Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 214: what you’re looking at

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

IVAN ‘THE know you don’t take sides against us that I’ve told you all about it,” “Tis well you did. asked, mysteriously.” “ Aye, sir; every one.” “ Are they apt?” “They are ready at any moment.” “Are you sure ?”’ i“ I am.”? “Has Lieutenant Jolliffe any notion of how things are going on board ?”’ “Not the slightest ; I am sure of it,” | *f What proof have you?” . “Why, sir, when he came on his watch last night I heard him praising the ship’s crew, and said he didn’t believe there Wag a Single discontented man on board except——”’ Except you, sir |” a “ Me)” ‘6 Yes! Ivan did not reply, but was about to walk away, when he said, in a whisper, | | ‘We can soon rid ourselves of Jolliffe if all the men are true.” “They are, sir, every man.” _ How long is it until his watch?” About half an hour,” “Do you lower a boat astern before he comes on deck, and have half-a-dozen good men at hand for what may happen,” “TJ will,” “Watch me, two men may fall into the water. ° Mark ye, 210 Have you sounded all the men ?” Ivan two, perhaps, say, Youunderstand ?” “T do,” “Put off after us, and-pick the one up that will do you the most good.” “We will.” These two conspirators had scarcely ceased speaking when Lieutenant Jolliffe came on deck, : Ivan had walked aft, and did not wish it to be even’ sus- pected that he had had any conversation with the desperados, : called Long Tom, . Lieutenant Jolliffe, however, knew the character of all the men around him, but neyer for a moment dreamed that there was a dread conspiracy against him, . He knew, in truth, that Ivan was asuspicious sort of fellow, but as long as he obeyed orders properly he had no fault to find with him. : As it was, he knew that Ivan had mixed among the men much more than he should have done as a midshipman, and he also had a glimmering notion that the men generally, and by some manner or means he could not understand, had plenty of grog served out to them at unusual times, “ Well, Ivan,” said Jolliffe, as he walked on deck, ‘itis time for you to turn in.” “T know it, but I shall not go below yet.” “Why not?” “Because I cannot sleep.” ‘* What ails you?”’ ‘Oh, nothing in particular,” “ But I command you to go below |” * Command me, eh?” Ivan grinned, “and wherefore ?” “ Because you are too fond of remaining on deck and chat- ting to the men,” And if I am?” “Ts is conduct unbecoming an officer, You know that nearly every one of our crew are ‘pressed mén,’ and that,too much liberty of conduct might breed mischief,” * Breed mischief, lieutenant ?” laughed Ivan, talk like a child,” “I cannot allow such language from my subordinate officer, sir,’ the lieutenant gaid, angrily, ‘Go below, as you aro ordered, or I shall report you.” ! “T dare you |” ‘‘ Dare me ?”’ ‘Yes, you !” said Ivan, angrily. r How it happened, or by what means, no one ever knew but Iyan himself j yet, just at that moment, he and Lieutenant ‘‘ Why, you ~ TERRIBLE. Jolliffe had a momentary scuffle, and in asecond both tumbled overboard. : As the ship was under full sail, it had gone some distance ere the yards could be squared and the vessel brought up full in the wind. Meanwhile the cry arose on board, “ Officers overboard |” “ Lower the boat !” said one. “ Let Jolliffe drown |’’ said another. “ He’s a tyrant |” “‘ Save the middy !” oan But while Long Tom and his particular friends got into the — boat, a dreadful struggle was taking place between Lieutenant Jolliffe and Ivan. They struggled desperately in the water, but the flientenant, who was as good a swimmer as Ivan, did not much mind his ducking, and imagined that the whole affair had been purely accidental. | But as we have seen it was previously arranged by Ivan. ‘Let go, Ivan,” said Jolliffe, as he rose to the surface. “ Let go, or both of us willdrown. You are choking me, We shall miss the boat that is lowered for us.” | “One of us must die !”” gasped Ivan, on the top of a wave, “Help! Help!” shonted Jolliffe, struggling manfully in _ the water to get loose from his vengeful foe. At that moment the waves rolled, and Ivan was on the top of Jolliffe. In another moment he drew his dirk and plunged it into the bosom of the Lieutenant. : According to previoug arrangements, Long Tom and the other mutineers rescued Ivan, with the boat, and upon reach- ing the deck of the vessel he told a fictitious tale of Jolliffe’s death, and was himself installed as commander of the craft, — When he proposed to divide the booty, and sail away buc- caneering, the question was carried amid tumultuous ap- plause. “4 . z= . ~The booty was divided, and Ivan from that moment turned out a pirate on both land and water, whose dark deeds and changing fortunes if-is our pleasure to narrate in these pages, | CHAPTER GC, — LORD ROCHESTER’S STORY.’ BuT there were other things which Harry Percy heard at the masquerade beside the conspiracy against himself and Lizzie Ashton. While he and his fair companion were strolling in the beautiful gardens, when just about to depart for home, he heard strange footsteps approaching along a shady avenue, and from the sounds of yoices he imagined, and correctly also, that it might be the king himself and sundry nobles who had deigned to honour the pleasures of the place with their august presence, | In order not to be observed, and perhaps questioned, Harry gently pulled Lizzie Ashton out of sight into a small bower, while the royal party passed. a This was quickly done, but Harry’s surprise may be wel imagined when the king and his friends, instead of passin by, actually stopped outside the bower above mentioned, an seated themselves for a few moments’ rest, ; So that Harry and: Lizzie were not perceived in this place of concealment, neither much cared; but when the conversa- tion of the courtiers tumed upon-the subject of the ad- venturous Blue-Jacket and his companions, young Perey was breathless-with attention. 5 eth ie ‘And now, my Lord Rochester,” the king began, “itis your turn to favour the present company with a story; you haye often promised to tell:me of a certain adventure in which my father, his late majesty, King Charles, took part?)9 “And so I will, sire ; it concerns his late majesty truly, and as several have spoken of the name of Blue-Jacket, and of his doings, I will go further, and show you the truth of the proverb, ‘ Like father, like son,’ for be it known, sire, that Comicbookescom