Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 89: what you’re looking at

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

IVAN THE way to the dark, loathsome and stifling hole which he had destined for his captive’s prison. One of his followers carried a small loaf and a jug of water for the prisoner’s fare. As Red Jacket gazed upon the pale but handsome features of his chief, as blindfolded and manacled he was led along to his dungeon, his very heart smote him with grief. Had he not been burdened with the helpless form of Scarlet Sam it is more than possible that he would have rushed forth and attacked both Ivan and his followers single-handed rather than that they should bear Blue Jacket away before his eyes, heavily laden with manacles and irons, ? As it was, however, he ground his teeth in desperate but impotent rage, and determined to follow Ivan and watch all his movements. Leaving Scarlet Sam in charge of Handsome Ned and tell- ing him to give him occasional sips from his brandy flask, he crept on his hands and knees and followed Blue Jacket. Ivan had not gone far beyond where Red Jacket had first perceived him when he turned down a small side gallery. From the rattling of bolts and bars and chains the spy con- cluded that the captors had reached their journey’s end and were about to incarcerate his chief in some strong secret dungeon. He was right, Upon his hands and knees he perceived Ivan, at some dis- tance down the side gallery, hand the lantern to one of his followers, and unlock a ponderous door that swung on its tusty hinges with a harsh, grating sound that smote his heart. The bandage was taken from the prisoner’s eyes, and he was rudely thrust into his.dungeon, with ‘many fierce oaths and imprecations. The bolts were again safely fastened, and with the rattling noise of many chains, Ivan turned on his heel and retraced his steps. ‘© He’s fast enough,” said Ivan, with a fiendish laugh. “I never had a prisoner that escaped me yet. I only wish I had received his death-warrant, that’s all.” “Ah, it would be a capital idea to chain him up beside Sam Scarlet, and let him have the pleasure of rotting with his follower,” said one. “True,” said Ivan, “I will think of that. I suppose Sam Scarlet is dead by this time, and the rats have half eaten him, Ha! ha! so much for the two Fly-by-Nights. We have not done with that band yet.” “There is Red Jacket——” “Yes, and Handsome Ned, and ascore others that must die ere I have had full vengeance on them,” said Ivan, with a hungry growl. “J think it will be some time ere we manage to entrap Red Jacket and Handsome Ned, for they seem to be too artful. I wonder if the Eel or Nat Fathom has told of our designs upon them ?” asked one. «Tf they have, so much the worse for themselves,” said Ivan. “I wanted Nat Fathom to join me, but he scornfully refused to do so.” So speaking, Ivan and his men passed on their way home- ward to the Forge, nor did they perceive the dark figure of Red Jacket as he hid himself behind a pile of rubbish next the wall. They were as unaware of his presence as of Handsome Ned’s, who, with Scarlet Sam, was safely secreted in their hiding-hole. The small and frequent sips of brandy which Ned gave toSam so much revived him that after some time the half-fainting man recovered his consciousness, and spoke plainly of his horrible sufferings. Where Red Jacket was neither of them knew, and, as they now had no light, it was possible they might mistake their way. : At length a soft whisper was heard. “Ned ?” “That you ?” “Yes; speak low. Ivan 1s not yet far off.” ‘What have they done with the captain ?” TERRIBLE. — 85 eae is cast into a loathsome hole. Have you a flint and steel ?” “Yes ; but don’t light the lamp. It might discover us,” ‘“‘T must ; I am going to dig out Blue Jacket.” ‘Dig him out? What do you mean?” “Why, since we have no tools to force the bolts and bars or pick the padlocks, I am going to dig the door down. You take care of Sam; I’ll look after Blue Jacket,” With this intention, Red Jacket, with his flint and steel, soon struck a light, and, with the old pickaxe on his shoulder, darkened his lantern so that a single ray might not be seen, he slowly, cautiously, and noiselessly stepped forward towards Blue Jacket’s dungeon. _ The nearer he approached the more he became convinced that there was some one beside the captain near him, He listened, but could not hear aught but the heavy breath- ing of the captive. “He must breathe very quickly,” thought Red Jacket. “ He takes two breaths to my one; that may be on account of his sufferings, poor devil.” With his hand on the wall, he felt his way to the prisoner’s dungeon, and paused as he touched the iron bars. “The ground is soft, and is a clayey soil,” he thought. “TI will dig a hole right wnder the massive door instead of digging the whole door out of the wall.” He noiselessly put down his dark lamp. “When the captain hears it strike he’ll wonder what the devil it is,’ thought Red Jacket. “I'll not speak to him yet awhile until I have dug a hole large enough for him to crawl through. I should like to turn on the light before I com- mence ; it’s too dangerous, though.” He raised the old pickaxe, and, swinging it round with his whole strength, struck soft earth. A sudden, convulsive groan responded to the stroke! Red Jacket started back in surprise. He could not have struck the ground, Yet what else was it ? He seized the lantern and slightly turned it on. The pich-axe had transfixed a man to the earth! It was one of Ivan’s followers, who had been left to guard Blue Jacket. He was half tipsy, and had laid down on the ground to sleep just before the dungeon door, He was dead! His eyes seemed starting out of their sockets, and his limbs were contracted with the intense and sudden agony he had endured. Death had been almost instantaneous, Surprised and horrified as he was, he could not but perceive Blue Jacket’s pale face peeping through his prison bars. “ Haste, Red Jacket, haste, or all may be lost. You have killed my gaoler ; it is one of Ivan’s most trusty men. Never mind ; haste !” Red Jacket did make haste. Unheeding the dead body, he worked hard at the soil under the doorway until soon a very large hole was made. He now handed the pick-axe through the bars to Blue Jacket, who laboured hard at the work inside, until at last the threshold of the dungeon was undermined, and the prisoner crept through the large hole that was made, Tying up the dangling chains, so that they might not jingle and cause an alarm, Red Jacket conducted his chief to where Handsome Ned was tending Scarlet Sam, With the greatest expedition and ease the three able- bodied men conveyed Sam to the mouth of the pit. “But how are we to ascend?” asked Ned. “The rope is broken ?” ‘Think you, Ned, that any of my men would let you re- main down here without making instant efforts to release you ?”’ said Blue Jacket. ‘‘No, no, trust them; they are all bound on oath, as you well know, to risk their lives for each other. How many hours is it since you first came down?” ‘Oh, many.”’ ‘Then I warrant me aid is nigh,” At that moment the noise of suppressed yoices was heard at the top of the pit, SaCOuM Gomicboo