The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 138: what you’re looking at

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

132 —— It was also known that he was a great favourite of the king, and that whatever he might say or do was law. Old Tom Bates—he with the long nose, off which Colonel Blood had not long ago knocked a large pimple—was in exceeding great wrath, and secretly vowed vengeance against Colonel Blood. If the truth must be told, old Bates had not long before that had a long conference with Captain d ack about this Colonel Know-all, as Bates termed im, . He and Captain Jack met’ by accident, one evening, and entering a wine-shop, began to drink very heavily. “T tell yer what it is, captain,” said old Bates, tossing off a bumper and winking very cunningly, “Vl tell yer what it is, captain.” “Well, what zs it ?” said Captain Jack, adjusting the black patch over his eye, and winking with the other. Well, what I means to say, is this ’ere, Captain Jack. If things in our line don’t get alittle brisker than they has been o’ late, why, I shall leave the Dozen and start on my own individual account.” ‘ Leaye the Dozen, Bates ?” ‘“ Aye, why not ?” “ But you can’t.” ‘* Aye, but I will, I tell yer, and you nor none on ‘em can stop me. What’s the good o’ having a captain at the head on us who don’t do something In the way o’ trade? Why, since that affair of old Bertram’s murder, we’ve had nothing at all to do, and you must recollect, captain, that a man of my mettle can’t stand that sort o’ game any longer. Gig me plenty o’ money and little work; that’s my style, “ Well, ’m listening,” said Captain Jack, laughing; ““go on, I’m all attention,” ‘You may laugh as much as you’ve a mind to,” said old Bates, in an angry tone; “but that don’t suit me; I want money, and money I'll have, by fair means or foul. “ Well, then, get it; it’s none o’ my business,” said Captain Jack, in a surly tone; “ I’m just as short as any one,” “And how comes it we are all so hard up, then ?” “ i I don’t know ; business is dull, I suppose that’s it. _ “ Noit ain’t,” said old Bates, sneeringly. “ Business 1s 48 good as ever it was, but you are growing as timid as a girl, Captain Jack.” “Me ?” “Yes; you. You needn’t foam, and sweat, and swear, I knows. all about it.’’ ‘About what ?” “ Why, that affair with you and Colonel Blood ; you are under his thumb, my man.” “Well, suppose I am, what then? Didn’t he threaten to hang every one of the Dozen on the cross-roads if we didn’t find out the murderer of old Farmer Bertram ?” “Well, and so we have. Redgill in prison for it ?” “Yes,” eaid Captain Jack, but at the same time he knew he was telling a lie, and tried to whistle. “Now you’ve got the right party, what more claim has the colonel got against us ?” ‘“Y oungRedgill ain’t hung yet ; the bargain holds good, so the colonel says, until that’s accomplished.” “‘ Why, that’s another condition,” said old Bates, with an oath ; “ first it was capture him, now it’s stop till he’s hanged ; there seems to be some mystery about this whole affair, Captain Jack; there has Haven’t you got young ———— a Oe a en 2 See ry, been some bargain or other between you and this young Redgill. “ Bargain,” said Captain Jack indignantly “ bar- gain ! what do you mean ?” “Why I mean this, Captain Jack, that you've been doing a shuffling business with all of us.’’ “Do you mean to insult me ?” said Jack, placing his hand upon his sword and looking very ferocious. “‘T don’t care whether you take it as an insult or not, One man’s word is as good as another, and young Redgill told the gaolers that you have had thousands from him one time and another,” “Thousands !” said Captain Jack, indignantly, ‘“why, the fellow must be mad to talk in that way ; why, he never had thousands in all his life.” “Not by fair means, I dare say, Jack ; but there ain’t a doubt but what ne has paid you well enough.” “Now, look here, Bates,” said’ Captain Jack, “you must be either dreaming or mad; I ‘only received what he owed me of borrowed money.” ‘“Borrowed money,” said Old Bates, laughing out lustily, “ borrowed money, eh ? Why, you must take me for a perfect fool, Captain Jack.” * Well and suppose I do ?”’ “ Why, all I can say, then, you are d—nably mistaken.” * Hullo, Bates, hullo ! what does all this mean, eh ? You get me tocrack a bottle of wine with you, and then you turn round and abuse me.” “No I don’t, it’s you that abuses me. Do you think fora moment you could have thousands of pounds to lend to a young rascal like that ? No, no, Captain Jack ; if you do think mea fool, I tell you again you are d—nably mistaken, that’s all,” **Come, come, old man, let’s have no noisy words from vow, you know you'd have been hung long ago except for me.” ‘- Would I ? and ain’t you as thick in the mud as Iam in the mire? Listen to me.” As he spoke, he leaned across the table and whis- pered, ‘* How about that money you lost at cards t’other nicht ?” “What do you mean ?” said Jack, reddening. “I suppose you don’t know that Phillip Redgill has escaped from prison, do you ?” “You are aliar,” said Captain Jack, with an oath, trying to look firm and desperate ; “ you are a liar, Nat and if you were not so old, and a faithful pal, 1) (ead “Oh, no, you wouldn’t,” said Bates. “I am cap- tain now.” ‘“ What's that you say ?” “Nay, you needn’t curse and swear, Jack; I'm telling you the truth.” ‘** But that ain’t the truth.” “Yes it is.” “No it ain’t, you old liar.’’ ‘Look at this, then,” eaid old Bates, pulling out twelve warrants cancelled, “do you know what these mean ?” “Why, those are the death warrants that Colonel Blood had when he went down to Darlington !” “T know it,” “ But he had thirteen, not twelve.” “JT know he had, but Colonel Blood holds the odi one.” “ Indeed, and whose is it ?” “Why, your’s, Jack.” ‘* Mine ?” “Yes, and no mistake,”’ ites “And do you mean to say that Colonel Blood has THE SKELETON CREW; OR, WILDFIRE NED. given the twelve to you and not the odd one also?” **J do mean it, and for a special reason.” Gomicboo E(0) n) oH