The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

a ee ene ah, ME THE WATCHWORDS OF OLD LONDON. 31 lie into taking dispatches to the king’s friends. He came, as I have heard since, to the council- chamber, where they condemned me to death, and would have poisoned me, had not the glass been changed, but of that you shall hear more when the time arrives. I, however, have discovered since whom he serves—who is his benefactor. I have discovered he is on the side of Cromwell and freedom ; and Providence has placed in my hands this day the power of saving his life. Harold Fordyce, be seated, and of what cheer I can give you partake reely.’ The Young Apprentice, who was fatigued sorely by the recent affray, gladly accepted the proffered seat. “I must not linger,” he said; “my business has already been but tardily done, and I must away to London.” Simon smiled as he drew from out a cupboard the materials for a substantial breakfast. “ You are over zealous, my young friend,” he said, “which is a fault excusable at your age,’ however. You know not the dangers which beset your road. You must remain here till night- fall, now, if you desire to take a whole skin with you to Master Leslie’s.” Harold looked vexed and unsettled. “Ah! my lad,” said Simon, as he poured out a glass of foaming ale, “at your time of life I should have been just as impatient. But you must restrain yourself, We are surrounded by spies and cut-throats, You must, as I say, re- main here to-day, and to-night my three friends here shall accompany you to London. Travelling is more safely done in company now-a-days.” Harold was compelled to submit. : Daring the meal he had time to observe his oat. He was, as the trooper ‘had described him to his captain, clad in a grey cloth doublet, grey hose, and grey stockings, while the complexion _ Of his face was grey, too, like one risen from the grave, His even had a dull glimmer in them, like the light of au expiring fire, retaining in them, as it were, the faintest gleam of other days. Yet there was a genial way about him as he dispensed bis hospitalities, that told you that the man’s heart was in the right place still, though trouble and sorrow had destroyed his constitution, and aged him before his time. The breakfast over, Harold was conducted by his new friend through an iron gate into a wide passage dug out of the earth. Here, amid the smell of the damp earth, Harold could plainly distinguish the scent of horses. “ Have you a stable here?” asked Harold, in surprise, ‘‘ Yes; we have here stabling for two hun- dred horses,” answered Simon. The stalls for the horses were dry and well cared for, and around the walla were hung lamps for the double purpose of light and heat. “ And what is this place for P” asked Harold, who noticed that there were only six horses in the stable. ‘‘For ambuscades,” said Simon. ‘See how well a strong body of horse and foot can conceal themeelves here from the gaze of all.” “And where is the exit ?” asked Harold. “ J will show you,” said Simon. The passage as they proceeded rose nearer to the surface of the earth, and presently came to an abrupt atop. Pushing aside a wooden door, which swung easily back on ita hinges, Simon Lawless dis- closed an entrance to the subterranean stables formed of brambles and the light branches of drooping trees. “ Here,” said the rescued man, “here is the entrance ; if opens into a wood, as you see, and the men can lie in covert for seme time ere they enter herc, and come in when all fear of spies is gone.”’ “But, is not this a dangerous place?” asked Harold, ‘Is it not easy for any one to enter ?” Simon smiled, " ‘‘ Easy to enter?” he said. ‘But, if they en- tered, they could never enter our cave. There is an arrangement by which, at one pull of a chain, the earth will fall in and form an im- passable barrier between us.” Evening, at length, fell over the scene, and a terrific heat overwhelmed the occupants of the subterranean cave. Smoke oozed through the cracks in the stone, which became almost red-hot. “ They have set fire tothe mill,”’ cried Harold, “to burn us out.” “ Yes,” said Lawless, ‘that is their idea, While they are rejoicing in this work of de- atruction, you must make your escape to London. I can let you have a horse: and my friends will accompany you. Have you your dis- patches all safe ?” Yes, quite.” Le You have lost nothing in your saddle-bags, en 7” “No; my letters are safely sewn in my boots,’ ‘Good! You are a brave lad, and a clever one. Follow me.” Simon once more led the way towards the stables, and in the space of a very few minutes the four newly-made friends had mounted their horses and were speeding along the clearing in the forest and the high road towards Londen. Ere midnight had chimed Harold had de- livered his letter to the giant armourer, and had nestled into his own soft, quiet bed; while Frank Leslie, donning a disguise, passed out into the street, and made his way towards the Tower. The next two weeks passed in comparative quiet. It was the old life now in the workshop, labouring hard at the clanging metal, fashion- ing straoge armour. The giant armourer was in his glory about something. He sang and smiled to himaelf as his brawny arms swung round the heaviest hammer, and raised the heaviest breastplates, On the third Monday after the return of Harold to the workshop, there was a special piece of work which the armourer desired to get completed by a certain time, and in this work was some fine work which Harold’s hand was best adapted to finish. In the workshop Quelf came but once, and then passed quickly through. Not a word of the eventa on the road had been spoken between them. GOVE OOO