Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 215: what you’re looking at

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

IVAN once upon a time your father and his father had dealings ‘to- gether.” _ “Tndeed |” said all. a ; It cannot be possible !”” said the king, surprised, _“ But it is possible, your majesty,” said Rochester, with a smile, and to prove it, hear me.” All were silent, and Rochester thus began :— _“A bluff-looking person, named Lawson, stood at his’ inn oor, gazing down the hill-side road at what appeared to be a body of troops.approaching,. Wil _ His wife and daughters had left him sevetal days before, and save a faithful negro servant, no one was with him, “He knew that the Royalists had retreated from Worcester _ aiter the disastrous battle there, and that a heavy force of Roundheads, under Cromwell, were in pursuit, and antici- _ pating little mercy at their hands, he had wisely sent’ his _ family and much of his most yaluable live stock far into the country, feeling assured that upon the arrival of the enemy, they would insult the first-named, or begin to slaughter the latter without let or hindrance, , “Having, therefore, made some slight preparation for the coming of the Roundheads, he stood at his door in a com- paauvely good-humoured frame of mind, fully conscious . at they could harm him but little as to cattle, and feeling unbounded confidence in himself as to his ability to escape at ace Md. i all bodily harm at the hands of all comers. — | “With pipe in mouth, therefore, he leaned against the door- post of his comfortable roadside inn, intently gazing at the ’ glow and tedious march of the comers, winding their way along the dusty roads, with long] ines of white canvass-covered wagegons spreading through the landscape. - _ Looking up at the sun, and stoically puffing his pipe, he h Las to his negro servant, standing but a few feet behind ~ lt, . | “Bob, what do you make of ’em, eh?” _ _ “*Dat’s dem, massa,’ answered Bob, sorrowfully ; ‘ dat’s _ dem, massa, sure. I tole yer dey warn’t far off. I see’em dis mornin’ about daybreak break up deir camps away down at Miller’s Farm, on de river bank, an’ I gallops off for hum, @8 quick as lightnin’, for, says I, ““dem’s de Roundheads,” _ says I, “and dey won’t be long ’fore dey is at massa’s place, playin’ de debil an’ all.” SoT pnts off almighty smart like, to tell yer on it; and so here dey is, and no foolin’ about it. And dey do say dey are all Forgers now comin’,’ 3 “Well, let .’em come, Bob,’ said Lawson, indifferently. ‘They can’t steal much, that’s certain. We have sent off all the cattle that are worth anything, most of the furniture has _ gone also, and I think we can manage to take care of omnr- _ Bgelves if we only keep a still tongue in our heads, What do you think, Bob ?” __ “ ‘Dey can’t do much to dis ’ere chicken, I guess, if J knows myself,” answered Bob, ‘“ only let me tell you one ting, massa,” @ontinued he, ‘folks doesn’t know what I zs yet, massa. Here - Comes de Roundheads, and don’t you fear, massa, Let ’em __ Bay or do whatever dey is a mind,’ — 6 Are the guns loaded ?’ : .- ; “*-Yes, massa, dey is all fixed right, and I put ’em in de lorf corner of de corn fiel’, kase dey wouldn't let ye have ’em, yer know, if dey was foun’ in de house. Your mare is saddled an’ stan’s in de wood, close ag’inst de corn-fiel’ corner, an’ 80 is de young colt, so dat if we has to “put out,” we has ebery- ting “cut an’ dried,” yer know, massa.’ + While this conversation continued between master and geryant, the advance of the Rounhead line of march had gradually approached the house, at the door of which Lawson very quietly sat smoking. _ Within a few moments, a squadron of cavalry began to ascend the hill, and approaching, dismounted to water their _ dusty and thirsty horses at the Bare near. the roadside inn. Perceiving Lawson very much at his ease, the commandant _ Of the party cantered towards him, and opened conversation, ““* How long have the Cavaliers passed here ?’ “¢ Ton’t know.’ “How many men had they?’ “'¢ Can't say,” : ; “Tow many guns, then? Perhaps you weren’t asleep all the time ?’ THE. TERRIBLE. “* Didn't take notice,’ “ The commandant looked angry, and turned away. ‘‘ Lawson puffed his pipe as coolly as ever, “Guess you fixed ’ém dat time,’ said Bob, chuckling at his master’s coolness and indifference. ‘Dey isn’t gwine to get much out on you, massa,’ continued he, laughing; ‘but who is dis crowd comin’ up de road?’ asked Bob, suddenly, as a party of horsemen approached. “*They are some of the officers,’ answered Lawson, very coolly, ‘A general or two, I shouldn’t wonder. Wouldn’t be-surprised if they quartered themselves on us to-night, Bob.’ ‘He had scarcely spoken, when the party of horsemen ap- ‘proached, te : ‘ “ One of them dismounted, and unceremoniously entered the int, and said, | ““* Nigger, where’s the master ?”’ | “¢ Mister Lawson am here, sar,’ answered Bob, politely bowing, and pointing to his master. | ‘6 Oh; ‘that’s him, eh?’ You own this place?’ asked the chief officer of the farmer and innkeeper, who still continued to smoke on, as if nothing had occurred. “* Yes, I believe so. What’s wanted ?’ ; a's We expect to halt near here, this evening, and I should like to make my head-quarters here for the night.’ . “* Suppose 80. Hope you’ve brought along with you a bed, and something to eat, for there’s neither of them things in my house.” Mi pe ‘Not a bed?’ asked the dusty colonel, with astonishment and a comical look of disappointment, ‘Not a bed, say you?’ _ “© Only one, and I always.use that. Sorry to disappoint you. Times is hard, now-a-days; poor folks can’t afford many luxuries, you know, There’s a capital house about ten miles farther on the road, general, Your horse is good, and can carry you before sunset, Lots to eat, and capital beds, all feathers |’ : “4 “ Oh, you Aave one bed, then, eh? Well, ’mnoé particular. That will do for me, George!’ called he, addressing his ser- vant, who was 4 negro also, “you need not go any further. The troops will soon halt.. Itake up my quarters here for the night. See that all things are made comfortable by my return.’ “The officer and his staff then galloped onward, and in about an hour the troop and waggons had crossed the hill- top, and at sunset their numerous camp fires dotted the valley below, twinkling in the twilight with all the brillianey and brightness of lustrous stars, “During the colonel’s absence, Bob and the officer’s servant became very thick, and the secrets of their masters were freely exchanged by both~sable individuals, the officer’s © negro trying to seduce Bob from home, and dilating with much warmth on the beauties and grandeur of being a Round- head free man. _. “ Bob said that he didn’t much care who ruled the land, and chose to remain with Mr, Lawson as servant, for he had been born in the family, and lived like a member of it all his life, and had no temptation to leave it. “‘¢ So de kernal is rich, is he?’.-thought Bob, digging potatoes in the garden for his master’s supper, ‘an’ de pay master is rich too, and is goin’ to stay here wid de odder folks, Wonder how much money dere is in de whole party.’ : ‘Bustling about with great apparent industry, Bob went first into one room and then into another, using his eyes to the very best advantage, and discovered that the pay master, com- missary, and others of the Roundheads, had unceremoniously occupied rooms, and had thrown their blankets, bags, &c., in different parts of the house, ““¢Took here, Massa Lawson,’ said Bob, approaching his master indignantly, after having put a smoking hot supper upon the table, ‘look here, massa, dem folks are carryin’ off all your hay and corn, and ’kase I said dey mustn’t do it, one feller slaps me side de head.’ ‘“ Lawson immediately rose and went forth to enquire into tho matter. . “‘*T might as well be paid for it as not,’ thought he, ‘and if I’m not on the spot they'll be sure to swear none of their offi- cers did it. I’ve hearn o’ their games afore, down at Worces- ter.’ CORNICE NOOKS.CORN 211