Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 273: what you’re looking at

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

THE SMUGGLER’S BRIDE. sails as if by magic coveri till the whole of the wane tHe tall s snowy deaceey the vast fabric is cl on ane Eradually filled, a few manceuvres rapidly executed « walked the ase machinery succeed, and the proud vessel riority. € a thing of life,” as if conscious of supe- She soon bore - board her commande for old Andrews pars and towering scaffolding, othed in thousands of feet of house, where she took on , Mr. Andrews, and a few oth re paving much relish for salt water, quietly stil on shore 2M. ae storm was brewing behind us, we of the *' Penguin 2. WES. 8 yY ploughing the main, with the white wate dashi y irom the bows. ss pe Rob Markham and his i castle, the father was someone seated near the fore- 1, and I was beginni to people the dull leaden sky wi a Benes some one cried out, ‘A laiiieeratiin a eS ae ee Instantly we all turned, and beheld the man 0’ war in good earnest, bowling along under mainsail and jib, now rising and as suddenly disappearing behind the stormy heaving of the roarine sea, the bright moon shining on her canvas pinions, as if she had been an albatross skimming along the surface of the foaming water while her white streak gleamed like a tinsel ribbon, and the crowd of Tee ate was Carrying laid her over, till her copper sheet glittered As she neared we could see the green sea hissing along her sid and washing up her foam far aft through the midship port, air could see the captains examining their guns grinning out the sides, Her deck was crowded with dark figures, pike and cutlass in hand, and the marines in the tops. “What a pretty nest of hornets you’ve got us into?” said old Markham to his son, ‘‘now that you’ve drawn the wasp on us.” * I did not anticipate such an evil,” he replied. » - You must give up the girl, Rob.” My father, do not ask me, I would sooner die first ; besides, what would be the use in it, they’d make us prisoners if they had us in their power.” ** Then all remains is victory or death.”’ ee nothing else for it,” cried young Markham, despond- y: : , Get the girl below, Rob,” said his father, ‘and prepare for action.’ ‘* Emily,” said her husband, *‘you must stayin the cabin; at any rate you are safe, if I escape, you are still with me; if—if I do not, your father has you as before, save that you were ‘the Smuggler’s Bride.’ ”’ A tear found its way down his manly cheek ; not one of fear, but the idea of parting from one he loved so well. “Say not a word of parting,” she said ; ‘‘you will escape, my father I know will forgive me, and all will be well.’ Rob silently shook his head as he hurried on deck; there was something more than human in his eagle eye, something etherial in his elastic step I had never before witnessed. oz The deck was soon cleared of everything, a slight framework that ran from taffrail to cathead was knocked away, and six serviceable cannon on each side showed a formidable array. The men of each gun mechanically took their places, while others supplied ammunition. Old Markham, like the genius of strife, appeared to glory in the coming struggle; with a bright broad axe in his band, and a row of pple stuck in his belt, he stood leaning in the fore rigging, with is feet on the hammock netting and his back against the shrouds. By this time the vessel was bearing down on us at eleven knots by the hour; she had tacked, and was close on our lee quarters; a man at the mast-head with a trumpet called “‘ surrender.” A loud yell of defiance was our answer, as a jet-black flag, the signal that no quarter would be given, was hauled up, and blew from the peak like a wreath of smoke. ; On passing they tried to grapple, but we poured such a broadside as made them glad to sheer off. This they returned; the shot killing two or three of the men, and striking the netting of the hammocks, tearing and crushing all that caused any obstruction. Soon the fight grew hotter; cannon roared, musketry rattled, and men shouted—all was hurra and fire and groans. The breeze carried all the smoke forward and left the decks visible, on which the foemen were turned into gory corpses by the fire of our guns, as a field of corn is laid prostrate by a tempest. The vessels gradually drifted near each other; young Markham, cutlass in hand, leaped on the enemy’s deck, his father jumped after him, and crying ‘‘ boarders follow,’ cut down the first man who opposed him. It was a fearful moment ; several of us supported them, but we were driven back with loss. : It was now their turn to board, which they did with an over- whelming force, 269 " Old Markham levelled a blow of his axe at the captain, which would have