The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 129: what you’re looking at

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

a THE SKELETON CREW; OR, WILDFIRE NED. 123 re cc know he is our superior officer, and I havé no right to speak about what he does.” “Well, you need not fall out with me,’ said Phillip; “I have no friends here, but I think I could make one of you.” “How do you mean ?” Tiara you take a note to the post office for me ?’ **T dare not.” “Not for a guinea ?” “*T must not.” “Not for three guineas ?” “Don’t tempt me !” iS Yes, do; give me pen, ink, and paper, and I will give you ten guineas !” ‘“* My life is at stake ; I should be implicated as an accomplice.” “Nonsense. Do as I wish, and I will give you twenty guineas.” The turnkey left the cell. But he soon returned. “Let me see the colour of your money,” said he, “and I will deliver your note.” “Agreed,” said Phillip, and as he spoke he drew out of the lining of his coat a twenty guinea note, and gave it to the gaoler. In less than two minutes Phillip wrote a very hurried note, and gave it to the gaoler to post. He had scarcely done so, and the frightened gaoler had barely time to put the pen and ink into his pocket when heavy footsteps were heard approach- ing. The turnkey turned deadly pale as he whispered _ to Phillip, “Tt is Captain Jack, and half drunk as usual.” “‘ Hillo !”? said the captain to the gaoler, “* what brings you here ?” ‘The prisoner wished me to lend him a bible and prayer book, that’s all.” “Ha! ha!’ laughed Captain Jack. “So Mr. Redgill has'turned religious all at once,eh? Very good. Ha! ha! it’s time he did something of the kind, Get you gone, and don’t let me catch you talking to the prisoner any more. Do you under- stand me ? If you do, you shall be dismissed.”’ “But, captain, I have done no wrong ; no offence was meant. You know I have been gaoler here more than twenty years, and a steadier, a soberer, or a honester man never was than myself, though I say it.” : “JT dare say,’ Captain Jack replied, with a grin. “All men are honest till they’re found out ; I’m a real saint myself. Ha! ha! Then leave us, I wish to speak to the prisoner alone. Get you gone, turnkey !” The gaoler left. Captain Jack and Phillip Redgill were now alone, The captain took a seat on the edge of the table, and looked at Phillip much like a wild beast who has got his prey firmly in its clutches. Neither spoke for some time. Phillip’s eyes glowed with rage, but he spoke not a syllable for some time. Captain Jack amused himself with whistling and playing with a pistol. “May I ask what you want with me ?” Phillip began, at length, endeavouring to suppress the rage he felt. ‘Me want with you ?” said Jack. “‘Oh! I really beg pardon for intruding—ha ! ha! but I thought you might want to see me, that’s all.” As he spoke he smiled like a demon. ‘You have acted the knave towards me, Captain Jack,” e “Have I, though ? are !”’ “Yes, you have, Captain Jack ; you have acted like a black-hearted scoundrel ! ” “Go on, go on, I am listening; you can’t hurt anybody with your tongue ; you are bound too fast to the stone floor to do mitch harm.” Serna | pt “Yes, of course you are but go on—I want to hear all you’ve got to say.” “Why did you take my money, and then arrest me?” “Because I wanted the cash ; and, in the next place, I wished to save my own neck. Colonel Blood swore to hang one or the other, so I thought you might do better than myself, you perceive.” “ But suppose I were to tell Colonel Blood what I have done for you?” “He wouldn’t believe you, that’s all.” ‘“‘T don’t know that.” “ But I do, though. If I had not thought and known so, I shouldn’t have captured you alive,” “‘What then ? ” “Why, would have so arranged it that you would have been a dead man, that’s all.” “ And did you mean that all along ? ” “ Of course I did.” For some time neither spoke, bit looked at each other occasionally with an expression of fierce brutality in their eyes. At last, Phillip said : «© Suppose I disprove all your charges and accusa- tions—what then ?” “Oh, but you can’t.” “ Can’t ?” “ No—impossible.” “But if I get witnesses to swear'to my inno- cence ?” | ‘“Why, then, I'll so manage it as to have two witnesses to your one to swear quite the contrary.” “You are a villain, Captain Jack ! ” “Tor’ bless you! Didn’t you know it before ? I’m called that name every day—lI’m quite used to it now.” “Tell the truth, Captain Jack—What did you come here for ? ” ‘‘Have you any money ?—answer me that first.” “Not a penny piece.” “Then you will as surely die as eggs are eggs, that’s all.’’ ; “ What do you mean ?” “Couldn’t you manage to get some money, by fair means or foul ?” why ?” “ Oh, nothing ; but it’s possible you might only be transported if you could raise a thousand pounds to pay lawyers to defend you, and—ah—” « And what ?” “ Why, ‘palm’ Colonel Blood and myself, that’s all. The affidavits are not made out yet. I have only taken you on suspicion, you know.” ‘““T understand.” “ But then the suspicion is very strong, you know —very, very strong indeed ; it almost amounts to a dead certainty, since we’ve got the identical suit of clothes ‘a certain party ’ exchanged, on the night of the murder, with young Bob Bertram.” Captain Jack smiled as he said this. Phillip bit his lip. “How did you procure the clothes ?”’ “Ned Warbeck gave the suit to me this very morning, for Bob had kept them by him, and young Warbeck says he could swear they belong to “T)—n Ned“Warbeck ! ” said Phillip Redgill, in a terrible rage ; ““D—n him! he is always crossing How complimentary you -ONnnicloooks. conn