Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 153: what you’re looking at

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

IVAN THE Had Ivan seen the significant looks some of the assembled guests threw at each other, he would have at once scen that they suspected him of being concerned in the tragedy at Michael the clothworker’s. “ What have I to do with it?” continued the drunken man. “ Here’s a toast, I say !” Tap-room frequenters seldom refuse to drink a toast when some one else pays for the liquor. Every glass and tankard, therefore, was raised to do honour to the expected sentiment. Suddenly the landlord, who stood with his back to the door, was nearly pushed down by the sudden entrance of a stranger, greatly disguised. After a hasty glance round the room, the new comer called out, , ‘* Now’s your time |” ¢ Scarcely had the words left his mouth when two more men entered, What the trio were about to do no one could imagine, though nearly every one in the room rose. _ Before, however, any movement could be made, a fourth man made his appearance at the door, bredthless from the este with which he had travelled, and cried in a loud voice, o |” Allin the room remained motionless, no one being able to form the least idea of the meaning of this strange pro- ceeding. The young man who last entered turned towards the other three and.said, in low tones, ‘You can recognise me, I fancy ?” “ We can, sir,” they replied. ‘“‘Then, away with you for the present !” They all turned on their heels and walked away without another word. They were none other than Joe, Bob, and another waterman’s apprentice ! Ivan the Terrible, however, being in a state of furious drunkenness, was not disposed to let the intruders depart without informing them of his kingly authority in the house. “ Here, what do you fellows mean by shoving your noses into the room in this style? I'll soon teach you better man- ners !” he cried, staggering out into the passage after them. The man who had ordered the others to depart turned sharply round and faced the drunkard, It was Darby ! There was an unflinching boldness in the young man’s looks that caused Ivan, bold as he was, to hesitate for a few minutes. ‘' , “Now, then, bully, what: is it?” demanded the young stranger. : ; The only reply of Ivan was a straightforward blow, which, if it had taken effect, would have ended the dispute at once. The stranger, however, parried it in such a skilful manner that not only did he escape unharmed, but one of the Forgers received a severe blow on the shoulder, “What now, bully?” he repeated. “Rot his carcase ! let me get at him !’”’ roared the butcher. “No, no; I don’t want anybody to fight my battles,” cried Ivan, now furious, throwing off his coat. as All in the room began to prepare to witness a conflict with that strange eagerness which Britons take in pugilistic en- counters, é Tables and chairs were hastily pushed against the walls to be out of the way. - “What do youcome here for ?’’ roared Ivan, in terrible tones of anger. a That's no business of yours,’ replied Darby, “Can you fight?” said Ivan. “ A little,” said Darby, with a smile, “We do a little in the wrestling line where I come from,” said Ivan, ' Bo do wwe,” replied Darby, with unmoved countenance, Half intoxicated, and confident in his own brutal strength, Ivan sprang upon the young man, who was not nearly so tall or burly as himself, p Putting forth all his power, he endeavoured to throw arby. ~_-—— en TERRIBLE. 149 He might as well have tried to move a young oak tree for all the effect his efforts produced on the stran ge young man, After a few moments Ivan partly ceased in his efforts, and, at that moment, the youthful stranger gave Ivan, the Tap- Room King, a sudden twist that threw him on his back so heavily that the whole room shook again. *“ That’s foul play,” bellowed the butcher, ‘You lie !” replied the young stranger, in tones so stern that se butcher sunk down into his seat again without another word, The unknown then once more quitted the room, followed by the other three, who had returned at the first sound of a quarrel, Ivan, moaning, was lifted up by some of his friends and thrown, without much ceremony, on the long table. “Has he broke any bones?” demanded the landlord, “No, he hasn’t,” said the butcher. ‘I ain’t so certain about that,” said another of the party. “Just you shut up! Ifancy I ought to know something about bones as well as meat.” ““ More about bones than meat,” cried the landlord, “What the devil do you mean?”’ “Why, whenever you send me a joint, there’s more bones than meat, that’s all.” A loud laugh sounded round the tap-room at this sally, and the butcher looked as though he would like to pole-axe the whole company. “ You just mind your own joints next time you come to my shop, will you ?” “ Just see if King Ivan has any bones broken, and don’t be So quarrelsome,” The butcher, then, with no very gentle hand, examined the senseless tap-room king, his face assuming a look of knowledge and professional importance quite laughable to behold. “ Hind legs all right, fore legs all right, so is his neck, and back, and loins, I could cut him up beautifully.” “What shall we do to bring him to his senses?” ‘Just pour a glass of brandy into his mouth, and hold his nose.” This was done, and as the drunkard could only choke or revive, Nature, choosing the latter, caused him to re-open his eyes. The sudden shock perfectly sobered Ivan, He never expected for a moment that the young man who had proved so expert would have dared to wrestle or fight with him. With aloud and angry oath he rose to his feet, looking more like a demon than a man. Snatching up a sword that hung on the wall, he rushed out of the room into the dark street, intent on slaying his mys- terious and suspicious visitors. At his heels he was followed by the whole of those present, who were delighted at the prospect of a sanguinary duel in the streets, CHAPTER LXXYV, NAT FATHOM IN PRISON—PLANS FOR ESCAPE—HIS QUAR- RELSOME OLD MOTHER, . CHIEF among those who had taken part with the Apprentices in their desperate fight with Ivan and the forgers was Nat Fathom. Nat hated Ivan so intensely that he was always prepared for a fight with the King of the Forge. He therefore took sides with Will Wintet’s party, not so much out of any sense of right, but from pure mischief, But when the battle was over Nat fell into his old habits of drink, and was arrested without much difficulty and cast into ‘gaol, ' : One of his men, however, had heard of Nat’s misfortune in being arrested while drunk, and resolved on attempting a rescue, or assist in his escape, How this was managed we will shortly see. Nat Fathom was not by any means placed in the most un- comfortable part of the prison amy iA) \C DOO KS..cOn ~ awe tT om