Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 158: what you’re looking at

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

-IVAN THE 154 “Then he must have secured her well,’ “ He has,’ - “ Where?” ‘‘ Here.” ‘¢ Here ?”’ “Yes, in this prison.” “The devil !’’ said Nat, “ No, not the devil, Nat, but a pretty girl, and I was think- ing, you know, that——” “ And so was I, that we might as well help her out of these disagreeable lodgings, and let the poor little bird have her freedom again.” ‘Well,’ said Nat, “ those are just my sentiments, and I will. help you.” ‘“‘ Sharkey, you’re a true pal, and I always knowed it,” * And always will be, Nat.” “T knows that, Sharkey ; but where is this little divinity ? It ain’t likely we is agoing*to pull down all the place to find her,” “Not at all; it’s all easy enough,” “‘ Where is she locked up?” ‘“‘In a room in the governor’s house, just beside the old gate you were lugged through not many hours ago,” “Oh! ah! I knows it; but, then, you see, there are more watching that house than all the rest of the prison put together. Never mind, Sharkey, my lad, we must do it—like true men !”’ | ; | : While they thus conversed in whispers the sound of foot- steps was heard. . a Nat and Sharkey helped themselves liberally out of a skin bottle, which Sharkey had brought in full of liquor, Fearful that the officers might disturb them ere they had completed their arrangements, Nat seized hold on to the various implements which Sharkey had brought concealed under his petticoats. These consisted of a dark lantern, a small steel crowbar about sixteen inches long, a chisel, a centre-bit, and other housebreaking tools. How he had managed to conceal so many things about him and yet escape detection seemed wonderful. As he produced the articles, one by one, from under his petticoats Nat took them from him, quickly examined them, and, then, taking owt a brick or two from the back of the fire- grate, he hid them until such times as he wished to use them, “So far, so good,” said Nat, rnbbing his hands, “If day- . light don't see me far enough from ‘this queer old place, Tm ~ a liar, that’s all, Sharkey, my boy.” ae “That's what I always thought of you, Nat,” said Shas key, with an approving smile; “there ain’t many gaols-as can keep you long.” ** But about the outside, Sharkey ?” “Oh! that'll be all right enough; when the old clock ticks the hour of twelve, you may be sure and sartin Sharkey ain’t far from the outside wall, Nat.’ - “The rope and lead and all?” : “Jest so; and don't you forget the pretty little wench if you can, help it,” ‘Trust me,” said Nat, “ and if any o’ them chaps comes across—the prison guards, I means—and says ‘Stop! halt there |’ why, I'll let’em haye a taste o’ the crowbar, that’s all |” ‘ But I can do the thing better than that.” * How ?” ‘‘ Why, haye a pistol and sword or two, and bring some pals along wi’ me; if that’s all.” ‘No pals, Sharkey, my boy ; the more you bring the worse for all parties, The old governor is a sharp old file, and ean smell a mouse like winkin; he never goes to bed without going the rounds himself, mind you,” i nln then, I’ll be there outside when the clock strikes welve.” ‘Jest so; and bring a drop o” spirits with you, it'll be awful dry work boring holes through these walls.” ‘All right, and what I has to say werry particular, Nat, is jest this much —~” + “Come, old woman, time's up,” said an officer, suddenly thrusting his head in,” ‘rugs, you might catch cold.” “Tk com) TERRIBLE. In a moment Sharkey resumed his old ways, and imitated Nat’s mother to perfection, i Oe W at “Yes, yes, sir, I’m a comin’, ’m a comin’: but its werry, werry hard to part wi’ such a bootiful speciment of a dootiful son, which is the werry image of his dear departed parient, whose nose was as red as a full-blown rose in June, and——” “ Aye, aye! true enough, old woman ; but we can’t let you remain here any longer, time’s up. The night-watch are just going on duty, so we must bundle all visitors out at once.” With a great show of affection, and with much kissing and hugging on both sides, Nat Fathom parted with his mother, who tottered forth to the gate mumbling and) grumbling in high dudzéon at being thus unceremoniously parted from her most dutiful son. In half an hour afterwards Sharkey had changed his clothes, and was stretching his legs in an adjacent public-house en- joying himself. . Nat blubbered a great deal at first, but finding that none of the officers were within hearing he sucked very vigorously at the skim bottle of spirits, and whistled and sane alter- nately until night should set in, in order that he might com- mence operations, * -. GHAPTER LXXVL ESCAPE OF NAT FATHOM FROM PRISON WITH LEONORA TEMPESP—FEARFUL ENCOUNTER WITH THE GAOLUERS. WHILE Nat lay upon the floor before the dying embers of his wood fire, he was visited by the officers of the night-watch. “Oh, there you are, eh, Nat ?” said one, with a grim smile. “Yes, here Lis, and as comfortable as youplease.”- “Tt seems like it. But there’s no more fire allowed to- night, remember.” (BEA : ap es “had better wrap yourself up in your blankets and ‘Oh, how werry kind you is,” said Nat, with a broad gzin. ‘Well, all I can say is, the night will be very cold, and if you were to be taken ill, you know, why——” i ie ee Why, then, I should perhaps cheat the hangman, is that it, eh?” ; - ** Exactly, Nat. We shonldn’t like to cheat ourselves out of the pleasure of seeing you dangle from a tree.” “Or have my head chopped. off, is that it?” “Yes, either way would satisfy the vulgar mob, you know, Nat, for there would be a vast crowd come to see you.” ‘““ Lor’, now, you don’t say so?” — ‘Of course they> would, for I must certainly say, Mr. Fathows ‘that you are one of the gieatest’ scoundrels un- ung.” Sea. ts a eat so,” said Nat; “but, then, perhaps, you might miss it, eh ?” ; “ How miss it ?” “Why, I might take French leave, and——” ‘Ah, no fear of that, Nat. We know you of old, so good- night,” said the officer, casting his eye tound the cell. ‘“ You have far more comfortable quarters than many in here, Nat. You wouldn't have been put in this snug room at all ‘except we were pretty full, To-morrow night, however, you will be put in a dark dungeon if you stay with us,” Papin “ You don't say so?” verre , A tee Yes, but I do; I heard the governor say go this very night, He wants to take great care of you, you know,” said the officer, smiling, : ae, ‘“‘ How werry, werry kind 0’ him to think so much about me, isn’t it ?” SAT ae eee This was said with such a peculiar archness and dtollery that the officer laughed right out, and left Nat alone to his reflections. nN ‘* But it strikes me werry forcibly,” said Nat, with a smile, if fhe the kind old governor won’t have me here to-niorrow night,” Hours passed and yet Nat could hear somebody stirriag — and moving through the stoné passages; | i Ten was struck by the gaol clock, | Eboo <SSiGom ‘ . ,%