The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

_—__—— 28 THE SKELETON CREW ; —— OR, WILDFIRE NED. a a OE ** On, lads, on |” aneee and similar shouts were now heard on every hand, The rustics looked pale and startled at the bare mention of the Skeleton Crew, for they had long known what a savage, remorseless band they were. Many, at the bare mention of the Skeleton Crew, ran into their cottages again, and barred their doors. Not a few fell on their knees, and began to mumble out their prayers in a very rapid manner. Some dozen or more stout-hearted, broad-backed fellows, however, boldly ran towards the mill, and dashed in, _They asked no questions, but commenced to hit right and left in the darkness, and it wassome time ere they discovered their mistake. When they did, however, they began to swear at each other in a very violent manner ; nor did they heed the sighs and groans of the chief constable and his unlucky followers, who were half smothered under the sacks of flour. ss They searched the mill in every direction, but, for full. half-an-hour, were unable to discover Master Jonas. | . That worthy youth had clambered over the sacks, and made his way up to the third story of the mill. He looked in every direction for some means to escape, but found none. The infuriated rustics, led on by old Harmer him- self, now/ascended the stairs in ‘single file, and in- stituted a vigorous search. They brought with them several dogs to assist in the affair. - ey. One of these, more diligent in his search than others, scented out Master~Jonas, who was con- cealed behind a flour-bin. He might have long remained there, unknown to the searchers, but the miller’s dog gave Jonas such a quiet nip in the leg, as made that worthy howl aloud with pain. ‘““ He’s here !” “We've got him !” “No you haven’t,” said Jonas. With a sudden bound he rushed from his hiding place; and dashed towards the two trap-doors through which the sacks were raised from below. They stood open ; and in front of him dangled a iong rope almost to the ground. This he seized, and began to slide down with the skill of an acrobat. : But an accident happened to him that he least expected. ' The crane was pushed out from the wall, and, to Jonas’s horror, he found himself dangling right over the mill-dam | Oh; the murdering villains! What must I do now ?” thought the luckless servant. ‘They have shoved out the crane, and here am I dancing be- tween the sky and a deep mill-dam,” ‘Cut the rope ! cut the rope !” ‘Drown the rascal |” “ He can’t escape!” “Lower the rope |” “No, cut it—cut it!’ roared old Harmer. “ D—n the rope, so we capture the villain,” With right good-will, several began to cut and hack the rope. Jonas felt the rope’s vibration, and shut his eyes. ‘It’s “all ‘over, now,” he said. ‘*D—n_ the colonel, and all Darlington put together, I wish I was safe in London ‘again. If this is the grand Hea the colonel promised me, confusion to im, -_- ° —_ eee ee ~~ Jonas had a passing desire to say his prayers, but he was such a thoughtless knave that he had forgotten them long ago, ; ‘‘That’s it, that’s it,” cried many VOICES, “Help! murder! thieves! cut-throats! help— help !”? shouted a dozen voices. ' This was the confusion and noise which Colonel Blood had heard when he took the last glance at Andrew Gamble, who was carried away by the stream. : But he never for a moment dreamed that all this distant hubbub was occasioned by the tight rope performance of his man, Jonas. With a vigorous cut, the rope was at last severed ! Amid the shouts and cheers of the bystanders, Jonas fell from a height of twenty feet right into the deep mill-dam, with a loud splash ! : “Fish him out, fish him out, lads; we musn't let the rogue escape us now. He is one of those who rescued Bob Bertram,” | Poor Jonas rose to the surface, and in desperate despair clung to the branch of an overhanging tree, some distance from the edge ofthe dam. In a moment the villagers were very busy “with pitch-forks, rakes, and the like, “fishing him ou 5 One fellow, with more vigour than judgment, took aim with his long fork, but missed his distance, and gave Jonas a painful thrust in his seat of honour, instead of hooking his clothes, as intended, “Five gold pieces to any one who secures the villain,” roared the chief constable, who now rushed upon the scene, puffing and blowing. The ‘promised reward caused a very great deal of excitement in those present. A rope was now procured, | With great’ dexterity some one present made a noose in it; and very cleverly,threw it over Jonas’s head. “Pull away, lads,” said the rope-thrower. “Now, then, all together !” ; ‘You'll choke the varlet,” some one said. “Small odds,” said the ‘rope-thrower, “ small odds, so we get him dead or alive.” “ Now, then,” said another, “altogether ; a strong pull, and a long pull, mind.” So vigorously did they haul away at the rope that in less than a minute Jonas was dragged to the bank, half-strangled and half-drowned. “Light ho! lights’ here !” cried a dozen voices, and lamps were immediately brought to the spot. “That's him! that’s one on’em !” said the chief constable. “Icould tell him out of a hundred’; that’s him as has been prowling about Darlington, and rescued Bob Bertram.” | “He looks a villain every inch of him,” said old Harmer, “I’m sorry we haven’t got t’other ; he’s the worst of the two; and the rascals ain't satisfied with what they’ve already done, but must concoct a scheme for running off with my daughter Ellen.” ** Horrible !” “ Aw-ful |’? chimed in one and another. “Undo the rope,” said the chief constable, “at least, loosen it a bit ; we don’t want to hang him et.” ‘No; that fun has {o come,” said another, with a loud laugh, ‘Bring him along, lads; Tlllead the way with the light |” said the chief constable. And poor Jonas was dragged forth to prison with a long halter around his neck. He was dripping wet, and soaked to the marrow, His thighs were bruised and wounded by cuffs, the fork-prongs, and dog-bites., His legs trembled from under him, Gom Eboo SH Gom ee eet sean nin