The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 138: what you’re looking at

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

‘THE CHILD OF WATERLOO, 135 They both entered the house, and could distinctly hear the rapid tread of the mendicant up-stairs. This was enough, and away they went after him. They were much distressed, but they were too much interested in the object they had in view to stop their pursuit, at a momeet, too, when they believed they bad achieved their object. No, they might sink from exhaus- tion, but while they had the power to walk they would not give in, Up-stairs they went, and heard a great deal of screaming and talking. ‘¢ We shal] have him here,” said Mr. Morton; ‘‘ we have him, Rafferty. Come on!” _‘*T’m coming,” said Rafferty; ‘‘Tll go in first, your honor, T'm an ould soldier, and they wou’t make my phisog worse foes it is, in case they should damage it a little; but it is dif- erent—— ‘‘ Come on,” said Henry Morton, as he flung himself against the door, which flew wide open. There was no need to say ‘‘Come on,” to Rafferty Brolick- bones, as he entered the room after, or almost with, Henry Morton. They glanced round the room. There were several squalid, dirty-looking-children, and a woman with blear eyes, looking all terror and amazement. In one corner of the room was a shop-board, and beneath it. was a bundle of rags, that seemed to have life. . ‘“ Where is he? where is the man who was here but now?” demanded Henry Morton. They said nothing, but pointed to a step-ladder leading to the roof. the scuttle of which was open. “This way, Rafferty—follow me!” cried Morton, springing up the ladder. The next moment both parties were on the roof. They gazed around on every side, but they saw nothing. At length Rafferty’s eyes fell on a bruised hat. ‘* Ain’t that the very identical hat he wore, sir?” ‘‘ By heavens! he has gone this way. Come on, Rafferty.” ‘*T’m wid your honor.” As Henry Morton spoke, he scrambled across the roof of the house and on to the next one, in a manner that was truly alarming, and Rafferty followed him as quick as he was able. ‘Take care, Mr. Henry—for the love of life, take care. The least slip in the world would smash you to atoms, Holy Virgin! take care. You had like to have had at least a sixty-feet fall, and that’s much more than any Christian can bear. Be careful for everybody's sake, or youll be kilt, and what will Miss Mabel ) ‘‘T see him ahead, Rafferty. I can see the villain.” ‘‘ Hurrah!” said Rafferty, forgetting in the excitement of the moment, the caution he had been giving Morton. ‘‘ He went in here, Rafferty. We shall have him at last.” ‘‘Hurrah, Mr. Henry! I’m arter you. This is as glorious as the field of Waterloo. Hurrah! hurrah!” His voice was suddenly hushed, for he immediately jumped in comicbooks. com