The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 46: 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. pe ea Many of the skeletons were blown into the air. This ‘concussion ‘was very great, and for a moment the house trembled as if it would crumble into dust, It did not, however. All in the house. who had not laid themselves | down. on. their faces were thrown off their legs, The windows were smashed, The doors flew open as.if by magic, “Now’s our time,” said Ned, and, followed by the innkeeper, Bob Bertram, and Tim, rushed out sword in hand. By the light of the burning dwelling and stables the fight was continued, and now more desperately | than ever, Tim, in his hurry to rush out and get away, — stumbled into the deep hole made by the explosion. He had scarcely reached the bottom, however, when one of. Death-wing’s, band. seized pats and | almost squeezed. him to. death, -Tim was now ‘bound: to fight or die, and as he much preferred the former condition of the two, he kicked and-bit and fought like a tiger, each one of them rolling over/one another by turns; and almost burying themselves in the loose earth. “Wildfire Ned sought out Death-wing, but not where could that remorseless chief be found. ‘He called upon him to stand forth and engage in deadly combat, but there was no Respense to this bold challenge, When least, expected, however, and it in the fulness of his vigorous onslaught upon the grim gang,.he, Wildfire. Ned, was. seized. by some one from behind ! _ A. thrill of horror ran,through his whole frame, Death-wing, with a loud shout of triumph, cried out,— ‘©Victory 1 victory ! soner!” “iar !’’ Ned growled, and with a mighty effort released himself from Death-wing’s grasp, They now stood face-to face. That moment to each was momentous in the: ex- treme. «» ‘Eachone was nerving himself up for the final struggle. ~ Loud shouts now burst out npon Ned’s delighted ears, ~ With an eestor rush, cutlass in hand, Lieu- tenant Garnet, with a brave band of blue jackets, dashed upon the scene, With a wild, joyous shout, such as British tars alone. know how to» give, ‘Garnet’ 8 men pressed their way into the thickest of the fight. The combat now was a grand sight indeed, ‘The night had turned to inky darkness, Not a star was visible. In the foreground was the mixed assemblage of fierce combatants, Blue jackets of the sailors mixed with the white, skeleton forms which danced hither and thither like ghosts in the darkness, All the background was brilliantly lighted up by the blazing tavern, and conflagration of nume- rous stables, Wildfire Ned and Bob Bertram each took com- mand of a party of sailors, and attacked Death- wing’s gang in every direction, Deathwing mounted his coal black charger, and Ned Warbeck is our pri- endeavoured to arouse his followers to greater efforts and more desperate acts of daring. Ned and Bob Bertram followed the example,.... Once on the back of Starlight, Ned felt ‘more at home. Everywhere he sought to confront Death-wing, ng. All his efforts were in vain. The skeleton chief seemed to be. ubiquitous, Wherever he was seen at one moment he: disap. -poared on the next, Beaten back at all points, Death: -wing and his — followers gave way. They gradually retreated towards a dangerous | morass, and thence into a dense wood, whither it was deemed inadvisable to follow them. - — . Indeed, it seemed impossible to. follow. them, for . they disappeared like myths, or Will-o’-the- =Wisps, in the marshy bog, When Lieutenant Garnet and his men were. Zol- lected, it was found that many of them had been very dangerously wounded by the gang. - It must be confessed that on this occasion Death- wing had used all his generalship and courage, ~* But nothing could withstand Wildfire Ned: Garnet, Bob Bertram, and the innkeeper. A Tim it behoves us to speak a little. eee very roughly handled by his grim op- ponent, in the deep pit, but that was all, He ex- tricated himself out of the hole. He then mounted: a tree, and, there pekaliell | had an excellent view of the battle by the light “ burning buildings, | He would shout out occasionally, “ That's it, Master Ned !’’—“ Give it to ’em, Bob !°—* Smash the rascals, my brave sailor ‘boys 1’_“ Hurrah for Lieutenant Garnet !’—“ Bravo, Wildfire Ned !” But Tim became so noisy during the combat that he attracted the attention of Death-wing, “Bring that fool. down,” said Death-wing to.one of his men, as he rode past the spot. _“ Bring that noisy fool out of the tree, and pitch him into ‘the burning tayern |’’ “What a civil devil,” thought Master Tim, -=- clambered up the tree ‘atill higher, Death-wing’s orders, however, were obeyed, A skeleton, with a long dagger between | his teeth, clambered up the tree. * "ss me Y LOOK OUT FOR THE + BOY SAILOR; OR, LIFE ON BOARD A MAN-OF-WAR. A most interesting and powerfully-written Tale, to be completed in about 30 Numbers, 2; with No. 1, and: a LARGE EN. GRAVING, GRATIS. No. LOOK OUT FOR . ee SOMETHING NEW FOR THE BOYS! A LARGE ENGRAVING © AND VARIOUS PRIZES, GRATIS,” __. Full particulars in No, 6, mMiGhboo (E(0) Ss) (E(0)