The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 146: what you’re looking at

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

140 —— aS SAT SIN RINSE A GH PO A se THE SKELETON CREW} OR, WILDFIRE NED. nae nea ST TN OS “T do,” said Captain Jack, telling a lie. ‘‘I know not only all you would have done, but who you are, for all your disguise.” “You do ?” said the king; “then, as you know me, stranger, reveal not my name or station.” And as he spoke he placed one finger on his lip in token of silence. “? fis the king,” said; Ellen.Harmer, “TI was told so to-pight,” “No, no——,”” . “TItis not the king,’ said Jack, again telling a lie, “because if he were he would not give me that signet ring he now wears, as you will see presently.” The king smiled, and, taking off his signet ring, gave it to Captain Jack. “I told you it was not the king, fair one,” said Jack, lightly laughing, ‘for if it had been he would not have so humbled himself; besides, lassie, the king would never think of insulting a poor defence-- less girl.” As he spoke these words, Captain Jack left the room, and as he departed, said to the king, “Stay you here for at least twenty minutes ; if you move I will not be answerable for your life.” He closed the door, and carrying his lovely burden lightly oa one arm, made the best of his way into the garden. - As he did so, he heard the alarm given by old Bates and others outside. Old Bates and his companion watchers whistled very shrilly, and so Joud did they become, that Captain Jack and his companions, with their trea- sure, hurried towards the river bank. In a moment or two, the clash of swords and report of pistols were heard in the garden. “To the boat! to the boat! my merry men!” shouted old Bates. ‘ We are discovered !” ‘On to’em,men! Cut and thrust! Spare none of them !”? was the response of some one who now advanced at the head of a body of men, with links, torches, and the like. “On to ’em, they are all rogues and vagabonds !”’ Shouts, and oaths, and cries were ‘now heard on every side. Captain Jack placed Ellen Harmer in the boat, and, with a furious countenance, he rushed into the thickest of the fray. Blows were freely exchanged on both sides, and many were wounded. “Are all the men safe ?” said Captain Jack to Bates. “Yes ; they are all near by.” “Then let them stand in a line, {and face the enemy.” “What, fight and fall back to the boats: ?” “ Of course,” said Jack. ‘What else do you mean? Do you think that I or any of the lads would turn their backs to the enemy ? You area pretty fellow to be captain, truly,” As Jack advised, all his companions faced the intruders, and gradually fought their way back to the boat, which was now well Jaden with spoil. The fight still continued ; but many of the lights became extinguished in the combat, so that the officers and others who had come to arrest the masked strangers began to fight among themselves. Perceiving the confusion among them, ‘Captain Jack ordered his comrades to jump into the boat. They did go. Not one of them was killed, But several were severely wounded. As they pushed off from the shore, those in the garien fired a volley after them, and raised a loud shout. — —. ee eee EL ———————————————— ———————— “Pursue the rascals! Get a boat and overtake them!” cried several voices. But no one dared to follow the bold and daring robbers. Down the river they swiftly rowed. ; And, after some time, landed at a dark, dingy, treacherous-looking wharf. 3 This was a place used by the Dozen occasionally to store their plunder, They all got on shore safely. But while they stood in the darkness, a boat darted past the wharf. : “That’s some of our pursuers,” said Jack, “ we hadn’t much time to spare.”’ “No,” eaid Bates, “it was rather sharp work take it altogether.” “Took! look !” said Jack, “ere comes a second boat. By all that’s lucky. they are going to land at our wharf.” | ; “ Boat ahoy !” shouted Bates.. “ Ahoy! ahoy |!” was the response. seen any craft shoot past here 2?’ ’ ; “What, one with a lady in it ?” shouted Jack, in feigned voice. I, “ Ye-e-s,” was the distant answer. . “ Just shot down before you... You can’t mistake it’; row fast. Fire into ’em, it will soon bring the rascals to their senses.” True to this advice the second boat shot after the first at a rapid rate. | Ere long shots were fired inthe distance, “Hang me!” said old Bates, in high glee, ‘if one boat ain’t fighting the other. Why, the fellows are all gone mad !”’ ‘No matter,” said Captain Jack ; “ we have got the lady. Is she safely housed, Bates ?” “Yes, but very pale and weak, poor.creaturc. She couldn’t make out who and what we were with those masks on, so I had to tell her we were.a party of friends who had ieagued together for her de- liverance.”’ “ Very good; but, of course, you didn’t tell her that we had leagued together to get four or five sacks full of plunder, eh ?” ‘“ Not very likely.” “But what shall we do with her now that we have got her? We don’t want any pretty women among our band; the lads would be cutting each other’s throats over her.’’ “No fear of that ; she won’t stay long in the company of the Dozen. The king would give any price for her.” “Then he shall have her.” ; “Not so fast,” said Captain Jack, leading the way to a small public-house, not more than a hun- dred yards from their storehouse on the river side, “not' so fast, Bates, not so fast. She is well provided for the night, you say, and that is sufficient. I must pay a hasty visit to Darlington ere we make up our mind what to do.” : They had now reached the public-house, and were conversing in an undertone together when a post- boy rode up and dismounte}. Tired, dirty, and muddy he was, and seemed ready to sink from fatigue, | “Come far to-night ?” said Captain Jack, “Yes, sir, a good many miles, and have ridden faster than ever I did in my whole life.” “Where from ?” said Bates, shoving over his bottle to the post-boy. “Trom Darlington.” | “Darlington ?” said Captain Jack, pricking up his ears, ‘Why, that is the very place I was just speaking about.” | | “Indeed, sir,” said the post-boy ; “then, me- “ Have you Ehoo (E(0) mM <SEGOn