Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 40: what you’re looking at

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

36 IVAN THE mused Blue Jacket, as Darby’s hoarse voice was heard, singing | a merry drinking song, popular at that time. “Be quiet, Darby,” said some one, in gentle tones, “and let me sleep !” “Ah! that must be young Harry. him ?” thought Blue Jacket. He considered a moment, A long, light painters’ ladder was found in the garden, This was soon placed against the wall. It almost reached to the bars of Harry’s cell ! Coiling the rope around his body, he ascended the ladder noiselessly, and, clutching the bars, dragged himself up into the window:-sill, : When Darby saw this unexpected appearance outside the window he almost fainted with surprise. Blue Jacket soon explained how matters stood and what his intentions were. ‘“‘Now, Harry,” said he, “while Darby and I are shaking this centre bar do you take this stone and a nail, and pick out the mortar and lead ; there is not a moment to lose.” So saying, Blue Jacket and Darby began to work vigo- rously, and soon the centre bar became very loose. ; Just as Blue Jacket was about to congratulate the prisoners upon the pleasant prospect of speedy release he heard a noise below. He looked down, His eye caught the gaze of an officer below ! He had been watched ! ‘‘ Hillo, there, my fine fellow !” said the officer, in an under tone, “so we have caught another of the gang, eh? Bad luck to ’em !” and was about to raise an alarm, when Blue Jacket took firm hold of the iron bars and kicked the ladder over ! It fell upon the officer’s head, and knocked him speechless to the ground ! ‘Well done !’’ said Darby, in high glee, ‘‘ Now, my jokers, a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether, and this bar is done brown.” So saying Harry, Darby and Blue Jacket exerted all their strength, and such was their power that the bar removed the block of stone, which crashed to the ground below, and, but for Darby’s suddenly grasping Blue Jacket’s arm he would have fallen to the earth also. With great coolness and presence of mind the bold young robber seized hold of Darby’s outstretched arm and dragged himself up to the window-sill again. Squeezing himself through the bars, he jumped into the cell. ‘* Now, then, Harry, my boy, no time for words ; directly you are on the ground rush away from the spot as fast as your legs will let you.” “But you will not remain behind? If you are in any danger, I will stay and share it with you.” ‘“‘No, my brave lad, never mind me,” said Blue Jacket, who untwined the rope from his body, tied one end under Harry’s arms, and very slowly lowered him to the ground ! Darby was in ecstacies, but pulled a very comical face when the rope was pulled up again and fastened under his own arms. ‘No larks, yer know,” he said, with a knowing wink, but bravely followed his young master’s example, and soon reached the ground, Having secured one end of the rope securely to the legs of the prison table, he shoved it under the window and slipped down the rope as nimbly as a monkey. A low whistle soon brought Darby and Harry from their hiding places, and all three darted down a long, dirty and narrow street towards the Tower. “You had better sail for Cornwall immediately,” said Blue Jacket, after they had reached the river side; “here isa boat, jump in; it don’t matter much who ownsit. Here, take this bottle of brandy with you, and my purse, it may help you along home, Drop gently down the river with the tide ; you will find a vessel anchored at Woolwich which sails with to-morrow’s tide for Cornwall. Good-bye, my lads, luck speed ye |” So saying Darby and Harry Percy jumped into the boat But bow am I to get to TERRIBLE. and were soon lost sight of in the heavy mists and fogs that overhung the river. Blue Jacket waited a few moments. ‘‘ All right?” he asked, in a loud voice. ‘‘ All right and tight, master!” was Darby’s loud response, when Blue Jacket ret aced his steps again, well pleased with what he had done. CHAPTER XVIII. ST, GILES’S IN THE OLDEN TIME—THE CONSPIRATORS ~=THE SECRET PREPARATION OF IVAN AND DREADNOUGHT— THE FATAL INSTRUMENT OF DEATH IS MADE AND READY FOR USE—THEY DEPART ON A SECRET MISSION, THE king had not departed from the mansion more than five minutes ere the old man wrapped himself up warmly in his capacious cloak, and sallied forth in the rain and darkness on a secret mission. He slowly wended his way towards St. Giles-in-the-Fields, a locality which, at the period we write of, was one of the most filthy suburbs that could possibly be found in all London. ® But few oil lamps lighted this dingy, dreary, and dirty neighbourhood. The aspect of the whole was naught else but a picture of. squalid, miserable, wretched, and dirty poverty, infested with thieves, rogues, vagabonds, and outlaws of every nation under the sun, At one of the most respectable houses in the neighbourhood -~ the old man stopped, and knocked three times loudly and dis- ~ tinctly. “Who knocks below?” asked a ,black-looking ruffian, who — had thrust his head out of window. ‘Tis J,” was the answer. In a moment a heavy bolt was drawn. The door opened, and the old man entered. ‘Is he here?” asked the old man, ascending the stairs. ““T can’t tell,” was the gruff, sleepy response. “He goes and comes, and no one knows aught about it. He may haye arrived in town for aught I know.” So saying the drowsy, growling, hangdog-looking villain ascended to his garret ; but the old man stopped on the first floor landing and listened. ;: He put. his ear to the key-hole, and from slight sounds he heard, it seemed to fill him with pleasure, for his small, sunken eyes glistened in the darkness like two bright dia- monds, , He whistled through the key-hole. Sounds that he had heard before in the room suddenly ceased, The signal was returned from within. . The door was opened as if by some spring, and the old ma entered, Two men were busily engaged at some very important and mysterious employment, and so intent were they that neither liftéd their heads to look at or accost their visitor. A fire of burnt embers glowed in the grate, and upon a work table was placed many tools of various sorts, and pieces of iron of different shapes and sizes. In one corner of the room was placed a small keg of very fine powder, and over it was thrown a damp blanket. One of the men was tall, dark, muscular, fierce, and ugly- looking, and had large, shaggy beard and moustachios, which met and joined his large, ferocious-looking whiskers. His companion was an idiotic and ragged-looking, squint- eyed man of above fifty summers, who, dirty and grimy, stood by gazing listlessly at his busy and speechless companion. ‘You keep your appointment, I see, Ivan,” said the old man, with a fiendish grin. Ivan did not answer, but simply shrugged his shoulders ; bub from his dirty appearance, and from the fact of his shirt sleeves being tucked up, his greasy, grimy arms gaye token that he had been hard at work for many hours during the night, ‘** Does it work well, Ivan,” asked the old man, “Tt does,” was the gruff reply. - com .S Ebhoo com