The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 33: what you’re looking at

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

— —- —_______ Se THE SKELETON CREW; OR, WILDFIRE NED. For it must be explained here that Wildfire Ned and his groom had effected Bob’s rescue in the manner described about one o’clock in the morn- ing, when all the village was wrapped in sleep, and the two constables on guard were half tipsy. “Tf it only be one o’ them chaps,” said the chief officer, “I'd give a hundred gold pieces, that I would, for I shall never rest content till I have cracked one o’ their skulls; the mean deyils, to come when no one expected on ’em, and fight their way in and out of the lock-up.” This thought was alike echced by all. They felt great annoyance that two youths should have possessed the nerve and courage to fall upon the lock-up guard, and thrash them as Wildfire Ned and Tim the groom had done. If Ned had sent warning that he was coming to rescue Bob, the constables, of course, would have been there a dozen strong to oppose him, and this they considered would have been “fair play.” But now that Miller Harmer brought information that there was more than one suspicious stranger in the village, the constable made sure that they were the identical two they so much desired to capture, From the bustle and preparations made by the half dozen constables one would suppose that the valiant guardians of the public peace were bent upon storming some castle or stronghold. ¢ eae lanterns and stayes and clubs they sallied orth. “Lead on, Mr, Miller,” said the chief, buttoning up his doublet, ‘‘ Lead on, sir, we'll give the two rascals such a dressing as they never had before in all their lives,” Old Harmer conducted the constables to his mill, He unlocked the huge doors and admitted them. They hid themselves behind a lowering pile of corn and flour sacks, and. darkened their lanterns. “Stand firm, my merry men,” said the chief of the party. ‘‘ Stand firm; and when the signal is glven arrest the rascal as he enters.”’ f Miller Harmer now went to the half-opened DOT ae _ He gave three shrill whistles, each aftér an interval of avout half a minute. ‘“* Here the villain comes,’ said Harmer, hiding himself, ) : _ Jonas at that moment was obseryed approaching in a stealthy, cat-like manner, crawling along under the shadow of the trees and cottages of the village, | _ He was seen to stop once or twice, and look fur- tively around him. He did not know why, but a feeling of suspicion assured him that in some way his master’s scheme for abducting Ellen Harmer would inyolve heavy blows, if not broken sconces, He had armed himself, therefore, with a stout, short club of oak, which he concealed under his cloak, As he approached the mill door he was_half- inclined to run away again,” “Courage, Jonas, courage,’ gaid he to himself, half aloud. ‘‘ Remember the rich reward in store for you. The colonel, my master, is a bold, brave devil, and I must be so likewise. So I am,” said Jonas, slapping his chest. ‘ Who knows but what I may be a gentleman one of these fine days, if all goes on well? Won't that be grand? Courage, then, Jonas; none but the brave deserve the fair. Onward! rewards and honour await you! That whistle, though, didn’t much sound like master’s,” he thought, “and yet it, must be. There it is again, All is right; the girl is secured, Onward, Jonas ; 27 teach these rustic villagers what brave stuff Lon- doners ave made of.” He crept towards the mill slowly and very care- fully, and it must be confessed that his legs trem- bled violently under him, and his teeth cbattered. “He comes,” said the miller, in a half-whisper. “ Make ready to receive him,” Jonas crawled up to the half-opened mill-door, and peered into the darkness before him. “That you, master?’ he whispered, * Y-e-e-s,”” was the soft answer. ‘“* Have you got the maiden safe and sound 2” *“* Y-e-e-s,” ‘“Won’t the old miller be surprised in the morning when ‘he finds she’s gone, hal ha!” chnekled Jonas, He passed the threshold, and was much astonished to see the door shut behind him. Before he had time to breathe freely a long staff was aimed at his nead. The stroke was well intended, and a powerful one also ; but it missed the right object, and fell with a hard crack on the head of aconstable by mistake in the darkness. A loud groan anda curse followed the fall of the oaken staff. In an instant Jonas comprehended all. He wasentrapped, and escape impossible. ‘*Oh ! the bloodthirsty scoundrels!” he groaned. * That blow was meant for me,” He produced his own small cudgel, and laid about him right and left in the darkness. ; He then fell upon his hands and knees, and crawled from the midst of his enemies. Total darkness prevented the officers from seeing what they were doing or ought to do. But they hit right and left among themselves, and some of them were tripped up by Jonas. ‘“T’ve got him! I’ve got him!” roared the chief constable. ‘‘ He tried to crawl through my legs, but couldn’t,” ‘Give it to him, then !”’ said another. And sure enongh the chief constable did give it to him. But he had the wrong man between his legs, and was pounding away on the back of an unlucky prostrate comrade, like asif he were thumping a big drum. Shouts, oaths, and groans were now heard on all sides. : Jonas, as nimble as a monkey, climbed on to the sacks of flour piled up right and left. His own weight toppled them over. They fell among the combatants, and knocked several of them over. Old Harmer, surprised at the change in the state of things, and, fearful that Jonas should escape, rushed to a long rope, and pulled the mill bell, which hung in an old tower. He tugged away, and alarmed the whole village. In less than five minutes the male portion of the villagers rushed forth from their houses, half dressed. Dogs barked, men shouted, women screamed, and children cried. All was now a scene of great excitement and confusion. Some armed with pokers, tongs, old rusty swords, pitchforks, and oaken clubs, rushed along the village green. ~ “To the mill! To the mill!” roared some. “Tis the Skeleton Crew !”’ shrieked others, ‘They have murdered the miller, and run off with Ellen!” ‘The constables are half murdeved !” ElDOO