,” said Harold ; “but as there may be a chance that those villains had heard tidings of our intended visit, and had not planned the whole affair themselves, I would sec Lord Montague, and tell him all.” They had no time to say more, for at this moment the door was opened, and a man in scmi-military costume accosted them. “ What is it you want, gentlemen?” he said. ‘To sce my Lord Montague,” returned Barold. ‘“‘ He is engaged with several people,” returned the man. ‘I do not think he will sec you to- night,” “It is by appointment,” said the armourer. ‘Nay, then enter,” said the man; “if it is by appointment I will acquaint his lordship with your name, if you will give it to me.” “ Frank Leslie,” returned the armourer. ‘‘ Enter, then,” said the domestic, “and I will close these doors, for there are strange charac- ters about here at nicht.” After a few moments they wero admitted into a large apartment, where old paintings and. suits of armour seemed to be tle only furni- ture, The walls were ork panelled, the ceiling was painted a dark colour, and the two windows looked out upon as dreary a court-yard as could be found anywhere, even in this old London. ‘This isa dull scrt of a place,” said Harold. “Tf I were not sure that Lord Montague was friendly to our cause, 1 should almost fancy that we bad fallen into a trap.” ‘¢ No fear of tbat,” said the armovurer ; “I know him well, and he is incapable of such treachery.” As he spoke these words the door opened, and Tord Montague himself entered. He was a tall, old man, with long white hair hanging in ringlets over his shoulders. His clothes were of a dark, sober color, « scarcely puritanical in their cnt, and his whole hearing warthat of a man who had done good service in his time on fields of desperate battles, There was a calmness in bis face which waa not that of womanly timidity, or selfish want of interest. It was a calmness produced by well-merited sstisfaction at deeds of glory done and recog- nized in the past. ‘+ Ah! my friend, Leslie,” he said, addressing the armourer, with the familiarity of an old acquaintance, “‘ my servant tells me that you anc your brave apprentice here are come fo me by appointment.” WO GOHVEIO O1KSEGO