Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

IVAN THE crossing Blackfriars bridge returning from a famous suburban theatre, It was between eleven and twelve o’clock. They were passed by the frail, delicate form of a young girl about fourteen years of age. She was sobbing loudly. The young horseman was attracted by her grief, and fol- lowed her closely, When she had arrived at the middle of the bridge she suddenly jumped over. An awful splash was heard uclow. ~ The young horseman did not hesitate for a moment; he leaped off his steed, divested himself of his coat, vest and shoes, and jumped over the parapet of the bridge after her! The servant was paralysed with astonishment. Taking charge of the two horses he galloped down to the river's edge, tied them together, and looked for a small boat, He found one and jumped in, but it was tied by a rope, He tugged and tugged, but the rope broke not. He had no knife ! He pulled at the boat with the energy of despair. The rope snapped ! The servant fell back sprawling into the middle of the boat legs upward. fis young master, meanwhile, he could hear was splashing about and diving like a young seal. The servant was impatient to go to the rescue. He had but one oar, the other had been lost ! He attempted to row with this, but went round and round in the water like a whirligig. The river was so black that, as it rolled by, it looked like a vast sea of ink. Now and then a little wave arose and cast up its white spray. The servant for a moment could see the white garment of the drowning girl and the head of his master above the dark water. His young master shouted with the energy of despair. “Tsee her! Isee her! Help! help!” With two brave strokes he reached the spot where her white garments had been seen, In a second nought but his legs were visible. He had dived deep ! One moment more he reappeared above the turgid waters, He grasped the maiden by her long, luxuriant hair ! By this time the river bank was crowded by a mob of idlers that had been attracted to the spot. “ Bravo!” shouted some, ‘‘ Well done, brave lad!” shouted others, as the desperate struggle for life or death continued, but no one attempted to render any assistance, The servant with his one oar was fast losing confidence, for his boat was drifting away. His master with his burden was boldly plunging one- handed to the shore, but he was fast going. A rattling in his throat and great dizziness was coming on. He perceived his servant at a little distance from him, and shouted, * Here, Darby! here!” He disappeared ! = A cry of horror was heard on shore. y Next moment Darby felt something clutch his oar. It was his youthful master ! In an instant Darby clutched the hand as well as he could, but the weight of his master, now totally insensible, together with his prize, was too much for the little boat, and it almost capsized. : “Let go of her,’’ Darby cried, “ and save yourself.” This was shouted out so loudly that it aroused the youth from the delirious feelings that were.fast mastering him. “Tet go, I say, let go! Save yourself!’ Darby shouted, in despair, “ Never ! swered. ‘We are going, sir!—we must sink! Save yourself! Let her go! For God’s sake, sir, save yourself!’ Darby cried, and not without reason, for the boat was half capsized, and filling fast with water, We shall die together,’ the youth faintly an- TERRIBLE. 5 “No, no, save fev, or let us die together,” the brave youth _ sighed, and let go his hold. | It was an awful moment, Darby could see the eyes of his young master staring wildly. His arm was raised above water, with fingers cramped, as if supplicating Heaven, He disappeared beneath the inky tide. Darby uttered a shout of horror. ‘He is lost ! he is-lost |!” he said, in tones of despair. At that moment a six-oared boat darted past Darby like an arrow ! He gazed in wonder at the speed of the rowers, They seized his young master by the hair of his head, and lifted him into the boat with as much ease as if he were but a child, The maiden was also lifted into the boat, and they were rapidly pulling towards the shore when the shouts of Darby arrested their attention. “ Help, help! I’m sinking! Oh, help!” Directing their swift craft towards him, one of the rowers threw out the boat-hook, which, fastening on to Darby’s boat, soon drew it into shore. The master, maid, and servant were saved ! “Bravo, gentlemen! bravo!” shouted the crowd, who clapped their hands in jubilee over the rescue. “ Bravo the devil !” answered one of the oarsmen, in dis- gust, as he shoved his way through the crowd. “A pretty sct of vagabonds ye are, truly, to stand by and see a mere boy _ endanger his life for the sake of a poor girl, and here stand ye, a crowd of dirty and over-fed varlets, gaping on the while,” answered one of those who had manned the boat, “Come, come, Ned,’”’ whispered a companion, to him, in confidence, ‘‘don’t have any talk with these ragamuffins. You know there are several on the look-out for us; a crowd is sure to attract some of the night watch. I know you haven't any idea of being lodged in Newgate so very soon after your late escape, so let us seek our horses and get away; we've done quite enough.” : “True, Andy,” Ned replied, “ but before I go I'll learn the name of this gallant boy, and shake him by tue hand too, if he were surrounded by all the officers in Bow Street.” So saying the one named Ned, who was a handsome-looking, gaily, flashily-dressed fellow, strode towards the brave boy, who, having now recovered, was leaning over and chafing the hands of the almost inanimate maid. “ What might your name be, my brave lad?” asked Hand- some. Ned, shaking him by the hand very heartily. 2 ‘‘ Many, many thanks, kind sir, for preserving my life; but I think I have a card with me,” said Harry, with a gay laugh. So saying he produced a small card, and, by the light of a torch, Ned read :— e HENRY PERCY, JUN. Percy House, and Glenloch Castle, Cornwall. “The youngest son of the earl;’ whispered Ned’s com- panion. “The devil! Why, then, this youngster is the brother of Lady laura, Captain Blue Jacket’s flame!” said Ned, in sur- rise. ae True ; but who’s the girl he’s taken so much trouble to rescue from drowning ?” “JT know not. <A beautiful young creature, though, as ever lived, judging from her features.”’ “Tt might be well to inquire.” “There is a mystery here,’ answered Ned; “but let us away. I shall watch this young Percy and the unknown girl.” “Tt would be well to inform the captain of it.” “Oh, he’s in Cornwall, love-making, ere this,” said Ned, laughing. “We need not expect him in London for two weeks at least.” : While they thus spoke in whispers, apart from the crowd, and made their way towards where their horses stood, they were watched and followed ! They knew not who it was that tracked them thus, Yet as Ned and Andy mounted their horses they were joined by four companions, while a single man, hiding from the rays ComnicloookSs.CGOnn