The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 189: what you’re looking at

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

Cr Ce 172 THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, words, I can easily explain. Three years ago you loved a maiden named Helen Dexter——” « Stay—speak not of her,” “T must,” returned the other, imperiously ; “it is necessary. Well, her father liked you not, and objected to your union. By various means he persuaded, and maybe forced her into a marriage with another. Is it not so?” “Alas! it is,’ “Well, in revenge for this you pretended forgiveness for the old man, and, under the mask of friendship, you lured him ‘down to the side of the river, and——” “Oh! repeat it not! It brings to my ears once more that hideous cry which has haunted me ever since.” “You inveigled him to the river-side, and there—you murdered him, At least, my friend, you thought so,” “Is he not dead?” exclaimed Radstock, in unfeigned delight, In his joy at finding himself innocent of one crime, he forgot for the moment his guilt of the other. “ He isnot, You struck him onthe head and he floated away*on the river, “But he did not sink, He was saved by a waterman and carried to hishome. The blow which was intended to jkill him merely stunned him and took away his senses. “He became, in consequence, a hopeless maniac, and all his pleasure ever since { that night has been to wander to and fro on the river in his boat, “It is his laugh which you have heard upon the river again and again. You remember his last words ?" “Yes, too well I remember them. ‘This night you have been my death. Through life I willhaunt you. Beware of the twelfthtime you hear my voice on the river,’ ” “ And you have heard it ?” “ Yes ; this night the twelfth time.” “ It is well,” said the stranger,.with a peculiar and sinister smile, “it is well. He desires to REO you,” “To see me |” _ “Yes; he must see you. He has something of importance.to reveal to you, a service to ask of you, and if you grant him this he will forgive you all the evil you have done him,” “Ta he near here now 7?” ‘He awaits us at Battersea ; he has gone on before us on the river. Come.” “You will assure my safety ?” “Twill, I wilt see you safely to the end of your journey.” In a few moments Radstock was ready, and the two had passed out of the inn and entered the boat which Boyne had ready at the bottom of the stairs, The latter eyed his companion with a sinister smile as they pushed off. “Now,” he murmured, “ now, I will see that one more traitor is added to the list of the de- His ‘manner and his silence, both b- served by Radatock. or were ° Yet he forbore to speak of his suspicions. He determined instead to keep a good look- out, Certainly the time and place were calculated to create nervousness, The night was very dark ; the red glare of the puoys and the lights from the shore looked dim and distant, which seemed to make their position the more lonely and cheerless. There were but few craft on the water, and after passing the spot where Vauxhall Bridge now stands, they met with scarcely a boat of any denomination, Radstock’s mind was a prey to a thousand torturing reflections. He noted all that could conduce in any way to the commission of such a crime as that which, he felt sure, his companion meditated ; mean- while Richard Boyne was well noting all that passed around—the position he occupied on the river—the lamps ; and, y, Rad- He had seen, in fact, when they started that the stock of a pistol protruded from his doublet. They now neared Battersea. Here the river was very wide, and ‘not a boat was to be seen. On the right lay a piece of low swampy ground on which grew trees, On this spot Boyne fixed his eyes, and calcu- lated chances, CHAPTER XXX, THE DARK SHADOWS—THE CRY ON THE RIVER —THE TREACHEROUS BLOW—THE MURDER —THE LAUGHTER OF THE MERRYMAKERS— THE HIDEOUS SCENE ON THE THAMES—THE ACCIDENT AND STRANGE DISCOVERY. , RADSTOCK’s uneasiness had been on the increase from the moment of starting up to the present time. He each moment more and more in his heart cursed his folly in trusting himself with Richard Boyne ; especially when circumstances were #0 favourable for evil. Like most men who have been foremost in the commission of great crimes, he had no desire to be hurried to eternity !- The river side was now quite unencumbered by houses. Only an occasional gleam of light was to be seen on ita brink. ‘“ This is a lonely spot,” said Radstock. “ Are we near the place ?”’ “T think so. Radstock, your question was a more profound one than you imagine.” ‘Profound !” “ Yes, my friend, for, setting aside the fact that we are all near our destination—I mean the grave—some of us must be nearer than others. Is it not #0?” “Yes; you are disagreeably philosophical to- night,” ‘ And yet,” said the other, with a kind of diabolical chuckle, “what is death buta release from all earthly trouble.” “Very true,” said Radstock, trembling now in every limb, “ Hark! what is that?’ “What?” ° “That groan, that fearful cry !” “T heard nothing ; but what are yon doing there with your hand constantly in the bosom of your coat?” GOVE OO ©