The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 271: what you’re looking at

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

on f a r 4 ! aan a a “ My name is Blacklock,” said the man, “ and I come to seek a friend. I know he has been detained here, for he was seen to enter here with one whom you call Floretta, and has neversince madc his appearance.” , ‘“T know not what you mean,” exclaimed the old hag. “ Either close the door, sit down, and join our company, or go. We don't allow fools to come upon us sword in hand, and frighten us in this way.” ‘You deny, then, that he is here ?” asked Blacklock again. ‘¢ He is not here.” ‘’ Very well, then,” cried the Royalist adven- turer, “ I shall search the house, Now, then, my friends,” he added, walking to the door, and speaking quickly. ‘Over there, my friends. Out with your swords and follow me !” The old woman clapped her bands. ‘‘ Oh! oh!” she cried. “ We're going to have blood sp‘lled here, are we? Up, boys, and defend the old place. Recollect, there's money to be got here.” __ In an instant the women had cleared away from the table, and rushed into an inner room, while the men sprang to their feet, and drew their swords, The room was in a moment a scene of terrible confusion. The men who followed Blacklock, and those who had accompanied Harold Fordyce, rushed in through the open door, hoping to take their enemies by sarprise. They were wrong. The ruffianly crew within the old inn were not so easily to be settled. Their swords seemed truly to leap from their scabbarda, . The din of strife soon shook the rafters of the ancient building. Swords clashed on one side, treacherous pistol- shots were heard on the other, fired from be- neath tables, and from the other room where the women were. Blood soon began to flow freely. Btabs and sword-thruate, and the discharge of fire-arms soon stretched the mey gn both sides on the floor; and the superior numbers of the attackers soon, moreover, began to tell a tale. The defenders were pressed together in a huddled mass. Yet they would not as yet think of yielding. They fought till the last. At length, however, up against the orgaking old timbers, at the further end of the room they were compelled to give way, “ We surrender |” Such was the cry loudly shouted, which made the old woman who kept the inn break out into violent curses, and made the attackers draw back in a body. ‘‘Lay down your swords,” cried Blacklock, “such fellows as you we do not trust.” The men obeyed at once, Though feverish with drink and excited too by the terrific scene around them, they saw that there was no chanee of any further success than what they had already met with. They gave up their swords, therefore, with scowling and angry faces, and while four armed men remained to watch them and keep them from quitting the house and seeking reinforce- ¢ was THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, 2b Oi Eee ww ee —_ ments, the othera ascended the stairs in search of Dennis, Harold Fordyce ascended with the searching art | He was upon a different errand, but he had told no one for what he came. While Blacklock, therefore, passed into the lower rooms, he ascended at once to the upper rooms, as if wet! acquainted with the house, or as if, at any rate, he knew exactly where to find what he sought. Entering @ small room on the firat floor, Blacklock saw a sight which (though he ex- pected a strange meeting) took him aback with surprise, n a bed lay Dennis. By the side of the couch was Fieretta. Both were as pale as death, and over the shoulders of the latter streamed long digerdered rioglets, while her torn and ragged clothes showed plainly that she had not been brought up iato the chamber without a struggle. Her bare shoulders (beantiful, indeed, and rounded exquisitely, though now white as marble) had several wounds upon which the blood had congealed. . And here they were after the fearfal riot below, fast asleep still. They had evidently bean both drugged. Blacklock approached him and shook him by the arm, It was of no avail. The man slept on silently ; scarcely a breath- ing could be heard. ‘‘We shall have trouble here, if we are not quick,” said Blacklock, to the men who had followed him ;. “take him up in your arms, and Z will carry the girl. I will take care that she shal! not leave us until we haved out of her the whole history of the transaction.” The men obeyed. Wrapped up in the blanket Dennis was ocon- veyed below, while Blacklock followed with his lovely burden. When the open air was reached, they were both placed in a boat, and the portion of the storming party which had followed Blacklock’s lead, quitted the precincts of the inn, without waiting to seo whether Harold Fordyce and his friends were in safety or likely to be trea- cherously attacked, Leaving them, therefore, to proceed to their own haunts, we will follow the Young Appren- tice, who, with his brave companions, mounted to a story higher than that in which Dennis and his fair companion had been found. Rapidly making their way into a large, low- roofed chamber, in which were seated two per- sons, he approached them, and, seizing the lamp which stood upon a table near, held it to their Both persons were in women's clothes, but it was eaay to see from their features that they were not females. ‘* Prince Charles, and you, my Lord of Leices- ter,” said Harold Fordyce, “I arrest you in the name of tho Commonwealth.” The two persons started up in evident alarm, as the chamber became fillod with armed men. “What means this intrusion into a lady's chamber?” cried one of the persons, “If it is EDOOo (G ~ re gS (0)