Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 162: what you’re looking at

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

158 river, followed by Blue- Jacket and Red-Jacket, who bore the insensivle body of Ivan between them, “This way! this way !”” he said ; “the boat is in readiness, and in the care of several watermen’ S apprentices, or we are lost! The Forgers are up in atms, and have dis- covered us, One more street to traverse and ‘all is safe. Quick, quick, for your lives! the band of ruffians have entered the street, and are now at your heels, Quick, quick! or we are lost i CHAPTER: LXXVIII. NAT FATHOM’S PURSUERS ON THE WRONG SCENT—SHARKEY CAPTURED AND SENT TO PRISON, AND HOW HE MANAGED TO ESCAPE, WHEN Nat Fathom found that the stranger who so suddenly confronted him in the governor’s garden was none other than Sharkey he felt delighted.: “Got the girl, Nat 7” ‘sc Yes. ” ‘‘ Bravo, old pal !” “Por Heaven’s sake take her, Sharkey, Iam so done up I can scarcely move one leg before another,” “But you must, Nat,” “Why s so ?” , “ Because, if I’m not mistaken, all the gaol is alarmed and they will be after us on horse or otherwise in less than two “mainutes,”’ “The devil!” growled Nat. True as fate, Nat. I hear ’em now.’ “‘ Have you got a horse?” “Yes, two.” ‘©That’s the trick, old pal; then we are all right as nine- pence... But what shall we do for a third, Sharkey ?” ‘“Do without one.” “ What do you mean ?” ‘You neyer mind ; the two horses are standing under the shadow of yonder hedge, so if you take my. advice, Nat, you'll be off at once,” While Sharkey. spoke thus the gaol gates were thrown wide open, and a large body of officers rushed out well armed. ‘4 Quick, Nat, “quick ! !” said Snarkey, ‘‘ There ain’t a moment to lose.” With much difficulty Sharkey forced Nat along to the horse that stood in waiting, and in a few moments he had the great pleasure to see the rescued girl and her deliverer mount and gallop away at full speed. “That’s just what I wanted,” said Sharkey. “And now I'll stop the officers and delay them as much as I can.” So saying, Sharkey turned down the road towards the gaol, and began to whistle on unconcernedly as if he knew nothing at all about the matter. bs Iie had net gone many yards when the officers perceived im, They raised a loud shout of triumph. ‘Here he is !—here he is |” ) “* Found !—found !” “ Hurrah !—bravo !”’ ‘This way !—this way |” “We've got him !—we’ve got him |” Sucn were the shouts raised on every hand. ‘* Surrender .!—surrender |” some cried, long before they came within fifty yards of Sharkey. “Shoot him !—shoot him, if he resists! cried others, running forward towards him ina very hasty and boisterous manner, ‘ Oh t spaxe him !—don't spane him | nal |” “ Tt’s Nat Fathom, hold him fast 1” He’s a great ori: Just as Sharkey had supposed, the officers imagined for a moment that they had really captured the runaway. prisoner. Instead, of going further in their search, therefore, they | turned round, and all yan towards Sharkey, who stood gtock - still in the middle of the road. ).8ome of the officers, not for a moment doubting that it, really was Nat Fathom, and knowing him to be a Veny des- perate man, appeared afraid to approach him, This way ; quick, this way,. IVAN THE TERRIBLE. In their fright and cowardice they levelled inate muskets and pistols, and fired. Sharkey perceived their intentions, and dropped to. the ground groaning. The volley of shot passed over him harmlessly ; but he pre- tended to be grievously wounded, and moaned and groaned loudl The. officers rushed upon him with a loud shout of j joy and triumph. ‘We've got him !—we’ve got him!” . “ This way !—this way |” “ Here he is, dead asa door nail,” said the offtcegs; crowding around him, “ Well, you'll excuse me, ‘gents, but I thinks as now all on ye are werry much much mistaken.” “ Not dead ?” said several. ‘Not wounded?” others exclaimed. ‘No ; not dead nor wounded neither,” said Sharkey, sit ing on his back and looking around him with a very comical expression of face; “and more nor that, gents, I should feel werry sorry indeed if I was.; but, then, you see, I isn’t.” “But we have got you, ‘at all events, you black-looking rascal.” “Got him? Got who?” said Sharkey, robbing his eyes. “You ig werry compl imental, it strikes me.” “ But you are the runaway, ‘at all events,” said one, ‘The what?” ne “The runaway,” : ate “ That ain’t my name.” “ But Nat Fathom is,” ‘‘ Nat Fathom ?” «“ Aye, Nat Fathom ; it’s no use of you tyne, to gammon us, my sharp fellow, clever as you are.’ “Nat Fathom ? Why I never heard of him.” “ You lie!” said the chief officer. “\\e’ll hive no more of your d——d humbug, so jump up and ci wl t) the gaol.” “But what have Z done?” said Shark y, w.ih all the imno- ~ cence in the world. “Lain’t Nat Fathom cr N x anything else. Never heard of him in all my life ; on my soil I never did. = “ T think there must be some mistake here, sir,” said one of the night watch to the chief officer. ‘* And I thinks so too,” said Sharkey. “You can search me, or do anything you like ; but, on the word of a good and true gentleman, an which Li is, I can assure you I’m an honest chap, as honest as ever-was born’d.” . “Ab! that’s what you say; but if you haven't a thief's: face I’m not an officer, that’s all.” “This fellow is not. the one we are in search, " said « one, speaking to the chiéf officer. ‘It may be so; but these famous scoundrels have so many . disguises that we must not belieye this vagabond even on. his oath. Take him to the gaol, and Jet him be examined.” ‘And shall we continue in the search, sir 2” “Yes,” said the chief officer. ie Search, sir, search ?” said Sharkey, reflecting a montent, ‘Has any one escaped out of the gaol ?” “Yes, Have you seen anybody on the road ” | - “Me?” said Sharkey, all the time délaying the officers in the pursuit until Nat Fathom had got far away. “Me, sir?” VCR FOUL, . es Well; if you describe the party then I might tell whether I have or not, for I have seen a good many. on this road to- night.” “ Well, then, have you ‘seen Nat Fathom ?” ‘How was he dressed, sir ?” ‘Why, like a vagabond, ” said the chief officer, : thief ! a cut-throat vagabond |” “Oh, yes; I thinks [ saw one, not more than ‘alt an hour “Ago, go towards. London on foot,” sai Sharkey, pointing in | the direction taken by Nat and the (2509 Neat ines “To London on foot, and only half an hour Since, sae BY. T fave at) afi ite W Yes,” ' : teh ; “ And with a young woman?” ; “Oh! that makes all the difference,” said Sharkey, Be oes it, fool?” hy, this way, mister, If you is looking for a cha oyanike SOO iS bé “Like a. with, om ‘