The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 25: 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. 19 looking on in mute astonishment, but with bold, firm-set features, ‘It is alive! it is alive, master! Let us get away ! it is—it must be the devil himself !” ‘Hold thy peace,” said Ned, in a petulant whisper, 3 ? And, then aloud, he addressed the ghastly, hideous orm, ‘“Be ye devil or mortal, speak!” fiercely. ‘“ Who and what art thon?” The Red Man raised his skeleton arm, and sud- denly thrust it through the grating of his prison- house, as he pointed his long, lean fingers, and gaid, ‘‘ Edward Warbeck, I am thine enemy ! Beware !”’* ‘‘ Mine enemy ?” said Ned, with a grim smile, “ Aye, the same you saw this very night. At certain times and seasons I walk the earth ; beware, I say, of the Red Man of the Gibbet and the Skeleton Crew. I am thy fate! When we meet again thou wilt tremble at my presence. Until we meet again, adieu !”’ ae long arm descended again by his grim, bony sides, His red eyes lost their fiery lustre. His marrowless bones shook in their iron cage. All was still, quiet and solitary as the grave. Nought was heard—nothing was seen but a stray vulture as it circled in the air near by and pounced on the gibbet. Wildfire Ned was astonished, but not dismayed, He laughed aloud ia wild derision, as he said, “Tremble at thy presence? Never !” The Red Man echoed the laugh in sepulchral tones. Ned turned his head to look around. Tim had left him, and was then madly galloping away. Ned was alone at that awful spot ! said Ned, CHAPTER VIL. PHILIP REDGILL’S ENCOUNTER WITH WILDFIRE NED, It was a lucky moment for some of the servants that old Sir Richard and his party of sailors did so suddenly burst upon the scene, and thus put an end to the bloody ordeal that was then taking place. They had hung several to the beam, and some of the maid servants had been carried off, Roger and the coachman lay upon the floor, thoroughly exhausted, bleeding from all parts of the body, Tim, the groom, like a lively monkey, managed to climb up the rafters unseen, and hid himself behind a great beam. But the sudden inroad of Wildfire Ned so ex- asperated the Skeleton Crew, that they gave no heed to ihe domestics, but turned all their attention to Lieut. Garnet and his sailors. In the meantime the unfortunate servants stopped the deadly duels among themselves, and crawled out of the way of further harm. Tim, however, directly Wildfire Ned appeared upon the scene, gave a wild shout, which almost cost him his life. One of the Skeleton Crew perceived that he had got out of the way among the beams and rafters of the ceiling, and fired at him. The bullet just grazed his cheek. i An inch more and he would have tumbled down ead, * See Illustration in No. 2. As it was he merely screened himself safelY again. 5 When he saw a good chance he whipped out his knife, and cut several of the ropes with which some of the servants had been hung. They fell to the ground heavily. But the shock seemed to revive the almost extinct life of several. Tim then slipped down from his lofty perch, picked up a sword, and rushed to the side of Wildfire Ned, and capered about, and was such a thin, wiry young rascal, that the Skeletons always missed their aim, Tim seemed to them to be made of india-rubber. They couldn’t touch him, do what they might, for, although his clothes were tattered, he escaped with a whole skin, much to his delight. %* * * Several days after the stirring events we have just narrated, the wounded men were all provided for, and the dead buried. This strange visit of the Skeleton Crew to Dar- lington, and the frightful scenes in the old immense servants’ hall was ,the talk of the country far and wide. It filled every one with amazement, and people began to think that, perhaps, after all, the mysterious murder of Farmer Bertram might be traced to the Same source, particularly since poor Bob, the farmer's son, protested his innocence so loudly and boldly. But appearances farmer’s son. His own thick walking-stick was found beside the murdered man. The old farmer’s purse, one he had but a week before bought in the village, was found in the pocket of his accused son, These evidences of guilt were too strong to allow of any doubt but that the unhappy son had, in a moment of anger and revenge, murdered his own father, were strongly against the There was one, however, who did believe in poor Bob’s innocence. That was Wildfire Ned. He visited Bob in prison, and spent several hours with him, When he came away he told old Sir Richard that the prisoner was an innocent man, and was sure he had been duped by some cunning villain, “Bob must not suffer,” said Ned; ‘‘he shal/ not suffer, while I’ve got a hand to help him,” “Shall not?” said Sir Richard, in amazement ; ‘“Who’s to prevent it, if he’s found guilty ?” ‘“Who? why, JZ will,” said Wildfire Ned, colour- ing to the temples, OU? . ‘Yes, me, uncle. No rope shall ever go round Bob’s neck while there isa sword in the village to prevent it.” “Silly boy,” said the knight, with a smile, “I know that you are brave, no one can doubt that ; but what could yow do against so many?” Let them dare attempt to hang him in Darling- ton, and you would soon see what Wildfire Ned would do,” “But they will not hang him here in the village. Most likely they will take him to the nearest large town, perhaps to London, for all I know.” © “T wish they would take him to London,” said Ned, with a smile. ‘‘ Indeed ! And what then, pray ?” ‘“Why, I would arm and lead on a party of gallant youths. We would soon beat back the soldiers,” SCO CONIC MOO nn)