The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 113: 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. 107 “ With a rush like that of a cannon-ball, the middy and his precious burden descended to the water. _“ Before the waves closed over them, twenty stout fellows, among them several officers, had dived from the bulwarks. “ Another short period of bitter suspense ensued. ** He rose. * He was alive! ‘‘ His arms are seen to move ! “ He struck out towards the ship ! “And despite of the discipline of a man-of-war three loud huzzas, an outburst of unfeigned and unrestrainable joy from the hearts of our numerous crew, pealed through the airand made the welkin ring. “Till this moment the old commodore stood un- moved. . The gallant middy and the child were safe ! The eyes that, glistening with pleasure, now sought his face, saw thatit was asby pale. “ He attemped to descend the horse-block, but his knees bent under him. “He seemed to gasp for breath, and put up his hand, as if to tear open his vest, but, before he could accomplish his object, he staggered forward, and would have fallen on deck had he not been caught. by old Black Jake, “ He was borne into his cabin, where the surgeon attended him, whese utmost skill was required to _ restore his mind to its usual equability and self- command, in which he at last happily succeeded. ‘“As soon as he had recovered from the dreadful shock, he sent forthe gallant Ned and had a long confidential chat, but sooverpowered was he, that he could only grasp Ned’s hand, as he said in a faint voice, “* Heaven bless you, my lad; you have proved yourself a hero, and worthy of the profession you have chosen, I shall write to the Admiralty directly and inform them of your grand feat, and I have no doubt promotion will attend it. At all events, Ned, accept my heartfelt thanks. “* You have made an old man happy and young again’ ” * * * * * ‘A most gallant deed,” said the old dame. “Yes, worthy of the Spartans,’ chuckled Sir Andrew, “You said the name of the ship was—” “The ‘ Diamond.’ ” “Why, that was the vessel in which young Warbeck sailed with Lieutenant Garnet.” “JT know it was,” said the stranger. ‘She has liad a most successful cruise against the Skeleton Crew and the smugglers, and chief among those who distinguished themselves, both afloat and ashore, was the same gallant young middy I have been speaking to you about.” “He must be an heroic boy, whoever he is, and he is called Ned, too, eh ?” “We used to call him Wildfire Ned,’ said the stranger, laughing; “he is a lieutenant now, andon his way to London.” “Tt must be Ned Warbeck, then,” said several. ‘Tt was none other,” said the stranger, laughing ; “and I commanded the ship ; my name is— “ Captain, late Lieutenant, Garnet.” CHAPTER XXXII. THE DISCOVERY OF FAMILY PAPERS BY WILDFIRE NED. Tnx first thing which Ned did, when he arrived in London, was to report himself at the Admiralty, where many old naval officers of great reputation met and congratulated him-on the great success which had attended him and Lieutenant Garnet in fighting against the Skeleton Crew. Honours were showered on him everywhere he went. Yet he was not happy. He had neither father nor mother, nor any single relation in the world. Sir Richard Warbeck he knew, and felt in his heart, was only a friend to him, and not an uncle. Who was he, then ? * Am I lowly or highly born ?” he thought. He felt that he must have sprung from a superior stock. Yes; but how ? vise he entitled to any great estates in his own right ? | He felt that there was some dark, deep mystery hanging over him. He would haye given the whole world to unravel it. | But he could not. Sir Richard’s manner had always been very kind, good, and fatherly. But still with all that it was strange. His manner, it might be said, was like that of a man who’ knew some grand secret, and yet would not reveal it ! “ When King Charles the First was beheaded,”’ Ned thought, “the Cromwellians droye many rich and powerful nobles from the land, and confiscated all their great estates. ** Suppose that my father was one of these ! “He might have been a! noble! {Who knows ?” thought Ned ; and as this conviction flashed across his mind, he resolved to let no chance pass by in order to find it out. “ Who was my father ?” Ned had often asked of Sir Richard. The old man 8miled, but answered not. The more he repeated this question and was put off, the more he resolved to find out the grand secret. All he could find out was this:— “TI do not wonder that you and Phillip Redgill can never agree,” old Sir Rithard would say ; “ for your families have always been at daggers’ points for centuries.” ‘“‘ Indeed !’’ Ned would say, “how ?” “How I cannot explain yet,” was the invariable answer. ‘‘ When you are twenty-one years old, you may know more; but this much I will tell you, Ned, that old Redgill, Phillip’s father, hated your father much worse than you do Phillip.” “How I cannot explain!’ repeated Ned often, when in the cosy library at Darlington Hall, con- versing with the old knight in long winter evenings. “How! Why, tell me all.” ‘You are too young yet; one day you will find out all if you live to be old enough !” “Tf I only live to be old enough,” thought Ned ; “often and often those words sound ominously; but if Lam spared [’ll find it out before I am twenty-one years old. I am man enough now for anything; and if any wretch still lives who has acted the traitor towards my father, let him tremble. “There has always been bad blood between the Redyills and my father’s family, eh! so the old knight says; then my name is not—it cannot be Warbeck !” Wildfire Ned was almost driven mad at the thought of this grand family secret. “Why do they conceal my real name? Who knows, I might be the son of some lord !” MICO Corn