The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

gaily-dressed officer, who passed close to him, without, however, observing him, A dark figure instantly sprang out and fell. upon him, It was Leslie, the armourer. ‘“T will prevent this murder,’’ thought Harold, and giving a loud cry, in two or three leaps he was upon the spot. Not the officer, but Leslie, had fallen upon the ground amid the groans of death. The officer let his dagger fall, drew his sword from its scabbard, and, thinking him an accom- plice of the murderer, put himself into an attitude of assault, Harold drew his dagger when ho saw himself thus attacked ; but he was no match for his tall and strong antagonist. In vain he shouted— “J am your friend !” The cavalier made a desperate lunge, and Harold fell wounded and fainting to the earth. When he recovered he saw something which nearly turned his brain. By his side stood asecond armourer—a second Frank Leslie—plain and distinct in the moon- ight. Harold uttered an exclamation of surprise and alarm, “ What is this?” hecried, ‘What does this mean ?”’ : Leslie advanced. “Fear not, Harold,” he said, “fear not. J am your master, This fellow—this murderer— is gone. Ask me no questions now. There isa terrible and awful secret involved in all this which I cannot and dare not reveal to you. Tell me, are you able to walk?" Harold tried to rise, but fell back fainting. “No,” he marmured, “I am unable to move. The sword of the cavalier penetrated far too deeply. My head feels dazed too. This strange mystery almost turns my brain.” The armourer stooped down and raised him geutly in his arms, The giant felt not the weight of such a load as this. As easily as he would have carried a child, he bore him along the street, into the house, up into his room. : In another half hour, soothed by a sleeping draught, and cared for 4 the best of physicians, our brave apprentice fell into a heavy slumber. ce aD CHAPTER VITI. A GLIMPSE OF THE TRAITOR. IT was soon after this that an incident occurred which brought our young hero into the special notice of the doomed King of England. One day he was walking beside the river, beyond Whitehall, when he saw a horseman, who, in spite of all his efforts, was unable to make his horse pass a pedestal of marble, There were two spectators of this struggle ; the one, between his fiftieth and sixtieth year, clothed in a coat of pearl-grey taffeta, and a silken surtout of the same colour, had an expreasion of countenance at once handsome, noble and benevolent, (Oo TN THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, He supported on his arm a gentleman who was superbly dressed in the fashion of the day, and whose pale face was furrowed by deep wrinkles, The more simply clothed of these two gentle- men said to the other, as he pointed to Harold, ‘What a charming face |—what a graceful figure! I never saw anything more fascinating. What say you, general ?” “ Hum, hum,” answered his companion, with a dry cough, “ that small gentleman there is well enough, but he looks awkward, like one who hands holy water.”’ “Hel with that lovely face? It must be, then, to hand holy water to saints of your species,” said the other, with a malicious amile. The horse still resisted the rider, who, wearied at last by gentle measures, tried by turns the whip and spur, but obtained nothing bat alarm- ing, kicks and plunges. y degrees the companions drew near Harold. Seeing persons of rank advancing towards him, the apprentice bowed respectfully. “Well, young man,” asked the younger of the two, ‘‘who will bring the other to reason in this discussion—the horse or the man?” ‘“ Faith, sir, it is hard to say; the man reasons with his whip, and the horses answets by plunges, g0 the conversation may last a long time yet.” This reply, uttered modestly, but with the careless gaiety of youth, brought a smile upon the face of the gentleman. “You speak of it very much at your ease, my young master. I should like to see you in that rider’s place. You are not aware, perhaps, that the beast is a Russian mare which has just arrived from abroad—a true devil that my best horsemen have been unable to master.” “If I were in that rider’s place, sir,” answered the appentice, resolutely, ‘‘ I might be, perhaps, not more skilful, but more fortunate.” ‘Indeed! Well, will you try ?—will you mount Barbara ?” ‘The mare is so beautiful and so proud, that, in spite of her wickedness, I will accept your offer, sir, with all my heart, Besides, the grass is s0 green that one could not ask a better car- pet for a fall,” answered Harold, cheerfully. “T am terribly afraid that he will get his neck broken,” said the general, in a low tone. ‘With such a face, so joyous and so fas- cinating, people fear neither horses, men, nor women, and if they fall they never fall alone. He looks safe enough; I will answer for him.: Ho, there! St. Clair, don't contest it any longer, but get off the horse,” exclaimed the gentleman ; and then he added, in a laugh- ing tone, “this young man wants a lesson in horsemanship, which you will give him.” St. Clair immediately obeyed the order, but the young apprentice, somewhat offended -by the last words of the stranger, said to him, with ctful firmness— ‘‘T shall always receive with pleasure or resignation whatever lessons I may ask for or deserve ; but here, sir, I cannot understand that I am placed in either of these positions.” The stranger and the general looked at one another as they struggled against a violent inclination to laugh. “ Best take care,’’ whispered the general ; “ our bold youth looks like a famous fighter.” ( GOVE OO © 4 SS) CO ) yes, ) lin