Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 223: what you’re looking at

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

IVAN THE Council of Apprentices resolved to go singly on their errand of vengeance, and each yowed not to return until he had satisfied it, Will Winter had chosen a river to watch, He thought that Ivan would not be bold enough to escape across the Thames from any much-frequented landing, But in this, as we have seen, he was much mistaken, for van had been in no very great hurry as to what spot he should or should not select for making his escape, _ Of all those who had sought the river, not one of the Council of Apprentices had seen and watched Ivan except young Frank, And he, as we have seen, was obliged to hide himself out of the reach of the great and ill-proportioned dangers which at the moment surrounded him. Will Winter remained for more than an hour by the river side without any result. “Tf I have missed him,” he thought, “there is but one re- source left tome. I will go and beard the lion in his den.” f Beslyed on doing something he espied a boat passing near o him, By the chorus of voices in it, he imagined, and correctly, that it was manned by a jolly crew of Apprentice Watermen, who might be returning from a frolic up the river. Ife hailed it, : The boat stopped, but did not pull in towards the’ shore, Will hailed it a second time, ‘Who are you?” ‘What do you want?” **Go to bed, tipsy idler, whoever you are,” ‘We are not going to ply a boat for you at such an hour,” These and similar were the remarks which greeted young Winter’s hailing, He could not but smile at the carelessness and happy-go- lucky style of language and manner of the young watermen in the boat, and so laughed right out, “If I thought you were making game of us, and hailed our boat for nothing, master,” said one of them grufily,.“‘ I’d get out and give you a deuced good thrashing for your pains,” * Aye, aye, and serve him right too,” said another, _ At any other time Will Winter might have taken it into his head to have a little fun with the young boatmen ere dis- closing himself, On the present occasion, however, he was bent on business, and that business meant mischief to some of the Forgers. He, therefore, drew his whistle, and signalled the boat in a manner that they quickly understood, for the head of the boat was immediately pointed in towards the shore where Winter stood, In a moment they had recognised who had hailed them, and several were loud in their apologies for the rough language they had used, I , “Where do you come from, lads, at this late hour?” Will asked, | “ Well, captain,” one remarked, “ our boat’s crew has been haying a race with some Apprentices’ boats below the old bridge, and ry ; ; ‘And we won,” said several in a breath, and with evident ride. - And,” said the first, “‘ all of us paddled over to the ‘ Mul- berry Tree’ gardens, and have been enjoying ourselves ever since.” ay. “ Werry sorry, captain, we spoke so gruff like, but we thought it were some lubberly landsman as wanted to make fun of us,”’ ” ‘Some Forger, perhaps,” said Will, laughing. ' “No fear of that, captain; none of Ivan’s cursed crew dare nigh us to-night.” j : ONO, t think ae - we are all ready for a fight to-night, if ever lads were,” said another. “And nothing would please you better than to try your mettle, man for man, with the Forgers,” said Will. ‘« Just so, captain, if there weren’t too many on ’em, you Ww,” PRR that’s just what I thought, and so I hailed you.” ‘«‘ Why, what’s up, captain ?” several asked, quiet and retired spot on the TERRIBLE. “Oh, nothing particular,” “Where are you bound for this time o’ night, captain ?” “Time o’ the morning, I think,” another said. “Well, my lads, you know who and what I am ?” ** Aye, true, captain.” * ‘f And you also know that I wouldn’t be out of bed with- out I had something particular to do in regard to the London Apprentices ?” “Yes, yes, captain, just so.” : “Well, then, my lads, if you must know where I’m going, Pll tell you.” o. “Where, captain ?” * To the Forge ?” ‘To the Forge, say you?” “i Yes,” * But not alone?” “Yes, alone, At least, Tintend to go alone, without you volunteer to go with me,” “Of course we will,’ said several. “ Aye, to the devil, if the captain likes,” said another, “But what are you going there for, captain?” asked one, “To make a capture.” “To capture whom ?” ‘‘ Why, no less a person than Ivan, if possible,” was Will’s calm reply. The young boatmen seemed surprised and puzzled, but they did not give any expression to the fear which each entertained as to the probable failure of the expedition, “T see from your countenances that you do not approve of this venture.” ‘“Why, to tell you the truth, captain, I don’t,” said the tallest of the young boatmen. “ You see, sir, although I’m not any captain among the London Apprentices, I can yet do a good deal of fighting with any one about my own size, and would take a deal of beating before I cry out mercy, even from a man three or four stone heavier than I am. But, then, when you talk of tackling Ivan, single-handed, captain, why ——” said he, puzzled, and scratching his head in doubt. “You think I am rash ?”’ ** Perhaps so, captain ; but no offence is meant, mind ye.” ““T know, my lads, what you mean, and what you think, 219 _ and thank you for your kind opinion ; but I tell you again, if possible, Ivan must be captured, and if you like to accom- pany me, you will find we can do more than you at present imagine.” Hereupon Will Winter related to them all the particulars of Iyan’s escape, and also told them of a rumour that was spread abroad that night that a most influential citizen’s daughter had been abducted by some villains of the Forge, who were heard to boast that they had done so at Sir Hum- phrey Greathead’s instigation. The young boatmen, when they heard this, were unani- mously in favour of going with Will Winter, and doing what they could to wreak vengeance on Ivan and his gang, and also, if possible, to rescue the worthy citizen’s daughter from those villains, * Are you armed ?” Will asked, ‘‘ No, captain, but we know where to get arms,” * Where ?” “Up at our boat-shed, yonder. We always keep a few pistols and swords concealed there, in case of any need for them.” “Well, that’s all right,” * Won’t you jump in, and go with us, captain ?” “No, my lads, I will stay here until you return ; but mind you see well to your pistols and cutlasses, We may want to use them,” ‘© Aye, aye, sir,” “We won’t be more than a quarter of an hour gone.” ‘“The boat-house ain’t far, captain; we shan’t be long away.” So saying, the boat pulled away up towards the Appren- tices’ landing place, and it was soon lost to view on the black starless waves, Will Winter retired from the edge of the water into a dark mir 7 i-alcomicbodksncom