Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 216: what you’re looking at

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

IVAN “Bob followed his master jinto the fields and was present during the altercation between Lawson and tke quarter master of the Roundheads. “The farmer expostulated, but could obtain no satisfaction or payment for the hay or corn. “¢ You are anold Royalist, Lawson,’ said the quarter master, ‘and ought to be thankful we don’t put you in prison or hang ou!’ | ‘«‘ Well,’ thought the farmer, as he turned his steps towards the house again, ‘he’s rather a cool kind of gentleman, and no mistake. I haven’t any leaning for the Roundheads, it is true, yet haven’t injured them in anything ; and although I want to steer clear of both parties, it seems they won’t let me. 212 THE Now, the Royalists did pay me for all they took, and although ~ their paper notes ain’t worth much, perhaps, yet it’s more nor . can be said of these here Roundheads.’ “ Lawson had not left his house more than a few minutes ere a party of straggling soldiers entered. and helped them- selves to everything they fancied, and almost stripped it of what little remained of bedding, clothing, furniture, cooking utensils, &c., for no guards had yet been placed around the colonel’s quarters. ' “The garden, also barns, out-houses, and offices, were ransacked for plunder, until not a solitary chicken or turkey remained ; and, to crown all, when the farmer returned to supper, he discovered it had already been eaten by a sturdy fellow whom he had just passed, and observed to be picking his teeth on the road. ““The-place was literally and as completely despoiled as if a swarm of locusts had visited it. ‘‘T,awson was astonished, and Bob rolled his eyes in wonder. “¢ Well, if this is the kind of protection the Roundheads give,’ thought the master, ‘I certainly shall not be much of an advocate of theirs, that’s certain. Well, we must put up with it, Bob; we must be off early in the morning, we can’t stay here any longer. Remember, as before, we are all for the Commonwealth ; mind, don’t forget !’ he said, smiling. ‘“ Within a short time the colonel, paymaster, and com- missary returned, after seeing the regiment comfortably camped for the night; but were in a terrible rage to find there was nothing to eat. “Supposing that a farmer and innkeeper would be more likely to have a greater variety of eatables and drinkables than is usually found among troops on a march, they had re- fused several invitations from brother officers to stop and sup with them, feeling confidant in finding good entertainment at the hands of Mr. Lawson. ‘““The trio of officers were indignant, and would not believe that their own troops had despoiled the place of everything, and flatly swore that Lawson was a Royalist and deserved hanging |! “They were obliged to make the most of things as they were, and the colonel politely told the farmer ‘he might consider himself under arrest.’ “Well, if Iam under arrest,’ thought Lawson, ‘I might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb, 80 let ’em all look out, big and grand as they are |’ “The paymaster and commissary in an off-hand style threw pee blankets upon the floor, and were soon asleep before the fire. ‘The colonel was also tired, and ordered Bob to show him up to the bed-room. ‘‘ Where’s your master been all the evening ? Did you make up a fire in the room?’ “ Bob had made the fire, but didn’t know where his master was. “When the colonel entered the room, he discovered Lawson to be in bed, “* Well, that is cool of you, certainly, sir,’ said the officer in a rage ‘didn’t I distinctly tell you that J was going to occupy that bed? Come, get up, sir, and think yourself lucky I haven’t placed you under guard !’ “Lawson rose slowly, grumbling much, and muttering all manner of things, “He gave as an excuse that ‘he didn’t think the bed was good enough for the colonel,’ &c,, but out of revenge he coolly gat down before the fire, and shut out most of the heat from TERRIBLE. the officer, who had placed: his pistols under the pillow, and was now comfortably nestling beneath the clothes, | “Lawson wished to make up the fire afresh, but the colonel insisted upon it being put out, so that the farmer was obliged to sit in the cold, and didn’t seem to like it. . “When the colonel was asleep, and the night had become very frosty and biting, Lawson called him very loudly and he awoke in great anger, : ee ‘“¢ Were you ever vaccinated, colonel?’ was the question, put in a long, drawling style. : re “Ts that what you woke me for, you old Royalist, to ask me if I was ever vaccinated? I have a good mind to call in the guard, and turn you out of the house altogether. Of course I’ve been vaccinated—why, you silly old fool ?” “Oh, I'm mighty glad to hear it. J wasn’t, you see, and so I caught the small-pox about a month ago, and only got out of that there bed three days since.’ - “ ‘This bed 7’ asked the colonel, sitting bolt upright. ‘You don’t mean to sayithis bed ?’ . “Yes, but I do though —that very bed, and the sheets hayen’t been changed ever since, so I thought I'd ask if you’d ever been vaccinated or not.’ icf “The colonel groaned, and in despair hastily rose from his comfortable bed, and walked about the room, which was now ~ very cold from the want of fire. | etal “As Tye already had the small-pox, the bed won?t hurt me. By your leave, colonel,’ said. Lawson, with admirable imperturbability, and without further ceremony crawle 1 into® bed again, giving sundry self-congratulatory coughs as he snugly adjusted the bed-clothes about him. ng, “¢ Got him that shot, I think,’ said the farmer, beneath his breath. ‘He’s too good-looking to stand that sort of fire.” ‘In truth the colonel was good-looking, and-young, but evidently an upstart, and not qualified for his position. = “He was terribly afraid of small-pox, and fancied himself ill even then. pra and commissary in an adjoining room, and told them of what Lawson had said. cer wy “Bob being informed, confirmed what his master had affirmed, but could scarce refrain from laughing at Lawson’s coolness, for while the three officers looked annoyed and troubled, the farmer was snoring loudly and inharmoniously, “ The colonel had scarcely improvised a bed on the floor with the paymaster and commissary, ere_shots were heard in the direction of the camps, and drums began to beat with great vigour and fury. ae “The three officers rose, and listened attentively, 2 “Oh! it is nothing, you may rely npon it. It is onl some half-frightened soldier who has fired off his gun,’ said the colonel. . *‘ Despite all he could say to the contrary, the paymaster and commissary hastily dressed and mounted, and trotted off in the darkness towards the regiment, leaving the colonel alone, and feeling very well contented with his share of the blankets, “ “ Now’s de time, massa,’ said Bob, waking his master,. ‘I stole off to the Red House on the Moor, and tole your friends. how things was. They have come down on the Roundhead outposts, and dey is all scared. Now’s de time for us to slope.’ ‘It was impossible for Lawson to leave the house, how- ever, without the countersign ; but this Bob secured, by hiding near the sentries. “ «Tf we could only purloin the colonel’s uniform,’ thought — the farmer, ‘all would be right.’ “This was soon effected by Bob, who, stealing into the room, perceived the colonel fast asleep and the clothes ona chair, “They were taken in a trice, and Lawson was soon buttoned up in them, and strode along the passage with clanking spurs as importantly as if a field-marshal. aa ‘‘ Bob, for his share of the plunder, had secured the pay- master’s saddle-bags, with which he quietly stole through the garden to where the horses were tied in a copse in the corn- field corner, “ He soon returned, GComichoo () <Si€om : “ ae. ‘ Annoyed from” varieus causes, he woke the paymaster, — 7