The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 177: what you’re looking at

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

EE Se ee eee THE SKELETON CREW; OR, WILDFIRE NED. ee eee Sto a ee ee CHAP TER, XLVI. THE COLONELS PLANS SUCCEED—THE SPY AND : me MESSENGER, / Witkix Ned'‘Warbeek had left his unele’s house to go and visit the palace, he was not aw are that all his actions! had been’ watched. 'Yeb they had been. | ' Colonel Blood was'a man of too much itifitieded about the king’s court not to have a number of spiés and informers in’ his employ. W hen, therefore, he was returning from thie scene atthe Block House, disheartened and annoyed, he met with a person who recognised him. “ Who hails me in the public streets at this Eine ofthe morning ?” asked Blood, in a surly tone. 0“ & friend,” was the reply, « we Approach, and speak, then. ” said the colonel, in a haughty tone. Lhe stranger stepped forward rowerts Blood, and inaninstant: he was recognized by the’ colonel as Se of his spies, an old gentlemanly-looking Jew.‘ ‘ WPA news to-night, Banriainas ?”? asked the eolonel., acc Good newis/!”? answered the Jews “ And what is that, pray ??7! “‘Lhave,been, watching the doings of: Ned War- beck, his goings and comings, as you told'me to do a month ago.” “Well, and with what success 2 covered anything : 2? * Yes, I think so.?? rT What. ?” “Why, lsaw him audi a young naval officer not more than half an; hour,ago, hand | as pretty a lady out of a carriage as ever man’s eyes rested, upon.’ “Indeed ! are you certain ?” “Tam; ;, aud, more thin. that, old Sir Richard conducted her into the mansion with much polite- ness and ceremony. You did not, of course, learn her, nan ee | “y did, I heard Ned. Warbeck, and, his com- panion conversing together for a moment after, she) had gone into the honse.”, ‘‘ Where were you then pe “ee ; 10 “ Hiding in a doorway.’ - | ‘* And what said. they, pr “ ‘Ned spearhagkes swore. that, the. maid, should be hr to her, father without.a moment? a delay ; that e should start that very night to Darling- ton ; ope Hi? said Bidod ; Have your dis- * forttine favors me still. _ I know’ the’ rest, and’ need: not ask her.1 name. It _ was Ellen Harmer.” ~ ~« ‘The very same,” answered iPariatad! “T thought so.” “ But how could you’ have known that, colonel. _ I did not see you in the neighbourhood until now ?” “I know it; but, nevertheless, I am perfectly aware of the fair one’s ‘Name, she, has given mea vast amount of anxiety. and trouble of late.” “Indeed ! then I am fortunate in having made the discovery.” | “Yes, atnabis, ‘You are, girl must never be restored to her father.” “T do not understand you,” said the Jew, “JT mean, that she must never be allowed to return to her native village of Darlington, She has escaped. from my - protection Barnabas, and I must have her back agaiD, or else mney, Pts sant things might come to light. sg “But how can you revent, it ? t i ‘But, “mark nie, that ec ye «¢Basily enoug girl alread y; tink ye ae if 8 know not, IT. aa etney vue ted off with inthe. Met, Pip TicHirars mafieion Dat; half-an-hour ago, but Neil Warbeck seemed to be in such a hurry and flurry about the pretty wench that I have no doubt they will not Tose any time in transporting her to Darlington again.” ~ “Fool that you were! Why did: “you not stop and watch Sir Richard’s mansion ? In that case we could have been certain whether the wench had departed or not.” “If I had done go, colonel, I should not have met you. 39 ‘True ; no matter. “I can ‘Soon arrange the matter:toimy: satisfaction.” ‘T am glad to hear it.” . * Are you a good horseman, Barnabas ‘ pay “Yes, an excellent rider,” « And can you disguise yourself well ?” * Yes, colonel, with any one in all England. re “ Do you know; then, where Darlington is 2» “ Yes, well.” ss Then, on the instant, disguise yourself as any- thing you like—say a parson, for that character throws off. most suspicion—disguise yourself, I say, and post off to Darlington as faséi ds horse" fies can carry you.” “ But I haye'no money.” HOU “You never have. “I never knew a Tet in all my life who would ever confess to have more than six- pence if yow wanted to borrow any 'withoutinterest, Take this,’ said Blood, ‘* that will be suffiicient:for your purpose. If this:wench is really on the road, watch her, and see whére she goes ‘to,:0If you do not find her on the road make your way*to Darling-~ ton, and try to! become friendly with her father, the old ‘millery ‘and Jetime know from time to*time how you get on and all you hear.” Barnabas: left tlie colonel onmthevinstant, and for a momenti lao se appeared, to he deeply buried in thought.’ “Ned Warbeck i is out, eh ? Atid therevis'no one of the family at home, save old Sir Richard and—--— Well, he.isn’t much to, think about, an old man, like he.is. ts adc In a. short; time. Colonel Blood hit pen a cool manner of proceeding. He direeted: his steps) to.a well-known gaming: house, where, a, company of. genteel thieves.and house-breakers were wont, to assemble. His presence did; not excite .any) surprise, for, he was often seen in such company. In a short time, to use his own words, “he gave the wink” to three or four of the better dressed, and left the place as if he had no other oh than to lounge away Half an lour OF 80. Four well-dressed fellows followed him, “Hello, my lads ! are you up to, avy little game to-night ?” L No, colonel.” «But are you * game ’ to join me in a lark ?” ‘“‘ Of course we are. What is it ?” “There is a very pretty girl, just gone into, Sir Richard Warbeck’s mansion, and I want to. get,her, into my possession as cleverly as possible,” «Just so. Abd‘how do you intend to proceed riba ‘« Have you, got any masks with you ?”’ ~ eTs we have not long returned from a masque ball. CAN Hight, then, we will call a.carriage, and when we approach, Sir Richard’s house, you four get out and hide thé carriage round the corner. I willenter the mansion, as if on busigess, and take good care to leave the door ajar. ‘While IL am talking to .the old knight about his nephew, Ned, and the wild freaks he has been playing about town of late, you four enter, put on your masks, and if this. pretty wench is not taken from the old knight's abode in less than | -OTnnicloo