The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 145: what you’re looking at

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

THE SKELETON CREW; cruel captivity, and haye come to release you. All is ready for our flight.” So speaking he rose, and passing his arm round Ellen’s waist, bore her, more dead than alive, from the chamber. es _He doubly locked the door, and entered an adjoin- ‘ing chamber with his unconscious | and fainting victim, in order to await the coming of Rochfort. % * * | * Captain Jack’s head just peeped above the balcony of Ellen Harmer’s chamber at the moment the King had left it. “Noiselessly he opened’ the lattice, and, disguised as he was, entered, pistol 1 in hand. “T thought I Saw A light here a moment ago, ” he said ; “surely I was not mistaken.” "He was not; but the King had taken the wax taper with him, and all was now total darkness. “ Splendid chamber this,” thought Jack, as he turned on his lantern and gazed around. He thought in’ the far corner he could perceive two. dark eyes glistening. ‘He made a thrust at the spot with his sword. But the Nubian had percei ved him and crept under the bed.” _- “Tt must have been a cat; or something” thought Jack, as he began to’ ransack the drawers and wardrobes. “Watches, jewels, ‘silks, satins, and money. he found in abundance, “Hillo! this will do,” he mused, as he filled his pockets i in great haste, But the néxt thing to be done was to descend the stairs, so as to admit his companions. He was in his stocking feet, and moved about without making the slightest noise. - ‘After much trouble, he forced back the: lock of the’ chamber door. ‘Like a cat, hé descended the stairs, and withdrew the two huge bolts of the front door. This was done without the slightest noise, and seyeral of his gang entered and ‘distributed them- selves all over the mansion. In a very short time Jack and his comrades stripped the drawing-rooms, | parlours, and_ other rooms, of. all their valuables, and as quickly as possible filled several sacks with gold and silver ware from the plate chest in the pan ae Re The butler slept in this pantry, bee was almost frightened out. of his wits, for one; of the band held a pistol at his head while the other tied him hand and foct and gagged him. , They then began to. work, and. did. not leave a single spoon or fork. behind them, ) These bags, of spoil were rapidly passed out to old Bates and the others, on watch outside, and eon vated | to their boat in the river, moored under Tey ai en: wall, Capt tain Jack, _however, did not trouble himself much; about, silver. ‘spoons, or forks, or gold and silyer goblets. - He made his way straight towards Colonel Blood’s library. ;,., He closed the door, adh then began to ransack every hole and corner of. the apartment, The. drawers were broken open, and everything of no value to him was strewn about the floor. In the colonel’s writing-desk, howeyer, he dis- covered a considerable sum of money in, gold and notes, , More than this, his;eyes glistened as he clutched | a ‘small bundle of paper tied up with red ribbon, and sealed with many seals. This he put into his, breast for greater security, fly, except’ ‘with! nie, OR, WILDFIRE NED. 139 _ for his huge pockets were bulging ont with yaluable odds and énds of all sorts, Having completely despoiled the library, he re- traced his steps upstairs, ‘Surely Ellen Harmer must, be in the. mansion somewhere,” he thought. As he passed rapidly up the winding stairs towards the colonel’s own bed-chamber, he stopped and listened: Two persons were conversing in quick, passionate tones. The voice of one. sounded like that of a female in distresss, Captain Jack listened attentively to all that passed. “ Nay, let me go, I beg of you, as you are a man and a gentleman,” said “the female voice, in tones of anguish: “ Nay dearest,” was the soft reply, “you cannot You ‘must—you shall be mine !” « Rather ten ‘thousand deaths,” was the brave, resolute answer of the fair one, “rather ten thousand deaths than consent to my own dishonour ! Unhand me, I say, unhand me! Itook you fora gentleman—a man—but I am deceived—you are a Scoundrel. “Let me go—unhand me, I say, once for all, or I'll shame you before all the world—I’ll raise the whole mansion with my cries,” “°?Tis useless to struggle, angelic being,” was the impassioned answer; ‘‘your beauty has entranced my very soul, Come, let us fly hence; all wealth, honour, and adulation shall be thine.” as Help, help, help !’” was'the female’s feeble cry. At that time a struggle was heardgoipg on in the room. ' At that: moment Captain Jack, lantern and sword in hand, dashed the door open and entered, Ellen Harmer gave a short, quick. cry “of joy as she perceived deliverance at hand, Instinctively she rushed into the arms of Captain Jack for protection. The king was amazed. He made a thrust at Jack, But next OR. the weapon was knocked from his hand. He now. stood, Wsamed and defenceless)i ba fate the bold intruder. 1 Who ar¢ thou?” said the king,.in Bas TREC! “Thy equal,” said Jack, in! an, assumed voice, § What, is it nothing that, .you now! cringe before me, and yet a moment ago you would for ever have dishonoured this blameless. girl ?,, Out upon thee, for a,craven !” ‘‘ Save me, save me !” sobbed Ellen. “ Peace, lass, thou art safe,” said) Captain Jack. “ And as for thee,’ said he, turning. towards the king with gesture of disgust, “as for ‘thee, more anon.’ *« How, knave, wouldst thow dare. to;stand there prating to your superior, when with. one, word I could have thee hanged? You know not who nor what I am.” ‘* Nor do I want to,,know, sirrah; and mark me’ do not let thy tongue wag so carelessly, for by.my word, be you king or peasant, I’ll make a lame duck of ye. Out upon thee, man!,would. ye, like a cowardly interloper, come poaching on these strange grounds, when you ‘know the master is away ?”’ ‘What mean ye, impudent rogue ?” ‘Mean ? why, I mean that you, bad not, courage to try your fortune here while Colonel Blood, was at home ; but, like a clown, must crawl in when he had gone away,” “You seem to know all this ?” Comcoooks. conn