The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 208: what you’re looking at

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

y OD) ore! THE WATCHWORDS OF OLD LONDON. 189 advanced towards Lady [Grace, he rushed to- | were, find vent in words, and he the wards the open window. handle of his great sword, as if ex ng the As he did so she uttered a lond shriek. Then as if {the place was alive with people ready to spring forward at a moment's notice, a number of men rushed out upon the terrace, sword in hand, and one or two with torches, Hardly had he got one leg out of the open casement when he was siezed. But his ce of mind saved him. “Madmen!” he cried; “see your mistress ! Did you not hear her shriek? Oan you not see how she shrinks and jhides her face? She is beset with mortal fear. Break open the door, or if you will not do that, enter here by the window.” en he spoke, he sprang back and admitted m. They were completely deceived. His manner was so truthful, that they never for a moment that he was dis- sembling. The men rushed in, and in an instant Harold Fordyce had sprung out upon the terrace. They observed him not. One and all had huddled back in terror and astonishment at the sight of the phantom, which now stood with outstretched hands before Lady Grace Cowley, He had plenty of time before him. Dashing down into the grounds, he was just about to rush away over the open country, when he bethought himself of the horse. So he sped back again to the stables, and bursting in, he took possession of the first horse he saw, and saddling him had ridden across the ds before they had time to follow him, We will not follow him to London. od 6 is enough to say that he was not pursu but kept steadily and rapidly on his way, His one thought was Ettie—the peril which had been dimly foreshadowed as threatening her—and this one thought was enough to nerve him to any amount of exertion. CHAPTER XXXV. THE ARMOURER’S GRIEF—THE MEETING BE- TWEEN HIM AND BEN FIREBRACE—A FA- THEB'S VENGEANCE — THE DISCOVERY OF THE SECRET DOOR— THE SUBTERRANEAN STAIRCASE—-THE SURPRISE OF THE DWARF —THE BLOODLESS VICTORY—ETTIE SAVED AT LAST—THE LAST VOW OF PETER QUELF. BEFORE we relate how Harold Fordyce fared on his journey to London from the North, we must return to the time when, after the battle of Langdon, the armourer parted from his Young pprentice, and made his way home- wards. Expecting nothing of the kind ; never havin the least suspicion that his house would a secon time be rendered desolate by the treachery of Lord Raymond, his surprise, and anger, and grief, may be imagined, when, on returning to his house, he found his daughter once more taken from him. Fora few moments he stood still in his cham- ber, the very statue of His rage was so great it could not, as it s rd ~~ { appearance of his deadly enemies. Suddenly awakening from his reverie, how- ever, he turned to the servant, wko stood near “Where is Mistress Alicia?” he asked. ‘* She is from home, sir; she has been absent from home since your departure." *‘ She left no message {” “ None, sir.” ‘Is no one, then, here ?” i “ Only Rupert Changeling, the new appren- ce,’ ‘Ah! he is come, then ; he is a brave fellow, and I wish we had had him before.” “‘ Indeed, then, I do also,” said the servant ; * Captain Firebrace was here, sir, but he came a little too late, and we could do nothing against that treacherous dwarf. He'knows the ins and outs of this place better than you do yourself.” “He does,” said Leslie; “he is the most treacherous and dangerous villain I know. But this is no time for talking. Something must be done, and in order that I may the more quickly Se upon Quelf's track, I will at once away to itefriars,” At this moment a loud and cheery voice was heard upon the stairs. ‘ Ah!” cried Leslie, “there is Ben Firebrace, the brave captain, he will aid me,” Ben Firebrace in a moment entered the room. ‘Oh! my friend,” he said, “I am truly giad you have returned ; there have been sad doings ere, Your daughter, as you have learned by this time, has been carried off; and if it had not been for my sudden appearance, no doubt my Lizzie would have been carried away also. I know, however, where Ettie is.” ‘You know f” ‘6 Yes; and she is at this moment not a stone's throw from us.” ‘Let us hasten, then,” cried the armourer, tly. ‘Let us hasten ere it is too late.” “ Haste will be of no avail,” said Ben Fire- brace ; “our course must depend upon mature deliberation. Your daughter is confined in a room which is situated below your house, at the side of the huge vault where the con- spirators were accustomed to hold their meet- ings. You failed upon a previous occasion to find your way.” ‘T know it; but this time we will not. I and Harold Fordyce made search only before, This time the house shall be torn down be- fore I will suffer her to remain in such a place, with those demons around her, On, then, Fire- brace! Follow me! We will lose not another moment, but will prove to them at once how heavily falls the sword which is wielded by a father’s vengeance.” “There shall be no delay,” said Ben Firebrace, ‘but we must have a definite plan of opera- tions. You and I must make a search first, and then my men, whom I have ready without, must follow us into the vault.” * Very good,” cried the excited armourer ; “but let us hasten. My brain is on fire and my heart beats as if it would burst.” ' “This way, then,” said Ben; “let us to the workshop first. In a “few minutes they had joined Rupert f- . - GOVE OOO , ~ .s) SS) “2 CO