The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 41: what you’re looking at

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

~_ — in — oo THE SKELETON CREW; OR, WILDFIRE NED. | | _ said Ned, with a ringing defiant tone. Crew? Where are these savages hidden? and whence came that voice of warning ?”’ Wildfire Ned’s position, as must be confessed, was a critical one. Here was a bold youth, alone and single handed, gazing on the dead, and standing, as it were, on enchanted ground. ‘“‘ Come forth, grim demons of the land and deep,” “ Death- wing, come forih and encounter me !’’ He turned his head suddenly. There stood before him a gaunt, ghastly member of the Skeleton Band, sword in hand. ‘*Who calls so bravely on the Skeleton Crew, and defies them?” said a sepulchral voice, in mocking tones. ‘Is Death-wing’s band to be laughed and scoffed at by a babbling boy?’ “ Boy!” said Ned, indignantly. “Yes, brat, if that will suit your pride the better ; get you gone from this awful place.” “T came by appointment. Death-wing and I are to try conclusions to a deadly issue here,” said Ned, bravely. “ You face Death-wing ?” said the skeleton guard, with a mocking laugh. “He who has braved the land and sea this many a year, ha! ha! Look _ above ye, and see there dangling the lifeless _ bodies of more than a dozen who have dared intrude _ upon this deadly spot. | “ Bombastic liar!’ said Ned, in tones of scorn. ‘‘Death-wing fears me. But, at all events, I will not be disappointed ; these rows of bodies shall no longer grace these oak branches as tokens of your prowess, Have at ye! man or fiend, my good battle-axe shall prove to all what ye are.”’ With a desperate rush Wildfire Ned dashed to the fray. ; The skeleton guardian of the gibbet, however, was not taken unawares. He also was armed, and parried Ned’s desperate blows. The.combat was a fearful one, Sparks flew from their weapons. Wildfixe Ned, with the courage and endurance of a dozen men, stood his ground. His blows fell thick and fast upon his grim opponent, and the clash of marrowless bones re- sounded upon the night air. For. a moment Wildfire Ned paused in the combat and looked upon his opponent with wonder. ‘‘ He must be a devil,’ thought Ned, ‘“‘or my last blow would have cleaved him to the earth. ‘‘ Hal ha! growled the skeleton, as he rushed at his enemy again, ‘‘one more victim for our gibbet!” “ Never!” said Ned, aloud, and with an angry oath, : The fight was again renewed, and now with still greater bitterness and fury. Ned was getting weaker and weaker, ° His rival, however, danced around him as nimbly as ever, and every limb seemed to be acting on springs. He struck at Ned repeatedly, but could not do more than draw blood. v It seemed impossible to hit Ned Warbeck in any vital part, for he was so well guarded with his weapon, 3 He bled, however, as we have said, and the sight of gore seemed to act like electricity on the skeleton guard, who shrieked aloud with Joy, He made a terrific dash, a last and final attempt upon Ned, and shouted aloud, «“ Edward Warbeck, die! Down, down! die!’ “ Neyer !”’ said Ned, as with a well-aimed and - a SSSA: eas. lS sss: 05!) 0379950000588 powerful blow he. struck his opponent fair on the | head, and felled him to the earth. “Conquered, conquered!” shouted Ned, aloud, in wild triumph, He turned to look for his smitten foe. He was nowhere to be seen ! Astonished as he was at this strange occurrence he was much more astounded at what he then heard, While looking about in search of some trace of his grim, gaunt opponent, the sounds of pistol shots and loud shouts reached his ears! He listened. Again and again he could distinctly discern quick, successive reports of fire-arms. “Help! help!” faintly sighed the breeze. “What is allthis? What new wonder is to happen on this eventful night?” thought Ned, At that moment his good mare Starlight neighed and became restive, ‘*Hillo! what means this?) The mare would not neigh without cause. There is some one in danger ; the mare recognizes some old stable companion. I will away, and quickly return.”’ “Help ! help !’’ was borne upon the breeze, Ina moment Wildfire Ned vaulted into the saddle and. dashed forward to the scene of strife and danger, _ The report of fire-arms to Wildfire Ned was like the sounds of most delightful music. His heart leaped within him as he mounted his brave mare, Starlight, ' © Heaven grant it may turn ont ‘to be some more o£ these skeleton devils,” he said, with a merry laugh, Over hedge and ditch he galloped in the clear moonlight, and soon reached the high road, In the far distance he could perceive a carriage and four, which had been stopped by a party of roadsinen. “ Head !” said Ned, “this is another adventure to-night, I must not let poor travellers be waylaid and robbed by rascally highwayman if I can help it.’ He rode straight towards the crowd, and as he approached, perceived the carriage to be that of his uncle, Old Sir Richard Warbeck, it would seem, had started out after Wildfire Ned, in hopes of bringing him back to Darlington Hall, Phillip Redgill, who had professed much friend- ship “‘for the wayward lad, Ned,” volunteered. to accompany Sir Richard to town. But they had not progressed far when the carriage was attacked by Captain Jack’s party of horsemen, who had re- solved not to leave the neighbourhood of Darling- _ton without spoil of some kind, . Hence, when they sneaked off from the inn in which Colone] Blood was, they were so enraged at bemg thus made fools of, that they determined to have revenge on some of the landed gentry there- about, The first person to) fall. across them was Sir Richard Warbeck and Phillip, Redgill. Captain Jack’s men masked themselves, and counted upon an easy conquest, But they were much mistaken. Old Sir Richard, the moment he was attacked by the- ruffians, fired his pistols through the coach windows, and wounded one or two of the rascals, old Bates among the number. Jumping out of the coach, sword in hand, he kept his assailants at bay, manfully and bravely, Phillip Redgill, however, slipped out of the CoOnnicloo S CO | |