The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 394: what you’re looking at

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

~— (~ shadows. It was a gigantic form. The double of Frank Leslie, the armourer. In another moment Quelf had fied away faint and bleeding, while the ponderous sword of the Unknown crossed that of Harold. “ At length, rash and impetuous youth,” cried the stranger, “‘we meet on equal terms, Ask Heaven for mercy, for you will receive none from me |” ‘‘T ask for none,” cried Harold. ‘I laugh your mercy to scorn. Let words alone, and let your actions suit your boasta.”’ As their weapons crossed, there was a rush from the house, and the wounded, discomfited men came tumbling out in disorder. ‘© Cowards |" muttered the Unknown, as he parried a stroke from Harold's rapid sword ; “‘cowards and poltroons! Oh! that I had some right brave men at mycall. I could show you then what resolute loyalty can effect.” . “ Loyalty 1" exclaimed Harold; “of what avail is the loyalty of a knave such as you?” ‘¢ Knave or no knave,” exclaimed the Man of Mystery, in furious accents, “I shall stop your tongue this night from saying so again.” . They were left to themselves now, for the troopers and the apprentices were either pur- suing those who had taken to their heels and fled, or seeking in dark corners for those who had hidden themselves away in the shadows. The Unknown was a far different antagonist to what Quelf had proved himself. His sword was as long and as heavy as that of the armourer, and he fought with a bravery equal to that of his honest and straightforward counterpart, Harold found that he had met with no ordinary antagonist, and had to defend himself and wait a favourable opportunity for inflicting a des- perate wound. ‘ Ah ! how liked you that, my young friend ?” cried the Unknown, as his sword, though quickly parried, ran through the flesh on the top of the shoulder, and tore like a hot iron throngh the shrinking flesh. Harold repressed the cry of pain which Nature forced to his lips. ° “Tt is an incentive to me to wake up and fight more carefully,” cried he, and as he spoke he drove his sword full against the chest of the Unknown. It snapped in an instant like a reed. The gigantic assassin was cased in a thick plate of armour, which none but one of sach Herculean strength could have carried, It was a critical moment for Harold. Had he sprung back, he would have instantly brought himself within the reach of the long sword of his antagonist. Harold knew, however, his position. He comprehended in a moment the danger of his situation, and was aware that to battle agaiust his powerful foe he must avoid the play of his powerful weapon. er THE WATCHWORDS OF OLD LONDON. Then some one emerged as it were from the Darting dorowara, therefore, and at the same moment drawing his dagger, he plunged it sud- denly, and with a will, into the throat of the giant. With a cry of deep agony and despair the Un- known flung his arms wildly aloft and fell back- ward on the ground, At this moment the troopers and the ap- prentices returned from their pursuit of the masks, The foremost held in his hand a lantern. “ Bring hither the lights,” cried Harold For- dyce, “I have secured a prize.”’ The man at once hurried forth at his bidding: and threw the light of the lantern full in the face of the man who lay on the ground, Both started back in utter wonder and amaze- ment. ‘By Heavens!” cried the man, “it is Frank Leslie, the armourer.”’ It did indeed seem so. There were the same features, the same bronzed complexion, the very same appearance altogether. ‘It seems truly a strange and terrible thing,” said Harold Fordyce, “and could I yield to the dread superstition of the times I could believe that there was at work some evil agency to punish me for some opposition to its designs. As it is, no doubt this mystery admits of easy elucidation. Let us bear him gently away. Though my blow was a quick and a sharp one, yet he breathes still. Gently they bore him away from the wido quadrangle, and having him in the midst they carried him to a house, which was well known to Harold and his companions. Here, for the time, Harold left him, under the care of his comrades, while he made his way towards the house of Lord Clement Villiers, where he had left Ettie Leslie. He had not for some time seen his betrothed. Time had rolled away now so fast that neither of them, in the busy whirl of events, had observed how the maiden had ripened into the woman, and the youth had matured into the man. Harold began now to think that it was time to think of marriage, He loved Ettie with a devoted love, which had been strengthened and refined by the ter- rible dangers he had passed through. On the morning following the attack of the masked men on the house of Ben Firebrace, he started, after a short sleep, and it was not long before he had left London and its murkiness behind him, and struck into the open country. He was cantering along, gladdened and cheered by the fresh air, and the bright sun- light, when, striking into the wood which skirted Villiers House, he beheld a horse dashing away at full speed through one of the open glades, ; At first he could not tell what it was upon its back, but afterwards he distinguished it as the form of a woman, She was evidently in peril. GOhVCOO © CO