The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 64: what you’re looking at

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

a” THE WATCHWORDS OF OLD LONDON. The old man closed the door. There was just enough space for him and his companion, and that was all. It was a strange place. A bed at one end of the place occupied half the space, the chairs and the fire-place occupied the remainder. Around were well-thumbed books and several old pipes, while in a corner was a huge basket full of fruit. For Pilgrim Corder was a vendor of fruit. He was an odd-looking old fellow, not at all like a “pilgrim,” with grey hair cut short over his bead, and dressed in a peculiar snuff-coloured suit, that was well-worn and patched. “Well, Pilgrim,’ said Simon Lawless, “I come to ask you about something which happened last night.” “What was that?” “ Did you see a young girl brought here out of a boat 7” 66 J did,”’ Simon smiled. | “Ah! Ihave the clue, now,” hesaid. “ Did you see a young lad also?” ‘‘A young apprentice?” ‘Yes ; was he with her?” ‘No, he was watching them. He seemed to me to be a friend of the girl they were carrying off, and while he was glancing over at the house, two troopers came behind, threw a cloth over his head, bound him, and bore him away into the building.” *(ood,” said Simon. “Ihaveit now. This Harold Fordyce, ere he came to Frank Leslie's house, was a river boy, one of the wild fellows who obtained a living on the river by unknown and perilous adventures. He must have abundance of friends, but the question is where to find them.” Pilgrim Corder shook his head. “In that Z can't aid you,” he said, “I've seen a many of ’em, but where to find ’em in a hurry, I can't say.” “ There is need of hurry, though,” said Simon. “Once within that house, among such foes, there isno knowing what sufferings he may have to endure, or how quickly and terrible those sufferings may end, I must see te this at once. Farewell, my friend ; secresy as before ; our watchword—Cromwell !” So saying, he placed in the old man’s hand a purse, and quitted the little house, which, in a few moments, relapsed, as it were, into its ob- scurity, and resumed its box-like appearance, CHAPTER XV, THE OLD HOUSE ON LONDON BRIDGE. WHEN Harold Fordyce had been half suffocated and helplessly bound, he was, as Pilgrim Corder had said, carried into the same house that had received the insensible form of Ettie Leslie. To cry out was impossible, His mouth was completely gagged, and he could scarcely breathe, Indeed, if he had cried out it would have been useless, . There was no one to hear him but the old gate-keeper of the bridge, who, half asleep, would have taken no notice had a coin been slipped into his hand. When once inside the passage the cloth was taken from his head, and he could see that he was within a broad stone corridor which seemed to terminate in one flight of stairs leading upwards and one flight leading downwards. To the latter he was conducted, and forced to descend quickly. A chill pervaded his heart as he did so. Was Ettie Leslie in such a place as this also? When they had reached the bottom of the staircase, they were once more in a broad stone assage, evidently on a level with the river, for it was cold and damp, and smelt like a charnel- house, Hurrying him along this underground corridor which closed downwards as they proceeded, they stopped at length before a broad iron door, and opening .t, pushed him forward into the darkness, He expected nothing short of death. He had heard of persons who had met their deaths in this mysterious manner, and it was with a feeling of thankfulness that he found himeelf alight on terra firma. Not a word had been spoken until this time. The gag, however, was now removed from Harold’s mouth, and his tongue at once framed his heart’s thought. “ Where is Ettie Leslie?” he asked, eagerly. The man he addressed laughed loudly. ‘You had best think of yourself, my lad,” he said ; “there is more danger to you than to her. Those whom my Lord Raymond protects will come to no harm. Mistress Ettie Leslie is even now a pretty one for her age, and when she is older she will be just the one that my Lord Raymond will fancy.” “ Villain !” cried Harold, “it is well for you that my hands are bound or you would not dare to speak of her thus.” The trooper laughed. ‘6 Oh, we'll give your arms their liberty, my young hawk !"’ he exclaimed, as he approached and prepared to release the Young Apprentice from his bonds, “but recollect that we don’t allow such birds as you to carry dangerous weapons.” Harold glanced as the man spoke down at his belt. His sword and dagger were gone. “ You are a fine soldier,” he said, ‘‘ to be afraid ofaboy. I would be ashamed to own it if I were you.” “We follow instructions,’ said the man; ‘ nevertheless, should we ever meet outside this house you will see whether I fear you.” With these words he motioned his companions back, and went out after them. The heavy door then clanged to, and Harold was left in utter darkness, For some few moments he stood where he was, doubtfal which way to move. He could see nothing. The night was so dark that not a ray of light entered to show how large the cell was. Facing the door, however, he advanced cautiously, and at length touched the cold iron, and commenced a slow tour of his cell. It was very small, and he soon came to the end of the wall, On reaching half way along the next side, he atumbled over something. GOVE OO ©