The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 45: what you’re looking at

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

THE SKELETON ‘CREW; OR, WILDFIRE NED: og The coach stopped. In an instant the skeleton descended from the box. - Those inside alighted with great expedition, and, weapon in hand, advanced towards the inn door. Wildfire Ned was astonished, but not dismayed, He bit his lip, and his eyes flashed fire. Without a word of warning the Skeleton rushed upon him, Captain Jack and Faulkner spurred their horses away from the spot as speedily as possible, They did not stay a single moment. longer to witness what took place. They only thought of their own safety, and galloped off as if they had suddenly confrontcd so many devils. One of the Skeleton Crew secured Redgill as he lay bleeding under a tree in the garden, and con- veyed him to the coach. Tim did not much relish any fresh encounter whatever. Inspired with curiosity, and a keen desire to lay hands uvon anything which the coach contained, he went up to the door, and peeped in. The suppliant cries of those inside affected Tim’s heart, and he loosed them from their bondage by cutting the cords with which they had been bound. This he did, but only on condition of their promising to help his master, which the liberated coachman and footman swore most solemnly to do. When they stepped out of the carriage, however, they breathed very hard for a moment or two, and, seeing the fight going on all around them, took to their heels like lamplighters, nor even turned their heads, Up the road they ran, as nimbly as rabbits, until, breathless, and almost on the point of bursting a blood-vessel, they fell headlong into a marshy pool, and lay there without attempting to move. Wildfire Ned, Bob Bertram, and the plucky inn- keeper, however, had, up to this time, been busily engaged with their grim opponents, The publican had closed with one of them, and, in fast embrace, were then wrestling on the ground. Bob Bertram used his sword with both hands, and, much to his delight, cut off the arm of one and leg of another, _dudge of his astonishment and horror, however, when each of those grim worthies picked up his severed limb, and hobbled off towards. the coach, perhaps there to reset them, for all he knew, since they never returned to the combat again, Ned, however, with his back to a tree, contended with two at once, With his good sword he hit right and left, first at one and then at another. But it seemed as if to no pupose, for as often as they were cleaved to the earth, they rose again, as nimbly as if they were made of india-rubber and springs combined. ‘“Yhere’s only one vulnerable part with these devils, I’m told,” said Ned to himself, “and that is to fairly pierce them between the eyes and nose.” With well-directed thrusts Wildfire Ned at- tempted this feat repeatedly, but failed, and his efforts were rewarded by loud derisive laughter by his enemies. At last he succeeded. With a wild, ear-piercing shriek, a grim monster fell to the earth, and his marrowless bones crashed together with an unearthly sound. | “ That’s orfe of them,” said Ned, in high glee, but, before he could utter another word, he saw ap- proaching, right and left, a whole company of skeletons marching in great haste to the spot, “We shall all be massacred,” said the innkeeper, in horror; ‘“the whole band are out to-night.”’ “Fall back, lads ; fall back,” said Wildfire Ned-; “ get into the house again, and let us bar the doors,” — This was quickly done, and greatly to Master | Tim’s annoyance, for he was now shut out. With the nimblenegs of a cat he climbed up the water pipe into a chamber window. He could not get in very well, and hung outside for some moments, dangling just above the heads of the Skeleton Crew below. . Ned pulled him in, however, and warded off several vicious blows aimed at Tim, which, had they struck him, must have killed him on the spot, ‘We are safe now for a time,” said the innkeeper, bravely ; ‘‘but I fear they will burn us out, We shall be roasted alive.” Tim heard this remark, and was seized with a wild frenzy. He threw chairs and crockery out upon the heads of those below, who, now very numerous, were © clamouring at and endeavouring to burst in the © door, ‘Set fire to the house,” said Death-wing, who had now arrived. “Set fire to the house at once; they will soon cry for quarter, but give them none ; as they rush out, kill them on the spot. We?’ll soon make them surrender.” “‘ Never,”’ said Wildfire Ned, at an open window. “Never !” In a few moments, however, the house and stables were set fire to, and the Skeleton Crew, sure of consuming their foes, danced round and round in wild, unearthly joy, | ‘‘Qh! heaven protect us!” the innkeeper gasped. “We shall all be blown up.” “ What !” said Ned, never for a moment loosing either coolness or courage. “Blown up, Mr. Warbeck,” said the host. “I have a hundred pounds of powder in acellar which is situated a few yards before the front door.” I Cus hundred pounds of powder?” said Bob. oY es.” ‘“‘ How came it here?” “TLieutenant Garnet and a party of sailors | It | was destined for the Skeleton Crew, but Lieutenant | Garnet placed it here, saying he would call and | found it on the beach not'many weeks ago. remove it soon,” “That’s just the thing we want,” said Ned,, in : high glee. In a few moments, Bob and Wildfire Ned | deseended into the cellar described, and, after | putting a slow match to the barrel, firmly closed the cellar-door, and returned ‘again to the room — above. Ned threw a rope out of window as if about to escape. : This was noticed by those. below, who, hailed Ned's appearance at the window with’ derisive cheers as they brandished their weapons, and flung about their long white arms in a ghostly dance. “The fire is doing its work,” said. Death-wing. in high glee. ‘‘ We'll have reyénge on the publi- can, he has always been an enemy of our crew, and a friend to Garnet. Look out, they will be burnt out like rats in less than five minutes. Stand by, every one of you, ready to receive them as they jump out of the window. Let them fall on the points of your sword.” When least they expected it, however, the powder exploded ! The earth about ten yards in front of the main doorway suddenly upheaved. ‘An awful rush of fire succeeded, DOO