The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

eee 14 , THE SKELETON CREW; OR, WILDFIRE NED. a SO I ‘Oh, then, you are pious ?” “Yes, I always was.” “Then as you are so much the better prepared than the rest, we'll hang you first.” Roger groaned and rose up like a shot, ‘‘ You have heard of the Skeleton Crew, I know,”’ said the chief aloud, ‘‘and that they neither fear man nor deyil ?” . _ “We have,” said several; “ quite true.” * T wish the devil had Aim, though,” groaned poor Tin, | ‘** And,” continued he, “ you have heard that the chief is cruel, and has no mercy to his enemies.”’ “T wish I only had the luck to be one of his best friends at this particular moment,” sighed Roger, trembling, “ But you see,’ said the chief, ‘‘ 1 am not cruel, or I would have hanged you all without giving a moment’s warning. ‘‘ Cursed perlite !’”’ said Tim, under his breath. “ And, to show you that I am not as bad as people say I am, [’ll give you all achance as to who dies first, provided——” ‘‘ What ?” gasped several, eagerly. ‘You will answer me one question,” “What is it, oh, most mighty and merciful skeleton ?” sighed Roger. ‘ What is it?” ‘Who considers himself to be the greatest rogue among you all?” asked the chief, ‘‘ Be careful how you answer.” A long, solemn and awful pause followed this ominous and all-important question. The grim chief need not have warned them to be careful. They were very careful indeed, and took a long, long time to consider. “Tt won’t do for me to answer,” thought the trembling servants, ‘‘ for they will be sure to com- mence hanging the biggest rogues first.” “So there is no rogue at all among you, I find, eh? Ha! ha! Well, then, who thinks himself the most pious among you? Tell me that.” Roger was about to reply, but the words stuck fast in his throat, as he thought, “Tf J answer, they will do for me first as the best prepared to die; no, no, he don’t entrap me with his puzzling questions.” So thought the rest. “ No goodness among ye all, then, eh?” said the chief. ‘‘Why, a moment ago ye were all praying like so many saints. Come, answer me this, the third time, then I’ll give some of you another chance. Who considers himself to be brave among you, and don’t fear death? Answer me!’’ No one did so, however, ‘‘How artful this blood-thirsty monster is!” each thought; ‘‘for those who don’t fear death are sure to be hung first !”’ “Well, no one answers, I find,” said the chief, laughing. ‘I’ll give you a last chance, poor devils ; mark me, the only one you'll have, Who is the greatest coward among you, and fears most . to die ?”’ ST 'do?’ ‘T am,” **That’s mo,” *‘ Oh, spare us |” Such were the unanimous answers of all, and in one breath, ‘“ Ha! ha! you have answered at last, eh ? Well, then, since there are no good nor brave men, but plenty of cowards, we'll hang you altogether, for none of you deserve to live.” Groans were now heard on all sides, and many repented not having answered before. “ Tf there had been only a few brave men among you I would have spared——” “T’m brave! I’m brave |” “‘T’ll do any mortal thing,” “A lion’s courage is nothing to mine !”’ ‘Only just try me—a tiger is nothing compared to me!” “T’d face the devil, Z would !” Thus gasped out many when they found that brave men only were to be spared. “‘ Oh, that’s it, eh ?”’ said the Skeleton Chief, now find that all of you are brave.” “T’'m the bravest,” said Roger, very meekly ; “on my word, I am !” “You are, eh ?”’ ‘No, he isn’t,” said the coachmnn ; *‘ Zam,” “Oh, you are; then this footman must be a liar.” ‘So he is,” said the coachman, “an awful liar ; the biggest as ever lived !” “Then we will begin with you two first, and give you a trial,” said the chief. ‘How do you bést like to fight, with swords, or what? Daggers are the quickest to do the work with !” “T’d prefer fists,’ said the burly coachman. “And what do you prefer my brave fellow ?”’ asked the chief of Roger. Roger much preferred to escape out of the mess altogether, but it could not be. “Strip,” said the chief, “ you’ve got a fair chance to settle ; the one who gives in first shall be hung, and the conqueror shall have the choice of poison or a bullet if he refuses to join my crew. We only have well-tried men alive or dead on board the Phantom Ship.” Neither Roger nor the coachman saw any very great choice in the terms offered, but ere many minutes they were pounding each other’s ribs in gallant style till the sounds of their own blows reached through the immense hall, Both combatants fought for ten minutes fiercely and fast, and went at it like two blacksmiths. At last, however, Roger began to blow like a grampus, and with a well-directed smack on the nose the burly coachman knocked him down. ‘“T-give in,” gasped Roger. ‘“‘ Bring the rope,’’ said the chief, calmly. “No, I don’t; stop a bit,” said the footman., “ D—n it ! Pll have a few more rounds ; anything’s better than being scragged like a cat.” | At it they went again hammer and tiongs, pound- ing each other, and puffing at a great rate. But while this was going on several other “ brave ” individuals were engaged, with swords, proving their valour, one against the other. The doors were all locked, the windows were closed, and the servants’ hall being so far away from the knight’s apartments the noise was not heard. Curses, not loud but deep, were heard on every side, and the Skeleton Crew looked on with de- light, as they saw the blood flowing an all sides, while their chief sat on a high seat, quafting wine, “Ty iboo (E(0) nn) CS (E(0)