Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 91: what you’re looking at

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

IVAN THE from Harry, Darby, and the Watermen’s Apprentices, he followed him cat-like, cautiously bidding his comrades to keep close and within hail. Seeing Will enter along narrow street, ont of which there was but one turning, he directed his friends to run round the houses and lay in wait to intercept him at the corner. He himself, however, followed Will, and at last accosted him just as he approached the spot where, the constables were concealed and ready to pounce upon him. “ Wine night, young gentleman ?” he said, “Tt is so, good citizen,” Will replied, “a beautiful night.” “ Do you go far ?” “ Not very far,” Will replied, ‘ why do you ask 2” Oh, I thought if you were going any distance, we might go in company, for though not a timid man, I fear to meet cut-throats and robbers on the way.” “Cut-throats and robbers?” said Will, looking full in the face of the spy, “‘ methinks you have not much to be robbed of, friend, even did you meet robbers ; and as to cut-throats, looking at your battered ugly face, and its many scars and black patches, I trow thou lookest a cut-throat thyself,” “ You seem inclined to be merry at my expense, my fine young gentleman.” ‘* And why should I not? I am young yet, and have my name and fortune to make in the world. It would go hard with me if a youth of eighteen summers did not laugh and make merry at such hob-goblin notions as robbers and cut- throats, so long as I have an arm and strength to wield a sword, pistol, dagger, or even a quarter-staff.” “Since you fear not anything then, young sir, and do not quail at any of the famous Blue-Jacket gang attacking thee, might I ask your name?” Will Winter, for a moment, hesitated, but at last commanded his hesitation and said boldly, ; “JT know not what right such an ugly rogue as thee hast to ask me that, but, as ’m not ashamed of myself or family, or any act of mine in life, my name is Will Winter, what might thine be ?” “They call me the ‘ Ferret,’” “The ‘Ferret ?’ and for why, pray ?” “Because, they say, there is not another man in England can find out thieves and rogues as well as I.” ‘Oh, indeed,” Will replied with a hearty laugh, ‘‘and yet you pretend to be afraid of them,” “Tam; thatis to say, I fear to meet more than one at a time,” the Ferret replied with a low, cunning laugh. ‘“‘ And is there some rogue at large now, then, thou’rt after that keeps thee out so late to-night?” asked Will, turning slightly pale. “Indeed, there is,” the Ferret replied, sidling close to the young apprentice and astonished at his coolness and indif- ference. ‘What is he accused of ?” “ Of robbery and——” TERRIBLE. What else 2?” **Of murder.” ‘‘ But suppose he is innocent 9”? Gann that he is not; we have witnesses to prove every- ing.” “ What’s his name, then ?” “ Will Winter !” was the quick reply, The Ferret seized him and presented a pistol at his head. In an instant he was surrounded by those who were lying in wait at the corner of the silent street. For a moment, Will was taken off his guard by the sudden arrest. The next instant, he resolved to free himself from his captors, and then voluntarily go and surrender himself after Blue-Jacket’s release. : At any other time, a tussle, desperate or otherwise, with half a dozen officers, would have pleased him, but now his strength seemed to fail him. The thought of his master’s death disheartened him, and he felt powerless to resist, Meekly as a child, he went with the officers towards a neighbouring round-house, and was consigned to a strong c2 ** When shall I be tried?” he faintly asked of the gaoler, ‘““ Well, young man, as far as I knows, they won’t be long aboutit, The sessionssit to-morrow, and as this barbarous affair of old Michael the cloth-worker, has reached the ears of all the principal aldermen, the lord mayor, and the king him- self, I hear they will try you to-morrow, and decently swing you off the gallows on the next day.” “So quick as that ?”’ “ Aye, true, the sooner the better, says everybody ; for it’s whispered about that you have something to do with the United ’Prentices and Blue-Jacket’s band ; it ain’t likely they’ll keep yow long on their hands, for they might attempt to rescue ou 32 87 “‘ Will the execution, then, be private ?” e ‘* Aye, true, aS private as can be; they'll let nobody know anything about it till the last minute like, for fear of a riot or some disturbance. We knows you, you know,” * Who am I, then ?”’ “Why, thee be’st the Grand Master and President o’ the London Apprentices, as mild and modest and humble as thee looks, Never fear, Master Will, we'l2 take care thee dostna break out o’ gaol again, mind ye.” So saying, the crusty old turnkey slammed the door, and locked and barred it, leaving the prisoner in total darkness. While Will Winter sat sad and melancholy he heard some one outside clambering up to his prison window. In a moment a head appeared at the grating but the face Will could not identity, for it was masked. The unknown said, hurriedly, “Fear nothing! Weknow all! Blue Jacket is free!” In an instant the head disappeared again, (Zo be continued.) THE BUZZARD’S FEAST: OR, THE SECRET MURDER. (Continued from page 80.) —_<>—_- ‘<T don’t somehow like his looks myself,”? said Spackman, “ and I thinks as how he’s been rether more of a tory than a whig ; but that’s nothing to the purpose now ; and he’s at our fire, and we’ve broken hoecake together ; so we cannot rake up the old ashes to make a dust with.” “© No, surely not,” was the reply of Spencer. ‘‘ Even though we knew him to be a tory, that cause of former quarrel should occasion none now. But it should produce watchfulness and caution. I’m glad to see that you have not forgot your old business of scouting in 1e swamp.” “ Kin I forget it, major {the demanded Spackman, in tones which, though whispered, were {ull of emphasis, as he laid his ear to the earth to listen. : ‘‘ James has finished supper, Major—that’s his whistle to tell me so, and I’ll jest step back to make it cl’ar to him how we’re to keep up the watch to-night.” ‘* Count me in your arrangements, Spackman, as I am one of you for the night,” said the major. ‘¢ By no sort of means,’’ was the reply. ‘‘ The night must be shared between James and myself. Ef so be you watts to keep company with one or t’other of us, why that’s another thing, and, of course, you can do as you please.” «¢ We'll have no quarrel on the subject, Joel,” said the officer, good-naturedly, as they returned to the camp together. The arrangements of the party were soon made. Spencer re- yiewed his offer at the fire to take his part in the watch ; and the Seotchman, Macnab, volunteered his services also ; but tlie offer of the latter was another reason why that of the former should be declined. Spackman was resolute to have everything his own way ; and while James Gray went out upon his lonely routids, he busie himself in cutting bushes and making a sert_4f a tens for the use of his late commander. Mrs. PAGOMmGHOO' > 3 (@(@)