The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

CS , THE SKELETON CREW; OR, WILDFIRE NED. 13] EE —————— “I do, well. He is one of, the bravest—” “Stop!” said Death-wing, with a fierce oath; _“wonld you thus speak of. my deadliest enemy ?” “Your enemy ?” n , “Yes, and that of all the band, I believe the young brat was born to bring disgrace and ruin on the Skeleton Crew, for ever since he was born mis- fortune has followed us.” _ Captain Jack listened, but said not a word. _4in his, heart he; loved Ned Warbeck, and. hated bout Redgill and his grim friends with his bitterest ate. ‘| Now, 1.tell you, Captain Jack, that this youth must,, die, by any means in your power or mine. Could you not, in‘some manner, fasten Farmer Ber- tram’s murder upon Ned Warbeck ?” “It is possible, but— ‘No ‘buts’ with us—you must do one thing or the other, You;must die here, where you now stand) or. take a most solemn oath to arrest Ned arbeck, and charge him with murder.” “But where are jthe witnesses to carry out the charge of murder ?” “You can do that easily enough. Once he-is in prison, there will be no difficulty in bringing up men to swear to-anything, we ask of them. Some of your own band, Castain Jack, could do that.” “Yes, if they were well paid for it,’’ “And so they shall. be.” “ But where is the money to come from ?” “Oh, you must find that,” Wl CS | “Yes, you.. Rob Colonel Blood, or whoever you choose. , [ care not what'you do, so you obey my commands,” “1 will do as you wish,’ said Captain Jack, who was, over anxious to get away from such horrible- looking people. ‘Let me go, and Ill fulfil any commands you like.” “So be it. Remember your oath.” “ T will,” “And also remember,’ said Death-wing, “that every step. you, take, and every action you do, will be closely watched by some one or other of: the Skeleton Crew.” “1 will not forget.” La’ bended knees, before — all “Then, on your assembled; swear. on. this sword to fulfil my com- mands.” , : T will.?? Captain Jack fell upon his knees, and, then, in the. midstiof all assembled, swore to »pprehena Ned Warbeck on the charge of murder, and to procure withesses at any cost to support the charge. _In a. few moments thereafter, Cap'ain Jack was _in the open air again, and free. He knew not why or wherefore, but directly he got into the streets again, he ran from the house with great fleetness, like a hare which has escaped from a deadly snare. : CHAPTER XXXVIL THE OATH—NED WARBECK IS ARRESTED FOR he MURDER. Wuen Captain Jack had ron himself out of breath, and had come to a dead standstill from sheer exhaustion, he leaned against a lamp-post, and, puffing and blowing, began to think what he had better do. | De. » birt “« What (the! devil must I do?” he mused. “I know not which way to go, or what to be up to. If I attempt to rob Colonel: Blood to. get» money, the chances are ten to one I shall get.a pistol ball in my head, or a sword through my side. If I do not get the money, why, then, those grim devils will skin me-alive. - Then I have to arrest Ned Warbeck, not an easy matter, for he has hosts of friends. who would fight to the last for him.” “Yet something must be,done, and quickly,” he thought ; “for though I have run away from that cursed house as fast as my legs would let me, I have no doubt that I am watched already, and followed about like a shadow,’”. : While he thus thought, a drunken man knocked against him, “Hulloa, where are you going to ?’? said Captain Jack, feeling desirous of drawing his sword, and taking revenge upon somebody for the sad adven- tures of the night. “ Hulloa, where are you going to ?”’ “Where are you going to?” was the reply; “don’t .you know a gentleman when, you, see one ?” = ay ft : “TI do; but you,are not one.” “You seem to know me then.”’ “T do—it’s Black Ben.” | “Right you are; and you are the noble Captain Jack ?” | ‘Olean 2 “T thought so; and, if it’s-a fair question, what are you up to.so early in the morning: ?” [am on the road to the devil, Ben.” “T don’t understand, captain.” “Tam on my way to old Sir Richard. Warbeck’s house,” ) “What for ?” “You would never guess.” ‘“‘ Perhaps not ;. what for, then ?’” “To arrest young Ned Warbeck onthe charge. of murder,” “You don’t mean that !” | “T do though ; he is innocent of the charge it is true, Ben, but still he must suffer for old Bertram’s murder.” = “Why, you have arrested two on the: charge before.” Tagg “True ; but old Redgill’s clerk, Mr. Bolton, is innocent. He is out of prison, and Phillip Redgill bas broken jail.” “Broken jail! it’s the first I have heard about 1 re “That may be; but it is'true for all that. I have been in thie hands of Death-wing ‘and his band all night, and have sworn on my life to have Ned War- beck hung, in order to save myself; for old Gingles you spoke ot turned out to'be no other than Death- wing. I lost all my money at’ cards; and was after- wards entrapped into their den, and:swore a solemn oath to do ‘this, or would have been killed on the spot.” i “ But you will not keep your promise now that you are free.” TO “JT must.” “Remember your oath,” said a distant voice. CHAPTER XXXVIII.’ ” IN WHIGH CAPTAIN JACK FINDS, ENEMIBS;, AMONG HIS OWN. MEN-—THE TABLES, ARE /TURNED- Ir was now very plain, from the progress of our story, that Colonel Blood* had fully got Captain Jack'and his gang under his thumb, and’ that their very lives depended on his will and pleasure. CONMICODOOKS. COM