The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 32: what you’re looking at

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

" EX ) THE WATCHWORDS OF OLD LONDON. “ What meann that?” eaid Blanche, pointing to a standard bearer. “ That surely is the banner of my father’s house.” “Look my Jady, close’ beside it, the cavalier in black velvet, with the black plume in his hat. It is your father in gh and bearing, with a little stoop of the fhoulder, as if he had some added weight of years, but otherwise the same ” “Ab, Esther, our fancies cheat us; it is the banner that has conjured up this image in your menory ; itis an evil augury, this banner of a fallen house born by the shade of the dead.” © “Tbink not of auguries, my lady; fortune is on the side of Lord. Raymond, See how gallantly he rides; his white plume ranks him with the tallest, Now he salutes hissoldiers, Ha! hear their exclamations, Heaven grant him vic- tory !” The manceuvres of the two armies continued for some time without assault from either party. Cromwell had not yet arrivéd on the ficld of battle. - ™ Meanwhile the forces on beth sides were con- centrating at the: bridge. mo, Lord Raymond had concealed a reserve co behind a hill in his rear, in’ order, by his seem-, ing weakness, to tempt the enemy to the perilous pissage of the.bridge, where their numbers would rather embarrass than aid them. They perceived the disadvantage at which they must attack, and hesitated to encounter 16. : , . rm “ Ab,’’ said Blanche, “it would be a proud sight to see their steeds prancing, their banners and peanons flying, their.swords gleaming in the sun, and those. gallant soldiers unblenching before the face of death, if we could forget what they may be before the sun sinks behind yon hills,” Blanche’s words were scarcely spoken when some of the youngest and most daring of Lord Raymond's followers, unable any longer to brook delay or endure the defiance and stinging taunts of their antagonists, dashed over the bridge and were encountered gnd repelled, or overthrown. ' Many a daring onset and gallant rescue fol- lowed. tbe Suddenly distance. , ,, | Hy a The flag of the’ Parliament was descried. , The battle;crp hf.the Ironsides was heard, and at the, well-known ,sqund, his soldiers, like a pack of hounds at the. voice of their master, rushed upon the bridge. L . : They were met, and driven back. Pressed forward by their own column, they became pent within tiie narrow space. * Garnodge and horrible confusion ensued ; men were slaughtered in masses, horses and riders were overthrown, and, when the cesamand for retreat was given, the bridge was piled with trampled, struggling, and dying men. : “* See, see, my lady,” cried-Esther, “my Lerd Raymond’s men toss those. carcases into the stream as if.they were sheep slaughtered for the shamblps. , No wander you cover your. eyes, it pierces my old heart to sea those bodies that, one minute ago, were full of life, strength, and hope, so broken and dishonoured.” - ““ Heaven forgive them !" ejaculated Blanche. ‘But look once again, my lady; see how a cloud of dust was seen rising in the a = — daringly the horseman with the Black Plume ad- vances, He passes the bridge; see! with his few followers he dashea on the retreating column, Ah! they turn on him now—St. George aid him! There goes Prince Rupert to his rescue !” | “ Heaven help us!" cried Blanche ; “he is lost! Oh! what rashbness to pass the bridge.” '“Shame on the cowards! now there are myriacs against him. How they set on him— He is surrounded, his retreat utterly cut off !”” Blanche clasped her hands, and fixed her eye mn breathless apprehension on that frightful mélée. “ Ah,.me, Esther, my head is giddy. IT can see nothing. Look if you can see Lord Ray- mond.’’ " ‘No, my lady ; no.” an “Look narrowly, Esther, do you not, see the top of his plume?” L No, no, indeed; nothing but glancing swords and gleaming helmets, ‘‘ What can that waving mean ? They fall back. Ab! there he is, Lord Raymond side by side with the Black Cavaliers. . . ‘See, they burst through the close ranks of the enemy, “Ah! how they trample them down. Great Heaven ! how they tread tbe life out of them! They are already at the bridge; the [lack Plume passes it, but—ah! the broken planks fly from beneath his horse’s feet. “The steed recoils ; his pursuers are on him. Now, Heaven save him from falling! his back to them, treir swords almost touch him. Bravo! the leap is made. Heo is safe |” “ Surely,” said Blanche, ‘“‘ Heaven's shield is before him !” “ And behind him, too, I think, my lady, and a lion's heart within him. See, the enemy seem cowering on their side the bridge like frightened hawks, afraid to stoop to their prey ; and my lord’s men, bless them, I see by their bearing that each ‘one feels as if he had the strength of ten ‘men in his afngle ‘atm. There comes & message to Prince Rupert with good or evil tidings.” “ Heaven grant them good,” replied Blanche. ‘‘ But I fear, for my lord rides hastily off with him.” . ‘I marvel the brave soldiers endure the taunts of the Black ‘Plume,’ resumed Esther. ‘‘ Look how he dares them to follow the example he sets them. He calla on his guards to shame the loitering cowards arid follow. I doubt if he knows of that yawning abyss, Ab! now he sees it. His fiery steed leaps over; a few follow him. Jast Heaven, they fall through !”’ Shouts rent the air; Esther's voice might be heard like the shriek of an‘ owl mingling with and heightening the clamour. “Think you, Esther, the victory is won— that Cromwell’s mistake is fatal?’’ demanded ’ Blanche, who was puzzled by the varying phases of the battle. “ Assuredly, my lady. As one assailant drops another takes his place, It is too much—the black plume against such odds, The craven wretches, why do they not give him a fair field? Right royally he still defends himself. Ah! be wavers, his left arm hangs like a lopped branch ; bad . With - EDOok ) — Ss - ad q a € , .¢ CO