The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 215: what you’re looking at

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

wo (eer One 6 196 THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OB, A flash of broad blue lightning now illumi- nated every spot of earth far and near, so that everything could for a moment be distinctly seen. ‘‘ Hush, hush,” said Raymond, “I hear foot- steps approaching.” They listened, and could distinctly hear footsteps approaching from beneath the spot where they stood ; they were slow and cautious as if the individual were in doubt as to how he could proceed with safety. ‘*T hear him coming this way ; now get ready and take this stick,” said Raymond, producing a couple from behind the wall. “These will do all the business, But we had better follow him as far as he may go towards the cave which we have just left.” “ Why leave the body near the place of con: cealment ?”” said Leicester, “it may lead to a stronger and more successful pursuit than we may anticipate.” “It is to prevent even a search that I wish it done. It must be done; the body must be taken into the cave, and there concealed, so as not to cause any sensation or even search after the de- linquents, for we had better cause as little ex- citement as possible.” “Very well,” said Leicester ; “I think it best myself that nobody should know or even see the body ; the consequence might be very bad, But here he comes,” They both ceased speaking, and by standing close up to the wall, the unfortunate man without noticing them, humming a tune, He was a strong, stardily-built man; well dresse as far as could be seen, or rather guessed at, He atood a moment on the brink of the precipice to regain his breath after the exertion he gone throngh. As they heard him mutter to himself: “I hardly like it; it seems a great distance; but these natrow paths are often slippery and dangerous, Well, I am the safer now I am away.’ They followed him along way in the direction they were going, but after they had got abont half the distance, he was about to turn and pro- ceed along another road. “You must go and face him, Leicester,” said Lord Raymond, “and while you detain him in front, I will bring him down by a blow from behind.” “ Very well,” returned Leicester, with a kind of shudder ; “I shall be glad when the job is over, I am in no very great humour for it, I can you,” te Lord Raymond uttered an exclamation with a ugh— “ Never fear—never give way to despair ; but drink some of this brandy, and then follow me. The work can be done quickly enough.” Leicester gathered himself together, drank up a stiff glass of brandy, and then prepared to follow his friend, The night was, as I have said, dark and y. Not a single star illumined the sky. The moon was hidden behind a heavy bank of clouds. The country seemed but one sheer expanse of darkness, Every landmark was blotted out; the road seeming like a dark serpent, losing its shape and identity among the blackness of all around. “ What can we do upon such a night as this?” said Leicester. ‘* We shall never be able to see him, ~ Raymond laughed. ‘You are no highwayman,” he said; “any one can tell that you are a novice,” ‘© Why?” ‘Because you should hail this night as a friend, What can be better? A moonless sky; a high hedge ; a narrow road; a keen, degeer and a traveller who journeys slowly. Hark! Here he comes !” Leicester listened. Along the road in the distance could be heard the measured trotting of a horse. “See how leisurely he advances,” said Ray- mond, “Now, then, crouch down, and as he nears us we will both spring forward.” “Good, I am ready,” retarned Leicester. “ Give me some more brandy.” ond handed him the flask, ‘You are a coward,” said he. But he was wrong. Leicester was no coward, The idea of being a poltroon had never occurred to his mind. ** No, no,” he cried; “‘keep still. Iam not a coward, and you will find when the moment comes how utterly wrong you are,” He spoke rightly. When we remember the position in which he was placed and what he left behind him in Lon- don—when we call to mind that in his ill-re- gulated way he loved Alicia Leslie to distraction, and that he was about to plunge himself into depths of infamy and sin, which even she would never forgive—we can see readily how his mind must have been affected. True he was starving, and in utter destitu- tion, as regards funds, and to obtain these in his present state of outlawry, was completely impossible, except by robbery. There was not much time for further con- sideration, however, now. The traveller approached. ‘‘Now, then,” exclaimed Lord Raymond, “now, then, Keep up your courage, and when I exclaim, ‘ now !’ rash forward,” Only another moment elapsed, and then the victim neared them, ‘¢ Now !” cried the outlawed spy. At the same instant they sprang upon the traveller. In the darkness and silence he had nearly fallen asleep upon his horse, and he was quite unprepared to make any defence, It was scarcely, therefore, a moment, before he was dragged ont of the saddle, and thrown to the groun Scarcely had they done this, when the sound of approaching footsteps was heard. “ Quick, quick! The knife !” exclaimed Lord Raymond. ‘Some one approaches |” GOVE IOO O16S