Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

IVAN THE Night set in, a dark, terrible stormy night it wads, and nought was to be seen but sundry distant fires on the rock- bound coast, while the vessel heaved and rolled, and her sails snapped in the wind like sheets of paper. : Wave after wave assailed the gallant little bark, yet all went well with those on board until, when thunders rolled and lightning cleft the sky, a wave of awful size came rolling onwards and washed away the rudder ! Left without anything to guide it the vessel pitched and rolled with terrible violence, while huge waves rose high on either hand and swept the decks of everything. All was now a scene of noise and confusion on board; the captain and several seamen had been swept away ; the boats were blown from their fastenings, and among those who had once formed the crew no one remained save Harry Percy, Darby, and Hans the Dutchman ! In the intense darkness the doomed vessel pitched onwards 42 towards the coast, and as they neared the shoals and breakers | Darby and Harry could dimly perceive the dark outlines of Percy Castle towering on a hill not very far away, and could also see many watch-fires burning on land, and heard the cries and shouts of wreckers swarming on the surf-beaten shore. One moment more and the ship struck the fatal reefs, and part of the doomed vessel was torn asunder by the shock.. A loud cry was heard, and young Hans the Dutchman fell overboard ! Darby, when the storm had commenced, séized Harry and carried him aloft, and had there stoutly bound themsélves with ropes to the mast. Perceiving all hope was lost they determined to die together, and as they stood far above the deck they were horror-stricken to perceive the sad havoc which the dreadful storm was doing to all and everything around them. One after another the crew were washed overboard, and now of all who had once lived on that ill-fated vessel they alone were the sole survivors. When the ship had struck the fatal rocks Harry seriously — thought that his last hour had come, and silently prayed for all those most near and dear to him, for each moment seemed to be his last. | What joy then must have filled his breast when soon after- wards he found that the waves had lifted the ship off the deadly rocks, and that it was drifting from land and the murderers of Ivan’s band, who were swarming the beach ! And Jittle did Darby think when Hans the Dutchman fell overboard that Ivan the Terrible should mistake him for Harry Percy, and cleave in his skull with a murdérous axe as we have described in another place. Yet such was the truth, Hans Dyke, so-called “ the Dutch- ! man,”. was no other than Ivan’s own brother, who had but just | returned trom abroad, where, youns as he was, he had lived | for years with pirates on the Spanish main, and in the dis- guise of a sailor, and, under an assumed name, was going home to join his brother’s terrible gang in Cornwall ! But when that dreadful night had near passed over them the clouds began to disperse, winds abated in violence, and Darby and Harry perceived that they were alone on the wreck, and far from the sight of land. Their situation was terrible in the extreme, for they knew not where they were or whither they were bound. Darby, however, always light-hearted and gay, soon cut the cords that bound him, and descending to the cabin managed tc find a few biscuits and some brandy, which much revived both his own and Harry’s spirits. Towards evening, and just as the sun was about to sink, they perceived land not far away, The sight gladdened their hearts, and although they knew not what spot it was they sincerely hoped that their leaking and unmanageable vessel might drift towards it, and that they might discover some friendly human beings to aid and assist them out of their misery. As the wind was favourable the wreck was gradually blown towards the unknown island, and they perceived, or they thought they perceived, lights moving about on the beach. Towards midnight their vessel drifted swiftly towards the sandy shore, and soon got firmly embedded in the sand, so firmly, indeed, that the bow soon sank several feet in it, TERRIBLE. Darby and Harry wereinexpressibly happy in having reached land once more, and anxiously peered about from their high position on the ship’s mast to see if they could distinguish any sign of a human habitation, but none was visible. Feeling curious to know something about the place Darby and Harry armed themselves with a few weapons they found in the captain’s chest, and having provided themselves with a flask of brandy each lowered a rope down the side of the half-sunken vessel, and slipped down it on the sandy beach. At a distance they perceived alarge cavern that was cut by nature out of a hill side, and therein Darby and Harry were soon ensconced, and began to enjoy themselves with their brandy as best they could by gathering some sticks and warm- ing themselves by a good crackling fire. They had not long been thus comfortably situated when they heard a gruff voice, which said, “ Be careful of that fire for my sake, lads. J have got forty kegs 0’ powder stowed away not three feet from wt !” Darby suddenly ceased singing the noisy song he was roar- ing out at the moment, and following Harry’s example, rushed out of the cave. They had not gone more than a dozen strides from the cave when they were both seized by a band of unknown men! CHAPTER XXL DOINGS OF THE DARK CONSPIRATORS IN THE PALACE—LORD TIPPLER TURNS PARSON—THE LUDICROUS DISCLOSURE— THE TRAITORS’ VENGEANCE, By this time all the conspirators had climbed the rope ladder and entered the king’s chamber, but so quietly indeed, that Lords Tippler and Summers, who were waiting for the king’s - return to them in a neighbouring room, heard nothing of all that was taking place. a iek The eight conspirators stood round the astonished king with drawn swords, and for some time no sounds were heard, save the pattering of rain drops against the window panes. At last the old man approached the king, and softly said, but with a flashing eye and determined manner, “ James of England, listen tome! Do you hear me ?” “ Yes, yes. Oh! in mercy spare—” “ Silence |” growled the old man, with an oath, “speak but a word, move a limb, cough, ery, laugh, or do anything that can raise an alarm, and you die upon the spot !” “Oh |” groaned the king in terror. * Silence !” * Yes, yes; but I pray you —” f ‘ “Bind and gag him!” said Dreadnought, with a savage one. Two of the ¢onspitators stepped forward and bound him to his chair with great firmness. The kite, more dead than alive, resisted not, but submitted to thé indignity with the meekness of a lamb, “So, so!” growled old Dreadnought, “ the fox is caught in his own trap ! ha, ha!” After a moment he listened attentively. “Hush ! some one comes,” he whispered, as the rustling of a long silken gown could be heard approaching along the corridor, Dreadnought stepped towards the door. All was intense silence in the king’s chamber. At this moment the door opened, and my Lord Tippler thrust in his head ! In a second old Dreadnought’s bony hand grasped him by the throat, and held him speechless and horror-stricken | Old Tippler was getting black in the face from the grasp that the Sorcerer had of him, and he had ceased to struggle ; his legs refused to support him, and it was clear that, for the time being, if not for all time, he was out of the way of being mischievous, Old Dreadnought hurled the astonished Tippler into a corner, and drew along breath as he said, “ This is fortunate,” “Eh?” said the king, i Oh, dear! The Lord have merey upon us all ! Qh, oh !” ? comichooksrcom . | ; ) | . : [ . " \