The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 131: what you’re looking at

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

THE SKELETON CREW; must be very careful of yourself in dealing with this tricky customer, for it strikes me that this Capt. Gingles may be some powerful friend of his, and an enemy to me. * What shall I do, “Shall I take the note myself, or let one of the ‘dozen’ do it? No, I must take it myself, for if this Gingles gives the money, ten to one my men would bolt off with it.” For several hours Capt. Jack didn’t know how to act in the matier. He didn’t want to trust any of his men with such a large sum as £1,000. For if he had done so, and they for a miracle proved honest, he would have had to divide the spoil with them all. This was a consideration that Capt. Jack did not at all relish. “No, no,” said he, “I must stick to this little sum myself, and if I get it, why, Phillip Redgill may be assisted to escape without trial at all, and the trial will be sure to fall on the sleepy gaolers, for we must hang somebody.” Time was flying, however, and something must be done in the matter. It was now ten o’clock, and yet he was undecided how to act. He was sauntering along the dark streets, when he accidentally came across one of his own men. “ Hello, captain! is that you ?” “Why, Ben, my lad, howare you? I’venot seen you for three or four days. You seem rather ‘mellow.’ ”’ “Yes, captain, ‘ mellow’ isthe word. I am rather ‘mellow, if it comes to that, and I like it.” “So it seems. You seem to be pretty well off for money, Ben.” “ Yes, captain, I’ve made a little this last day or two,” “ How was that ?” “ Why, seeing that the dozen haven’t had any- thing to do, not a single job on hand for this last month, I thought I’d do a little bit of business for myself on the extreme quiet, for our trade has been as flat as ditch water of late.” “True, Ben ; and money is very tight.” “So Zthought; but, as I’ve got a few pounds to spare, you are welcome to them, captain.” “No, thank you, Ben; but where did you pick up the money ?” «‘ At the old ‘ Bull and Mouth,’ ” ‘“¢ Indeed !” “ Yes, the old house is full of people, and there card-playing is going on both night and day. There's one chap there as must have won over a thousand pounds these last few days.” “ What’s his name ?” “ Gingles —Captain Gingles, I think they call him.” “Ah! you don’t say so? What sort of a fellow is he ?” “ Well, he’s rather tall, and strong-looking ; but he’s got a grey head and long hair, and wears spec- tacles, and stoops like a very old man.” “ Not much good in a quarrel or a fight, I sup- pose ?” ‘Him! Bless your heart, no ; he’s as gentle as a child, and, I warrant me, as weak as a cat.” This description of the person to whom Redgill addressed his note so pleased Captain Jack that he altered his mind again for the bundreth time, and resolved to take and present the note himself, and thus pocket the large sum bargained for. He soon got rid of Ben, and, with a light heart, bent his steps towards the well-known ina. OR, WILDFIRE NED. 125 He was muffled up to the eyes, and when he had ordered a bottle of wine and other luxuries, be entered the card-room and seated himself in a quiet corner. He cast a quick glance around him, and instantly perceived old Gingies, who had at his elbow a large sum in gold. Card playing was now at its height, and so tempting did it appear to Captain Jack, that, after a time, he joined them, and for the first hour won a good stake. Heated with wine, and flushed with his unexpect- ed success, he made a very heavy bet with old Gingles, and, to the astonishment of all present, lost it | Gingles raked the heap of shining gold into his old hat and put it into his pocket with a wicked grin which almost drove Cuptain Jack mad. Captain Jack lost every farthing he had, and was so aggravated thit he could bave danced around the room with passion, and felt as if he could have shot old Gingles, who, calm, quiet, and unroffled. played on, and still continued to win with astonish- ing good fortune. “No matter,” thought Captain Jack, “he will have to pay me a thousand pounds for his friend, which will make me all right again. J wish they’d stop playing, I want to present this note, and learn what he’ll doin the matter. If he refuses, I’ll get one or two of my lads to waylay the old rascal and rob him. I'll have his money, by fair means or by foul !” Midnight had long chimed, and still the play con- tinued. The “noble captain” felé very sore about his losses at cards, and chewed the end of his cigar in a terrible temper, ‘“T should like to get up a game to beat old Gingles,” thought he; but ere he had sat long in meditation a great cheer rose from the card-table. “ Gingles won it.” “No, he didn’t.” ““T say he did.” ‘‘T’ll swear he didn’t.” “ You lie, old Gingles !” said the other, who was called Alick, and a notorious card-sharper. As he spoke, he struck the table violently. “T tell you I did win the game—the money is mine.” “Lay a hand on that gold, and I'll knock you down, you cheating old scamp !” eaid Alick, in a terrible rage. “The money is minc.” “Ttis not. Vll leave it to any gentleman in the room.”’ “ Alick won it fairly,” said a chorus of voices. “No, old Gingles is entitled to the money. He could beat Alick all night.” “Could he ?” “Yes, he could,” said several, “and I don’t mind wagering a hundred guineas on another game.” “So would I,” “ And I.” “ Well, then, gentlemen, since there is a dispute about the game, I am willing that we increase the stakes fourfold, and play it again.” ‘‘Hear, hear,” cried several voices. “J don’t mind,” said old Gingles; “ but not till I’ve had some supper, and a walk in the cool air, to freshen me up a bit.” “Well, then, it’s decided—put down your money. Gentlemen, in half an hour the game begins again.” “ Agreed, agreed !’’ shouted every one. The money was put down for the contested game of cards, and great enthusiasm prevailed amongst im| commicboooks. conn