The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 195: what you’re looking at

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

192 THE CHILD OF WATERLOO. ‘*T am quite ready,” said Mabel. ‘Wait a moment, and I'll see if he is.” So saying, he left the room, and was absent about five min- utes, when he returned with another officer, a big, muscular man, about his own height and size; he was a powerfully made man, of a most determined character, ‘This is Thorburn,” he said. ‘‘ You will please to accompany us to the room you say this man resides in.” : ‘¢ He did so when I left.” | “Exactly. I dare say,.if you haven’t frightened him, he’ll be there now.” ‘“‘T know no more than what I told the magistrate,” said Mabel; ‘‘ but I am quite ready.” ‘And so am J,” said Thorburn. ‘We shall have the gentle- man tight enough. If wedo once secure him, he shall never get loose again; I'll forgive bim if he does.” ‘*'Yes, yes; he will have no child’s play this time. He must be a very devil in frame and nature if he gets loose again, after our hands have been once closed upon him.” ‘* No, no; he’s safe enough—safe enough.” ‘Then I am ready,” said Mabel, as she stood by the two men, who were each of them a remarkable contrast to her light and fragile form. hey all three left the ante-room, and walked out of the office into the streets. There was the usual every-day bustle; not a sound that could be heard distinctly. There was a Babel of sounds, but the one so confused the other, that it was more than difficult to separate them from each other. Amid such bustle and noise they all proceeded toward the bridge, to pass over the water, to reach the lodgings which the officer had selected for ber. ‘* And now,” said Mabel, ‘‘ as we are close upon the spot, Jet me tell you to be careful, for he will not hesitate to use the most desperate resistance. Life is nothing to him; he would destroy any one for the mere chance of an escape.” ‘‘Never fear, miss, we will take care of ourselves. We are used to these cases, and have often taken characters as desperate as he. But, nevertheless, we will not run into any useless danger, especially as you will be placed at his mercy immedi- ately; but there is no danger of that, at all events.” They now arrived at the house in which the officer had placed Mabel, and in which she had seen the mendicant. ‘‘Now,” said the officer, ‘‘ you had better keep clear of any struggling that may go on, because ugly blows may be given; and I have seen enough to know that such a man may be a more awkward customer than may, at first sight, be imagined.” ** Ay,” said Thorburn, ‘‘ very likely. But I don’t think he can get out of our clutches; we are‘ too strong for that.” ‘““Ay, ay,” said the other, ‘‘we are sfrong; but you know, Thorburn, there are as strong men as we are, and some stronger; not that I should hesitate about this man, but you are a] ways so confident in your strength.” “‘ And good reason, too,” returned the other, comicbooks. com