Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 248: what you’re looking at

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

244 Arms of every description were used. Nat Fathom, having saved the sheriff’s daughter from the falcon-like clutches of Sir Humphrey, conveyed her to a place of safety, and rushed with his hardy band into the thickest of the fray. As he rushed along he could hear the stunning report of fire-arms from both sides. He cheered the Apprentices onward, and the fight began to be of the deadliest description. Nat Fathom looked everywhere for Ivan. But nowhere could he be found. He hurried hither and thither giving orders, and it pleased him much to find that every moment fresh numbers of Ap- prentices were flocking in to take part in the fray. Having a large body of Apprentices, which were seconded by his own friends and followers, Nat, sword in hand, cleared the street before him. Houses were attacked and pillaged without mercy. Flames began to issue from various dwellings. This sight only aggravated the Forgers all the more ! They met their foes with loud cries, and showers of shots. The din, noise, tumult, and surging to and fro was deafening. . “Where is Will Winter ?” “Where is Ivan ?” These were questions asked on either hand, No one knew. Not one could tell! Andy was there, however, and right well did the Apprentices know it, Wherever he went, many fell cut and wounded on every side, With a long sword the fierce ruffian cleared his way. Fast and furious the combatants fought. The Apprentices drove back the ruffians of the “ Forge” step by step. They asked for no quarter and gave none, Forger after Forger fell, knocked to the earth with sledge- hammers, iron bars, and butchers’ cleavers. “Close with them, lads!—close with them !” shouted the Apprentices’ leaders, And heartily did they follow this advice. With loud shouts the gallant Apprentices closed with their foes, and the fight became more deadly than before. Andy and a few of his leaders resolved to make a grand stand at a large open space that was crossed and intersected by several streets. For some time they maintained their stand, and fought desperately. The numbers of the Forgers was now greater than that of the Apprentices and Nat Fathom’s men combined. With yells of defiance Andy led on his numerous band of ruffians. The Apprentices were now forced to give way. They retired slowly down a narrow street that led towards the river. Andy, perceiving that Nat Fathom’s plan of battle had failed, resolved to press the Apprentices so hard that they should be forced into the water. Slowly but stubbornly the Apprentices gave way inch by inch, ; They were in a comprct body, and knew if they retreated much further they would be driven into the water, and drowned without mercy. Nat Fathom and the other leaders seeing this resolved on a different plan, They seized several large houses on both sides of the street. These were quickly filled by numerous determined ‘men, who had sworn to die rather than retreat any further. From the windows and housetops these brave youths kept up acontinual and galling fire upon the Forgers, and thus stopped their onward and victorious course, Slates, tiles, bricks, stones, everything and anything that they could lay hands on did the Apprentices shower down upon their foes, The houses in which they had taken their stand were fast becoming nothing better than ruins, IVAN THE TERRIBLE. Windows, walls, beams, railings, all wore tottering and falling in showers upon the heads of the Forgers. Andy and his men were puzzled. They knew not what to do. , They could not get at these several garrisons in the houses, His men were falling every minute. - at The street down which he had driven the Apprentices was long and narrow and dark. His opponents had now gained great courage, aud fought even fresher than before. They laughed and jeercd at the Forgers, and defied all their attempts to dislodge them from the houses. All at once a lond shout was heard far behind Andy and his men. “ Fight away, lads, fignt away !’ he shouted in great glee, ‘here are a hundred more Forgers.come to assist us.”’ But this was not so, The cheers and Znoise he heard far behind him did not proceed from any friends of his. Far from it. They were affresh body of Apprentices led on by Will Winter ! This fact Andy soon found out to his co3t. He tried to break through those that opposed him so as to escape. But he could not. The more he and his desp2rate band strove to break through a passage for themselves the harder did those in front-ef him resist his efforts, Assailed from behind and in front at one and the same moment, his case was desperate. He knew not what to do. It was impossible for his men to escape either way. He now began to think of his own personal safety. He dodged between his followers as best he could, and even managed to get mingled with the Apprentices whom Will Winter led. He saw Will himself fighting sword in hand. His heart burned with revenge, “Tf I can only creep up to him,” he thought, “I will give him his death blow !” As almost total darkness reigned on all around save where the fitful flames of several small buildings burning lit up the scene of strife, Andy's retreat from the front of his followers was not perceived. He: had approached within a yard or two of Will, and falling, to avoid blows from either side, pretended to be ~ wounded, With cat-like eyes, however, he watched every movement of Winter. He crept upon his hands and knees through the surging tide of combatants to await his opportunity. He clutched a long dagger firmly in his hand. The blade of it was concealed up his sleeve. When Will Winter was off his guard, and least expected an assailant so near him, Andy rose to his feet. He dashed impetuously forward. Winter did not perceive him. Another moment and the captain of the Apprentices would have lain a lifeless corpse at his feet. The blow was aimed, Yet, just as the blade touched Will’s coat, a frightful blow from an oak club fell upon Andy’s arm, and almost broke it ! With an oath, and a cry of disappointment and pain, Andy turned upon the youth who had struck him, Apprentices on either side were so much engaged in hand: to-hand encounters with the Forgers, that this episode was not much noticed in the confusion that reigned on every side. Andy was without a weapon of any kind, : The same was the case with the goldsmith’s apprentice whom he had attacked. Andy was large, robust, strong, and fierce, The apprentice, on the contrary, was perfectly opposite in all these qualities, save strength and bravery. Andy, with the force of a young bull, seized the apprentice, and a fierce struggle took place érs)'n9) Pel ovo) <S_(eoy pg)