The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

casion he has shown his courage, and fought valiantly against the enem.ecs of his country. I allude to Peter Quelf, who sits now amongst 99 Quelf rose. A murmur of astonishment passed round the assenibly. No one there imagined what strength and malice was contained in that distorted frame. ‘You wonder, perhaps, gentlemer,” said the speaker; “but, thongh young and ill-favoured by nature, he knows his duty. He is faithful, eager for revenge on his enernies, and willing to aid us. What more can we desire ?” “ Truth !” said a solernn voice. It was the involuntary exclamation of Harold, rolled away by the dozen echoes. All started, “ Who spoke?” asked the man who addressed the meeting. ‘Not I—not I,” passed from one to another. “T must retreat,” thought Harold. He looked back. Fhe way by which he had come was now guarded, Asif by design, the door of the shaft was watched by two men, who stood so still and state] y that they seemed buried in slumber, but who, he doubted not, would start into life, were he to attempt an exit. “ Search the eave,'’ said the speaker, sternly. ‘We have a traitor here |” The words meant death |! Harold knew this well. The one word which had so unwittingly es- caped him, seemed to hav6é been forced from im by an adverse fate. The question how, however, was how to escape, or how to conceal himself so as to avoid discovery, and overhear more of this conversa- tion, which he longed so eagerly to compre- end. He looked around anxiously. Behind him, as I have said, was the black wall, and the shaft by which he had descended guarded now by two stern sentinels. Before him was the circle of pillars, the blazing fire, and the conspirators around it. Saddenly he beheld something which revived his courage, Through the light of the flickering flames he beheld a staircase upon the other side of the vault, winding up the wall and disappearing, as it were, in the darkness above. Here was a chance. Wherever it led to he knew well it must lead to somc chamber above, where he would doubt- less receive assistance, Creeping, therefore, on his hands and knees, he made his way slowly along behind the heap of stones and the pillats whose heavy shadows obscured one half the place. There seemed every chance at first that he would be ablc to make good his escape, for in the black darkness of the vault no one observed im. He had no sooner, however, reached the base of the staircase than a shout rent the air. Quelf and two of the consp‘rators had caught sight of him. THE WATCITIWORDS OF OLD LONDON. There was a rush at once towards the staircase, and cre Harold could pass half way up, he was compelled to turn. Quclf, who, with the ugliness of a monkey, had also other attributes belonging to that animal, had climbed up the sides of the stairs, and with his dagger was menacing our hero. Harold turned. He saw before him a fierce fight for life, Here, beneath the earth, so close to the home of those who would eagerly have rushed to his rescue, he would have to combat for dear exist- ence. He had taken one necessary precaution, how- ever, which was that he had brought out of the workshop a fine sword of Damascus steel, which he now whirled round his head. ‘’ Back !” he cried, to the dwarf, who hesitated and drew back astep. ‘ Back, or you will mect your death !” Quelf was no coward, but he saw that the odds were against him, He had only a moment to wait. Hardly had he retreated beyond the reach of Harold's gleaming sword, when he was re-in- forced by the crowding conspirators, who pressed upon him like panting hounds, Not that these men were cowards enough thus to thirst for the lad’s life, but they knew not how much he bad heard, or what faces he had recognised. If they had known the truth, they would perhaps have been less inclined for murder. Harold, as we have seen, had, notwithstanding the danger he was now in, seen scarcely anything, and had heard less, He had risked life to discover a fearful myatery and had learned nothing. But, not comprehending thie, aa I have said, the men crowded after the Young Apprentice, who, retreating step by step, disputed the way valiantly with them. The narrowness of the staircase aided him While his gleaming sword flashed before them they could not destroy him by making a rush: to fire a pistol was impossible. It would have risked discovery for all. Safe, therefore, from any treacherous shot, Harold fought on. More than one of the Royalist conspirators fell back wounded; among them Quelf, who, with his arm slit, retired in rage and fury behind the cavaliers. At length the summit of the staircase was reached. There was now no retreat. He would have no option now but to trust to chance or the hesitation of his enemies, or the mitaculous chance which might deliver them into his hands, Death now truly stared the Young Apprentice in the face. But he did not despair. He had been during his young life through so many and such varied dangers, that he never forgot that the Providence which watched over him in one place would watch over him in another ; and he fought, therefore, with a firm s : s y oe e se e ANGHUIZE AD ILA) EDOOo