Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 88: what you’re looking at

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

IVAN “Tike a seal!” was young Percy’s whispered reply. ‘Well, then, all is well. See yon little bridge? This moat is connected with the river by that bridge; the tide is high, the bridge flood-gates are open. We can swim or dive to our boat in the river ; but we had better dive. Allthe guards are on the look-out; they might shoot and hit us if we swim, Come, follow me, take a long breath and dive !” With these words Will Winter dived into the moat, and was quickly followed by Harry. -The distance was great, but so was their danger. When they touched the abutments under water they rose to the surface, and, under the shadow of the bridge, took a second long breath, and dived again and came up at the boat’s edge. All this was but the work of a few moments, so that Will Winter and Harry had got safely into their boat and rowed away rapidly ere the soldiers on the beach were fully in- formed of the confusion and excitement that reigned within the Tower. ““Escaped! The boat gone also!” roared Rawley, in a perfect tempest of fury and passion, raving about and madly striding to and fro. “Yes, good Sir Master Rawley,’”’ answered the frightened and almost breathless officials. ‘We have searched every- where, and cannot find a single trace of the impudent rascals !”’ “Death and fury! We are not safe! And the bold, fearless, apprentices, too! ’Fore Heaven, there is a foul plot at work to liberate the notorious Blue Jacket, and we must look to it! Mark me, our lives are not worth a straw if these London apprentices do attack the Tower! All will be a scene of bloodshed and flames around us! Oh, would that I had been here when those two bold young impostors so shamelessly deceived all of ye, blockheads !” Those around full well knew Rawley’s fearful fits of passion, and dared not interrupt him in any way. ‘This vile Blue Jacket must be removed to a place of greater safety. Yea, this instant. Oh, that I could find a man that would cut his throat for me, ere the king knew aught about it !” At that moment loud knocks were heard at the Tower gates on the land side, ‘Friends from the Forge wish to confer with your honour,” was the gate-keeper’s message. “Friends from the Forge at this dread hour of the morn- ing? Out upon such friends! Open not the gate to any from such a villanous quarter. Likely they are cut-throat friends or companions of the hardened young villain, Blue Jacket, in the cell above. Drive them away, and if they go not, tell the officer of the guard to fire upon the thieves and disperse them !”’ said Rawley, in fury, “But the chief of them told me to mention the name of Ivan, your honour, and all would be well,’ said the gate- keeper. ‘“‘Tvan, Ivan,’’ mused Rawley, for a moment. His countenance was instantly lit up with a triumphant look as he said quickly, ‘‘Tyan? Oh, of course, admit him, Zhe very man I most desired !” Looking round upon those near him, he said, with a scowl, in cold, harsh tones, “Get ye gone! To your posts, each and all! I would be alone, I wish to speak in private with a man who has more heart, nerve, and courage, than all of ye! Away!” The vault-like chamber was cleared, and soon were heard the heavy footfalls of one approaching through the stone corridors, “ He comes! sometimes employs. 84 THE This is the soulless, hardened villain Jefferies He’s a ready and willing tool for the’ most revolting crimes, He is sold both body and soul to the Demon of Darkness, JI, too, will use him. Let him but speak a single word of this interview, and his career shall suddenly end |” ' Ivan, muffled up to the eyes with a long, heavy black cloak, strode into the room. Rawley spoke to him for some time in whispers, ‘You understand me?” ; TERRIBLE. |. “JT do, and was fully informed of Biue Jacket’s arrest and imprison ene here ie ‘“ How knew you tna «s That isa conret I tell to no man, Few things happen to the Fly-by-Nights that I am not well informed of ; they are — my bitterest enemies. Blue Jacket especially. i “Then you willingly undertake his safe custody ? “JT do, with the greatest pleasure ; I shall gloat to see him writhe in ghana a ” “You must not kill him.” SO “Tam sorry for that, but yet will do your bidding if you promise he shall never be free again.” — “That I can promise, and I know not if he may not shortly diel “ Tf go, then, let me be his executioner.” “ Should such an order arrive you shall have that pleasure.” “Tis well,’ answered Ivan, and his eyes glared with fiendish joy; ‘deliver him into my hands and not all the demons of darkness shall free him from the prison house in which Z will put him, Jt is underground and extends for miles. Ha, ha! no apprentices will find him there, I warrant.” Rawley gave orders that Blue Jacket should be led forth and delivered into Ivan’s hands. “You shall see how he trembles when his eyes fall on me,” _ gaid Ivan, in a fierce chuckle. In a few moments fotr gaolers appeared with Blue Jacket in their midst. As soon as his eyes glanced at Ivan’s dark form he started in surprise. i Recovering himself he proudly reared himself to his full height, and, with looks of fearless disdain, he walked slowly under his heavy weight of chains ! Ivan and his followers led him forth from the Tower, with loud, derisive laughter, and soon they were far on their way to ‘the Forge.” When they had approached Ivan’s abode Blue Jacket was heavily and securely blindfolded. He knew not whither they led him, but felt certain he was destined to be frightfully tortured. One of Ivan’s men went in front and led the way, The procession entered “ the Forge” noiselessly. Not one of Ivan’s men uttered a single word although their wild looks and gestures told too well the intense pleasure his capture afforded them. A trap-door was raised and the party descended into a very deep cellar. They traversed this for a few moments and then came to a second trap-door, upon opening which a sudden gust of cold, damp, gaseous air told Blue Jacket that his captors were con- signing him to some deep, subterranean cell. They were now. one of the many galleries of the old mine! They walked on for some time in dead silence, and then began to sing and curse and howl in wild and demon-like Joy: This was the unlooked-for A tg and this the pale, handsome prisoner the sight of whom had caused Ned and Red Jacket such sudden astonishment and alarm! CHAPTER XLIV. RED JACKET’S BRAVERY AND BOLDNESS—A MAN TRANS- FIXED TO THE EARTH IN UTTER DARKNESS—ASTONISH= MENT OF BLUE JACKET—THE DUNGEON UNDERMINED— THE FLIGHT—PERILOUS POSITION IN THE PIT— THE PURSUIT—HAILSTORM OF BULLETS AND A SHOWER OF STONES —NARROW ESCAPE—IVAN AND HIS RUIFFIANS FOILED—HOW CAN BLUE JACKET ESCAPE ? Ir Ivan, when in his fierce joy he strode along the dark and silent gallery of the Mine, had only known that he was watched by two of Blue Jacket’s men, what an unearthly shout he would have raised and how he would have rushed with his followers upon Handsome Ned and Red Jacket in their hiding-hole | He knew it not, however, and with loud oaths pursued his GComie boo <SuGOIn