Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 208: what you’re looking at

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

IVAN “‘ Why this ; to inform the earl of Ivan’s intentions, get a large reward, and then leave the country.” “Tt isn’t a bad idea.” ‘‘No; and considering how shabby Ivan has served us, I don’t know but what we might do it out of revenge.” ‘“Yes; but we are watched, both by Ivan and Blue-Jacket’s men.” “ Oh, I don’t care so much about Ivan’s men as I do for the Fly-by-Night’s, for they are the very devil. It is a good thing they have never suspected this house on the moor, or it would have been burnt to the ground long ago,”’ The conversation between Blue-Jacket and the old mur- deress was continued more or less for a few moments, when the old she-devil—if we may so call her—fell fast asleep. Her breathing was hard, and a wheezing, rattling sound issued from her throat. So well bad the highwayman counterfeited her husband’s voice, that, half-sleepy as she was, she never for a moment dreamed that the person she was conversing with was an im- postor, and one of the greatest enemies that had ever entered under her roof, “T am sorry,” said Blue-Jacket to himself, “that I did not _ pump out of her where they are in the habit of depositing their plunder. I dare say they must have a good quantity secreted somewhere hereabouts. Let me see,’’ he mused, “some people when fast asleep, if spoken to, will answer questions as correctly as if wide awake. I never tried the experiment yet, but egad, I think I will now, Let me see first that she is fast asleep, though, and not ‘foxing.’ ” So saying, Blue-Jacket rose from his seat, and peeped into the small bed-room. There could not be a doubt that she was fast asleep, so he said, in a low tone, “ Wife.” sh 2"! AO Wiles? eWell.: : “‘ Where shall we deposit the booty ? Shall we make a fresh lace ?” ati Fresh place ? No. What do you want a fresh place for? Is it to blind me, eh?” ~ “Oh, no,” said Blue-Jacket, laughing to think that the old woman was divulging all her secrets in sleep. “Well, then, why don’t you hide all his jewellery and trinkets with the others, beneath the stone ?” ‘¢ Stone ?/—what stone 2?” ‘““Why, the mile-stone, stupid, that stands a little beyond our front door, on the other side of the road.”’ “Oh, the mile-stone, eh?”’ said Blue-Jacket, with a low chuckle. ‘‘Whothe devil would ever have dreamed of such a place \ But there is too much there already,” said he, half aloud. ‘No there isn’t, stupid. There ain’t half enough yet. - Per- haps you want to divide the plunder there, as you have often threatened, among you and the other two, and then run away and leave me penniless, to starve?” “Oh, oh !” said Blue-Jacket to himself. ‘I find that they have a large amount of goods concealed about this place, and will make it my business, as soon as possible, to visit it again, and clean the whole place ont.” While thus he thought, the old woman fell off into pro- found slumber again. In a few moments the unknown man appeated, looking dirty and grimy. ‘What have you done with them?” asked Blue-Jacket. “‘T have secured them in a deep, damp cellar, and fastened each of them to the wall with stout ropes and cords,” ‘‘ There to let them die?” “Yes, and to rot. They have served my purpose before now, but they were becoming dangerous, and to rid myself of them I have watched all their actions for weeks past, and at last they have attempted to do that which I, the Terror of the Moor, forbade them to do, under penalty of death.” “What, you alone and unaided, secured those three villains ?” Yes.” Blue-Jacket was filled with amazement, but he said, 204 THE TERRIBLE. “What do you propose to do now?” Sonech the Fete and having discovered all its treasures, and secured them, burn down the house to the ground,” * “With its inmates ?” Yes,” “ But you know the woman is not secured ?” | “Ido. Iheard you speaking to her, and very well indeed you counterfeited her husband's voice.” ‘In her sleep she answered many questions, and told me of many things.” ; : ‘Did she mention in her ramblings anything concerning me?” “ She did not.” “Speak of treasures ?” “ Yes,”’ ~ “Where ?” “Since you have been my friend in saving my life, I think I dare trust you with that secret ?” said Blue-Jacket, _ ‘““You may, Where is it?” ‘‘ Beneath the mile-stone.” 66 Ah \”? ‘6 Veg”? “Then they still keep to their old plans ?” ‘““What are those?” . ‘‘Why, for years they have been cut-throats and thieves, and always made it a rule to conceal their booty until wanted beneath the nearest mile-stone, for that was considered to be the safest place.” ‘“Indeed ! You surprise me.” “Tt need not, for it has proved to them the very best pos- ‘sible plan.” * “In what way?” “ Why, this: whatever they do—or at least most of their villanous transactions—have been done on the moor, or on the king’s highway. Now, as they have always concealed their plunder away from the house, the officers of justice have never been able to trace any missing property to the ‘Red House,’ . although it has been searched dozens of times.” “Then they are rich?” “They are; more so than one could suppose. There is scarcely a mile-stone within twenty miles around this moor but has treasures concealed beneath it.” ‘‘ And what do you propose doing ?” “Dig around every stone I suspect, and secure the spoil. We will go halves.” 2 ‘‘ Agreed ; but we must secure the old woman,” “ Leave that to me.” So saying, the Unknown approached the little side bed- room, and listened, The wife was snoring loudly. , The Unknown locked the door on the outside, and pad- locked it firmly, | “There, she cannot get out,’ he said, “for there are no windows but what are firmly secured with iron bars, Come, let us to work ; we will search the house from top to bottom first, and then——” ‘‘ Are the back and side doors firmly secured ?” * They:are:” “Then, to work,” said Blue-Jacket, out all it contains.” So saying, Blue-Jacket and his unknown friend began operations in the house by looking into all the old cupboards. Several well-filled purses were found, and many articles of gold and silver ware. While quietly engaged in their search, both the robbers were startled by suddenly hearing three heavy and distinct raps upon the front door ! They blew out their lights, ceased their work, and listened, but spoke not. « We will soon find ‘CHAPTER XCVII. é; THE ATTACK ON THE ‘* RED HOUSE.” BANG, bang, bang! went the heayy blows upon the door a second time, (e(oaayicel oyvooy KS com e