Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

IVAN THE He carried a long staff, with which he motioned to the clouds, as if bidding them drift away. t his side walked a panther ! was tame, and gambolled about like a kitten, Ever and anon, however, it would turn upon the horseman following, and with flashing eyes, and long, glistening fangs, would growl. ~ Quiet, Demon,” the old man said, in soothing tones. And the fierce-looking, active, agile panther was quieted on the instant. \ They reached a dark and lonely glen. The villain followed as if spell-bound. They wound their way among the rocks and hills, and ar- rived at the entrance of a cave, The horseman followed. He did not dismount, but stooped his head, so as not to hurt it against the projecting rocks. He dismounted, and some unknown one ushered him into a spacious rocky chamber. Dreadnought the Wizard sat upon his throne. Around him were mysterious symbols, ornaments, and weapons of various kinds. He had a magic wand in his right hand. The black, silky, and fierce-looking panther lay at his feet, The murderer entered |! He was a tall, powerfully-built fellow, fierce and ugly. His whiskers and beard were long, shagey, and untrimmed, He strode into the apartment like one who feared neither God nor devil. His hands were red with gore. re “What want ye with me?” he asked, in a rough loud tone. “ To fulfil your promise.” “ And what was that ?” > “ Yo bind yourself to me in life or death asa willing slave !” “ And if I do not, what then ?” “What then, Ivan?” laughed the old man in derision, *“ You die upon the spot.” | * You talk bravely, Dreadnought, for an old man.” “Old as I may be, I am still your master! Let me but give the signal, earth shall open beneath your feet, and you will be engulphed in a caldron of boiling vitriol.” “ Ha! ha!” laughed Ivan, ‘‘ you would attempt to frighten me, eh ?” a“ Frighten you, Ivan? No, you aresurnamed the Terrible; but who made youso? Was it not my mystic power that gathered around you the band you have? What would you be without Eagle-Hye, the Shark, the Wolf, or others of your followers ?” “ And what is to be the price?” ‘« A charmed life.” “ But.that has a spell ?” ‘“‘ Which, if broken, you are lost !” i, «“ And what is it that is so potent and powerful ?” ‘‘ A simple maid |” | “ A woman, say you? ha! ha!” laughed Ivan, “amI te be conquered by & woman, amere girl? Why, you mock me.” . “Did I mock you the night before you were to be hung, not long ago? or when you were hunted through the whole country likea fox ?” “No ; you behaved the friend.” ‘““ What say you to the compact, then ?” ‘“‘ Read it,” said Ivan, with indifference, “ Z may as well live a little longer,” he said, in a tone of unearthly melan- choly. . Te old magician drew forth a parchment, and read as follows:— . B “ Tyan, surnamed the Terrible, binds himself as a willing slave.” Tt do?’ “To serve me, his lawful master, when required,” JAE G aM “Tn all things I may command,” Td0: C ! poder, “ For ae by my spells and power, I charm his life against all, save a simple girl, for the term of ten years.” j TERRIBLE. 3 = “ Correct,” said Ivan, who treated the matter as avery good joke, and could not help bursting out into aloud laugh, “‘ Will you sign ?” Dreadnought asked. “TJ will, Where is the pen and ink?” he asked, in- - differently, “The ink is here,” he said, approaching Ivan, whose arm was bared. s At the same moment he touched a vein with a lancet, and caught the blood in a bowl ! . ‘ Here is ink enough, I think,” said Dreadnought, with a grimsmile. ‘‘ Come, dip your pen in this,” he said, “ and Sign.” f While he held the lamp for Iyan to sign the awful deed his eyes glared like two bright streams of green fire. Ivan took the pen. His hand began to tremble violently. He was seized with a sudden chilliness about the heart and a dizziness in the head. He signed the deed ! At that moment loud peals of thander were heard rolling overhead, the panther roared, and lightning flashed through a fissure in the rock. | Ivan’s senses reeled |! the floor, Dreadnought stood over his victim with a laugh of triumph, as he muttered again and again, “The deed is done! Heis mine! he is mine! body and soul !” < He had scarcely uttered the last words when screams both fierce and frightful were re-echoed through the dark, dank, and spacious cavern. Fires of various hues seemed to glow upon the walls, while phosphorescent and aerial forms glided fo and fro noiselcss and horrible, or at a motion of the magician’s wand would dance around the prostrate victim, From some unknown cause he fell to Aye, both CHAPTER IIL. BANDY BOB’S TERROR—THE DISCOVERY OF THE MURDER— BILL GARRY THE THIEF-TAKER— THE ARREST OF CAPTAIN BLUE JACKET, "Twas late ere the storm abated, and the revellers in the ‘‘Green Dragon ” were not inclined to leave. 3 Bandy Bob, the groom and pot-boy, was yawning in the © chimney corner of the tap-room. . He was about to retire to bed when a horseman arrived at the inn and desired a night’s lodging. . He was accommodated, and his horse provided for. “'There’s no mistake about this ’ere ’orse,”’ said Bob, as he rubbed the animal down with a wisp of straw. ‘They may talk as they pleases, but it’s a downright pleasure to do a good turn for a hanimal like this’un, I’ve been in Lunnon many a year, and J never seed a finer ’orse, and no mistake. King James couldn’t sport a finer nag, know. Lor!” said Bob, stroking down the noble beast, ‘‘wouldn’t Z like to have a ride on ‘im? Crickey! wouldn’t it be a go?” It must be confessed that Bob’s admiration for the animal arose from the fact that the gallant-looking owner thereof had tossed him a crown, a coin of the realm which Master Bob had seldom seen of late. : When he retired to bed the horseman had told Bob, on the sly, that after the horse had been well groomed he must re-saddle it ready for instant use. “For you see, my lad,” said the horseman, ‘I may want to start off at a moment’s notice, so, therefore, you need not trouble yourself about the stable-door, Leave it open, there’s no fear of Jupiter running away.” The company in the parlour and tap were roaring out their songs and toasts, and everything bid fair that they would continue to do so until morning, Bandy Bob, therefore, took a long draught of porter, kissed the barmaid, who was half asleep, and went up to bed yawn- ing. CORNICE OOOKS CORN