Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 118: what you’re looking at

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

IVAN THE oaths, Nat Fathom 114 Yet, undaunted, and with many bitter rushed at his powerful foe. ‘Their swords smashed | Their pistols were empty and useless ! Knives they had none ! With the fury of two savage tigers, Ivan rushed at each other. They were locked in a desperate, deadly embrace ! The struggle for the fatal fall and throw was long and exciting. = ‘“‘Kill him! kill him!” growled Ivan. *“ Kill him, my men! ’Tis one of my worst enemies! Shoot, stab, do any- thing! he cannot moye, He is fast as a rock in my iron rasp.” “ Tian had made a great mistake, for Nat was not firmly held in his iron grasp. . * With a loud laugh of scorn that rang out widly upon the air, Nat Fathom lifted up his powerful enemy by main strength. : J ; They both fell into the dark and stormy waters, locked in a fast embrace ! : They struggled fiercely for a time! For a moment only was Ivan seen uppermost, for in an instant Nat Fathom turned in the wild flood of waters, and next moment both sank together, Nat Fathom triumphantly sitting astride of his enemy, Ivan the Terrible ! and Nat Fathom CHAPTER LVIIL. : IVAN OVERHEARS THE PLOT OF THE LONDON APPRENTICES TO ATTACK THE ‘‘FORGH"—HIS SCHEME OF REVENGE— THE ABDUCTION. | A THRILL of horror seized both erews when they thus per- ceived the fate of their chiefs, but it only tended to exasperate Nat Fathom’s followers the more. The shouts, and eries, and oaths on either side were most horrible to hear. : Thinking that Nat was drowned, his men fought with re- déubled fury—in truth, with the desperation of fends, | ‘With loud cries they assailed all that remained of Iyan’s crew, and their swords clashed and flashed in frightful strife. Iyan’s boat: was now well nigh torn asunder, In their fury and frenzy, Nat’s followers cut and hacked at everything and anything, until at lasta large hole was knocked through the bottom, - The water rushed in and filled it. | With creat difficulty and much personal danger, Nat's men scrambled back into their own boat, dragging with them four prisoners, but ere their triumphant shout was heard upon the air, Tyan’s boat with his wounded men sank to the bottom ! * © ee * Yet Ivan himself was not lost. . When he and Nat Fathom had sank together in a deadly embrace, they, in some manner, became disentangled, and ere long Ivan rose to the surface again. He shook his shaggy head, and, capital swimmer as he was, struck out for the bank, and ere long reached it exhausted and faint. Nat himself also rose to the surface after a little time. He shouted to his men as best he could, and his well-known voice was instantly recognised by his overjoyed and courageous comrades. He was rescued, and soon safe on board his Own gallant craft, and heartily rejoiced at his success over Ivan the Ter- rible, whose name alone had been the terror of the whole river from the ‘‘ Forge’ down to the sea, But what did Ivan here? Exhausted with his terrible combat with the valiant Nat and his hardy crew, he struggled to the nearest point of land, whieh was the boat-house. ’ For some time he heard no one speak, although at a glance he perceived it was the spot where the watermten’s apprentices were in the habit of meeting. : Wet anddrenched and blood-spattered from more than one cut and wound, he sat shivering in the dark unperceived by any one. TERRIBLE, at He cursed Jong and dreadfully regarding the loss of his men f and boat, and conld not for a moment imagine by what un- foreseen accident he had fallen across Nat Fathom, at the very moment also when he had fondly imagined that Harry Percy and the much-hated body of Will Winter were nearly. - | in his grasp. In a moment or two, however, he beard the voices of some young men conversing in animated tones. | _ He listened with open ears, for they were speaking violently and most bitterly indeed against himself! ‘‘ Didn’t you heag it, then ?’’ said one, in surprise, ‘No, not till you now told me.” ‘‘No? why, they rescued him from the gallows, and_he is likely to live, if they take care of him for a few days,” “ And allthis is Black Ivan’s doings, eh?’ said the other, in bitter tones.. “Ob, would that all the Apprentices had known of what was going on, things wouldn't have turned out as they have.” : ie “No, nor would Ivan and hig crew of devils have had him hung, I warrant me.” $7 a aes ‘Would that I could fall aeress him, 1’d plunge my knife into his vile heart.” ? “What has the young lord then done with Will ?” “ Why, he and his groom called a coach ahd a surgeon, and Pe oh ds his father’s house as quick as the horse's legs Could GO," * ¥ou don’t mean that 2 & ¥es, but T do, though," ‘t He’s a gallant young fellow.” * Y¢s ; and sois. his groom, Darby.” t * Briny Bob and Luckless Jeg were in the mess?” * Yes, and a pretty peril they were in, too ; it almosé cost the ae of all.” 4 “gr 9 ie Yes, in truth; but rely on it, the Londow A tic won't forget what young Perey has done and eufapeet ta eave - Will Winter.” “ No, my lad, they won't ; nat 43 long as the sun hines on old Lendon, I warrant me," ee And what do we expect to do next?" _ “Do next? Why, gather eyery noble 'prentice lad in London, and have revenge for this." “ tevenge | aye, in truth ; and lyan will haye canse to rue. what he and his yillains have done. Bloody Jeffries also,” ‘“ We'll attack ‘The Forge’ first: .- 7) if Yes ; but musn’t let the secret-be known, or else our plang will fail.” . ee “‘ How did you know all this?” ; ) i I heard young Harry Perey say so a little while ago.” We must cet all the help we can then, for [van’s band are numerous and powerful.” et “T warrant we shall get as good as they.” » “ Who do you mean ?” , “Why Blue-Jacket and his Wly-by-Night boys—those are the haps. ‘9 pay off als aeages with Ivan.” ue-Jacket would give the world to-night to k that Will Winter was safe.” ~ > “Yes ; but he does know it.” How. do you know ?” “J heard it in the tavern ; and more than that, I heard sa that he had galloped off to Percy House to see him,” : “See him?” » “Yes ; see him, or see somebody else.” ‘low do you mean somebody else?” _ “Why, Lady Laura—young Harrg’s sister.” * What, Blue-Jacket 2” “Yes. Why, l’yeheard it long ago, that he was in lave with her, and had’saved her from robbery and outrage ae than once from Ivan’s cut-throats and thieves in Cornwall ; pare Ae say ane likes him,” ee ‘ Well, I never heard that before ; b : 2-looki fellow.” i Dub, he’s @ Aine-logkine “There you are richt ; there ain't a hand : in the whole kingdom than he is” +A PADAEGIPAE OP RE.TABR i They say he is the son of a great nobleman.” And I believe it ; but he don't tell ary body who and what he is, mark me, although ope night, iu a tavern, I heard him say that he was rightful heir to as good an estate as there: \= Ecomichooks.com