The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 144: 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. keep her for himself, after having, ashe termed’ it, “tamed her ’’ into submission. But this proved a much harder task than the colonel had ever imagined. Ellen Harmer would not “ be tamed.’ The colonel had offered her wealth and luxury ; but she received all his unmanly proposals with scorn. “T can afford to wait,” thought the hard-hearted colonel. ‘I can afford to wait, a month or- two of confinement and pampering will soon .bring down her proud spirit.” In hopes of keeping her away from the king, he had removed her first from one place to another, until at last he imagined that his royal master had given her up for lost. This, Colonel Blood fondly hoped was the case. But he was very much mistaken, The king had his spies about aS-well as the cun- ning colonel; but it was nof until this very day that he had act ually discovered the beautiful Ellen’s hiding-place. When he heard of it ie was in a terrible passion, and for a moment yowed all manner of things against Blood. When he heard, however, that the colonel had made a sudden journey to Darlington, he made up his mind to visit Blood’s mansion alone, and take her away by force. He had employed a@ truculent courtier to be on the spot about three or four in the morning. “ By which time,” said the king, “I shall have made an impression on the rustic beauty, If she will not consent to be my mistress, why, then, I will give the signal, Rochfort, and be you ready ‘with a guard and a barge to bear her away by force; but let all things be done in secret so that nota syllable may be known to Blood on his return, for I want to make a fool of him after all his deception with me,” These were the instructions given to Rochfort, and at the moment that Captain Jack was quietly preparing his rope-ladder outside, the king was already secreted in the mansion, Ellen Harmer, in her sumptuous chamber, was reclining on a sofa, She could not sleep, and the splendid bed with its satin hangings was uncreased. The Nubian slave stood watching her, and his dark eyes flashed with admiration as he furtively gazed at the beauty it was his duty to watch and guard. ' Ellen tried to read ; but she "tossed from her in- dignantly the only books the colonel allowed her to receive—namely, some of the licentious works. of the time, which, in our day, would not be tolerated in the lowest of society - but which in the period we speak of, passed, off for works of Wit and amuse-. ment, “Infamous man,” sighed Ellen, Ufo: incarcerate me thus from my poor old. father, and endeavour. to poison my heart and mind with such Pa pread- ing, Oh, that I were free or dead.” She beckoned to the slave. | : , Hf noiselessly approached her, and knelt at. her eet. * “You are the;only friend I haye found,” she whispered. : The slave bent low, and kissed her feet. “Is the house quiet ?. Have all retired to rest, 2” The slave bowed. “The colonel hag left for the country, I have heard,” Again the slave bowed. ey would escape from this gaudy dungeon,’’ she sal ate is H aposbible’ 44 the doors are alt doubly locked and barred; many fierce dogs are loose in and around the grounds, and would tear you in pieces,” he whispered. ‘Then I fear all hope is lost.” “Not lost,” said the slave. ‘Hold your breath ; make not the slightest noise ; I have a secret to impart ; all hope is not yet lost ; this night is the night of your deliverance.” What!” gasped Ellen in a sudden, and half- suppressed tremor of joy. “ The king is in the mansion at this moment,” “Tmpossible, slave.” “Tis true, fair lady ; but, hush, I hear footsteps ! hush !” Ellen did not hear the slightest sound, and seemed to think the slave was mistaken. But he was not. He crept to the chamber door on his hands and feet, and listened. He held up his finger in token of silence. Ellen Harmer sat rooted to her seat. She listened, but not a sound was audible. “Tt is the king, ” said the Nubian, in the faintest of whispers. “ He came to the house in a good disguise, but I recognised him.” “Tf it be the king, then,” said Ellen, “I will throw myself at his feet, and ask protection from the fiendish designs of yor rmaster, Colonel Blood.” “It will be useless,” said the slave ; “he comes here to take you away to. thé palace, or some secret place, for the ramours of tLe amazing beauty have entranced him. You are’ ies to be his mistress or death awaits you.’ © 22 “ Then welcome death,” said Dllen, “ere I submit, rand degrade myself to. 80 Jow a level! Heaven assist me in my sore trial t] Whilé she spoke and we! } t back again to the door. =~ “T hear his footstep again, ” he whispered, and laid his ear close down to the floor. At that moment the bed hangings rustled. With a gasp of horror, Ellen perceived an elegant stranger had effected an entrance into her chamber. It was the King ! The slave had not perceived this, and was still listening, with head averted. The King, sword in hand, looked at the dusky slave, and breathed a desperate oath, He raised his sword, and would have killed the dusky but faithful Nubian upon the spot. e Nubian siave crept and falling on her knees before the King, held, up her hands, and with, tears in her, eyes begged for his life. corner, the “slave rose, and crouched. 1 in ib, (i £ Move : an inch or utter a word,” “said” he, * ns and you die.” poor docile, faithful creature. Be merciful, stranger —for pity’s sake, harm him not; he, is the only friend I have! ”’ “ Ah, L forgot, so he is deaf and ‘dumb, said, the King. before. For your,sake, sweet lady, I spare him. But, if deaf, why was he’ listening ? z: when at prayers.” “Ah! so be it, then \ have forgotte how. 14 This he said with a sD turned towards Ellen, he. pad with the sweetest of sm 5 hispered, “Ely, lady—fly with me ! T have heard of your I never pray, my self—I | “ieoed smile, and, as ‘he | nicboo (E(0) <S (E(0) In an instant, however, Ellen rose from her “ob : The King turned and smiled, and motioning to, oy * He is deaf and dumb,” said Ellen. 3 fi ‘spare the T have heard Blood speak of: this eunuch | “He was praying, sir ; that is his usual asain bed BEIT Oe knee, en i)