The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 166: what you’re looking at

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

160 THE SKELETON CREW; OR, WILDFIRE NED. a “ Lord Edward Warbeck looked in amazement on a brother he had not met since they stood in arms each against the other’s life. ‘And he now saw that the arm that Sir Charles extended to him dripped with blood, trickling drop by drop upon the floor. : “¢ Come,’ said Sir Charles,‘ follow me! It is my last prayer. Come, for Leoline’s sake, come.’ “ At that name, Lord Edward Warbeck hesitated no longer ; he girded on his sword, and followed his brother down the stairs, and through the. castle ate,’ ; : ‘‘The porter scarcely believed his eyes when he saw the two brothers, so long divided, go forth at that hour alone, and seemingly in friendship, “Lord Warbeck, arrived at that epoch in the feelings when nothing stuns, followed with silent steps the rapid strides of his brother. “ The two castles, as I have told you, were not far from each other. “In a few minutes Sir Charles paused at an open space in one of the terraces’on which the moon shone bright and steady. | ‘ **¢ Behold !’ he said, in a ghastly voice, ‘ behold !’ ** And Lord Warbeck saw on the sward the corpse of Redgill bathed with the blood that even still poured fast and warm from his heart. “¢ Mark !’ said Sir Charles. ‘He it was who first made me waver in my vows to Leoline. ‘He pur- suaded me to wed yon whited falsehood. Hark! He, who had thus wronged my real love, dis- honoured me with my faithless bride, and thus— thus—thus’ as, grinding his teeth, he spurned again and again the dead body of Redgill, ‘thus Leoline and myself are avenged !’ ““¢ And thy wife ?’ said Lord Warbeck, pityingly. “<« Fled—fied with a hireling page! It is well! She was not worth the sword that was once belted on—by Leoline !’ “On the very night of his revenge a long delirious illness seized Sir Charles. “The generous Lord Warbeck forgave, forgot all, eave that he had been once consecrated by Leoline’s ove. “He tended him through his sickness, and, when he recovered, Sir Charles was an altered man, ** He foreswore the comrades he had once courted, the revels he had once led. ‘** His halls were desolate. “The only companion Sir Charles sought was Lord Warbeck; and Lord Warbeck bore with him. “They had no subject in common, for on one subject Lord Warbeck at least felt too deeply ever to trust himself to speak. “Yet did a strange and secret sympathy re-unite them, “They had at least 2 common sorrow, “Often they were seen wandering together by the solitary banks of the river, or amidst the woods, without apparently interchanging word or sign. . “Lord Warbeck was now companionless. “In vain the king’s court wooed him to its pleasures. “In vain the camp proffered him the oblivion of renown. “Ah! could he tear himself from a spot where morning and night he could see afar, amidst the valley, the roof that sheltered Leoline, and on which every copse, eyery turf, reminded him of former ays ‘His solitary life, his midnight vigils, strange scrolls about his chamber, obtained him by degrees the repute of cultivating the darker arts ; and, shunning, he became shunned by all. “ One night, when Lord Warbeck sat lonely in his Bors chamber, dreaming of the past, the bell at the outer gate began to toll. ** He listened. “ Again and again its solemn sounds struck omin- ously upon his ear. “ He had never before in all his life heard such a dismal, mournful sound, “The gate-keeper went out toascertain the cause, but could see no one about. “ He even went up into the bell-tower. “But just as he got there the bell ceased tolling ; but even then shook to and fro. “ He was about to leave when again it tolled. ~- “The old porter was struck almost dumb with surprise. “ The bell was not touched by anything that he could see, and yet its harsh grating sound thrilled hin. “‘¢ Ghosts !’ he cried, and hurried away to inform his master of the strange occurrence. “What means this noise at such an unseemly hour of the night ?’ said Lord Edward, sternly. **¢] know not my lord,’ was the answer ; ‘ but all in the castle are in commotion and fear.’ “¢Get you gone, knave,’ said Warbeck, ‘and let’s hear no more of such silly nonsense.’ “The porter went his way, and Lord Edward walked about his room in a state of mental excite- ment. ‘““* What means this tolling of the bells ?’ said he, half-aloud. ““<¢ JT can explain,’ said a voice near to him. “ Lord Edward turned suddenly around, and to his horror, he saw standing before him a ghastly skeleton form. “* Who art thou ?’ said Lord Edward, in a firm tone. **T am Redgill, whom thy brother slew.’ ‘““* Ha! the spirit of the dead !’ said Lord Edward, “No, not dead ; through the agency of potent spirits, I have been restored to life,’ ** Tmpoasible !? “No; I roam the earth with but one sole object.’ “ *« Name it !’ ““*'To destroy every one who bears the name of W arbeck.’ «Be you spirit or mortal, thou liest !’ said Lord Edward. ‘And at the same moment he drew his sword, and made a pass at the grim visitor. “In an instant, however, the blade was shivered into halves, and the skeleton laughed loudly and grimly. “*My life is charmed. Thy steel to me is useless, They hung me on a gibbet, and called me the Red Man from the mass of gore which flowed from the wounds inflicted by thy brother ; but, as I have said, my life is renewed through mystic charms and spells, and at certain times of night, during certain beoeons of the year, I can go abroad wherever I will, “* See,’ said the intruder, ‘I come not alone.’ “He stamped his foot, “In a moment, Lord Edward was astonished to find that the room was filled with skeleton men. “* You see I come not alone,’ said the intruder again ; ‘this is my band, the Skeleton Crew ; we are the scourge both of the sea and land; fear us, Warbeck, for never, until the last of thy name shall have ceased to live, will I, or my crew, cease to follow, and thwart you in all your designs.’ ““* Unholy fiend,’ Lord Edward exclaimed; ‘if even it be that all of you are endowed with life anew, heaven hath its counter spells for all your charms.’ Gomichooksscom