The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 225: what you’re looking at

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

i /p- 206 THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, a ef | elm, the oak, the alder, and the straggling, clustering, white-blosseomed elder, There was a striking difference between them now as the sun, just tending towards its decline, shed its brilliant rays upon their figures, Harold, now rapidly entering the days of manhood, looked fresh and young, his face pre- eminently one which women would call hand- some, His figure was now well knit, without seeming to be powerful; his limbs were easy and grace- ful in their movements, and though there was no palpable muscular development, there were indications of strength which quickly suggested that he would, in a collision, prove no easy antagonist to cope with. He was well dressed—far superior, in fact, to the Apprentices of London—for the armourer, who rode by his side, was one of those who re- cognised worth and desired, apart from his knowledge of Harold's birth, to allow him fall permission to dress as he thought befitting his sppearance, His companion was but little altered. There was the same gigantic form, the same noble expression of face, the same imposing character in body and features, Torough a labyrinth of lanes, on their way to the high road, they went. Having at length succeeded in striking the right direction, they, after a four hours’ ride, pat up at a village inn, where their horses were carefully attended to. The broad full moon was rising when, rested and refreshed, Harold and Frank Leslie started once more to lessen the distance between them and Northampton. The moon rose higher and higher as they went. The hedges, taller as the road became nar- rower, threw deeper shadows, and they talked quietly and generally to pass away the time. Suddenly Harold started, ‘« Hark !” he cried, The armourer started too, " “ What is it?” he exclaimed. Harold raised his finger. “There it is again,” he said ;j “a woman's wail for help.”’ ** | hear it,” cried the armourer; “let us push on. The sound came from atbranch of the road not far ahead. There’s some rascal there, no doubt, who is earning a good thrashing,” They both now urged their horses to the utmost speed, Presently the armourer said, in a low tone, “See, Harold, there is turfalong the left side of thisroad. Let us keep to it and paya visit to this party before they anticipate the honour of : Henri — shrill scream re again and again made their blood flow swiftly through their veins. You might have thought they were riding a race for a fortune, so swiftly did they urge their horses forw Rough voices—a woman's passionate en- treaties the trampling of horses’ feet, now caught their ears close at hand, “ Here we are, Harold ; look out,” said Leslie, in a low firm voice, Harold, who, besides his usual arms, carried a powerfal riding-whip in his hand, took his horee well in hand, and sweeping round a oorner, reined up his steed as abruptly and in as short 8 space as would a well practised Moorish horseman, Before he had quite anticipated it, he had come upon the scene of action. A glance told him all, In a ditch, half overturned, was a post-chaize, the horses plunging madly to extricate them- selves from it. 4 postilion lay senseless on the ground, and an elderly man and a young lady were struggling in the arms of ruffians, who, with threats of murder, were searching their purses, and rifling them of their property. There were five of the marauders, Two were ransacking each victim, whif the fifth was busily employed in cutting away & heavy trunk that was strapped behind the post- chaise. ** Scoundrels, desist !” shouted Harold. Then wheeling his horse to the side of the fellows who were handling the young lady in a brutal 2 manner, in spite of her pitiful cries, he “ Release that lady, or it will be the worse for you.” As he spoke, he struck one of the fellows with the hooked buck-horn cross of his whip, a tre- mendous blow on the skull, which made bis eyes fiash fire, and caused him to reel and atagger. His companion, with an oath, quitted his hold of the young lady, and made a grip at the bridle of Harold’s horse. His attempt failed, however. Before he could reach it the armourer re- morseleasly rode him down, Over the prostrate wretch he rode to the villains who were now holding the elderly man to the ground. Slash—slash—slash—slash ! curled the thick thong of his whip about their faces. Slash—silash—aslash ! Right and left with terrible effect, always at their faces and neeks, he delivered the lash of his whip, and the men were only too glad to get beyond his reach. : Startled, blinded, and confused by this sudden and strange attack, they darted through the hedge, and fled into a plantation, which com- menced within a few paces and skirted the road for a mile or two. The rest followed at As usual they thoug numerical superiority. Law breakers, caught in the act, never do. There was no time for explanation. Tbe young lady, whose bright gleaming eyes were the only things which Harold could see in the moonlight, was nearly fainting. The old man, evidently a domestic, was only just returning to €. Harold now leaped from his horse and ap- proached the young lady, who was leaning against a tree, He was just in time. She had only just atrength to murmur out the words, “I am fainting,” when she fell forward into his arma, He conld tell, as her form lay trembling and palpitating against his breast, that she was e top of their speed. nothing of their own ogee COMTEDO OILS. md wy) °)