The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 122: what you’re looking at

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

THE CHILD OF WATERLOO. 119 cant. ‘‘Confound him, where can he be loitering about, I wonder ?” 7 ** Don’t know,” said the landlord; ‘‘ ain't he in the kitchen ?” ‘*No, he was not when I was there,” replied the mendicant; ‘Sand I want him.” ‘* Well, Pll go and look after bim,” said the landlord, after a ause. . ae Oh, no, no, if he don't choose to be in the way when he’s wanted, I can’t help it; he must take his own chance; however, if you see bim, tell him I shall go on in the road I told him, un- less I see any occasion to alter my intention.” ‘** Very good.” ‘“‘Good-morning,” said the mendicant, who had brougkt Mabel down-stairs; and, seating her on the horse, mounted, end then soon got clear of the old inn. They now rode along the high road at a tolerably brisk pace, aod the morning air felt refreshing: the road was hard. and the sound of their horses’ hoofs was sharp and strong, and they proceeded along favorably. One or two incidents did occur on the road, but they led to no result, save as showing the precau- tion of the mendicant. Jt was just after daybreak when he saw two horsemen cross- ing a bill on the Jeft, but coming toward them. As soon asthey were parted by the intervening trees, he dashed into « planta- tion, and there remained until the sounds of voices and horses were distinctly heard, and then died away again in the dis- ance. ‘*Now,” muttered the mendicant, ‘‘we may safely proceed, not that I apprehend any pursuit now—they would scarcely proceed so far as this. but I can’t be too sure, or too safe.” Again he emerged into the high road, and pursued his route ouward at a sound pace, that would carry him over a great deal of ground, and yet not burt the horses. Thus they proceeded forsome distance in perfect safety to the mendicant. The morning broke and the sun peeped over the eastern bori- zon, and then the misty vapor that hung over the plain was more distinctly visible than before. The clouds began to clear off, and the morning sun appeared, the edges of the night clouds were tinted with a brilliant red, and then the sunlight shot upward, and illumimed the whole expanse of the sky. n a few hours, they neared a solitary roadside public house, and the landlord, at the sight of the strangers, came out to speak tothem. He looked at the horses and then at the riders. He was a fat old man, not very bright, but uncommonly jolly and polite in his way. ' = Nice nags, them, master; you’ve a good eye for a horse, any- ow. ** Yours is not a bad one, or you wouldn't have found that out.” The landlord was pleased at this, and rubbed his hands. ‘“ Fine morning this, sir.” ‘“Yes, very. Can I haye a word with you for a moment?” comicbooks. com