The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 58: what you’re looking at

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

52 THE SKELETON CREW; OR, WILDFIRE NED. th * Don’t you, thoagh ?” “No, not in the least.’? ‘‘ But they carry long guns, and might——” ‘Exactly ; but that ain't nothing when you are used to it,” | oe ‘“No, I suppose not,” said. Tim, with a sigh. “A ten pound cannon shot playing nine pins with your legs ain’t nothing when you get: used to it; but getting used: to it isithe thing,” said Tim, very slowly and solemnly ; ‘but I shouldn’t—never.” “Yes you would.” ‘No, I shouldn’t,” ' “Lor, man! a broken arm,! or a’leg or two knocked off, don’t make much idifference to’ any of our gang,” | | a9 [ “Nor a broken head either, I should think,” Tim said to himself, doubtingly.: ' ‘“ We've got a famous. cook, a bit of a tailor, a good doctor, a: gunsmith, and) other’ chaps in’ our bana, so we manage to make a’pleasant life of it,” “* T shouldnit like it,” “ Why not?” ng “Because you might fall foul of such a man as Lieut. Garnet» and his crew some day ; and if you did ——”.. iiige tf ‘And if we did, what then? We should have to fight hard, that’s all, } ‘“That’s all» eh?” thought Tim; “but that’s a little more than~Z should care about.” ‘“Why, a fight once in a while is the life and sou of a bold smuggler. You have’ no notion fhow it gives one an appetite.”’ | ” *“‘T should think: that; a ten-pound cannon shot in one’s stomach:would be a trifle more than even a smuggler could digest,’” said)Tim ; ‘‘ but, as yon very wisely remarked once before, there’s no telling when one gets used to it.” jai . “Just so, my brave lad,” said the smuggler chief, laughing. ‘‘I like to hear you talk in that, light- hearted way, for it convinces me that, after all, you've got. some good stuff in you, and that’ your heart, is_of, old British oak.;, Our boats are going out to night ; we expect a schooner off the shore from France about midnight, just after the moon sets., Pll take. you. with me; and, to try you— unless, you, wish to be hung as a useless knave among us—lI'll give you the honour of mounting the stranger’s decks first,’’, ‘* First 2 gasped Tim, , ‘‘ The first man to board the stranger’s decks! Why, she might be a revenue cruiser or a well-armed stranger.) ' “ That’s what she really is, a well-armed stranger, nothing else.. She must come within gun-shot of us, for she’s obliged to round the headland in order to get into port,” ‘In that case, sir,” said Tim, ‘if it’s all the same to you, I wouldn’t dare to have the impudence to take the place of honour, and be first to scale the stranger’s sides—it’s too much honour to confer on such a poor good-for-nothing as I am, I would much prefer to be last, if anything,’’ The smuggler chief, laughed out loudly, saying, “You're a droll devil, Tim, and no fool, I can very well see; but come this way, I will introduce you to my comrades.” So speaking, he tumbled over head, and fastened the trap through which Tim had fallen into the cave. “See, Tim,” said the smuggler chief, as he entered a second cave in which dimly burned a horn lantern, “do you see this?” he said, pointing to a trap-door in the ceiling, _ “Yes, I do,” said Tim, scrutinizing for the first time his tall, gaunt, rough-handed companion, and not much liking the looks of his black eyes, shaggy hair’and beard, clothed, as he was, in red flannel and an immense pair of water-boots that reached above the knees, at the same time not forgetting to cast his eyes on two pistols and a cutlass that hung in his broad black belt. “ Well,’ said the chief, “that trap-door leads into the old tavern. Nettle sells all our goods for us, and a pretty penny he gets by it. He’s very rich, but a good-hearted old cock as ever lived. He’s got a very pretty daughter, too, they call Katie; and if you join us, and prove yourself a brave fellow, as I know you are, why I'll introduce you ; and when you're tired of smugyvling, you can settle down, like’ many an old sinner does after he’s made heaps of money, and lead a quiet respectable life.”’ | ‘ “ You’re very kind,” said Tim, with his head bewildered with all the chieftain said. From one cavern they passed to another, some of which were artfully ventilated and lighted by holes in the rocks over head, At last they reached a very large apartment, which had: been formed ages ago by the action of the sea, and cut just as cleverly as if done with a chisel. Round a long table sat smoking and drinking twenty or more rough, hardy-looking fellows, who were card-playing, throwing dice, sleeping, snoring, and the like, , | All of them hastily, rose as the chief entered, and Tim was introduced to the company in words which conveyed the idea that the stranger would become a valuable member of the band. Smoking; and «drinking continued, and soon Master Tim found himself the centre of attraction, and as he was, of course, expected to be a very brave fellow, he favoured the company with a long string of lies, in which he narrated his several encounters with the Skeleton Crew, and against whom he had displayed prodigies of valour. . The chief, however, left the company, and wended his way through the dark caverns towards his own particular abode, -. He found standing at his door a special mes- senger. ‘That you, Dolphin?” said the chief. returned ?” “‘ Yes, worthy Sea-hawk.” was the reply. I bring most important news.” ‘“From whom ?” “The Skeleton Crew and Wildfire Ned—it needs instant attention.” ‘It shall be attended to at once, way.” : The Smuggler Chief and his trusty messenger entered the apartment together, “So soon ‘ And Come this CHAPTER XX. CAPTAIN JACK PLAYS A TRUMP CARD—THE GAY COMPANY SURPRISED, AS we have narrated in a previous chapter, Captain Jack and his friends insisted upon thrusting them- selves uninvited upon the gay and fashionable com- pany assembled in Phillip’ Redgill’s elegantly fur- nished suite of rooms. ‘Lord Smash and friends,’’ said the astonished domestic, announcing the stranger in a loud voice. ‘‘ Lord who ?” said Philip, in astonishment, as he turned his eyes, and beheld Captain Jack before him. For a moment he knew not what to do or say, The thought struck him that they had actualy 2 te ee —= . tate * (E(0) micdoo €5j (C(O) nn