Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

44 | IVAN THE every one play the part assigned him, and although we may not succeed in all we wish or attempt, still there is much that remains to be done. ; “True, true! Bind ’em!” “ Hang ’em up like dogs !” “Pitch ’em out o’ window!” another. The Sorcerer waved his hand towards the king, but spoke not. Those about him fully understood his meaning. Forcing Tippler into an arm chair, they dragged him to- wards the king, and tied both of the chairs back to back, and bound them so tightly with strong cords that it was an im- possibility for either to stir or budge. Both victims submitted to their maltreatment with com- parative good grace, for both felt assured it was useless to make either noise or resistance—in fact, unsafe to attempt either one or the other, for the moment they did so would surely be their last, considering the angry growlings and brandished weapons of those around them, ‘‘ Now, sirs,” said Dreadnought, when the two victims were safely and securely bdund back. ‘Now, sirs, attend to me! I propose to ask this, eh—what shallI call him? Well, this gentleman, if you will—I wish to ask this very courageous and gallant gentleman a few questions.” Saying which, he approached the king in a very slow and solemn manner. ‘‘Tell me,” he asked, in a low voice that was full of mean- ing, ‘tell me, and, mark me, tell me truly on your very lives, are we who are now here the only persons in this wing of the palace?” “Yes,” answered Tippler, in a great flurry, ‘‘on my soul you are! There’s no fear, you can go this instant; there’s no fear of any of you being hurt, on my word as a gentle- man, and you will particularly oblige me if you go at once, for iH ‘Silence !”’ growled the king, kicking his trembling com- panion with his spurred heel, much as he would a stubborn horse. ‘Silence, fool! No,” said he, addressing the old man, ‘you are not the only person in this wing of the palace, There is a guard at hand that never leaves his post, either night or day!” “Oh, indeed,” said the old man, with a low, chuckling laugh ; “the post is not left unguarded either night or day, eh? Then there must be something of importance attached to such a strict safe custody. Will your majesty condescend to say how many this guard consists of at a time ?”’ “One only! A trusty sentinel, truly! One chosen from a high rank in my army, and he is not far off.” “One, eh? Ha, ha!” laughed the desperate band, in derision. “And he is not far off, eh?” asked the old man. Where is he stationed, then, pray ?” “ Oh, I’ll tell you all about it !” said Tippler, in great alarm. “ T’ll tell you the truth, and all about it, on my oath as a noble- man and gentleman, if you'll only let me off this time, and I pledge my honour on what Isay. Oh! consider my poor wife and nine small children, crying and squalling for their only protector! Oh! untie me and let me go, and I'll tell you all about it! Ugh!” sighed Tippler, all in a flutter. “ Silence, fool !” said the king, giving him another vigorous kick. ‘‘ He is stationed in and guards a room next to this, down the long, wide stone corridor, and ’tis strange that his quick ear and good sword hath not already rushed to our rescue.” “Oh, indeed !” said Dreadnought, with a hollow, sepulchral laugh, at the same time a flush tinged his cheek as he muttered, after a pause, ‘‘ This had better be seen to at once.” After a pause he again asked the king, “One more question, and I have done. Remember to speak the truth, for your lives depend upon the answer. Is there, or is there not, an old and lonely apartment there called the Red Room ?” “The Red Room?” muttered the king, half-aloud, as his face became deadly pale; “the Red Room? Why do ye ask ?” said first one and then TERRIBLE. “ Answer quickly ! said Dreadnought, with a determined voice. ‘‘ Answer, on your lives !” “ Yes—no—really—that is—upon my word,” stuttered the king. “Ves, yes! good, kind gentleman !” Tippler began splut- tering out. ‘His Majesty forgets all about it, perhaps. “Tis the second chamber after you pass through the old, dusty, musty, cobwebbed banqueting hall; ‘tis there you will find the Red Room,” gasped Tippler, in fright and horror. “Tg there a cabinet there of old and curious workman- ship ?” «Ves, there is, now that I recollect,” said the king, “ now that I recollect.” “ Enough,” said Dreadnought, with a countenance flushed with pleasure and surprise. ‘ Then two of ye stand guard over your prisoners, and let the rest follow me.” Dreadnought hastily took from his bosom an old parchment, and unfolded it upon the table. It was a plan of the palace, accurate in every detail. After consulting it for a few moments, he carefully re-folded and placed it in his bosom, saying, ‘Tis perfectly correct ; follow me. be your watch-words.” Dreadnought and his companions left the room so silently that not even the sounds of their footsteps were head. They moved away like ghosts,or spectres, so solemn and silent were all their movements. | But this fact was easily accoun?'d for, since each one had come provided with a pair of thic “4 woollen socks, which they had previously drawn over their ots, so that their footfalls were perfectly and completely mugied. The king and his unlucky companion were too much en- grossed with their own fears and alarm to take notice of what was passing around them, for two savage-looking men stood before them, sword in hand, with the sharp points presented at their breasts. - One of the men who guarded the king and Tippler, who was moaning and groaning aloud, was by far the fiercest-looking of any of the ruffans, It was Ivan. He was tall, athletic, and herculean in his build, and looked more than a match for any half-dozen ordinary men he might meet in deadly combat. Over his shoulder was slung what seemed to be a small bundle of clothing, but its great weight proved that it was something more solid. Whatever it might be, he seemed to take great care of it, and the pressure of the belt which supported it was evidently great and painful upon his huge, broad chest, for every now and then he removed it, and changed its position. There was a strange, wild, devil-possessed scowl upon the face of this man, as far as could be perceived from under his mask, and more than once, while the old man had been in the room, he had caught his glance, and with his thumb pointed to the heavy burden with a wicked, blood-thirsty grin. “Qh !” Leonora whispered, “my heart is full of fear. Alas! would that I had never seen this unlucky, fearful night, Would that it were all over.” “Tt soon will be,” one of Dreadnought’s followers whis- pered, in answer, coolly and indifferently. “Be calm, wench, and all will be well, at least, for thee,” “ But I fear and tremble.” “But why? Are we not able to protect you ?” ‘Oh, no, I mean not that ; I fear and quake at the very words of that unearthly being, Dreadnought the Sorcerer,” _ ‘‘ Wear not then,” said the speaker, “for he is chief of us all ! There’s not a band of men within the land but that bends and bows the knee before him,” “Yes, it may be so; but I fear him, and think that he is not an earthly being, but some strange supernatural one leagued with the Prince of Darkness.” The villain laughed, but took no notice of the weeping maiden’s fears, But while the ruffian and Leonora were thus conversing, Dreadnought with his party of men were creeping through various apartments towards the Red Room. The information which the affrighted Tippler had given them, viz., that the Red Room was guarded by a single man high of rank, and of oe cours , ade : Oi Ook, Om Let silence and caution