Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 87: what you’re looking at

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

IVAN THE pretty mess we've got into, andno mistake ! Here we are at the bottom of a deep pit, with a companion more dead than alive, and with no visible means of escape,” ‘There must be another outlet somewhere,” said Red Jacket, “ They imagine we are dead, perhaps, from our fall, and have - gone to inform the band.” “ Tf Blue Jacket only knew of our situation, he would soon be here to release us.” “‘ True ; but ashe is not, we must trust to luck. You carry the lantern and lead the way. I will bear away Sam on my shoulders. Something strikes me we shall soon discover some way out of this frightful hole.’’ So saying, Handsome Ned slowly led the way down one of the galleries with the lantern. Red Jacket followed with his heavy burden on his back. ‘*Hillo! What’sthis?” said Ned, suddenly looking up to something written on the walls of the gallery. “* Hillo ! what’s this mean ?”’ he said. The lantern light revealed a large white hand painted on the wall, and under it were the words, “ This way to The forge!” “ Worge |!” said Red Jacket, in surprise. ‘‘ Why, things get worse and worse.” ‘‘This way will bring us right into Ivan’s den,” said Ned. ‘ We had better retrace our steps ; we are not strong enough to risk meeting with any of the Terrible’s bloodthirsty gang; let usretreat quickly.” 4 While he yet spoke the sounds of voices were heard ap- proaching. Fora moment the two men knew not what to do, Retreat seemed unwise, if not impossible. What if the comers should be Ivan or his men? Casting their eyes quickly around them, they discovered a large hole in the side of the gallery, such as are sometimes cut by miners in which to put their tools, or to secret them- selves in case of serious alarm or sudden danger, “ Put out the light,” said Red Jacket, creeping into the hole with his heavy burden. As quick as thought, Handsome Ned did so, and crept into the hole also. It was well that they had done so expeditiously, for at that moment appeared at the turning of the gallery a dozen fierce - men, having some prisoner in charge, firmly bound with cords and chains. The way was led by Ivan himself, who, lantern and cut- lass in hand, strode in front, full of mighty oaths. “Tt is Ivan,” Red Jacket whispered ; ‘lay low—don’t breathe.” i “ Who has he gotthis time ? Let me peep out and see, “ Not for your life! They are near us, and haye ears and eyes like a cat!” » Handsome Ned, however, did peep! He fell back into the hiding hole as if shot ! _ Red Jacket whispered to him, but received no answer, — Surprised, he, too, was about to peep at the approaching group, when Ivan, with his lantern, passed, his ugly ferocious countenance flushed and excited with looks of wild triumph ! Red Jacket’s eyes rested for a moment on the procession of savage men. wie What he saw stilled the beatings of his heart ; he gasped for breath and fell upon his face! What this was that appalled these two brave and adven- turous men the next chapter will explain. CHAPTER XLIII. UPROARIOUS JOY OF IVAN AND HIS MEN AT THE NEWS OF BLUE JACKET’S CAPTURE—FRIENDS FROM THE FORGE ARRIVE AT LAMBETH TOWER—RAWLEY’S RAGE AND DIS- APPOINTMENT—THE ESCAPE OF WILL WINTER AND HARRY PERCY—THEY DIVE UNDER THE MOAT—BLUE JACKET’S FATE—HE IS IN IVAN’S HANDS—WHAT-IT WAS THAT | ASTONISHED HANDSOME NED AND RED JACKET IN THE OLD MINE—BLUE JACKET’S DOOM—THE PROFESSIONAL ‘KEEPER. TERRIBLE. 83 Forge, it must have been of the utmost importance, for that fierce villain started to his feet with wild looks and a savage oath of triumph. “In the Tower?” he exclaimed, in wonder, with a look of malignant triumph. “In the Tower? Ha, ha! Drink, men ! drink, my men, to the good news now brought from Lambeth Tower. Blue Jacket is a prisoner !” “Blue Jacket a prisoner in Lambeth Tower? Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!” shouted his swarthy and remorseless companions, in surprise..- ‘Yes, a prisoner, under the special charge of Rawley, the keeper! Drink, drink! Bring out thy kegs of rum and brandy, hag !” he cried to the wan, witch-like woman before described. “Bring out of our best. Let my brave men drink to our triumph over the greatest of all our enemies!’ The scene that now ensued at the Forge among Iyan’s followers baffles all description. Spirits were handed about, and drank like water. Songs, toasts, and uproarious noise immediately followed the announcement of the joyful news, ** Drink, drink to your fill, my men, and until I return, let no man flinch from his rum or brandy. This is a joyful night for us ; our greatest enemy is in prison and heayily ironed. He mill never breathe free air again!” With these words Iyan and a dozen of his men left the Forge, and ‘were soon lost in the darkness on their way to Lambeth Tower. But what had taken place there ? Simply this. When Ike, the one-eyed, red-headed gaoler had peeped into Blue Jacket’s cell, and discovered that his two visitors had mysteriously disappeared, he rushed down the stairs like one who was frantic, “Escaped! escaped!” said old Rawley, the keeper, half drunk, twisting his sword about in excitement and disgust. “ Escaped! How could they haye escaped ?” “ T know not, sir,” Ike gasped ; ‘‘but when I looked into the cell again I found they had gone, but how or where I know not.” : “ Liar !” roared old Rawley, seizing Ike by the throat, and almost choking him, ‘Liar! kmave! fool! you are a traitor! You conspired with those two imposters to gain admittance to the Tower, and have dishonoured me! Away, I say! get out of my sight, or I will slay ye!” Saying this, Rawley, furious and drunk as he was, hurled One-eyed Ike from him with such violence that his red head came in violent collision with the stone walls of the vault- like chamber. ‘‘ Search everywhere for them ; let not a nook or corner of the Tower be left unexamined! Look to the boat on the bank outside, Fire vollies in it!—sink it, if they move it an inch |” In a few moments all the inmates of the Tower were afoot with sword and lanterns and daggers and link-lights, search- ing everywhere for Will Winter and Harry Percy. The search was useless. But why ? How had they escaped ? As Grand Master of the Apprentices, Will Winter had pro- cured accurate plans of the building from other apprentices who had helped to repair it at different times, Therefore, being aware of One-eyed Ike’s treachery, he seized Harry by the arm, and whispered, ‘This way ; we will escape by a secret flight of back stairs that have not been used for years.”’ On the instant, then, while Ike was ascending, Will Winter had trodden heavily upon a small round stone on the dark landing, and to Harry’s astonishment a huge portion of the seeming solid wall was moved as if by magic! They entered the aperture, closed it again, and found themselves.on along flight of winding stairs that communi- cated with a moat on the land side of the Tower, “They reached the water’s edge, but here further progress | was stopped. MURDERER—IVAN’S CHARACTER GIVEN BY RAWLEY THE | WHATEVER it was that the intruderspoke in Ivan’s ear at the | “Can you swim, Harry?” “Like a duck.” “Good! But can you dive?” (C@) DOOkKSHEOM (C Mm