The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 180: what you’re looking at

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

THE CHILD OF WATERLOO. 177 Thus poor Mabel passed some hours, until, quite exhausted by her previous night’s watchfulness, she lay down, dressedias she was, upon her bed, and fell into a sound and peaceful slumber. In such a state she was likely to remain long; and feeling, as we do, all the sympathy which we cannot but feel for one s0 cir- cumstanced, we gladly leave her in so composed a condition for a while, and turn to some of the other characters and events of our tale, which is now se rapidly drawing to its close. CHAPTER XXXV. THE mendicant was again remanded, as we have already seen, and returned to prison; but upon this occasion he was not re- manded upon the more serious charge of murder, because the evidence of Mabel acquitted him of that; but he was remanded upon the charge of abduction, and that with all its concomitant evils was serious enough, and dangerous enough, too. The officers were much surprised at the turn affairs had taken with the mendicant; they knew not what to make of it, whether to believe Mabel or not, They could not, however, doubt her, for there was so much apparent sincerity and truth in all she said and uttered that they were compelled to give up their previously positively-made-up conclusion respecting his guilt; but many of them suspended their opinion upon the point until the inquiries had been made respecting the truth of Mabel’s statement as regarded Captaia Morton. | : It was arranged that the mendicant should be piaced in one of the cells that had been that day vacated by a prisoner who had been committed to Newgate. When thrust into this place, the mendicant sat down on the only seat there was, but not from any desire to sit. He was lost in deep thought, and re- mained for some time in silence, without moving a muscle. ‘“‘ Have I changed my condition for one better?” he murmured. ‘¢Am I better than I was? Am I not rather as dangerously placed? and have I not-seen all my hopes ruined? They will make inquiries at Morton Hall, and the neighborhood, and then other matters will come out which will not tell in my favor. At all events, I shall run serious danger, and alm ost certain detec- tion. He paused a moment or two, and then considered a few mo- ments, before he muttered again—‘‘ Oh! it must, it will be so. An escape could be planned and executed, I have no doubt, sud- denly and with energy. Yes, Pll make the attempt at all events, I can lose nothing, though’ I may gain; it is wise, therefore, to make the attempt to gain my liberty, when its failure can cost me nothing.” He rose up, and walked about for some time. It was now dark, and he could hear a bustling about among the turrkeys, and the turning of locks and keys. ‘‘ My turn will come presently,” he muttered: ‘“‘and then now or never—neck or nothing!” comicbooks. com