Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 58: what you’re looking at

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

54 IVAN THE Yet these swarthy, dark and ruthless fellows gazed aghast at the awful spectacle before them as if the murdered man ‘that lay upon the threshold would prove an unearthly barrier ‘to all that they still had to do in that fatal Red Room of the palace, _ ‘Had not Ivan and Dreadnought been made of sterner stuff than those then near them, the secret enterprize might then and there have been abandoned ; but they, cold, reyengeful and determined as they might be, were not the men to shrink back from the accomplishmeut of any undertaking they had once begun, however dangerous and hazardous it might be. - Had not Ivan the Terrible stood face to face with spirits of the deep ? Had he not bound himself by terrible oaths to Dreadnought the Sorcerer? . Yea, this, and more than this, had Ivan done. _ Had he not cruelly chained female victims in deep stone vaults of his dark rendezvous, there to rot and die?» Yea, he could recall the time when, in the act of chaining a beautiful female to the stone vault there to rot and crumble into white and bleached bones, the vapoury ghastly shadow of one ap- peared. to him—the ghost of alovely maiden whom he had in times past wronged, decoyed, seduced, and afterwards buried alive, ‘ . Had he not, with unflinching heart, gazed on that awful apparition? Yes, in truth, and why that apparition that came there to warn and chide ? Ah! thereby hangs a tale—a tale of mystery and horror ! which, as a startling incident of Ivan’s life, will appear in its proper place. > But, to return to our story from this slight digression, let us say, for a moment or two no one spoke; not one of the dark conspirators dared to speak, for a sense of terrible awe huvg on the brow of each. , The winds sighed mournfully through the dark, mysterious and spacious chamber, With a gesture cf command the old ‘man held the light above his head, and said, ‘* Follow me |” ‘His followers, except Ivafi the Terrible, hesitated for a moment as if in d6ubt what to do or how to proceed. Dreadnought’s eyes flashed fite as he growled, ‘Who is the coward here? Who dares disobey when J command ?” These words seemed to have an instant and electric effect, for ore and all sitnultancously advanced and stepped over the body of the murdered man, The room was large, spacious, lofty and dimly lighted by a single lamp that stood upon the chimney-piece. Fresh candles were lit, and the old man’s face was all aglow with pleasure and expectation as he peered about the room, His followers stood apart like so many black shadows, but spoke not. The old man whispered to Ivan, and then, producing his parchment plan of the palace, he opened it upon the table, and pored over it for some time in deep study. “} have it! I have it |!” the old man exclaimed in delight. With.the eagerness of a falcon after its prey, Dreadnought turned towards an old and very large fire-place which appeared as if it had not been used for many years. “Tyan,” he said, ang. as he spoke his tremulous voice betrayed the *eagernesS of his soul, “Ivan, come here! listen a moment |” ‘““T am here!” answered that tall, gaunt, and terrible fellow. ‘Behold !” whispered the old man, ‘‘ behold the spot, one of the places where lie concealed the priceless treasures I seek! You are skilful, Be yours, then, the task to wrench that ponderous grate from its fastenings, and then shall a treasure gladden my sight!” ; ivan, with ascowl upon his shaggy-looking face, approached the fire-place, With the candle in one hand while the other, shaded his eyes he closely examined the iron structure, and considered a he could best remove the ponderous grate from its fasten- B8e TERRIBLE. “How is it fastened?” the old man asked, in great im= patience. “Tt is screwed down to its place in a very strong manner ; it will take much time to do the job.” ’ j So saying he produced a large screw-driver from his pocket, and while several around him held candles he commenced operations vigorously. M% Screw after screw of a very large size came forth, and Ivan cast them aside. When more than a dozen had been unscrewed Ivan wiped the perspiration from his brow, and looking up to Dreadnought, said “Tt is loose enough now, I think.” , “Good! Remove it, then, at once! I am faint with joy and expectation.” 7 Iva and several others now seized the grate by the bars, and tugged away with ail their strength, . The grate was immovable. | The old man stamped his foot with rage. x ‘Tt cannot be removed,” said one. “Cannot!” the old man growled. ‘Who says that? It shall be removed, I tell ye, if even we have to batter down the walls to do it, I will see behind that old grate if I blow the whole palace up to gain my purpose.” peat ‘Stop !” said Ivan. *¢For what ?” . “Ts it the back of the grate you wish to explore.” *¢ Certainly.” “ Well, then, that is easily done, I think,” said Ivan, “ for there seems to be a sheet of iron that forms the back, and we can slide it out.” e “Capital ! capital |’ the old man exclaimed. As he spoke Ivan seized the large back plate of the grate, and with much difficulty and strength slid it up, disclosin a large aperture behind it that ran far back into the wall, an lookéd as if choked up with black powder ! ‘ -s The instant the back plate was removed something fell for. ward into the grate, and clouds of soot ‘almost choked and blinded every one present. '* The old man’s eyes flashed with joy as he heard the treasure fall from its hiding-place. ‘ ‘ He sprang forward and clutched it with his long, white and bony fingers. “T have it! I have it!” he sighed, with suppressed breath- ing as he hugged the treasure, which was contained in a strong box of about a foot square. While he clutched the small box his eager eyes saw other treasures glistening among the soot and dirt, _ He knelt down, and groped about in the dust. and found a small casket, several necklaces of priceless pearls, together with a royal signet ring, which would have brought a*marvel- lous price if sold, , “Tis well,” said Dreadnought in triumph, “ we haye gained much.. There is probably wealth enough in this small box to shake the councils of all Europe. Men e¢an be bought for gold from a beggar to the prince. ~ We will see! we will see !” he chuckled. oj Examining the box, he said, “Tt is silver, richly chased, blackened by course of time! Ha! ha! all is well!” ““Can’t you open it?” Ivan asked, looking over the old man's shoulder. | “Not yet; it is locked, and I have not the key !” “ Let me break it open, then.” . coe t “That must not be yet; we can do that at our leisure. Re- collect our mission and purpose in the palace are not yet completed. We have yet to examine the Secret Cabinet.” ‘True |” ‘ “Let all save you and JI, Ivan, stand at the door ready armed, to give the alarm, if necessary.” Zi So saying Dreadnought and Ivan ctept away in the darkness towards an ante-room that led out of the chamber in which they then were. 2 Every nook and corner of the little ante-room was explored, but no cabinet was discovered. : | For a moment the old man bit his lip in vexation, and Wee NT tC Omichooksscom -I ——