The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

before your eyes shall be subjected to the tor- ments designed for you.” Harold’s eyes flashed fire. But he could do nothing. Between the two powerful troopers he was helpless, “ Villain !” he cried, “ your day of reckoning will come. Even now I believe that Providence will not permit you to wreak your barbarity on this poor helpless gir).”’ A dry laugh was all the reply. Lord Raymond looked eagerly at the door. Presently the tramp of feet was heard approaching the door, and in another moment Ettie Leslie was brought in, pale and trembling. She almost fainted at the sight of the grim executioner in black, the gloomy-faced trooper, the scowling traitor sitting in judgment, and Harold held by the two soldiers. “Close the door,” said Raymond, “and lose no time.” He turned then to Ettie, ‘* Mistress Leslie,” he said, “I have asked Harold Fordyce a simple question ; I have asked him to tell me the place where a person lives who is engaged to be my wife. He refuses; nothing moves him. I have threatened to torture him ; he still refuses. J have, therefore, determined to put you to the torture before his eyes instead of himself, if he still refuses to tell me.” This hideous announcement was made in as calm and quiet a voice as if he had been giving the most ordinary orders to his soldiers, Ettie was so utterly prostrated with terror that she could scarcely comprehend her position ; but she saw one thing. This was, that Harold was nerving himself for some great effort, and she endeavoured to be calm. “ Strip off her gown,” cried Lord Raymond, savagely, on seeing that Harold did not speak even in the face of such danger as this, “ Strip off her gown, and let her delicate shoulders be seared with the red-hot iron.”’ The men began at once rudely to unfasten Ettie’s dress, tearing the kerchief from her Maiden bosom, The sight maddened Harold so as to give him superbuman strength, Dashing aside the men who held him, he snatched from one of them his long sword, and ruabed towards the ruffians who were maltreating ie, “ Back, back! villains,” he cried, catching her round the waist and swinging her back from them. “ Back, ye villains, or ye shall find what strength there lies in the arm of a young aprrentice,”’ Lord Raymond sprang up in a tempest of rage. “‘ Hew him down, my men,” he cried, forgetting for the instant that if Harold died the secret would die with him, “‘ hew him down ; teach him what it is to beard the lion in his den.” But at this instant there was a loud roar without, and a rushing of feet came along the age. ** Where is my Lord Raymond ?”’ was the cry. “‘ Here, cowards,” he shouted, advancing to the door, ‘why do you run ?” “To tell you, my lord,” said the troo who had come with the first message, “that THE WATCHWORDS OF OLD LONDON. we are beleaguered onall sides. From tbe river a crowd of youths of all ages are clambering up the walls ; from the road a body of troopers are attacking the front gate. Unless aid comes the place will soon be theirs." Even as he spoke, a loud roar of voices was heard ; a loud and prolonged cheer. ‘That cheer is from without,’ said the trooper ; “your presence is necessary, my lord,” Lord Raymond uttered a low curse, ‘That this should happen at such a moment!” Then he added, turning to the troopers who were standing in a menacing attitude before Harold, who still, sword in hand, was defending Ettie Leslie, ‘Put by those intruments of torture for a while and take these prisoners to their cells. Quick with it, for your arms are required else- where,” The men at once turned on the Young Apprentice, who, though single-handed against 0 many, would no doubt have been able to hold his own if he had not been aasailed by a treacherous opponent. While parrying a thrust from the sword of a big trooper, he felt something rush between his legs, and before he could make any effort to save himself, His new opponent was Quelf the dwarf. As soon as the distorted traitor saw the success of his stratagem—as soon as he beheld his enemy flung on the ground, struggling vainly against two strong soldiers—he seized Ettie Leslie round the waist, and in spite of her cries and her frantic efforts to free herself, carried her away from the vault. In afew moments Harold was overpowered, and carried back to his cell, and Ettie also con- fined in hers, His position was now not only perilous, but exasperating and irritating in the highest degree, Here he was within hail as it were of his friends ; he could bear their shouts ; he could hear tramping feet and the clash of arme, but he could afford no assistance—could not even guide them to the spot where he was. In the midst of these meditations—in the midst of his fears for Ettie’s safety—he heard a noise behind him. Staning round he saw the stone in the corner move, and the next moment the aged prisoner entered. ‘My boy,” he eaid, “ we are about to be saved from our enemies.” His face was lit up as he spoke by such an enthusiasm that he seemed like one transfigured. ‘‘Tt may be so,” cried Harold, who though so young was checked in his enthusiasm by the . knowledge of Ettie’s danger; ‘it may be so, but in this mélée both friends and enemies may miss us.” ‘¢T do not comprehend your meaning,” said the old man. ‘Tf our friends are victorious, who is to tell them where we are P—if they fail where are we to hope for aid ?” “ You are desponding for no reason,” said the old man; “follow me. In a few minutes we shall be breathing the air of freedom.”’ So saying, he led the way into his own eell through the strangely constructed door, GOVE OOO eS 55 q CO