Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

22 IVAN THE A fitful flash of brilliant blinding lightning revealed the fate of the noble ship. , Misguided by the watch-fires of Ivan’s treacherous band, sbe had mistaken the proper channel, and had struck upon the fatal reefs of the Devil’s Pool! As her bow dashed upon the rock, amidst boiling foam and blinding mist and spray, cries of despair and horror arose from her doomed decks | : The mighty masts quivered and tottered, and fell with a loud crash. Mighty and gigantic waves leaped across her broken decks, washing men and women overboard among the roaring breakers ! Bales, boxes, chests, masts, sails, and spars were carried away. ' eae mists still envelopedthe doomed ship, so that those on shore could not see her, but faintly heard her bumping upon the rocks, while ever and anon her signal gun was fired in despair by some living being on board who still thought assistance might be at hand. Twas allin vain ! : Wreckers and others shouted shrilly and loudly. All the consy Wes astir, and strewn with numberless fragments of the wreck. Bodies were washed ashore in many places. Ivan was here, there, and everywhere among his blood- thirsty followers, but he seemed not to find that, whatever it was, of which he was in earnest and anxious search. flis steps were dogged! All his words and motions were carefully watched by one who hovered in his wake like a dark, mysterious bird of night in search of prey. A lull in the storm ensued. The clouds drifted. The vast hull of the wreck was seen floating far away at sea |! It had been washed away from shore by changing winds. A white sheet was flying from the remnant of a mast. It was a signal of distress ! ‘‘ Then all are not lost |” cursed Ivan, as, glass in hand, he closely examined the huge wreck, as it swiftly floated away from view on the angry waves, “The wreck shall sink!’’ he said, gnashing his teeth, ‘I have sworn it! Nota stick of her shall remain! every soul shall perish !” So saying, he called one of his men and ordered him to go to their rendezvous and secret harbour, to man his fast-sailing schooner, and go in pursuit of the drifting wreck. ‘“In this weather, captain?” asked one, in surprise ; schooner cannot live in such a storm. “Go!” roared Ivan, foaming with rage ; ‘‘ obey, on the peril of yourlife! Take a trusty crew, and, when you have over- taken the wreck, double shot your guns, and sink her, Never heed who or what’s on board; no mercy, mind, to that accursed craft. Away, I say |” His men were awe-struck at his terrible rage, and departed to obey his orders, although they felt certain it was the most dangerous undertaking that they had ever been engaged in under Ivan’s terrible leadership. Like some deadly hawk poised high in tke air, ready to pounce upon its prey, Ivan stood upon a lonely rock, scanning the waters and all that the waves threw up upon the pebbly shore. Dead bodies were numerous, but he passed them by, He grit his teeth and cursed most horribly. All at once his eyes sparkled with unnatural, devilish fire, as he saw an object struggling in the water and approaching the rock on which he stood. He looked at it long and ardently with his powerful telescope, “It must be!’ he eried, and rushed down the beach in ferocious joy. “It is, it is young Harry Percy!” he cried as the body of a youth was washed ashore. While he was descending the rocks, a female form, till then hidden under a cliff, rashed towards the body, and, having examined it hastily, withdrew from view again ere Ivan ap- peared. “Now will I have my revenge. Dead oralive, my hatchet shall cleave his skull, and my knife shall pierce his heart! I have sworn to shed blood for Vincento’s déath, “the ee enn en i a eet ee Lot a a ET TT np ae eT eS TO a a Rt A A a a te me et TERRIBLE. : He was alone. ; No one was near to observe him. | With his long boat-hook he fished out the youth from among the surf. . Scarcely was the body clear of the waves when the merci- less Ivan began to strip it. The pockets were filled with Spanish gold ! was speedily emptied. A strange, wild, weird screaming laugh from some near spot arrested him in the act of examining the other pocket! This unearthly langh seemed to remind him of the awful voices and the terrible ordeal he had passed through 4 few nights before with Basil the Sorcerer. It seemed to nerve him, and urge him on with desperate eagerness to satisfy his revenge. Jvan now began to reconnoitre all around him. . Every one, far and near, was engrossed with securing portions of the wreck, or such articles of property as were brought within reach by the angry waves ! His hand was laid upon his long and shining knife. He half drew the weapon from his belt, but suddenly replaced it. He now seized his small sharp axe, the counterpoise to the blade of which was a wedge-like piece of iron, broad, and flattened at the end. In a second this deadly instrument swung by his side ! Once again he furtively glanced about the beach, then turned towards the prostrate youth ! He thought the body moved ! He trembled from head to foot ! He advanced a single step, but stopped ! The fingers were in motion ! - A low sound, half voice, half breath, issued from the throat, which now evidently began to work: He advanced another step. He was now within a foot or two of the head of his victim. He sank or rather dropped upon one knee ! The eyes of the youthful seaman moved ! They turned to the right and to the left ! At last they glared full upon the wrecker ! Both hands now clenched the axe ! ’Twas uplifted ! . The edge was averted, and the blunt end suspended over the forehead of him that lay helplessly before him, and piteously gazing at him. : . It fell with a dull, short crash ! An awful pause ensued ! A heartrending groan was heard ; then everything was still ! The wrecker threw his weapon far behind him, and wiped from his brow the large and heavy drops that stood thick upon it ! ‘““Ha ! ha !” screamed a.voice, almost in wild triumph. The wrecker turned and beheld Jessie, the gipsy girl. She was standing far behind him, waving the blood-stained hatchet in her hand, her eyes emitting flames of revenge and joy ! “Ha! ha!” she screamed aloud. ‘ Ivan the Terrible has had his revenge! He has killed the poor, helpless, .defence- less boy !” “Who art thou, storm hag, that flits about my path ?” growled Ivan, as he stood over his victim. “ Thou hast killed him | thou hast killed him !” shouted Jessie, hurrying away from the blood-stained scene. ““T have ! ha!ha!” shouted Ivan, in triumph, “ he and all of his are enemies of mine. This was Harry Perey who slayed Count Vincento! his death is now avenged.” “‘ Liar !” shouted Jessie, in a voice of rage and passion, *« Liar | it was not Harry Percy.” ** Who then, hag ?” “One who should be near and dear to you—one you haye not seen for many years—one who came from the Spanish main, rich and well. Examine the body slowly, minutely black-hearted murderer! Gloat over his gold and diamonds till your eyes grow blind, Ivan! J¢ is your only brother 3 So saying the gipsy girl darted up the rocks, and with a loud laugh, held the see aloft in tsiumph, he To be continued. omic One of them books com