The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 156: what you’re looking at

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

el 150 THE SKELETON CREW; OR, WILDFIRE NED. “We crossed swords. “flow long we fought I know not; but I shall not forget that terrible conflict for a whole life- time. “« We must have been tilting at each other for fully half an hour, until at last, while he was giving a desperate lunge at me, his foot slipped, and I—— IT run him through the heart. “< We died without a groan. “*T took up the body and buried it with my own hands, digging a large hole in the ground as best I could with my own sword, “¢T went home and washed myself, and walked about as if nothing had happened. “« Wor several days nothing was talked of but the sudden disappearance of Count Felix. ““<T among the rest seemed greatly surprised, and was often asked my opinion about the matter. “¢T told every one that my idea was that he had been visiting a strange beauty among the mountains, and very likely had fallen a victim to the reyenge of some bold young mountaineer. ““¢ After a diligent search for more than a month the remains were discovered by tke sagacity of a favourite hound which the count had had for many, many years, who had scented it out, and unearthed tne body. “« Hvery one now thought that my idea had proved too true. “© Kven Evelina changed towards me, aad believed my story. “* With successful robberies and roguéry at dice I managed to keep tip my appearance, and was. not only always well attired, but had plenty of thoney. Ye Through great perseverance I managed to make an impression on Donna Evelina, and often sought her hand in marriagé, “«T was as often refused. “¢T know -not why it was, but from the first moment I came near her after Count Felix’s death, she seemed to take a greater partiality for the count’s favourite hound than before.’ «Tlie One that scented out the dead body ?’ I asked. ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘and as often as I came in her presence as often would the beast try to fly at my throat. «<«Fvelina used simply to laugh at this, but slic seemed to smile upon me more than ever, and after several months she, consented ‘to marry me privately.’ “< Privately, and why so ?’ I asked, “<«T know not,’ said Baptiste ; ‘but she promised to become my wife on one condition.’ **« And what was that?’ I asked. “Why, that I should never divulge the secret, or ask to live with her, or be for even half an hour alone with her until the end of twelve months.’ “¢ Singular request ?’ said I. ““Yes; but I agreed to it, and have kept my word, for she is immensely rich. But instead of this making me love her more, the conditions. she eeprs upon me turned my blood, and now I hate ler “When does the twelve months expire?’ I asked. “eT his very day.’ “¢Then you will sleep there to-night ?’ “we Yes,’ ‘““* But has she never found out your connection with this band ?’ I asked, “*No, nor even suspects it. Whenever I go there I always dress well, and have plenty of money, and so behave that no one would suspect me to be what I am.’ — ee “* And do you really intend to rob Donna Eve- lina, to-night ?’ I asked. i “Yes, and you must help me, wealth, and I know where it is kept.’ ja Well, I don’t mind,’ said I, ‘since you don’t like the woman, and she has plenty of money. You are her husband, and haye.a right to some of it.’ “Tt was agreed on then between us to go to Donna ’ She, has. great -Tivélina’s that night, * Baptiste and T left. the band, and dressed our- selves out splendidly. “He went up to her mansion, and knocked grandly at the door. “Tt was opened by a servant in livery. “T also got into the house, through the contri- vance of Baptiste, but without any of the servants seeing me, “ Most of Evelina’s jewels were kept in a chest, in the bluc bed-chamber. ‘‘¥ tried to discover it, but the mansion was so larze I could not find it for a long time. 4 ‘“ At last I found it, and was-about to search for the chest,.when I heard footsteps upon the stairs. T hid myself in a closet. “Two. footmen led in, Baptiste, who was half drunk. “ He was laughiog and hiccupping. and singing by turns. “ tle threw himself upon the bed, and the servants retired. ‘“T intended to get out of the closet and wake him, but at that instant I heard a deep growl, and rem ained where I was. “Through cracks in the closet I saw the chamber door open. “There stood Donna Evelina, looking beautiful and grand, but deathly pale, and she was. attired from head t> foot in black velvet robes. | * In the left hand she held a chamber lamp. : “By the right hand she held a fierce-looking hound firmly by the collar. “The dog’s cyes seemed to be like two. balls of fire, as he writhed and tried to get away from her firm hold. “Still Biptiste snored away loudly. ‘With a curl on her lip Donna Evelina said, ina half whisper, “““ Married, are we, eh ?’ Yes, a mock marriage it was, by one who, for money, played the part of a priest. No more! And this is the nuptial night, eh? Sleeping fool! ha, ha ! ‘‘ (hese few words were spoken in such terrible tones of quiet anger that L began to fear for poor Baptiste. ““Thy marriage-bed shall be thy death-bed also,’ said she. | | ‘““ And she loosed the hound ! “With a bound he darted towards the closet in which I was concealed. 4 “ He growled and sniffed, as if in warning. * As if by some supernatural instinct, the animal then leaped wildly on the bed. “A heavy groan was all I heard. “ Baptiste was murdered ! “With one fierce bite the animal had severed his ase Pipe, as clean as if it had been done witha c<nite ofl ine pure white sheets were quickly dyed in OOC ©“ With aloud‘laugh of triumph, Donna Evelina left the room, saying, “* Count Felix, thou art avenged |’ “T thought of escaping from my place of confine- ment, but [I dared not do so, “The hound lay before the door, and I could see nNiGboo (E(0) (E(0)