Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

102 IVAN THE “So they ought,” said Jones, “now I thinks on it, but the smith that helped me wouldn’t come, and so what was to be done? We must let the chains and all go as they is.” ‘6 Tt’s awk’ard,” old Jinks mused, “‘ werry much 80, werry.”’ ‘‘ Rather,” said old Jones ; “but the sooner the job’s done, you know, Jinks, the sooner we get back to the inn.” “The inn! Hat ha!’ laughed Zekiel, ‘they wont let us in such a place as——”’ “ Hold your tongue, will you?’ roared the old hangman, with offended dignity. ‘‘ Come, Jones, if we are to do this piece of work to-night, let us get to work at once, and get it over as you say.” 2 LM “ The young ‘un is dead enough for anything ; if he ain’t it don’t much matter.” “Zeke, my good boy,” said old Jinks, in soothing tones. ‘‘This is my apprentice, Jones; a good lad, Zeke?” “Well, what do you want now, old ’un?” was the sulky reply of the big and ugly apprentice. “Get up, my good lad‘ don’t lay there under the cart, get up. Show the gentleman how nimble you are ; you can climb like a squirrel when you like. Awful bright boy, Jones, werry clever.” fi - © Climb up there ? No, not me,” Zeke grunted ; “no climbing of slippery poles for me ; I didn’t agree to that.” “What's that you~say, you surly hound?” growled Jinks, flourishing his stick. ‘That I shan’s climb any icy poles to-night, that’s all, old ’un.” , The hangman seized a piece of iron, and advanced on the boy. i Say that again, will you, and ’ll1——” * Give me the boots, then, and then I'll do it.” - “Tdiot | you have no more feeling than an ape. So you want the dead man’s boots, eh? you hard-hearted varlet 1’ ‘ Of course I do; you don’t give me anything but kicks, do you ? I will have the boots.” ' “Well, then, if you have the heart, Zeke, to take his boots, have ’em ; and as you are taking his boots, which is a werry unfeeling thing, why—I—I think I'll have his stockings,” ‘Hold hard !” said old Jones, in haste ; ‘‘I have an eye to his coat.” “« His waiscoat !? screamed Zekiel ; “I'll have that, mind ye, Master Jinks ; I said his waistcoat first, didn’t 1?” *‘ Hang your impudence, you young scoundrel, what do you mean by that ?” roared old Jinks, ‘‘Hold hard! Woa, donkey!” cried Jones ; ‘‘somebody is coming.” _ Scarcely making any sound upon the snow, although the horse was at a gallop, a mounted man made his way to the spot during this wrangle for a hangman’s perquisites that was then going on. The rider was a perfect stranger, and as he reéined in his spirited horse, he said in a sharp voice, “‘ What, ain’t this job done yet? Come, my men, be quick about it, it’s a matter of form, but the law says do it, and it must be done. Get to work, then, quickly, _ At these words from the unknown rider, Jinks and Jones ee to work, without making any further remark or quatrel- ing. Zeke, it must be confessed, very sulkily clambered up to the cross-tree of the gallows, and, with some assistance from old Jinks the hangman, and Jones, placed the rough irons upon the figure, connecting them by chains and hooks, which tke smith had made for that purpose, The body now presented a strange, indeed a very strange and hideous appearance in the irons; it hung, however, more steadily, as the increasing weight resisted the keen air that before had driven and swayed it from side to side. . The snow which seemed fora while to have ceased falling, now came on fresh, and with such a fierceness, that the stranger’s horse could scarcely stand against it, Setting his teeth, he muttered a few hearty curses, turned his, horse’s head, and galloped away as strangely and mysteriously as he had appeared, It was Harry Percy | | “ All’s settled now,” said old Jinks, the hangman, ~ TERRIBLE. “The boots?” cried Zekiel, with idiotic haste and im- patience. ' 5 ahd Pui: As he spoke the sky darkened still more ominiously. Dense masses of clouds, cut and broken by sudden flashes of vivid lightning, passed over the loné, bleak, dreary heath. For a moment the air was so still that the cutting wind which had been so wild some time before, seemed suddenly to cease. | The lone and awe-inspiring heath was devoted to the dead. Snow piled itself high at the gallows foot. — a Into wild fantastic shapes it heaped itself on the cross-tree of the gibbet, and gradually, minute after minute, the strong upright pieces, to which the body hung, appeared as if they were slowly sinking into the earth. : . _ It was the snow which was piling itself around it on that lone and ghastly spot! | : _ For four long weary hours the snow came down, till shrubs and all stunted undergrowth and brush vanished from view beneath the white pall. Trees looked short and stunted, as they rose black and dead- looking from the pure white surface around. And now the dim light of that wintry night had vanished. Rain in large drops fell, lightning flashed, and thunder rolled at intervals overhead in the inky sky ; yet although the snow-storm had abated its fiercest fury, still great flakes were caught up by strong winds that had now risen, and dashed hither and thither with mad and almost blinding riot, Oh, it was a fearful, terrible night ! The freshening wind was now more than enough to swing the body to and fro upon the gallows-tree. The chains rattled and jammed against each other in a dismal jingle. | A dark bird of night, strong upon the wing, hovered round and round the head of the hanging man. - The eyes of the victim it sought. ~ - °y¥ As often as it flapped its broad black wings almost to touch the face of the enchained man, it flew Away again with loud screams of disappointment and fright. . Some strange instinct prevented that bird of prey from snatching the victim’s staring eyes. : Dark night shrouded the face of gloomy nature. _ Fora time astrange reflected radiance from lightning flashes fell on the snow, and then all—all vanished like a dream, and atte and sky appeared mingled together in one black con- usion, The hangman and Zekiel, his boy, Jones, and his cart had gone, _ | The victim of the fatal tree was encased in iron chains, and bolts, and rings, _ All was dark, silent, and awful. Will Winter alone in his iron chains still lived, but was un- conscious of all around him, — CHAPTER LIII, WILL WINTER RESCUED FROM THE GIBBET BY. HARRY PERCY AND DARBY—THE RESTORATION TO LIFE. A FAINT, a very faint and uncertain twinkling of a light was now discernible in the darkness, dancing over the bleak and snow-covered heath. It was evidently carried by some person on foot, and cast a strange and ghastly halo around it on the snow-covered ground. ; _The light advanced, and stopped and stopped, and advanced time and time again; but now it was near the lonely and awe- inspiring gallows, ; There was a faint and melancholy murmur of voices, The light came on again for a few yards more, Suddenly a piercing and heartrending cry is heard piercing through the cold night air and whistling winds, ‘It is here! I see it! I see it! It is there !—there]— there! Oh! heaven !” said the feeble yoice of one who fell fainting on the snow, . -~ Eomichoo <SniGOim