The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 290: what you’re looking at

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

THE WATCHWORDS OF OLD LONDON. faa 269 “ They have in former times befriended me well, and I will not desert them in their hour of danger.” ‘Then, at least,” cried Lady Blanche, “ sou will allow me to acoompany you.” ‘No, no; there is danger.” ‘¢The more reason why J should be with you,” replied the brave girl. er husband leaned over her, and kissed her fondly. ‘No, no,” be said, “danger is for men, not for women, I will take care of myself, and you need fear nothing for me.” Lady Blanche, however, was determined, “ By our love,” she cried, “I demand to ac- company you. You promised me that in future peril, I should never leave your side, Go now, make what preparations you wish, and I will be ready as soon as you.” It was in vain to endeavour to dissuade her. She was resolved to go. Witheut any further delay, therefore, he pro- ceeded to don hia clothes, and see to his weapons, and when he at length returned to the chamber where he had quitted his wife, she had already prepared herself for her journey. Without any delay they started off, and we find them next in the wooded copse at the rear of the great mansion, waiting eagerly for the signal. The light stone, cast over by Lady Raymond, soon apprised them that she was ready, but a second stone told him that they had failed in their first attempt, With a beating heart, he raised the stone which was affixed to the end of the rope, and whirling it round his head, sent it whizzing away through the air. It fell with a dull thud on the other side, “ Now, then, Blanche,” said he, “‘ you see the folly of your coming with me.” “Why so qn ‘S Because I have now to go over the wall, and leava you alone.” “TJ shall not fear; but why have you to go?” asked Lady Villiers. “ Did you not hear a second stone ?” ‘*T did.” ‘“ That meant that they had endeavonred to save Harold Fordyce, and had failed. J must go to their assistance. You must remain con- cealed, as well as you can, among the trees here, and if anything untoward should happen, I beg you will seek the horses and fly while there is time.” ‘¢ Go where you wish,” said Blanche, ‘I will act for the best.” Lord Villiers lost no further time. Climbing up rapidly, he soon reached the summit of the wall, for Lady Raymond and Ettie had now secured the rope to a tree, and was not long before he was at the bottom by their Bide, “The guard has just passed round,” said*Lady Raymond. ‘They have now gone towards the cell where the Young Apprentice is confined, and we must keep very close. The ivy here hides us very well, and yonder clump of bushes would serve you equally.” Lord Villiers glanced towards the spot, and caught a view of a clump of low-growing trees, behind which he speedily ensconced himself. He had scarcely done so when he heard the steadily advancing tramp of the guard, They had drawn swords and lanterns in their hands, and after issuing from the ruined portion of the building they began a strict survey of the ens There was, however, no suspicions in their minds that there were any suspicious characters lurking about, and their survey of the grounds, therefore, was of the most slight description. The ivy growing thickly and strongly against the high wall, completely screened the two women from their sight, while the form of Lord Villiers was as well hidden by the thickly shrubs, The armed men, therefore, passed by him with- out seeing anything, and in the course of a short time all was quiet once more. “( Now," said Lady Raymond, “now follow me. Quickly she led the way towards the ruins where Harold was confined. All was very still, so still that their almost noiseless footsteps echoed far away in the night air, : There was no opposition. The inhabitants of the mansion had now, with the exception of Lord Raymond and Quelf, and the guard, retired for the night, No one dreamed of such a sobeme as that which was now on foot for the release of the Young Apprentice. In a few minutes they had reached once’ more the barred window of the cell. Here eagerly Harold was awaiting them. “ Now Iam here,” cried Lord Villiers, “let us proceed at once to force these bars away. One united effort will soon remove them.” He was right, He had always been a powerful man, and now that his strength was exerted in such a cause, he felt the strength of two men within him. Gradually the mortar fell out, and presently with a rush one of the iron bars were dragged out, and fell upon the soft floor of the cell. * Victory !” cried Ettie; “now one more, and Harold is free at last.” Again they struggled hard against the strongly resisting iron. This time, knowing its weak point, they had not so much trouble, and in the course of a few moments the second bar was forced out, and Harold squeezed his body through and entered the passage. Even in the face of the dreadful danger which threatened them, he fiung himself into Ettie’s arms and clasped her t@his beart. “Now, pow,” cried Villiers, “this is no time for love-making, we must fly at once, Lady Raymond, do you accompany us?”’ ‘¢ Yes, yes, after this I cannot safely remain here,”’ she answered; “besides, when I am away from him and out of his power, I can the more readily bring him to reason, or punish him. Come, let us hasten.” In a few minutes they had reached the grounds once more with the rescued prisoner. They loat no time in hurrying towards that part of the wall where the rope was, and then the difficult part of the task commenced. The rope being a single one, it would not bear the weight of more than one person at once, and i: ps CILNA) EDOOo 7 Py wal J Lf or ~ “ea ‘ “we eS y <4 CO