The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 192: what you’re looking at

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

i I THE SKELETON CREW; OR, WILDFIRE NED. 186 a te Pas EN night, while he kicked and tore the bed-clothes like an incarnate fiend. The keepers shook their heads, and looked very i silent. Pe oF the men went so far as to say that they Q he gory legs. SO TLCaAGH Red bold, swore that they had heard them walking up and down the maniac’s cell, at the hour of midnight. : Certain it is, that after suffering the most terrible tortures of mind and body, Phillip’ Redgill seemed to become suddenly calmer, and his reason re- turned. : } But on a certain night, just’ as the tower clocks chimed the hour of twelve, ie shouted ont— “Flere is the Red Man of the Gibbet, he stands beside we! on my left hand is the ghost of my father ; and walking over the bed-clothes are the | phantom Jegs'!) Merey—mercy ! pardon—pardon ! A thousand devils haunt my heart and’soul. Away, away !-avaunt ! I die—I die |” 3 He fell prostrate on thé stone floor; foaming at the mouth. : Life was not yet quite extinct. Again he screamed out— “ The legs—the phantom legs are here once more | —away, away |” : | A voice at that same moment was. heard:to say in awful sepulchral tones, “ Phillip Redgill, I will follow you forever 1? Phillip Redgill-rose to} his feet like jone again raised to life—uttered a terrible scream, and—/ell dead, foaming blood ! CHAPTER LY. DESTRUCTION OF THE SKELETON CREW BY YOUNG LORD WARBECK. : “‘ Wertu,” said Ned Warbeck, when he had jleft the condemned cell, in which he had had. his interview with Captain Jack and old Bates. “ Well,” said he, in astonishment, ‘“‘ wonders never cease,” “ Just to fancy,?? said Garnet, ‘that, these scoundrels, with the adyice and consent of Phillip Redgill, should for years past haye been seeking your disgrace and destruction.” “ True,” said Ned Warbeck.; “ but evil designs and curses, like chickens, come home to roost. What they intended and wished might fall upon, myself and Charley have overtaken themselves.” “But Death-wing is not yet'captured, Ned,’ said Garnet ; “ it would be an excellent finish to all our adventures to arouse the London ‘Apprentices, at least, a select band of them, and utterly destroy Death-wing and all that remains of his band,” “T intend to do so,’ said Ned, “ and ‘to-night shall see the accomplishment of that design.’ During the day, Ned Warbeck, Garnet, Bob Bertram and Tim, were continually on horseback, riding hither and thither, consulting with some of the bravest and choicest spirits among the Appren- tices, and towards night all preparations were com- pleted. Select detachments of the young Apprenticea, under the guidance of well-known leaders, assembled at the halls of their several guilds, all armed, and eager for the fray. The butcher boys with long knives, cleavers, choppers, and ponderous axes, were ready, and marshalled in fours realy to march at the given time. The blacksmiths’ apprentices, with sledge ham- | mer:, crow-bars, and other ponderous weapons, were assembled at another place. The sword makers, cutlers, and other:, with all manner of implements of war, sliarp and bright, had gathered together. , 3 : Five detachments, from no Jess than six trades, were under arnis; but none of them, gave their chosen leaders, knew on what errand they were bound. _“ Who is to lead us ?”’ some of them whispered, “ Wildfire Ned,” was the answer, given in a sup- pressed tone of voice. | . When this fact became known that Ned Warbeck was to be the commander-in-chief on this secret ex- pedition, all rejoiced, for Ned’s name acted like a charm on the youth of London, who bad long heard his name coupled with, deeds of daring. © So secretly had the expedition been organized that but few of the good old tradesmen of the town had any notion of what was on foot. | Hence during the night, that_is to say, from eivlit o'clock until eleven, was unusually quiet in the principal streets, an! the night watch went their rounds with staff and lantern, calling the hour in croaking voices, but innocent of the great com- motion which was shortly to take place. Carriers and messengers were galloping hither and thither from Ned Warbeck to the leaders of the valiant Apprentices, giving his final instructions and orders... Chief of these messengers was Tiny Tim. He did not like fighting much, but as message carrying was not very dangerous work, and as he was passionately fond. of riding good horses, he galloped here and there in great glee, and assuming all the airs of a command:r-in-chief, that is to. say, where he was not known. ty: Ned Warbeek, however, had been the busiest of all. | During the day he had sent out, trusty scouts to ascertain the precise locality in which Death-wing and his infamous gang were secreted, saad > All manner of reports were brought back to him, but so contradictory that he-knew not which nor what to believe. At last, when night had fairly set in, he went forth himself, accompanied by Bob Bertram and Garnet, and by superior intelligence and tact he soon discovered where Death-wing and his gang were hiding, and laid bis plans accordingly. | Daath-wing indeed was not without, information of what was intended by Ned Warbeck, for he also had scouts out, who speedily informed him of the intended attack ; but none of them knew when it was to take place, or the number and class of per- sons who were to take part in if, Since his defeat and disgrace at the Block-house the leader of the Skeleton Crew had been recruiting his forces. He sent messengers to different parts calling in scattered parties of the crew who were out on their usual depredations, . So that on the night in question Death-wing had a large number of followers around him, each and all of whom swore to perish rather than allow Ned Warbeck, that hated name, to triumph over them, One of the skeleton spies had fast returned to Death-wing with the latest information he was able to procure when all the Skeleton Crew sat down to Gomichooksscom