The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

coach’ by the opposite door, and soon made his escape unharmed, * ~ As he was fleeing, Captain Jack overtook him, . “A thousand gold guineas if. you slay the alderman,” said Redgill, in a confidential whisper. “Done!” said Captain Jack. Redgill gave the robber chief a large purse, and promised the rest at a certain time and place in London. In a few moments Redgill mounted one of the robbers’ horses, and galloped away unperceived by old Sir Richard, who thought Phillip had been killed or desperately wounded. ‘““No quarter, lads; no quarter,” said Captain Jack ; “the old baronet fights like a fiend. He has wounded several already. No quarter, lads; no quarter.” It was at this moment, when surrounded by Cap- tain Jack’s desperate men, and each moment in expectation of being killed, that Wildfire Ned darted upon thespot full speed: Bang! bang! went his pistols right’and left as he approached. Whipping out his sword; he spurred Starlight into a maddening gallop, and actually rode down all before him. Captain Jack was unhorsed in an instant, and! rolled into the ditch with a loud curse. Old Sir Richard was astonished atthe dash eed’ valour of the youth before him; butfrom the mask which Ned wore it was impossible for him to detect his nephew. Wildfire. Ned was too busy with those around him to pass’ any. compliments ‘or ‘exchange recog- nition. The fight now was between the! highwaymen on the one side, and Sir Richard and Wildfire Ned -on the other. Sir Richard, however, was.on foot, and could not do so much as N ed, who pranced and danced around on Starlight, cutting and slashing in gallant style. Perceiving that.several of the highwaymen were disabled, and had left the spot, the coachman and footman emerged from their hiding-place under the hedge, whither.they had at first fled. With. thick clubs in hand, they. now joined. the fight, and laid about them with such right good- will, so.that Captain Jack and his party were only too glad to escape with, their lives, As soon as the fight was over, and Sir Richard could gain sufficient strength, he tottered up, to Wildfire Ned, and said— “ Gallant youth, whoever you are, how can I sufficiently thank you for your timely aid? Ihad a fellow traveller with me, a noble young man of unstained honour, but I fear he has fallen a victim to these scoundrels who attacked me. Your name, I beg, young man ; your name, that I may recount your noble deeds this night to the king.” * Sir Richard Warbeck,”’ Ned replied, with a forced utterance and a‘ feigned voice, *‘ no thanks are- needed, I have simply done my*duty. My name you cannot—must not—at the present know, for I have not’ made a name for fame as yet, When I have done so, however, you will hear of me at Datlington Hall.” With a low bow to Sir Richard, Wildfire Ned galloped from the spot, in pursuit of the fleeing highwaymen, © * Lor’ a merey me, master,’ gasped the coach- man, “didn’t thee know ’un?) Zo.” “Ab! Sir Richard, it be Wildfire Ned,” said the footman. © “He were disguised, but I could swear to it when I seed him ride.” “There's not another lad in all England: as dan THE SKELETON CREW 5 “OR; WILDFIRE NED. who assailed us so furiously ?” didn’t miss me,” old Bates-growled; straddle a saddle like Ned, ‘Sir Richard,’ ™ the coach man remarked, “What! am I blind?” Siz Richatd said. “ Could that brave lad have been no other fiat my on Ned? Am T dreaming? and'yet all along through the fight my heart told me’so. Brave boy ” ‘he* sighed. And as he spoke true tears trickled down the old man’s cheeks, for he dearly loved Ned. “Harness the horses quick,” he said, “Ie that’ be Ned, I must overtake him. “ Quick, I’say, and harness the horses,” Drive for your ‘very lives, - I must, I will, overtake the gallant youth!’ ~ 9" © , CHAPTER: XUl, | CAPTAIN JACK AND. REDGILL -MISCALCULATE THEIR FORCES — THE RECOGNITION — THE RESCUE—BOB BERTRAM’S ESCAPE.’ CAPTAIN. JACK. and his. half-dozen- companions were’ so» thoroughly: disappointed .and |. disgusted: with their ill-success in and around Darlington! that they made up their minds. to .depart. for London forthwith, and, seek no other adventures. ‘Their disabled companion shared the horse of. Faulkner, and as they journeyed slowly along to the. nearest. public-house, the. whole. party were. loud in cursing their late bad luck. ‘* Who the devil, could have been that youn ester said Captain Jack, with an angry oath. “I tried to wing ‘him several times, but always missed.” ~ Yes, hang him, but he took d—d good care he “he knocked the. pistol out of my hand as clean ‘as a whistle, and just at the moment, too, when I was going to pop at him.” “As to handling a sword,” said Captain Jack, ‘he seems the very devil at that game.” “T thought that Z could do alittle in that line,” said Faulkner, “but, lor’ bless yer, he gave me an’ awful dig in the left’ arm, and if it hadn’t been for a stroke of good luck I should haye been killed, for Ke was just on the point of having a full cut at me, when I ducked my head, and—” — rt Yes, and that stroke cut down a thick branch much tougher than your head or neck,” said Bates.’ “T saw it, so cut it, for I-had enough on it.” ~ While thus speaking of their inglorious exploit, Jack’s party arrived at the roadside inn, where; it” will’ be remembered, Wildfire: Ned “had left Bob. Bertram and Tim, Believing what the landlord° had said’ to tied, namely, that Ned Warbeck ‘had only ridden back to the Hall for something he had forgotten, Bob and Tim waited patiently for his return. When least they expected it, however; and Breatly to the surprise of both, Captain Jack and his rough) companions entered the imn, and, with ‘their old style, swaggered about and talked ao So very loudly. ~~ Tim, by instinct, aS who they werey: ends trembled. He slunk into the dark corner still Facies so nas not "to be perceived, - but Bob Bertram’ remained cool and collected. Captain Jack called for various refreshments; and, together with a companion. or ‘tivo, were very busy’ in binding ‘up ‘the cuts and npoulids thane? who were hurt. “You seem to Have fallen ito Toph nahas; gen- -tlemen,” said Bob, civilly. cr Well, and wviiat if we have,” Bates growled ; (ig that anything todo wi"'you?’- Who are-you?” ] A (E(0) nn Eboo