Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 71: what you’re looking at

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

IVAN THE Why, all his secret meetings with——” “ With whom ?” ‘With Ivan,” gasped Tommy, “With Ivan the Terrible?” inquired all, with surprise. Yes |? For a moment no one spoke, for each seemed filled with ptrange misgivings, At length the “ Hel” said, “Well, he has finished his career of villany at last ; he can do none of us any further harm; but I never felt contented alone in his company, for so many have entered his house that mere never seen afterwards !” “You don’t mean that?” “Yes, but Ido, Listen! One day I lay asleep in a room adjoining Aaron’s and was suddenly surprised to hear the old Jew talking in great secresy with some stranger.” ‘“What were they talking about, then?” Red Jacket in- quired. ‘‘ About the price that was to be paid for the disappearance of some highwayman that used to call at the Slop-seller’s.” ‘A highwayman?” mused Ned. “Did you hear his name? Several of our band have suddenly and mysteriously disap- peared, no one knows how, What was the victim’s name?” “Let me see,” said Tommy, in deep thought, “it was Scarlet something.” ‘Scarlet Sam ?”’ asked Red Jacket, in intense surprise.. “ The very same,” the “‘ Eel ” answered with a surprised look, ‘‘ How long has that been?”” Handsome Ned inquired, with a flushed and angry face. “Six days!” - “Ts he here, think you, anywhere ?” “That I can’t say, All I know is that after the conversa- tion I went into the Jew’s room and saw him sitting alone and counting a good deal of money.” ** But where had the other person gone ?” “ That’s the. mystery !” said the “ Hel,” with a look of deep calculation. ‘““ Well, go on.” “That same night I slept in the same room as before, and, about midnight, a horseman came up to Aaron’s, and entered the house ; before long the Jew invited him into his ‘ own room,’ as he called it, The horseman drank much wine, and shortly there were no sounds of conversation between them as before. I peeped into Aaron’s room. It wasempty! A horseman’s whip was on the table; his cap and coat were smouldering on the hearth. I looked about cautiously, and heard a slight noise in the cupboard. I opened it, and what was my astonishment to see old Aaron, with a lamp, at the bottom of this secret, unknown shaft, tying the legs and arms of the drunken horseman.” “Oh, horrible !” Red Jacket groaned. ‘I did not then know how old Aaron had got down, but, intent upon watching his further movements, I gazed down through the shaft, saw him raise the lid of this old mine and could just see him go down it.” x ae could not have gone down alone and unassisted,” said ed. ** No, he did not go down alone, for he took his victim along mith him! He could not let himself down alone, either, for I heard the voice of a man lowering him,” ‘Who was it?” “ Tvan |” A sigh passed from the lips of all then present. “But, not satisfied with this, I patiently waited until he returned from the pit. He then lowered Ivan down, they said ‘good-night,’ and all was still again !” “Oh, monstrous !” “In a short time old Aaron stepped into the box again, and by touching some spring at the bottom, he gradually and noiselessly ascended to his room again with a fiendish smile on his ugly countenance. He looked about with a smile and a chuckle for a moment or two, saying, ' Now I'll see if Ivan has paid me all right or not. Oh, my beloved money !’ Judge of his surprise and horror, however, when he discovered that it had been stolen,” a ME eS RS re TERRIBLE. 67 “Who stole it, then?” “ Why, Zdid, to be sure, and hid it away, and, when he went cursing and raving about the house, I got out of bed as if I had just awoke, and pretended to know nothing about it.” “Well done,” said all, in chorus. “ He always suspected me, however, and, with many smiles, often invited me to have a glass of grog and a game of cards on the quiet in his ‘ own room,’ as he called it; but, of course, Iwas too cunning for that, for I knew he had resolved to drug me and kill me afterwards for fear I knew his grand secret. ’Twas well that Nat Fathom finished him to-night, or, perhaps, Z should not have lived long.” At that moment, while he spoke, the low, plaintive sounds as of some human yoice were heard issuing up the mine! A thrill of horror passed through all. Each one for a moment looked deadly pale, “Come, hold up the lamp,’’ Red Jacket exclaimed at last, in determined tones, ‘‘if no one else will go down this hell- hole then Z will.” “Not alone, my boy!” said Handsome Ned; “Iam one with you, one isn’t enough.” ** But the rope doesn’t look strong enough for two,” said the Kel, in a whisper; “some one has been cutting it since old Aaron descended; it don’t seem thick enough to bear one man, let alone two!” “Strong or weak I'll make the venture,” said Red Jacket, bravely, “And so will JZ,” exclaimed Handsome Ned, ‘You shan’t go alone, if I die for it. If the rope does break let it hurl us both to the bottom together, we have never been parted night or day yet in any enterprize of danger, Red Jacket, and you shan’t be now !” : They shook hands cordially like two well-tried friends or brothers. ‘* Let two or three of you lower us down gently,” said Red Jacket, examining his pistols carefully, adding, with a grim smile, “If Ivan the Terrible went down there must be ~ some outlet. Let us be prepared, Ned ; we may have to fight hard with that demon and his followers should we fall Across them.” So saying, Red Jacket and Handsome Ned tied the rope securely around them, and darkening the lantern they took with them, the ‘‘ Hel” and some of those present gently lowered the two bold men into the mine ! For some time the rope uncoiled itself gradually and smoothly ; but Red Jacket and his companion had not de- scended more than fifty yards when the rope began to quiver and strain, and threatened to snap asunder each moment. Looks of horror were on the faces of all present, Cold perspiration flowed from the brows of those who were lowering. They knew not what to do for the best. None could guess how far the two adventurers had yet to descend ere they reached the bottom, for the coil of rope yet to be unwound was of considerable length. In anguish they groaned for the imminent peril of those below. No one dared, no one had heart or courage enough to lower them further, * Go on ly ‘* Lower away !” Such were the sounds of those whispering up the shaft, ‘Quick ! quick! the rope is straining! it cracks! Quick! quick !” were the suppressed words of Red Jacket and Hand- some Ned. _ In obedience to their repeated words Tommy and others lowered the two bold adventurers still further, Every extra yard of the rope that they unwillingly unwound seemed to become thinner, rotten, and ravyelled, Lower and Jower they went. Thinner and weaker became the rope. At last the rotten rope snapped asunder, The lowerers gasped with agony ! A long groan sighed up through the mine ! All was dark and still as deatla(o)/j/4\\\(c boo S CONN