Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 160: what you’re looking at

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

156 IVAN sword described a circle in the air, warning them to keep ata distance. anet is ‘“Who are you, who dare enter the goyernor’s mansion 1 such a manner?” one replied. Nat laughed out aloud. ‘Dare is not the word, for I dare enter where I please. I am a man, and that is a title none of you can lay claim to !” “We shall see !’’ muttered the spokesman of the party. “But,” continued Nat Fathom, ‘let me ask, who are you who dare illtreat a defenceless, innocent girl, cowards and villains as you are ?”’ The men began to fancy that Nat Fathom was a coward, and that he wished to avoid fighting, They misunderstood his motives, however; he was only getting breathing time. They advanced suddenly towards him, but he had expectet their attack, Releasing his hold of Leonora’s waist, he placed himself on the defensive. Like an iron hailstorm their blades rattled against his but not astroke touched him, There were four of them, and Nat Fathom had onl his own, blade to depend on. The odds were fearfully against him, and splendid swords- man though he was, he felt himself scarcely equal to the task. Rapidly lowering his guard, he sent a straight thrust right into the stomach of one of his adversaries. With aloud scream, the man fell bleeding on the gravel walk, Three only remained, but even with this reduced number Nat Fathom knew that he was fearfully overmatched. But suddenly he received aid where least expected. During the conflict Leonora had been looking on with terror at the motions of her pursuers, though the combatants had been too busily engaged to note her actions, Just, however, as Nat, her protector, was beginning to grow weary, s#ie darted forward and caught up the rapier from the side of the man who was slain. “Tum to me, cowards!” she cried. ‘ We are now more evenly matched !” One of the assailants stared at her with surprise, and mechanically engaged with her. ~ ft Slight knowledge of fencing had she, but it was not skill that enabled her to take part.in the combat. It was the bewilderment of the ruffian she attacked, and the fire of resolution that gleamed in her eyes. There was no mistaking their expression; they meant death. A foe rapid passes, and her sword drank the ruffian’s heart’s blood. With a smothered groan he fell to the earth. ; One of the others incautiously glanced towards him as he ell. It was his last glance, for in a moment Nat Fathom’s sword passed through his breast, and without a sigh he fell, There now remained but one, and he, after exchanging a few more thrusts, hastily started back, and then turning fled as swiftly as possible towards the house, But the victor did not follow him; he was too busily en- gaged in opening the garden gate to take any notice of the flying ruffian, As he rushed through the gate with Leonora Tempest, he was met and challenged, Out of my path or die!” growled Nat, dashing forward. His anger turned to surprise and joy as he grasped the trusty hand of Sharkey. “Wy, fly, Nat.! Fly! The whole prison is alarmed and aroused! I'ly, or all is lost!” own CHAPTER LXXVII, FIGHT BETWEEN IVAN AND DARBY—TIMELY ARRIVAL OF BLUE-JACKET AND RED-JACKET—DESPERATE CONFLICT— DEFEAT AND CAPTURE OF IVAN, WHEN Ivan, furious and half crazy with drink, rushed out of the tap-room of the “ Raven,” sword in hand, and bent on ex- THE TERRIBLE, “minating all against whom he might stumble, he never bese ran sects of the character of the youth for whom he was in search, He well knew all the ins and outs of the narrow, filthy lanes and alley ways of the Forge. . With glaring eyes and teeth gritting horribly in rage, ne rushed forth like an escaped maniac. Those who had followed him were left far behind, nor could they tell in which direction the bold ruffian had fled. | : Ivan had not gone far, however, and was still running with all his might, filled with blind rage, when all at once he stumbled over some object, and fell with great violence among the mud and slush. “Damnation !” he roared. A quiet laugh was the only response to his groans and curses, Who it was Ivan did not know, nor could he imagine, It sounded very much like the voice of him who had thrown him go violently in the tap-room, but he could not tell for cer- tain. The worst of it was, that,in his fall, Ivan’s sword had whirled out of his hand, and, striking the hard stones, had broken close up to the hilt. ; In pain and anger, he, for a moment, remained where he was, almost stunned with his fall. “Who and what are ye,’ Ivan growled, “cowards as ye are?” “No coward, Ivan,” the voice answered, “but one who hates you bitterly.” “ Ah!” said the ruffian, “am I, then, entrapped ?” “No, Ivan, you are not entrapped, but you are caught.” “Caught ?” “ Aye, caught |” “ What mean ye?” . “Why, this, You are now far away from your murderous band, and will have to meet me single-handed.’ \ “Meet you? Who are you ?” “Not near so big or burly as the King of the Forge; yet, by my faith, a heart that fears not to encounter even as great a villain as thou art.” ‘Thy name, bold, rash youth ?” “ My name is Darby !” “ Darby ?” “Yes, Darby, Harry Percy’s groom.” “ What would you with me ?” ‘‘ Satisfaction—nersonal satisfaction for what you have done to me and mine,” “Then what have I done to thee? Surely, such a stripling as thou, art mad to seek me out here in the Forge, where scores of men are at my beck and call.” “That I know, Ivan; but let me tell thee, this encounter is an affair of ows, not of the Forgers, Alarm them not on your peril !” . “Ha! I smell treachery in the Forge, rash youth!” ‘Nay, Ivan, treachery is not intended, But, I tell thee again, you haye the choice of two things,” , ‘Of two things? What mean ye?” “ Hither to fight me or surrender yourself into the hands of justice.” : At these words Ivan laughed right out. “What am I dreaming,” he said, “that a beardless youth should dare thus insult me by speaking of personal combat or of judicial arrest? Foolish youth, get thee gone ; thou must be mad. You know me not, nor dream of the vast power I wield here, Remember I am King of the Iorge.” “Nay, Ivan, vain boasting is lost on me. We know who and what you are. Your doings in the Palace, with old Dreadnought, are not unknown to the London Apprentices, and to me.” aha “ Ah | say you so?” ‘‘ Nor are we ignorant of your assault on Percy House.” ‘*Go on, I hear,” said Ivan, now getting more enraged than eyer, ‘ What else ?—what more has Ivan done? Ha! ha! And a youth comes to arrest me! Ha, ha! Was there ever such a fool ?” ‘Not such a one as thou, Iyan, for dark, and ou must have been cEComicbooksseom