The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 338: what you’re looking at

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

) | = G\ aa 3.) 317 3 THE WATCHWORDS OF OLD LONDON. EO). (Gros Cr 7 ‘“‘ Think not to alarm me or treat me with whom they despised and abhorred—angry that he could not welcome Harold with the news of his enemy’s death, Lord Clement became wild and angry in hisstrokes, and suffered himself to be driven back in the very moment of victory. Lord Raymond waited for no better opporta- nity than the one now offered him. With a laugh of defiance he sprang backwardg, jast as Lord Villiers was about to recover him- self, and leaped from the window, a distance of sixteen feet, upon the turf beneath. “He is dead!” cried Ben Firebrace, as he rushed forward, But he was wrong. Falling upon the soft grass, Lord Raymond laughed a loud laugh of defiance and fled away, ere a shot had the chance of putting an end to his worthless existence. Then Lord Clement Villiers turned his atten- _ tion to Ettie, who ran forward and flung herself upon his breast as she would have done to a brother, weeping bitter tears. ‘‘ Weep not, Ettie,” cried he, ‘‘ you are saved —saved to welcome Harold Fordyce home this very night,” The young girl looked up at once with a gratified smile, “ You are jesting, my lord,” she said. “T am not. This night, after severe and anxious trials, and perilous adventure, your father and your betrothed husband will land in Brighthelmstone. I arrived just in time, under Providence, to save you from that horrid villain, and ere I leave this for London, I shall have the pleasure of seeing you happy together.” Night time brought the fulfilment of his prophesy. Both the armonrer and Harold Fordyce arrived that night from France, and Lord Clement had the pleasure of seeing the young lovers clasped rapturously and; happily upon each other’s breasts, Meanwhile, Lady Clement Villiers had been left: alone in her own house—alone, we mean, except as regards her domestics. One ‘evening, just before the sun began to set in golden splendour in the weat, she started out for a ride through the wild country around her ome. The mare she rode was a fine steed, which her husband had lately made a Present to her, and her massive neck and broad back were covered with fancy housings, with tassels that came down to her thighs. Lady Blanche Villiers looked superbly bean- tifal as she sat on the back of her mare, her figure being displayed to exquisite advantage by the tight-fitting riding habit. She was caracoling through a wooded glen, when a man suddenly sprang out from some brushwood and confronted her, He was a rough, villanous-looking fellow, with a slouched hat over his unwashed and brutal face. In his belt were some formidable pistols, and his attitude altogether showed that he was on no good errand. Back !’ cried Lady Blanche, firmly, though her cheeks paled, and her bosom trembled with emotion. ‘ Back, and let me pass!” The man folded his arms and regarded her with a contemptuous smile, contempt, Lady Villiers,” he said. ‘“ I come hither to ask you to follow me,” “ To follow you!” “ Yes, me—into yonder forest. Allow me to lead your horse. The brushwood is thick, and beneath the trees it is dark.” The man’s insolence was truly alarming. He advanced coolly to seize her bridle. Lady Blanche, however, did not feel disposed to yield 20 quickly, Giving her mare a cut on her hind quarters, she made the animal spring up and leap almost upon the ruffian, who, with a loud shout, sprang aside. For a moment she imagined herself in safety. She was wrong. Immediately that the man shouted, a number of ruffianly figures, both men and women, sprang out from the bushes, and she found herself hemmed in on all sides. She was, in fact, a prisoner. With a coarse laugh, the man who had first accosted her, ran up to her. ‘So you thought to escape, eh! my pretty lady,” cried he. ‘You are wrong; we guessed your game and foiled it. Now, then, madam, you will kindly follow me,” So saying, he seized hold of her bridle, and now, without any further attempt of resistance on her part, led her away into the wood. After passing for some time along a rugged path, they reached a wooden structure, which seemed of very recent formation. Its timbers seemed to have been thrown together anyhow. Outside it looked rongh and strong enough, but within you could feel the wind whistling through large crevices, and as it whistled through, it shook the whole building, and threatened each moment to cast to the ground the frail supports. Into this wretched abode Lady Blanche Villiers was led by her brutal captors. Passing through a spacious hall, they led her into a large chamber and left her without a word. : She was not alone, however, One glance proved that, Near the spacious fire-place sat a young girl. Her hands were clasped upon her knees as if in sadness, Her eyes were fixed intently upon the firo, and her long, glossy hair fell over her bare shoulders, and partly veiled her protty bosom. . She started up, and Lady Blanche Villiers saw then at once who it was. It was Lizzie Woodhead ! CHAPTER XXIV. LIZZIB AND HER NEW FRIENDS—THE ABDUC- TION— THE BOX — THE MAN WITH THE GREEN MASK — THE HORRID NIGHT OF TERROR — THE OUTLAWS — THE FOREST PRISON — TWO GENTLE CAPTIVES — LORD RAYMOND'S TRIUMPH. In order to explain how Lizzie Woodhead came to be in the power of the forest outlaws, we must return to a time of some considerable GOVE OOO i iL Q eS