assuredly cut him in two had it not been arrested by his sword, which instantly pierced the old veteran. I received a blow on my head from a boarding pike, that laid me senseless in the lee scuppers, and deprived me of being any partici- pator in the remainder of the fight, being quite unconscious of what was passing. * * * * * * * It was a clear day, but the dull unnatural light which pervaded the atmosphere was not what usually is the glare of morn. The sun rose wan and sickly, casting a pale feeble ray on the trembling waters, not as he sometimes sheds, a rich flood of glory, till on every side the dazzling light flashes; the waves foamed and boiled round the bows of the vessel in whirlpools of dazzling spray, as she careered over the expanse under the influence of a heavy following sea, which alternately struck on each quarter, and she rolled to either side, describing the points of a segment of a circle in fe heavens with her masts, as the yards returned dripping with water. After an interval of a few seconds, the crest of a huge billow would burst on her dark hull, and in curling sheets pouring over her waist, would wash the decks, drenching in the briny shower every thing fore and aft, while the planks and strainings of the numerous blocks cracked and groaned in the heavy sea. When I stood on the deck I shall never forget what I beheld ; hands without arms grasped the iron stanchions, perhaps in the agony of death. All the carcases had been washed overboard, yet the timbers were . Stained and defiled with blood, and no living being was visible. The strange blackness in the horizon to the windward had greatly increased, and in long and heavy gusts the wind boomed over the bosom of the deep. The confused and curling surges which had hitherto risen were now rolling to leeward in huge threatening billows; all our large sails were set, and I stood alone. The awe of preternatural agency forms part of this life’s natural religion, and sanctioned as it is in the revealed religion that has been vouchsated to us, let no one complain for allowing its influence, for his mind ‘must tell him he knows not how he exists. I walked the deck in excessive fear, each moment expecting to behold some frightful image rise, and as a sudden squall nearly threw the ship on her beam ends, I hurried below in the hopes of finding some oue to help me to take in the sails. : In vain I searched ; all were gone, and I was on the point of returning in utter hopelessness, when a low moaning struck my ear. I hastened to a small berth, and there beheld a sight that quickly brought me to myself. Stretched in his bloody hammock, pale and motionless, save a twitching at the corners of his mouth, and a convulsive contortion in his nostrils, was Rob Markham. ** Merciful Lord,” I exclaimed, ‘‘ can this be him 2’ His fair ringlets still curled round his marble forehead, but the cold dews of death were already drenching them. A round shot had struck him and tore his side open. When I stood near him and took his cold hand, he appeared con- scious of my presence, for he opened his mild blue eyes, and the same placid smile he ever wore lit up his pale, pale cheek. ‘*Messmate,’”’ he murmured, ‘‘ water.” ey, . I procured him some in a cup, and poured it through his lips; it seemed to revive him. ‘‘ They have taken all,’’ he said; “‘ Emily, my father, are gone; I follow; but in the darkness of last night, I contrived to save the ship ; you may get her into port, save and keep her.” I pressed his hand, and looked on the face of him I loved. A cloud had passed o’erit ; the features, though composed, were without life, a film covered his eyes—he was dead. I had no time for lamentation ; I went to the wheel, and brought the ship up till I shook the wind ont of her canvas, and she rolled and staggered like a drunken man. Her light topsails were taken aback with a slap, that tore down yards and tacklings with a succession of crashes, flappings, and snaps like gunshots; when I looked up, the rigging presented a strange sight; all the large sails had filled, but the smaller ones were flying in numberless streamers from the yard arms, like ribbons from a tattered cap. The day passed chilly and tempestuous, ; I went into the cabin and tried to make up my mind to the worst, but could not stay long below, it was so drear and dismal. I felta sort of company in the wind and flapping shrouds on deck, but below all was death-like solitude ; so cold and stormy as it was, I mounted the companion ladder shivering with cold and fear, and gazing on the awful turbulent world of waters till my sight grew stained and dizzy : in the monotonous gloom ahead, I could see nought but the sea rolling high as the foreyard, and could hear the heavy washing CORMICLOOOKS. COM)