The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 147: what you’re looking at

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

eT ES 5 EN THE SKELETON CREW; OR, WILDFIRE NED. 141 thinks, before four-and-twenty hours more, the name of that place will be in the mouths of every one in all London.” “Why, I do not understand you ; explain your- self, Why, I thought of journeying there to- morrow.” “You had better not, sir, for it is a most villainous place.” “Once upon a time,” said Bates, “it was one of the quietest little villages in all England.” oon oe sir ; but things have changed very “How do you mean ?” “Why, old Farmer Bertram was mysteriously hee there, and it has never been found out KX “T know it: there igs aro al proclamation ab * — u that affair,” said Bates. Thier ea as And then the beautiful daughter of old Harmer, 2h miller, was forcibly abducted by some base villain,” “ True,” : “And she has never been heard of since.” “So I have been told.”? “And then her lover, young Andrew, was stabbed, thrown into the river and almost killed ; and now, to add to the horrors of the place and its surround- Ing roads, another murder has been committed in the woods near old Sir Richard’s mansion,” ‘ Another murder !”’ said Jack, in surprise “Aye, sir, you may well be surprised, ; another murder has been committed there, and everything has become so dangerous down there, that I intend to throw up my situation, for I suppose next time I go down there with the mails they’ll be for murder- ing me,” : ‘Oh, nonsense,” said Captain Jack. “You must be mistaken, my lad,” said Bates. _ “NoI’m not, gentlemen ; there’s no mistake about if, more’s the pity. What with the ravages of Death-Wing and his Skeleton Crew, and the increase of murders down in these parts, the village is gettinga very bad name ; nay, the worst of names in all England.” ‘“‘And who was murdered this time ?” , “I don’t know for certain, but I heard it was no less a man than Colonel Blood himself.” “Colonel Blood ! impossible,” said Jack, snapping his fingers. “Are you sure it was the colonel, young man ?” said old Bates. “No, gentlemen, I am not quite certain ; but old Harmer has seen the’ body of the murdered man, and he swears it is just like the gentleman who used to come prowling about the mill after Ellen.” “Then what makes you think it was Colonel Blood ?” “From cards and notes found in his pockets.” Jack and Bates looked at each other in a very knowing manner. “ How did it all happen ?” asked Captain Jack. cs Here, sit down, my lad, and let’s hear all about it.’ “Yes, yes, landlord, give us another bottle ; you needn’t mind telling ws the whole truth, you know,” said Bates, with an air of much importance, for we are Crown officers, and no harm can befal you.” “Well, you see, gentlemen,” the post-boy began, “since Ellen Harmer has been stolen away from her father’s house, Andrew, her lover, recovered from his wounds, but is thought to be raving mad at times, and goes raving about in all sorts of holes and corners. “The people take pity on him, and treat him kindly ; but all he thinks of is revenge for the injuries he has received. “Last night he was sitting in a public-liouse by the roadside, about two miles ‘this side of Darling- ton, when who should stop to bait his horse but a person very much like the man-who stabbed him on the bridge the night Ellen’ Harmer was carried away. “ Directly he entered the parlour, poor Andrew began to rave, and the stranger laughed at him. **Poor Andrew began, as usual, to tell the stranger his troubles, like he does to all who will listen to him ; but still the stranger laughed, and began to mock him, “With eyes glistening like two burning coals, Andrew peered closely into the stranger’s face, but made up his mind that, though very much like, he Boa not be the man who had so cruelly wronged im, : “The stranger pretended to be ignorant of the country he was passing through. “Yet, at the same time, the landlord says he spoke of Sir Richard Warbeck, and. of. Wildfire Ned’s famous doings, as if he had been acquainted with them for years. ‘He knew all about old Bertram’s murder, and whatever had happened to Ellen Harmer, who, he said, was safe and sound in London. ‘““He had plenty of money, and said he was.sent down from London on a secret mission to capture one Captain Jack, a famous rogue, who was sup- posed to be hiding somewhere thereabouts, “ He pulled out rolls of notes and a bag of money, and made such a display of it, that the landlord begged him to be very careful, for it might excite the passions of those around, ‘“¢ He did not care,’ he said ; ‘ie wasn’t, afraid of all Darlington. put together,’ he swore» more than once, “While he was talking, Andrew went out of the parlour, and went along the road towards home. “*You had better take the road through the forest,’ said the landlord to him; ‘it is much nearer, Andrew, my boy, than by going along the road,’ “ Andrew did not make ‘any reply, but went his way. on about half an hour the stranger rose, buttoned up his coat, and, with a thick stick in his: land, went forth alone. «Tm going to Darlington,’ he said. “¢But, you said you were a stranger in these parts,’ the old publican remarked, ‘and, if that is so, you May miss your way.’ ““« Never fear,’ said the burly stranger, laughing. ‘T heard you say the path through the woods was much nearer than by the road, so I’l\ take the shortest cut.’ “The landlord begged of him not to go, but go he would and did. “ What happened afterwards I could only learn from his own lips, as he lay weltering in his blood, about half an hour afterwards, for in that time he was brought in by two rustics, with his throat fear- fully gashed. ‘He could speak, however, and, in reply to ques- tions put to him, he said, ‘Thad not gone far along the road, and had just entered the forest path, when I met with two poacher-looking fellows, each with a big stick, and slovenly dressed, with big coats and slouched hats, which almost covered their eyes. “«They were very civil, and I asked them a great many questions about Darlington. 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