The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 83: what you’re looking at

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

70 “Gone! Oh heavens! then that villain has succeeded at last. See! they are flying; we must surround and capture them. No doubt he is among them,” “No, my lord,” cried the Young Apprentice ; “Lord Raymond fied on hearing Firebrace’s war-cry.” _ “Which road did he take f” ‘Towards the £trand, my lord. He leaped upon his horse and was off ere any one could stop him.” “Oh ! this is a sad, a terrible blow,” cried Lord Villiers, leaning on his sword; “some terrible treachery is meditated. Did you see which way she took ?” ‘‘ Yes, my lord ; she passed towards St. Paul's.” “Then why did you not stop her? why did you now her to be carried off thus before your eyes?” *‘ Tam blameless, my lord,” said Harold.“ How did I know she was with an enemy?! She leaned upon bis arm ag upon the arm of a friend; he was one whom I did not know, and it would have been impertinence in me to interfere.” the Villiers beat his brow with his gloved ‘True, true,” he said, “ you are not te blame ; I only, I only am the foo). I should have stayed by her side in the fight and left the van to others.” “True,” exclaimed Sir William Davenport, ‘your lordship’s valor has many times before this got you into trouble,” At this moment Ben Firebrace and his men returned from his pureuit of the Royalists, but he had made no prisoners. One or two had been shot down, but the others in the black darkness had made good their es- cape down the tortuous alleys where the horse- men could not follow them. Nothing had been seen of Lord Raymond. ‘‘ The villain has outwitted and escaped me,” said Villiers, “but it shall not be for long. Firebrace, we must scour London at dawn,”’ “T fear, my lord,” said the troo respect- fully, ‘‘ that you cannot be in London to-mcrrow morning. See, here is a despatch from Crom- well, I believe it orders your lordship’s instant. return to the camp.” Villiers took it eagerly ; but in the darkness he could see nothing of its contenta. “Yonder ale-house is open, my lord,’ said Ben, ‘‘and, by your leave, I will order the men to drink. They have ridden long and hard and fought well.” * True, true ; take this purse and give them what drink they require, and I will enter and read my dispatch.” Then he turned to the wedding guests who were still huddled together, most of the gentle- men being employed in restoring to animation their fainting companions. ‘‘ My friends,” he said, “ you will excuse my abrupt departure after all that has occurred. I fancy you will find your carriages in the next street. b Farewell." e then bowed gracefully, and passed through hia soldiers into the ale house, . Here, after entering a private room with Ben Firebrace, he opened the dispatch. Van Ty 5a THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, Tt ran thus :— ‘‘ Henrietta Maria has entered England with a large body of Dutch troops. A decisive battle will take place between my forces and thoes of Charics Stuart in a week at latest. I beg your instant return, for I have need of all my brave men. Let me see with you as many strong recruits as you can muster on the road. Lose not one moment, as you value OUr Cause. ‘‘ OROMWBLL.” “Must I then leave London at such an hour as this,” cried be to himself, “when my sweet bride, whom I hoped to have pressed to my heart this night, has been torn from me by my worst foe P Oh! this is bitter fate indeed! To leave her, too, without one who will seek for her and protect her.” He paused a moment, roe Ben,” he said, “ where is the captain of your Pp 99 A proud blush overspread the face of the worthy soldier, ‘“T have no captain, my lord,” he said, mo- dest y;* if your lordship will just glance at my ress ——’ “Ah!” exclaimed Villiers, extending his hand ; “so Cromwell has made a captain of you. Bravo ! noble heart ! this honour is well deserved, But tell me, do you think pursuit of any avail?” “In this city, my lord, and at such a time as this, I think it useless,” returned Firebrace, Then he added, with much emotion— “Forgive me, my lord, for likening my sorrows to yours; but we are taught now that the nobles and the poor are but the same beings in different feathers. This villain Lord Ray- mond has carried off my mistress, and I am seeking for him as you are, But I must, never- theless, put my heart in my pocket this night, and leave her in the hands of my enemies,” Villiers mused a moment, After a while he said— “ How long will it take us to reach Cromwell's camp “With our two thousand men—three days, my lord.” “Need Cromwell know I received this dis- patch to-night ?”’ “J fear I cannot disguise that fact, my lord,” said Ben, bluntly ; “the messenger who brought it took down the hour and minute when it was delivered to me ; and we were in sight of you then,” Villiers paced the room excitedly. “IT must be in London in the morning,” he said, “I cannot let this night pass without a search. What can be done P” “T can suggest one thing, my lortl,” said Ben. ‘‘ For Heaven’s sake, then, let’s bave it, cap- tain,” cried Villiers, stopping, and clapping him on the shoulder. He had great faith in the sturdy soldier's sense. ‘¢T can send my lieutenant, Marshall, on with the men, and bid him proceed at ordinary speed along the Northern Road, If we are not with them before, he must halt at Norbridge. Mean- while, we will send our chargers on with the men, and remain bebind till to-morrow at noon. Then we can hire post-horses, and force the distance.” “Good, good, my friend,” said Villiers, de- lightedly, “TI knew well that you would not G book ae ‘ y md 2)