The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 99: what you’re looking at

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

¢ nt a ~*~ vO oO Ng 84 A murmur of approbation ran through ‘the assembly, Peter Quelf trembled. Not with fear was it, but from despair lest his victims should escape him. “Yes,” exclaimed Harold, as the giant ar- mourer and the other apprentices gathered round, and stood, as it were, in a cluster near the window, “‘ yes, let us have justice and opportunity of defence, Of what are we ac- cused ?” “Of treachery and other crimes, Yon have been told already,” said Quelf. ‘- Then, thus,’ cried Harold, “I make my de- fence.” As he spoke he touched the spring as he had seen the Man Without a Name, and in an instant the floor gave way. But he had reckoned wrongly. He did not know so well as the one whom he imitated the capabilities of the trap, and he accordingly saw, to his great dismay, that only one half of the young conspirators, with the men, were disposed of. The other half were left, Quelf, the dwarf, upon whom an evil genius appeared to watch over, was among those who were saved from the sudden fal), for he clang to the drapery round him, and swung himeelf acroes the chasm to the spot where his friends were gathered. Now was the time for battle. The trap having disposed of its victims rose up again with a crash, and left the floor once more level. There stood the youths, with their daggers and muskets ; on their breasts the semblance of the dagger and the black cross, Opposite were their enemies, ranged ready to receive them, with the giant in their midst, Suddenly, before Quelf and his friends knew what was about to happen, Frank Leslie rushed forward, and, making a spring across the floor, seized Quelf in his arms. The dwarf’s friends were so taken by surprise that they were unable to assist him for the moment, and the back casement was opened ere they knew what the armourer meant to do. “ Go, evil one |” cried Frank Leslie; “go at once to your home. In the bosom of the dark river find your resting-place. Accursed Quelf ! let us hope that at last we are quit of you for ever,’ As he said these words he flung Quelf head- long through the air into the river. Then he advanced into the centre of the room. “ Now,” he said, “ my friends, and those who have inveigled us here under false pretences, you have seen the end of Peter Quelf’s abortive attempt. The wretched villain who, I hope, has gone to his account—the treacherous, un- grateful imp of Satan, who has been nurtured and cared for in my home and with my family— has endeavoured to destroy me and those who love me because I have thwarted him in schemes of many. Tell me what more do you want of us i’ - There was a huddling together among the friends of Peter Quelf, and then a feeble mur- mur arose— “ Revenge! revenge !” THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, It was a cowardly cry—the cry of boys when they know they are opposed by an adversary stronger than themselves. ‘On, my boys!” cried the armonrer, drawing a long dagger which he had hitherto concealed in his belt. “On ! let us drive these hounds into the river! On, on!” The apprentices obeyed the order willingly. Althongh they were unarmed, and their adversaries were in ion of muskets and swords, they were not daunted. They guessed rightly. The young assassins, bereft of their leader, were perfectly discomfited, and after a feeble resistance they yielded. There was scarcely a fight. Taken at a disadvantage, Quelf’s friends were unable to defend themselves, and were com- pelled to surrender at discretion. “What are we to do with them ?”’ said Harold to his master, ‘‘ Tet them go,” returned the armourer; “their leader, I hope, is dead: they are useleasly vindictive. See what an abortive and ailly thing has been their attempt at revenge.”’ Then he turned to the defeated friends of the dwarf— . “Go!” he said, “goin peace. We pity and despise you! In future, learn not to o those who are stronger and more determined than you, and have better and more bold hearts, Go ! and recollect that this defeat—not followed up by us—may, if repeated, end in a terrible tragedy for many of you.” He said no more, In solemn silence Quelf's friends moved away one by one. At length the last of them passed ont of the door, and the giant and his apprentice were left alone with their friends. ‘‘My boys,” said the armourer, “let us re- turn home. We were foolish in the first instance to come here ; because we should not have al- lowed ourselves to be called into the presence of an unknown danger by those whom we knew - to be our enemies, Wowever, everything has turned out for the best. We have proved to them and to ourselves what cowardly traitors they are. Their captain ia, I hope, drifting to- wards his last home, and we, therefore, may ex- pect that we shall no longer be molested by them, Go to your homes now, apprentices ; you have done your duty. You have a brave and worthy captain. Do whatever he may bid you, but never allow yourselves to be led again into such a trap as that into which I have allowed myself to be led with you to-night. Come, let go.” He led the way towards the door, and in a few moments they were once more’in the street, breathing the free, fresh air, and feeling that elasticity of mind, and that hopefulness and good faith in the future, which many of them had scarcely expected to experience again. At the top of the Strand Lane they parted, Harold going home, of course, with the giant armourer, and the other apprentices going their different ways. They little dreamed, any of them, what extra- ordinary news was in store for them, hon arriving at the house, Alicia Leslie met them. EDOOo wad eS CO