Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 126: what you’re looking at

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122 IVAN THE » walk, to some out-of-the-way place in London, where he might be concealed and recover at leisure, While thus creeping through the park they discovered Blue-Jacket tied to a tree, and guarded bya single man. Little Frank was the first to recognise Blue-Jacket, and cautiously pointed him out as Will Winter’s friend who was in the hands of Ivan’s band. Startled at such a discovery, one of the stout servants bade the others lower the mattress upon the grass, and cautiously asa cat he approached the villain who stood beside his help- less*victim. 7 .* .-~ “ Who have ye there, friend?’ the servant asked boldly, suddenly standing before the startled ruffian. ‘“‘ What does that matter to thee, clown? Who art thou that dares dispute my acts? . Take that,” he said, at the same time thrusting his sword forward. It would have killed the servant upon the spot, but that he jumped several feet out of the way. Next moment, however, the servant’s long and heavy cudgel descended with unerring aim upon the villain’s head, and crushed it into a bleeding mass ! With a savage oath, the servant whipped out his knife, and, to Blue-Jacket’s surprise and joy, he cut the cords and re- leased him, -In order to conceal the deed from Iyan’s men, who they felt sure would soon return to the spot, they carried the dead villain far into the thicket and shade, and there left him to rot ! Overjoyed at thus liberating a trusty friend, the four servants lifted up their burden once more, and proceeded on their way through the woods. They had not gone far, however, when they heard the galloping of horses. Fearful of what might happen, and knowing not whether the horsemen were friends or foes, they hid themselves in a thicket, and overheard, as we have already seen, all that was said between Ivan and his men. When this danger was past, they slowly journeyed onwards to the city, and met a troop of soldiers who were on their way to rout Ivan’s robbers, who were then killing and ravaging at Percy House. Thinking that the youth upon the couch was some friend of the earl, who had been wounded in the fray, the officers simply bade the servants to make haste to some surgeon, and galloped forward at an increased speed. ‘ Slowly and carefully the little procession moved on towards London, and soon the shouts and cries of the combatants at ‘Percy House died away. Blue-Jacket wished to leaye thé servants and return to the scene of strife, but he was oyer-ruled, ‘‘ For,” said the servants, “‘if we are discovered, and Will Winter is attacked, you are worth a dozen men in protecting him while we seek some place of safety.” ~ Blue-Jacket, indeed, had not the remotest idea that the & affray was half so sanguinary as it really was; but when he turned his head and saw the glare of lurid flames upon the black, cloudy sky, he ground his teeth in rage. They had now reached the outskirts of the city. The night was quiet and dark ; the streets were narrow and dirty. . No one knew where any surgeon lived, and it was some time ere they had made up their minds which way to go, or what to do. Tired as they were, they put down the body to rest™for a few moments, As they did so a window above them opened, and the pretty face of a sweet, innocent-looking girl peeped ont tipon them. ‘Pair maid,” said Blue-Jacket, ‘‘we have an injured youth here, and are taking him to some surgeon. Give us a flagon of wine for his parched lips.” “In truth will I, good gentlemen,” the maiden replied, and quickly appeared at the door, looking bewitching in her desha- bille, and bearing a silver tankard of wine in her hand, fol- lowed by a servant with a lamp. ‘“‘ Poor youth |” she cried. “Good gentlemen, allow me to place the tankard to bis parched and fevered lips.” ‘‘ Heaven bless you, pretty onc,” murmured the servants, TERRIBLE. | ; The maiden knelt upon the ground, and placed the wine to Will Winter’s lips. He opened his eyes. aE ‘ A faint, sickly, but loving smile instantly lit up his pale and haggard face. “Great Heavens, spare us!” gasped the girl, suddenly be- coming deadly pale, and fainting on the ground, “Great Heavens, it is Will Winter !” It was Ellen, the only daughter of old Michael, the cloth- worker ! 7 7 ae —_—————=~ CHAPTER LXIII. THE CLOTHWORKER’S DAUGHTER PROTECTS WILL WINTER FROM HIS ENEMIES. THESE words startled the servants as much as Blue-Jacket. They had rested under the shadow of Will’s old home. For some time Ellen was insensible to all that was said to her, but kept on repeating, “He ig not dead! Will is saved! Will is saved! WHeis -innocent ! he isinnocent! Itoldthemso, The judge would not believe me.” When she recovered sufficiently she hurriedly explained all she knew of her father’s cruel murder ; ana Blue-Jacket, on his part, quickly told her all that had happened, and how necessary if was that their mutual secret should not become known. } : While they thus spoke together several persons stopped to gaze on the youth, and to inquire what the matter was, “Matter?” said Ellen, proudly. ‘ Look and see. There Will Winter lies, my father’s apprentice, accused of murder, and hung innocently. There he lies all but slain.” These words were scarcely spoken when they were followed by the shrill voice of a lad who had not yet passed the first year of his apprenticeship, and who was thus early astir on his way to Hastcheape to begin ere dawn his labours for the day. He had noticed the group of persons standing before the cloth- worker’s door, and, like the rest of the apprentices, had heard the whole story of the midnight murder and of the execution when it was too late. But now that he had discovered Will Winter in a half-dying state, his face was white with horror, and tears were coursing each other rapidly down his cheeks. | “*Prentices and clubs !” he screamed aloud, “Help! help! Hio! help! ‘Prerftices and clubs !” 2 berras and sympathetic grief, he ran to and fro like a wi Oy. ’ His shrill small voice had as powerful an effect upon the. _ neighbourhood, however, as though the loud and clamorous fire-bell had rung out its fearful summons, **’Prentices and clubs |” was soon echoed and re-echoed by AUBSIOUS voices in the neighbourhood even at that early our. Heads were thrust from doorways, windows were hastily opened, and eager faces peered forth in every quarter, for it was an ominous and fearful cry. - “°’Prentices and clubs!’ was repeated from mouth to mouth. In less than ten minutes the streets running in almost every direction were thronged with youths of all ages, varying from fifteen to twenty. Some were armed with stout cudgels, thickened considerably at one end; others had staves; some had seized swords and bucklera, in case the fray might assume deadly proportions. ~ Soon the crowd became dense and thick. Dozens were asking questions, and there were none to answer them ; but at length there was a movement among the excited Apprentices just aroused from s]tmber, An opening was made, and four stout youths, bearing the pale and insensible body of Will Winter, their chief, made their way to the nearest surgeon, attended by the cloth-worker’s daughter, whose face was buried in her hands, evidently i much anguish, although her step was firm, which indicate a determination that had much to do with her grief, It was as though a resolye was passing in her mind that this deed, of which Will had been accused, should not sleep ‘cOomicbooksscom