The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 320: what you’re looking at

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

—eEnEn ee EE —————=——-- eo 1g, Spee $ MA. e+e we Ml gh? *s ‘S84. THE WATCHWORDS OF OLD LONDON. = 6 - Oye ove os ,@r~ vee we wns ae ww ~Kr a (ren "OW QE= , ey 299 “Why are you so confident ?" * Because when we came in, I observed that we only passed a few yards towards the interior of the castle. We then turned to the right, and passed along at right angles for some distance, and entered the cell also to the right. It follows, then, that we are in a dungeon on the outer wall of the castle. There can be but a short distance between us and the outside of the wall, Therefore, Harold, fear nothing, we shall be certain of success,” ‘* I will believe you,” said Harold, “ eager as IT am to finish our journey, and return to Eng- land. You may depend upon it that I shall use my beat exertions. Let us begin at once.” ‘* Nay, then, my impetuous young friend,” gaid the armourer, “do not be so hasty. We must not commence before the man has entered with our meal.” ‘‘ Tf we are to have any,” ‘Oh |! there is no danger of starvation,” “ Why not?” “* They know not what Britons are capable of ; they imagine that it will be easy work to wring from ua some state secrets, They are wrong ; but, nevertheless, this belief will give to us the benefits of good food and care,” “ Care!” said Harold. “ Well, this is a good beginning, if they intend to take care of us. fortnight in this dungeon would soon settle us, There is death printed on the reeking walls— death floata in the air.” “True ; but the warmth and courage in our hearts will steel us against calamities. Never fear, Harold--remember England and Ettie, and keep up your heart against everything.’ At this moment footsteps were heard ad- vancing towards the cell. ‘“ Here comes our gaoler,” said Harold, “we shall see now what weapons they propose to leave us.” The door now opened. A tall, cadaverous man entered, Behind him was another in the dress of a French musketeer, Both carried dishes containing savoury messes. Harold and the armourer looked denotingly at them as they were placed upon the table. “ Friend,” said the Young Apprentice, “ are these our death-cups ?” The man shook his head, and shrugged his shoulders, “He does not understand English,” said Leslie. “And I know little of Freach ; but jI will try ?” said Harold. Then turning to the man again, he said, ‘* Are these poisoned 7?” “ Poisoned |! Why so?” ‘* They are too good for prisoners.” The man laughed. } * You are right,” he said, “they arc too good for prisoners, but nevertheless they are there for you. Eat and be thankful ; I would gladly have such fare myself,” ‘‘ Are you hungry {” 5‘ Tn this place I always am,” “Then eat.” * You do not require food ?” “Not at present. Eat with us, at any rate, my friend,” The man laughed again, and whispered to the musketeer, who at once retired into the corridor, and took his station outside the door. He was evidently placed there on the watch. ‘Now, then,” said the tall, cadaverous man, seating himself at the table, “now, then, since you are so kind as to invite me to breakfast with you, I will indulge. They have, I must say, sent you ample.” So saying, he helped himself to the first dish, and began eating with a will. Seeing that he ate fearlesaly, the armourer and the Young Apprentice ate also. The man soon disabused their minds of all ideas of poison. He ate voraciously of everything that was on the table, “Do they always treat prisoners thus in France ?” asked Harold, when they had finished their meal, The man looked knowing. ‘‘ Yes,” he said, “‘ for a time. seen Monsieur le Governeur,” “What mean you?” “Simply this, They live on the best until they have seen the governor, and then ——”’ “ What then ?”’ “ They are either set free or ——” “Or what?” ‘Perhaps I am wrong to tell you.” ‘‘No, no; you are not, We will not betray you,’ said Frank Leslie. “Why,” said the man, lowering his voice, “they are left to starve,” Harold Fordyce glanced significantly at the armourer. ‘And why,” he asked, “ why is this distinetion ? What has one to doto gain the favour of the governor ?”’ “ To tell him all he asks, To answer truth- fully all bis questions.” ‘‘In other words,” said Frank Leslie, when Harold Fordyce had translated to him the man’s words, “we have to betray our friends? Tell him that Englishmen never betray their country —remind him that their valour and fidelity are emblazoned in letters of blood throughout the world,” The man smiled when the Young Apprentice translated this reply. ‘Ah! well,” he said, “life is dearer than all —far dearer than all. However, keep my secret and—I will be your taster, I will taste all your food first, so that you shall not fear poison.” ‘‘A fanny fellow,’ said Harold, when he had one ; “there ig one comfort, however, he was so elighted with his breakfast that he never observed that I took his largest and stronges’ knife, Now, then, by the aid of that feeble lamp he has brought us, let us commence our work.” ‘Yes, we will begin at once,’ said the armourer, “just here in the corner where the walls join.” Eagerly and vigorously, with their small tools, the Young Apprentice and the armourer worked away at the earth, which being soft, and, indeed, saturated with water, yielded readily to their efforta, Instead of scraping out the earth, they eat it away in solid blocks, like bricks, By dinner time they had oompleted a large hole in the wall, so much so, that the water had begun to run more freely, and they began to fear Until they have ae GOMES O16S 4 ( Wl(S, 3. )?