The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 277: what you’re looking at

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

256 THE YOUNG APPRENTICE. should certainly fancy that you were Lord Ray- mond, the greatest ruffian that I ever knew.” The stranger sprang to his feet, and as his eyes glared upon versary, Harold felt sure that he had guessed aright, and that his shaft had shot home, He knew, of course, that Lord Raymond was not dead, and he was convinced now that the hideous and distorted face before him was that of his old enemy. He burst into a loud laugh. ‘‘You have betrayed yourself, my lord,’ he said; “your revengeful looks tell me that you are Lord Raymond, my old enemy. Where have you placed those whom you have treache- rously carried away from their house in the Strand f” ‘Where you will never find them, insolent boy,” cried Lord Raymond, drawing a sword. In an instant the bright blade of the Young Apprentice flashed in the sunlight, and a deadly conflict commenced. The man who had sat on the bench by the side of Lord Raymond took no notice of the combat, except to glance carelessly at them while he sipped his ale. The Royal spy was too overcome with rage at finding himself so easily discovered to allow of his fighting with any degree of method ana care, and suddenly the Young Apprentice very dexterously twisted the sword of his adversary m his grasp. In an instant both Harold and Lord Raymond stood glancing at one another in surprise. Then, with a sudden bound, the Young Ap- prentice sprang upon his foe, and, seizing him by the throat, foreed him back again to the wall of the inn. “Tell me, villain,” he cried fiercely, while he drew back his sword, soas to shorten it, in order that he might use it like a dagger. ‘Tell me, villain, where you bave placed my friends, or I will drive my weapon into your dastard heart,” Harold, however, had forgotten the trooper, who, until now, had sat so quietly and indiffer- ently on the bench. Imagining that Lord Raymond was quite a match for the Young Apprentice, he had not thought it necessary to interfere. Now, however, that his master was in danger of losing his life, he sprang forward, and dragyed Harold Fordyce backwards, before he had time to drive the sword to the craven “heart of his enemy. In an instant Lord Raymond had recovered his sword, and the Young Apprentice found himself attacked by two adversaries at once, He was not, however, daunted. While the maid of the inn fled in terror, to seek assistance, the Young Apprentice, warding off the less skilfal thrusts of the trooper, attacked Lord Raymond fiercely, The two, however, were too much for him, Although he could well defend himself against them, he ‘was unable .to make the slightest advance, end he presently found himeelf sur. rounded by a mob of people before he had in- flicted a single wound upon his enemy. “What means this!” cried the innkeeper, stepping forward, end with several of his friends pressing in between the combatants, “Do you wish to make my inn noted for murder?” NOTIOR.~ANOTHSER BEA COLO WITH OUR NEXT NUMBER. Others will follow in a few weoks, “You will do so if you hav: and defend such men as these,” replied Harold Fordyce. “He is an outlaw and a murderer.” ‘‘] know nothing of that,” said the landlord. “T only know that I will not allow murder to be done in my house. r quarrels you have you must settle elsewhere.” Against such a crowd of persons it would have been useless to attempt resistance, and Harold, therefore, placed his sword once more in ita scabbard., “You have escaped me once more, but you shall not escape me for long. I will remain here until you depart, and I will follow you until I find the place where you have concealed Ettie Leslie. While I am with you you can do her no harm.” Lord Raymond eyed him contemptuously. “You are at liberty to follow me wherever you please,” he replied, : Then turning to his follower, he said— ‘‘ Herbert, come with me. We have need of refreshment after this episode.” The contemptuous manner in which Lord Raymond said these words, brought the hot blood into the cheeks of Harold Fordyce, and made angry gleams flash from his cyes. But he said nothing. He had made up mind what course to pursue, , ‘* Sir,” he said to the landlord, “ have you good accommodation here? I can pay well.” ‘Yes, sir,”’ returned the landlord, nervously ; ‘but you must understand that | can have no fighting or disturbance here.” ‘Fear not,” said Harold Fordyce, “I will respect your wishes; but I must watch that man,’ “Ig it true what you have said of him ?”’ asked Boniface, as Lord Raymond and his companion passed into the inn. ‘What I have said expresses not half his villany,” replied the Young Apprentice. “ Here is a piece of gold. I will pay in advance, ia order that, at any moment, J may be enabled to pursue these men.” The landlord's eyes glistened as he saw the gold. ‘And now,’ said Harold, “here is another piece of the same value. My horse must be kept ready bridled and saddled in the stable, where I can know where to find it in the moment.” Boniface smiled as he pocketed the money. ‘You pay generously, young sir,” he said ; “and certainly, if we are to judge from ap- pearances, I would rather credit your statementa than those of that villanous-looking man whom you fought. Bat custom is custom, and I must accommodate all,” ‘Certainly, certainly,” said Harold; “and now let us enter,” Lord Raymond and the trooper were sitting at one of the coarse, rndely-made tables in the public room, when the Young Apprentice passed n. They took no notice of him, however, and under the guidance of Catherine, the daughter of the old landlord, he ascended to a private room. re bis morning’s meal was brought to him, ough burning with eager impatience, he aa to content himself with sitting down and wr pt + © y aly. x t 7 ws ) epee” 4 calmly surveying his situation. ~ XxX >’ UTIFOL COLOURED PIOTURE WILL BH GIVEN AWAY NalG) to COMBE DO OKSEEON