The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 293: what you’re looking at

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

THE YOUNG sound which assailed his ears was that of splash- ing waters of the river without. One chance more, when the judge was pre- paring to try him, and the axe was sharpening to sever his head from his body, One chance more, when he was in a living tomb, and he might be regarded (and was re- garded by the law) as dead already. As he was, in the midst of these cogitations, standing in the faint gleamings, which was all he could seé of the blessed sunlight, the echoes of feet were heard in the ‘oorridor without, and then the clanging of keys, and then the door opened, and the old gaoler appeared. “Ah! awake already,” he said; “my birds don't sleep very lightly as a rule, andI see you are no exception.” ‘‘No; I should think it must be a hard head that could slumber well upon such a pillow as that yonder.”’ ‘‘Kight. I have brought you your breakfast,” said the gaoler. “ Why so early? ” “At ten your judges meet. You must not keep them waiting.” | ‘“‘Where is the trial to take place?” asked Leicester. ‘‘At Westminster Hall.” ** And it is to be thig morning f” ‘ i is; at ten o'clock. See, here is your break- as Leicester laughed. - “ Well, well,” he said, “I will eat, but I fear the food as mnch as I do the judges. There may be poison lurking in each morsel which passes my lips,” It was now the old man’s turn to smile at him. ‘‘ No poison here,” he said; “your judges are too sternly vindictive to allow of that : whether you have done wrongly or not I know not, but I now this—that they would rather see you on the scaffold.” While he was saying these things he was oc- cupied in arranging the breakfast things, resently he stopped. ““Come here, sir,” he said; “or, rather, I should say my lord. Look here, there's scarce a chance for your escape,” “ You are,comforting.” “Tf I were 80, I should be a‘Jiar.” “TI would rather far that you told the trath.” “In that case, then,” continued the old man, ‘*T am quite certain that you will be con- demned.’ “I believe it.” “Well ; have you no friends?” ‘**T have—one,” 6é Yes.”’ “ You can trnat her?” * Yes,” “Then you must try and escape.” “From here it is aid ible.” The old man laugh “I have seen a dozen,” he said, “ done under far more difficult circumstances than those which will allow your escape, But wait—only wait. See whether you're condemned ; ‘it will then be time enough to invent a thing which might re- sult in your death.” The breakfast which the old man had brought in was a very good one, and Lord Leicester had Of MOTIOR.—WITH OUR LAST NUMBER APPRENTICE. just time to partake of a little when there was a loud knocking at the door and the gaoler again entered. “The time has come,” he said; “the boat awaits us.” “ The boat and the halter,” returned Leicester, smiling, as he placed his hat on his head and turned smiling towards the group of guards. Without, and just beneath the Traitors’ Gate, a large boat was waiting. Into this Leicester was placed. Several soldiers were in it also; and two other boats accompanied them. At Westminster Hall the judges were seated in state to receive their prisoner. Oliver St. John presided. ' —_ charges against the prisoner were maui- 0 @ ** Lord Leicester,” said St. John, rising, “ you are accused not only of being a traitor to your country, but also of being a murderer.”’ & Both of which I deny,” replied Leicester, ju | ‘ ne Denial is useless and vain,” said Oliver St. John, ‘you were entrusted threp years ago with a mission, for which you adopted a certain dis- i This disguise you used for the purpose of betraying the commonwealth and serving the arpose of the King ?” P <6 did.”’ ‘You acknowledge your crime ?” “In so far.” ‘And you are also accused of having, upon the King's highway, sought the property and taken the life of his subjects ; and since his death you have taken also the lives of three subjects of the commonwealth ?” Leicester remained silent. “ Have you no answer to these charges ?” said the Judge. None,” he said, | j ae Proceed, then, with the trial,” said Oliver St. obn, And so accordingly it was done. The trial was accordingly proceeded with in due course. We shall not deacribe it here. It would be only a repetition of many other trials of the same kind. Itended in his being found guilty, and sen- tenced to death. Back to the gloomy Tower he was sent. ny along the shore numbers of people watched them. Bat there was no attempt at rescue. The escort was too strong. At the Tower stairs, however, he saw a face which he well knew. The face of one who, even with all his villany, could not desert him. The face of Alicia Leslie, “ Courage,” she exclaimed, in a loud voice. “ Thave it,” he answered ess of the peseing guards around him, ‘‘ Have you watched the ?” “T have,” she answered ; “ nevertheless, e, and you shall yet escape.” She was right. During the whole of ‘the trial she had been present, and had heard the fatal sentence pro- nounced, GOMMENOO <S) CO NEON GIVEN AWAY ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL 2 an COLOURED PICTURR. Othe ey i sir won “HQ \ lin