The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 190: what you’re looking at

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

‘* My hand—oh ! nothing.” “You look suspicious, Tell me, my friend, which would gain most, you by murdering me, or, I by murdering you ?’ “J don’t know. But where are you going? Why don’t you keep the middle of the river ? Where are you steering ?” “| prefer this side of the river,” replied the other, steering on. The boat now moved on slowly and languidly through the tangled weeds, among which Boyne had steered it, and Radstock half drew his pistol from his bosom, as he expected that every mo- a desperate attempt would he made on The spot was very dark, but the distance between the two guilty men in the boat was s0 hort, that Boyne could easily perceive the action If, then, he wished to destroy him, it became evident that he must secure the weapon with which he was armed, “TY was foolish,” he said, “to steer in among these weeds, and I must use the oars. Step over here and take the steering for me.” Radstock did as he was asked, steadying him- self as best he could, and holding the pistol behind him, Boyne saw this, and was resolved to defeat him. ‘“We must get this sail down,” he said. “Let us see what your seamanship can do to- wards that,” Radstock stood up, and as he did so his com- panion struck him, as if by accident, a violent low on the side of the head with his oar. “Keep off! keep off!” cried Radstock, ina voice of rage and » ‘*I may have been a fool t@trust myself to you; but I am a dangerous one, and a desperate one, too.” As he spoke he held ont his pistol in a line with Boyne’s head. “Why, what is the matter with you?” cried the maiter. “Are you mad, that you thus threaten me 39 “Come,” said Radstock, ‘this is well loaded and primed. Let us have no nonsense. Get out of these weeds, and turn back towards home.” “ This is strange conduct, indeed,” cried Boyne, retending to make great efforts to extricate the oat. “This is very ungrateful and infamous conduct, I must say. I really——” While he spoke he had been artfully getting one of his sculls ready for immediate use, and at this moment, with a sudden swing of it, he struck Radstock’s arm, throwing himself back in the boat simultaneously, Partly with the sudden fright, and partly under the influence of pain, Radstock drew the trigger. A tremendous report followed, and a etrange shower of missiles from the weapon, which he had really loaded to the muzzle, passed. over Richard Boyne’s face, This was just what he wanted. , Radatock s pistol was now discharged harm- 68S ye Abandoning rudder and sculls, he now, with an Oath, rushed on Radstock, and in an instant he had him by the throat, Villain !” hecried. “No power on earth or in hell shall save you. You are a dead man.” * Help ! help f Murder !”’ shouted Radstock. THE WATCHWORDS OF OLD LONDON. His voice rang over the water wildly and fearfully. But no help was near. Boyne laughed aloud. “Shriek on, Radstock, shriek on,’ he cried, ‘your shrieks are music to my ears. Wretch! did you think you had subdued such a man as J am? You have courted your own destruction, and nothing now can save you.” He tightened his hold on the throat of the terrified wretch. As he did so, there was a shrill and terrible laugh, It rolled over the water dismally. ‘Did you hear that ?” said Boyne. “TI did,” gasped Radstock. “Jt is the last time.” “ Tt is; nothing can seve you,” Radstock felt truly that his last hour was come, Yet with what little breath was left him by Boyne’s tightening he shrieked for mercy. “ Boyne, Boyne !” he cried, “ you will not kill me! You cannot, will not kill me! Tell me you do not mean it? I ask for life, let me live !” “ You ask in ”* said Boyne, tightening his hold, and dashing his victim’s head against the gunwale of the boat, ‘you ask in vain. I have made myself a promise that this night shall be your last, and I will keep my word.’ “No, no! mercy, mercy ” ‘¢ Have you a last wish ?” ‘No, no, only mercy !” There came at this moment over the surface of the water the sound of a distant voice chaunting some merry air, which after a moment was taken up by others, Then there was a wild and merry shout of laughter, which came strangely and discordantly upon the ears of the terrified man, who believed h truly enough at his last gasp. The voices were far distant, “Yet,” thought Boyne, “if I can hear them, they may hear Radstock ; no time must be lost.” Placing his other hand upon his throat, he struck his head once more t the side of the boat, in the hope of ucing immediate insensibility. Bat such was not the result. k once more sent forth into the night air a fearful yell, which alarmed his foe to such an extent, that he dashed his head again fiercely against the edge of the boat, and flung him over into the rapid tide. Naturally enough now he considered that he had got rid of his enemy for ever. It was not so. It might have been the sudden immersion in the cold water, as Nature at this moment rallied herself for a final effort. At any rate, Radstock clung with desperate energy to the side of the boat near the stern. His senses were too confused‘to allow him to out. But by the [dim light that came from the lheavens, Boyne could see the horrible counte- nance of his victim, white and awful, with here and there a spot of blood upon it; the eye glaring on him with so wild and frantic a glance, that he shrank involuntarily from the horrid apparition. It was but for a moment. Oe EDOOo CADILNA) eS CO