The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 231: what you’re looking at

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

. ad O~,, Me. Wee SS ied - ve THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, peared ; but Quelf, the Dwarf, is more power- ful than ever. He is at the head of a larger and braver band of apprentices, and will soon force himself into the same power as that once wielded by Harold Fordyce.” “Whom J betrayed,” said the girl, with a Bigh. ‘§ Well, well, he was a handsome youth and I pitied him, but my oath to my masters prevented me frem doing otherwise than I did.” * Yes, yes; you did quite rightly; he is a villanous young reptile,” said Harry Martin. “And now, since you are cognisant of all, let me lead you to the place where your horse awaits you.” _ “1am anxious to be away ; this gloomy place 13 full of horrors to me,” “Your mind is.” ‘* Nay, then, to a girl this expedition is very perilous, and remember, too, I do not wish to be separated from you,” Harry folded her once more in his treacherous arms and kissed her fondly. Then they passed from the hut. ‘I see our plan now,” said the armourer, ary they had disap : “ Quick, then !” cried Harold, springing up. ‘We have not much time to lee’ J ad “No; we will follow at once. You must one way across the wood and I another. We have no horses to follow her with, and we must seize her steed as she passes. At all hazards, her papers must be ours." CHAPTER VIII. THE DISMAL WOOD—THE PURSUIT—THE CRIES OF NIGHT—THE EAGER WATCHER—THE APPROACH OF THE FEMALE 8sPY—THE ATTACK—THE FIEROE CONFLICT—REVENGB |! ——-THE ADVANCE ON HOLMBY. WITHOUT waiting for any farther discusaion, the Young Apprentice and his master dashed away towards the high road. The wood was very dismal and perilous, too. They could scarcely see; for the moonlight only fell in broken patches, and the undergrowth was everywhere across their ° They mi ght truly have seized the opportunity when Henry Martin and his new mistress were in the hut to have pounced upon them. This would, however, have been imprudent. Those who had been sent from the house in pursuit of them, might be only a short distance off, and the sounds of conflict might attract them to the spot. So now, breaking through the trees and the shrubs as best they could, they made their way towards the cross road which they knew well must be passed by Emily Penraven on her journey. Harold Fordyce arrived there first and con- cealed himself behind a large tree. Here be could command a view of a large part of the country lying under the silvet mantle of the moon. All was very still. Only now and then the shriek of seme bird or the whizzing ef some bat, or the plunging through | the undergrowth of some disturbed wild animal awoke the silence, Presently, however, along the dark highway there came a sound. It was at first but a distant pattering of hoofs, almost in fact undistinguishable as such. — Then it grew and grew in volume until he could distinctly make out the quick galloping of a horse. “Now,” thought he, preparing himself for action, “now is the moment,” The horse came nearer. He could see the short figure of the female spy bending over the head of her steed. The horae was not going very swiftly. The girl, of course, had no conception that any onc had obeerved her, and she advanced, therefore, at a steady pace, so as to economise the strength of the she rode. When she had approached within a reason- able distance, Harold sprang from his place of concealment, crying with a loud voice— “ Halt, there !” This was not the first expedition upon which Emily Penraven had assumed the character of a man, and carried important despatches. She knew, therefore, that upon all such journeys as these she ran the risk of discovery and attack. Spurring her horse, therefore, she made an effort to ride over the Young Apprentice. The animal refused. In fact, the sudden appearance of Harold Fordyce had completely unsettled its nerves, and it stood for a moment without advancing a step, and trembling violently. This was the moment for action. Springing forward, Harold seized the bridle with his left hand, while with his right he drew ‘What want you with mef* cried Emily Penraven, in as rough a voice as she could assume, he The papers you carry. Quick! deliver them.” “ Never with life,’ exclaimed the girl, and as she spoke, she struck Harold’s pistol from his hand with her riding whip, and left him for the instant defenceless. Before, however, she could draw her own weapon and fire, he had seized her arm and was ging her from her horse. This was a comparatively task, Although she was a powerful girl, she was no match for the tall and well-built Young Ap- prentice, who held her as in a grasp of iron. ' Still there was a great difficulty in overcoming er. 3 Brave as a lion, Harold had all the inherent generosity of character which is inseparable from true courage ; and treacherous as she had proved herself to be, he could not strike or maltreat her. All he desired was to alarm her into submis- sion, or, at any rate, wrest the papers from her. “7 know you well, Emily Penraven,” he cried, as she struggled in his grasp; “ you betra7cd me once; beware now, for you are in my power this time,” Her first answer was a loud and prolonged shriek for help. Then she said, still struggling with him— “ Kill me if you like; Icare not. I have a duty to , and for what I carry I will struggle while I have breath left me.” GOVE IOO O16 — XS EO lin