Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 182: what you’re looking at

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

178 IVAN THE murdered in-cold blood, you know, when Iam going quietly about my business,” said my lord, timidly. __ ' ‘Then, if there’s so much danger, my lord, it’s worth more money,” replied one. of the men, winking to his companion. “Now, if we go for five shillings a-piece, of course it’s under- stood that we only do five shillings’ worth of fighting, whereas, for a sovereign, you know, we undertake to see you right through without harm, my lord.” ‘‘ Oh ! that’s charging too much altogether,” said the judge, pulling a long face. “Very good, my lord, of course you know your own value best ; if you think your life is only worth five shillings, why, then, all right. However, we don’t move out of the village under what I said, so the sooner you make up your mind the better.” ‘¢ Rxtortioner |!” muttered the judge. However, in a few seconds after he azreed to the demands of the men, well knowing that the recapture of Leonora Tempest was beyond all price to him. The men being satisfied, Judge Jefferies ordered a glass coach, and, having eaten a good dinner, felt himself tolerably courageous. | But, as it happened, the judge might, had he known the truth, have saved himself all this trouble and expense, for the gentleman who had compelled him to swallow his own parch- ments and warrant was now not more than*half-a-mile from the very place where the judge then was. However, not knowing this, the cunning judge thought it best to be on the safe side, albeit, when fairly on the road, his fears returned, despite the presence of his two stalwart guardians with him in the coach. The wind was now high and chilly, while, to add to the dis- comforts of his situation, a heavy driving rain set in which dashed against the windows of the coach as though the elements had a special spite against him. ~ The horse seemed alarmed, and, despite the coachman’s efforts to keep him in the road, it repeatedly swerved from the track, or endeavoured to make a retrograde movement. “This is a real stinger,’ remarked one of the villagers. ‘“‘T’m blest if it isn’t coming down a real pelter.” “It’s a—a—blessing we haven’t very far to go,’ said the judge, in stammering accents, “it’s enly eight miles alto- gether. But whatever is that driver about?” This exclamation or query was caused by the eccentric motion of the vehicle, which now, instead of rolling properly onwards, began to move rapidly backwards in consequence of the horse having taken a sudden idea into his head that it would be better for all parties if he returned homewards. | ‘‘T’m quite certain there’s something wrong,” continuéd the judge, while his face assumed a very chalky appearance. One of his escort at once let down the window, and thrust- ing his head out, bawled to the driver to know what was the reason of the delay. *‘T can’t make the horse go on,” exclaimgd the driver, who wag more than half-blinded by the driving showers of, rain that fell on his face and nearly deprived him of breath. “Why not?” demanded the judge. ‘What is the matter with the horse?” a ‘‘ He is frightened at something.” “ Whereabouts are we?” asked one of the villagers. *‘ Close to the old ruined house,” The judge gave a deep groan. The driver, however, did not feel disposed to give up the struggle with his horse though the animal became exceedingly restive, kicking -and plunging in such a violent manner as nearly to overturn the vehi¢le, and at the same time greatly unsettling the judge’s already somewhat shaken nerves. ‘‘Oh! for the sake of Heaven’s mercy, let me out,” he moaned, “I shall be killed! I’m certain the brute will kick the coach to pieces in a few minutes. Stop him, coachman, if you have any respect for a judge, or love for money.” The coachman felt both the love and the respect, but, was quite powerless to stop the frightened horse. The judge continued bawling, adding “murder!” to his ¥ to the ground among the mud and slush. other numerous cries, ‘Hold your confounded row,” ejaculaied one of the vil- i lagers who had alighted from init door | with a strange hollow sound. TERRIBLE. | . lagers, who had been looking out of the window, at the same time he unfastened the door of the coach. He found it no such easy matter to alight, however, was the violence of the storm. At length he accomplished the task, and eves to the horse’s head held the animal till the driver had alighted, _ The horse still continued to force himself backwards in spite of the judge’s threats and oaths, until, at length, he over- came his fright, or was out of sight of the cause of it, when he became more quiet and tractable. _ The judge had slipped down off his seat, and was lying on the floor of the vehicle when one of his escort made his ap- pearance at the door. “Tt's all right now,” said the man, with a quiet smile. “ But—but what was it that frightened him ?” “T don’t know. It is raining so that it’s impossible to see ‘a yard before one’s nose. If you have no objection.I’ll come into the carriage again.” | re So saying, the man was about to clamber into the vehicle when suddenly a heart-piercing, wild, uncouth, and scaring cry or scream rent the night air, and fell with strange cadence on their ears. : The villager drew back his foot and paused a moment, listening to the echoes that resounded am ongst the old ruins The judge now grew paler than ever, and -would willingly have resigned half his worldly wealth to find himself sitting once more in his own snug home. a ely Sata 4 For the first time for many a long year he tried to remem- ber a prayer, and muttered a few disjointed words in a terri~ fied and ludicrous manner. ij Lae | “ Por all good things this day (a cursed black night) let us be thankful (I can scarcely see a yardround me.) . Deliver us from all evil—and (T’ll have revenge for this).”” 5. “T see a light amongst the ruins, that’s what frightens the horse,’’ said one of the villagers, - xt : ‘A light? Oh! mercy! merey! I know who it is!” gasped my lord, in fright, | ‘Well, who isit? Anybody you want?” ‘“‘Tt’s the d——d highwayman again! I shall be cold meat in less than no time if he.sees me.” | “What highwayman?” . ! eas 0 xe. ' ‘“‘ Why the one who made me eat my own warrant—the man with the big penknife.” * ‘“Made you eat a warrant?—ha! ha! ha! must be joking, my lord.” : , ; ‘‘No, I don’t joke; I never joke with strangers. Besides, I assure you my stomach has been out of order ever since.” - The light seemed to alarm the horse very much, and in spite of all the driver’s coaxing and trying to urge him on, he such ! 4 Surely you ; refused to advance a step in the direction in which the judge wished him to go. : The rain still continuedjto fall in thick drenching showers, rendering it very disagreeable to put the head even outside the carriage doors, so that Judge Jefferies felt not very much pleased when the driver, advancing to the window, said, “Tt ain’t no use, sir, the ’oss won't go, and I can’t make him ; so, as.it ain’t more than a mile or two from London, the best thing will be for you to get out and walk there while I waits ’ere with the ’oss till youreturns.” .. . The judge, for many reasons, did not very much relish this proposition, and bitterly repented having left his own home ; recollecting that he might, had he thought of it, sent some- boy else. ‘ ‘Tf I must walk, I'll trouble you gentlemen to give me an arm each, for I don’t feel very strong this evening,’’ he said, to the two villagers. The two men could not help smiling, knowing full well that his weakness was produced by cowardice ; however, they made no remark, , a! Just as old Jefferies had contrived to scramble out from the coach to the ground, the same wild ery that had before alarmed him was heard again. . | wad The sound shook the judge’s nerves so horribly that he fell few moments:the vil: the vehicle EcpOOoKS.-com After lying in the wet and slush a in