The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 126: what you’re looking at

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

THE CHILD OF WATERLOO. 128 ‘‘ He passed here about two hours ago,” said the man, ‘He was making for London.” ‘*Only two hours? Then we will have him yet. Thank you, my friend, thank you. Spur up, Rafferty—spur up.” CHAPTER XXV. THE mendicant left his first resting-place as soon as he well could, for he foresaw that it might not be every one who might be as credulous as the landlord. Besides, it might happen that some of those who undoubtedly were in search of Mabel would arrive tlere, and make inquiries; and were he found there, he would be seized. and Mabel would soon be free. It was, therefore, not without reason that ho again put him- self in motion, determining to make his way to some sequest- ered spot, where he could rest more at leisure, and where there could be less danger to be encountered. Choosing a favorable opportunity, he sallied out, and scoured along the road for about three-quarters of a mile, until he came to a cross-road, into which he immediately turned his horses’ heads, determining that at the first favorable spot he would re- main all day till the night should again reign; and then by day- light, if the steeds held out, would be able to hide himself in the labyrinths of the metropolis, where all traces of himself and Mabel would, he well knew, be Jost. ““Once in London,” he thought, ‘“‘and Iam safe. for there I may live for years unseen and unknown; there I shall find shelter and safety. But the confines of London may prove dan- gerous to me, if my charge proves very refractory—otherwise, I ear nothing, be there what cause there may. I will not shrink from it.” They rode down this cross-road for about a mile or two; apparently it had no particular direction, for its course wound from right to left, and left to right, so repeatedly, that it was difficult to tell whither they were going. However, after an hour’s riding, it took a definite course off to the right; and when they had arrived at the summit of a hill, he could see in the hollow below, at a distance of about two miles, a small market- town. To go there was not his intention; he only wished to get to some little place, where visitors were few and far between, as at such a place he would deem himself safest, and to discover some such place as that he now applied himself. After gazing some time in every direction earnestly, he found that he had passed such a place as that he most desired; it was so hidden that he had not seen it in passing by it. It was but a hundred yards or so to go back; that he thought would be but little trouble, and he did that the more willingly as it gnve him an assurance that he was the safer for it. This he did, and a few moments more, he and Mabel rode up a short lane and paused before the most curious old tumble- down, moss-grown place he ever beheld. comicbooks. com