The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

22 EE Oe They feasted, and swore, and laughed, and bolted their food in a heathenish style, as if all of them had been fasting for a month,\ Long, copious draughts of various beverages washed the prog down their capacious throats, and they occasionally enlivened the proceedings by throwing potatoes at Nat the waiter, and hitting him in the eye, on the nose, &c., until ‘* Boots’s ”’ face was bumped and swollen, When the repast was over these six elegant in- dividuals and their-captain stretched themselves on chairs, and puffed clouds from long pipes, as if they were the first gentlemen in the landinstead of the greatest rascals unhung. ‘‘ As I was saying, lads,” Capt. Jack observed, after drinking some brandy and water, “as I was saying I shouldn’t have taken this pretty job in hand, you know, only it gave us alla chance to do ‘a) little business on the road on our private account.” “True,” growled Tom Bates, an oldish,™ ugly- looking person, with one eye and a broken’ nose, “true, captain, and when yer did want anybody, in course you knowed where to find’em. Ah ! we’ve had some r-a-r-e old times together, haven’t we, cap’n ?” said Bates,'with a long-drawn sigh,’ which he further suppressed with’ a flood ‘of spiced ale down his throat, : ‘True, Tom ; ‘but ‘the ideayof <the .‘ Baker's Dozen,’ as we are called, was yours,” ‘‘In course;it were,” said Bates. “But I arn’t at all proud ; it were only a lucky thought. When you got.your fust job from the justices what could a-been a neater idea than to have a company 0’ twelve or thirteen good trusty lads about ye, when times were busy, all sworn to secrecy and fair shares 0’ booty 2?” [It must be here explained, for the reader's in- formation, that Captain Jack*had been such a noted thief and rascal in his time that he had often been, and was now regularly, employed as thief-taker. But this position only gave him opportunities of becoming a still greater scoundrel. With this yiew, he and Tom Bates formed the idea of haying a band of twelve or thirteen men, who should act under the captain's orders, and, under cover of being the thief-taker’s occasional assistants, would thus have an ample chance of “ turning a dishonest penny to their own account,” This was agreed upon, and the band formed. ; the name under which they were known. was the ‘* Baker's Dozen.” Each man had a particular talent, one for house- breaking, a second for counterfeiting, a third for horse-stealing, and go on. The. authorities never ‘dreamed that'fsuch a banded company existed, and placed all faith in Captain Jack, although he was the greatest rogue i geese as will be seen in this exciting narra- ive, “We've often heard the whole story before, Tom,” said Faulkner, another of the company, ‘*so cut it for the present ; it’s been many a good year In existence, and I warrant ye hadn’t as many grog blossoms on your nose afore it started as ye haye now,’ ‘Stow that, Faulkey,’’. said’ Bates,’° “I’ve \got corns a8 well as grog blossoms, mind, and you wouldn’t a-been one o’ the dozen at all ’cept for me—no, that yer wouldn’t ; but I know what yer would a been,” 1 “ What ?” “Why, meat for wultures and night carrion birds, as pay their respects to the gibbets,”’ This remark made all laugh, for it was well- known among them that Faulkner would have THE SKELETON CREW; OR, WILDFIRE NED. || : vas | 4 | | | been hung on the charge of robbery had not Bates — induced Captain Jack to swear that he was inno. — cent, ; nase | “Well, enough ‘of charf,” said Captain Jack; ‘‘Jet’s to business, Is that door shut?” c 7 Yes.” ‘‘ Well, let one of ye go and stand outside to give the office if any one comes in,” This was done. tigel They all clustered round the table, and dived | their hands down into their capacious pockets, | One produced a ‘purse, another some finger and | ear-rings ; two others had a bundle of bank-notes, — watches, snuff-bcxes, the diamond bilts of broken swords, jewelled shoe and dress buckles ; and other | things of value were displayed. oil ‘You haven’t been idle on the road, I see,” said Captain Jack, witha grin. “This makes up for our unpleasant journey down here for that silly bumpkin.” ; While they were dividing the booty Captain Jack was deep in figures, and so was Tom Bates, that the | entire swag might be apportioned so as to giye | themselves the greatest share. + ade ee While thus engaged, Bates raised his eyes towards | the parlour window. ‘“ Dam’me if there ain’t some one peeping through the round hole in the shutter !”’ he stammered. In an instant he pulled out his pistol, and fired! | The ball smashed the glass, and went right | through the hole. Some one was heard to fall outside. Tom Bates rushed to the window, and flung the shutter open. No one was there! ‘Well, if I didn’t hit him, I must have shaved him closely,” said Bates, and closed the window again, «tH The moment Captain Jack had divided the spoil, — a horseman was heard to halt at the inn door. ‘A traveller, and at this late hour. Who can it be?” said the select party in the parlour, ‘Who can it be 2” “Here, waiter’ said one and another, “don’t let the place be oyer-crowded, there are seven of our party here already ; you can’t accommodate any more.”’ ‘‘ I swear I'll have no half bed to-night,” “ Nor I either.” “Tell him to seek lodgings elsewhere in the village, landlord !”’ “He shan’t sleep with me,” growled | Bates, “‘ whoever: he is,” 5 oe \e “ You needn’t put yourself out of temper, friend,” said the stranger, entering in a free and easy Manner. “You needn’t put yourself into any flurry, for I wouldn’t have such an ugly-looking bed-fellow for all the gold in England.” As he said this he cut Bates across the shoulders with his riding-whip., AY Hillo, what means'this?” said Bates, spluttering with rage, “JZ say, my fine, dandy gentleman, do you know who you’re cutting about the shoulders with your riding-whip? Take? no such liberties, young man, or you may repent of it,” i: Tut, tut, man, you don’t know ,how to stand a joke.” “That's no joke, as you'll quicklyfind, if you're not very civil,” growled Bates, puffing his pipe. ‘This parlour is engaged,” said Captain Jack, “I see it is,” the stranger said, coolly, ‘The beds are all engaged,” ‘‘ You had better go elsewhere,” ‘ We don’t wish to be disturbed ; we are all friends here,”’ ) i] a} , . or micbooks (E(0) (E(0)