The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 75: what you’re looking at

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

THE SKELETON CREW 3; OR, WILDFIRE NED. 69 a a a eee oe ee disgusted that he made his visit of very short dura- tion, and, taking up his hat, left his father’s offices in profound disyust, “These old fogies never will learn wisdom,’’ thonght he. ‘“ Asif the ships aren’t fully insured —what stuff! It the old driveller don’t come up to taw, Vil soon put him out of the way, and no mistake, I[lis tune has always been the same for the past five years—always on the point of bank- ruptcy, and yet always making no end of money ! Well, well, I’m tired of it—he shan’t keep me like a beggar much longer, J know !” And he paced up and down the street for some time in profound reflection. * * * % Ke Mr. Redgill, senior, went to his offices on the fol- lowing morning as hale and hearty as ever, and appeared on ’Change the same as he had already done for many years before. Telegrams from different parts of the coast, both north and south, confirmed previous rumours that the severe gsle of the past few days had been un- usually destructive, and that many vessels were reported wrecked or stranded. Several fast-sailing ships, which arrived the same morning, reported having passed the “ Racehorse ” and “* Eclipse ” off the Irish coast, “ all well.” This news cheered the old man up so much that he consented to dine and go out with Phillip for an evening drive, On the following morning newspapers detailed “the sad and unexpected death of the famous mer- chant, Mr. Redgill, who was thrown from his vehicle and drowned the previous evening, while riding with his only son, Puillip, the pair of horses having taken fright and ran away.” The account added that ‘‘ Mr. Redgill, jun., had a miraculous escape, but, with wonderful agility, he leaped from the conveyance and saved himself. the horses and carriage, with his father, having tumbled into the Thames, and were drowned !” CHAPTER XXVIII. OLD NETTLES IS SHAVED BY TWO OF THE SKELETON CREW. A BARBER’s has been often, and very wisely, called a “ gossiping shop.” If this is true of tonsorial establishments in town, it is particularly of such places in a village. In a hamlet, or small town, the barber knows all the news, the latest joke, and the newest sc andal, There is nothing that he does not know, in fact. No item ever escapes the “professor” who cuts your hair, or shaves you. Thus thought old Nettles, the tavern-kceper, a few days after the eventful and dreadful conflict between Wildfire Ned and the Skeleton Crew, on the ocean. For many miles around there were wild rumours of the ferocious battle which had taken place. But no two persons had the same tale to tell, Some said that Death-wing had killed young Ned Warbeck. Others swore that Death-wing and most of his crew had been drowned, But old Nettles knew differently. Yes ; but how ? Through the agency of Sea-Hawk and his smuggler band, J For when Sea-Hawk and his party had been decoyed on to, and afterwards beaten away from the Phantom Ship, they rowed rapid]y to their cave again, Later in the night, however, the sounds of distant fire-arms, and the booming of cannon over the ocean aroused their curiosity, They tovk to their boats again, and fallied forth. At a respectful distance from the scene of con- flict, the Smuggler Chief had witnessed all, and was not slow to inform his old companion, Nettles, of the particulars. When, therefore, Nettles went into the village- barber’s shop to get shaved, the tonsorial professor was very loquacious, and, at great length, ‘told him all he had heard about the conflict. “Don’t be such an ass, Mr. Barber,” said Nettles, waiting for his turn, ‘ Don’t be such an ass as to tell such idle tales. I tell thee that Ned Warbeck or Wildfire Ned was not killed, nor brave Lieutenant Garnet either, for Ned rescued Lord Walton’s sister from the ‘sinking ship, and she is now safe and sound at the abbey again.” “Thee doesna’ mean that ’ere, Maister Nettles, does thee ?” said the astonished barber. “Yes; but I do though, and more nor that I did hear that the king has raised Wildfire Ned to the rank of a lieutenant in the navy, and has given him the command of a rakish, fast-sailing, ten-gun sloop of war, and that at this very moment he is cruising about on the bright look- out for this Skeleton Crew, what remains of ’em, and a pretty overhauling they’ll get, too, if Wild- fire Ned should fall foul on ’em,” “But they do say these skeletons are invincible, Maister Nettles,” the barber remarked, “‘and can’t be hurt by anything.” “All stuff,” said Nettles, contemptnously. “I dare say they don’t like hard knocks no more than common folk, if the truth was known. [ don’t fear none on ’em, if they did set fire to my tavern.” “They say they be allcharmed, maister ?” “So I’ve hearn; but don’t believe it. The Ked Man of the Gibbet is worse than all on ’em.”’ “ How so ?” “ Why he were one o’ the founders on ’em, and the story goes that he gets out of his gibbet at certain times, and plies his trade.’’ “His trade! Why what does thee mean, Maister Nettles ?” “Mean! Why, didn’t thee hear; the Red Man o? the Gibbet had been—once on a time—a barber.” “ A barber! Lor’ bless the man! thee can’t mean that.” “T do, though. He were once a barber, and cut the throat of a nobleman for his money.” “ Awful !” “Yes, and afore they caught him he joined the Skeleton Crew, but was afterwards gibbeted ; but that didn’t seem to concarn him much, for they say he can get out at certain times and seasons, and goes on the spree.” “On the spree! What! asperit goo oz the spree, Maister Nettles 7” ““So they say ; but I can never believe it, nor will I until I sees it with my own eyes.” The conversation of Nettles with the village barber so much interested the open-mouthed vil- lagers, that many lounged into the little shop to hear it, This arose from tle fact that all felt greatly interested in listening to his narrative of the brave and heroic exploits of young Warbeck on sea and land, and especially interesting at the present time, comicloo Neen ne eananeeeennee