The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 89: 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. 83 Dame Worthington, hearing the rumpus, came into the room. 2 She looked at the youth for one moment, and would have fainted, but Charley supported her. After much kissing and hugging, and re-kissing and re-hugging, she fully recovered, and began laughing and crying and bustling about, preparing a substantial meal for “ her boy.” And so the time passed, until a messenger having informed old Sir Richard of the course of events, that worthy and mucli-esteemed gentleman arrived.- He shook Charles cordially by the hand, and re- tired for a private chat with Dame Worthington in the back parlot, where—as Mistress Haylark often afterwards solemnly affirmed—he was observed through the keyhole to kiss and embrace her as affectionately as if he were a youth of twenty, and she of not more than sixteen summers. | Be that as it may, we only know, through the “Truthful Chronicle,” that the evening passed ex- {remly cheerful, and that all those acquainted with - the true state of things drank more than one glass of wine to Charley’s success ; that Dame Worthiog- ton wept and embraced him often and often; that old Sir Richard shook him repeatedly by the hand, and that Clara Haylark was more than once called out of the room by awhisper from the servant, when Charley way-laid and kissed her so often as to seriously jeopardize the safety of her cherry and seductively pouting lips. CHAPTER XXV, WILDFIRE NED AND MASTER TIM FALL INTO A VERY SERIOUS TRAP—THE INNKEEPER’S GREAT GENE- ROSITY—THE SECRET MINE—THE BULLET-PROOF STRANGER—THE ‘‘ HAUNTED HOUSE.” Tue news of Wildfire Ned’s first exploit on sea was soon the talk of the whole country. So much mischief, and such dreadful depreda- tions, had been committed by Death-wing’s ruthless band, that it was considered impossible that any crew, however weil manned, could withstand them. Wildfire Ned, however, had proved how silly this idea was, for during his first battle on the water he had everywhere wished to meet Death-wing, the grim chief, in mortal combat, but as often. was he disappointed. However, the Phantom Ship, one of those which the Skeleton Crew possessed, had quickly succumbed to Ned Warbeck’s prowess, and the crew, at least for the present, scattered to the four winds of hewven. Ned Warbeck and his faithful Tim would have continued to cruise with the brave Lieutenant Garnet, but Ned was ordered to London to report in person to the king and to the board of merchants regarding Death-wing’s band. As he heard also of Phillip Redgill’s villainy and of his brother Charley’s disgrace and misfortune, this spurred him on all the more to reach London quickly, so that he might inquire into the whiole affair himself. He swore to be revenged on Phillip, and was burning with impatience to reach his journey’s end, that he might disclose to Sir Richard Warbeck all he had learned from Bob Bertram about the old farmer’s murder. Through sunshine and shower, therefore, Ned and Tim journeyed from Walton Abbey, on two capital steeds which the grateful marquis and the young lord had placed at their disposal. Through the rain, sleet, and snow they journeyed, as fast as horseflesh would carry them, and among other eccentricities, in order to surprise and astonish the simple country folk, and in awful dread of again being recognised by any stray member of the Skeleton Crew or Sea Hawk’s smugglers, Master Tim blacked his face, and wore semi-theatrical attire, much to Ned Warbeck’s amusement. * * * * * a It had just struck eleven by the parish clock when the inmates of an inn ina small town in the south of England were disturbed by a sudden clattering of hoofs on the pavement, and presently after by a loud knocking at the door. “Who in the world can that be?” cried the sexton, aroused from a comfortable nap, ‘‘ the devil a bit would IL open the door at this time of night ; for it must be the Old One himself, or Death-wing, chief of the Skeleton Crew, to weather such a storm. Why, the rain falls fast enough to drown a horse, and the wind would blow a millstone: to London. I say,’’ addressing himself to the landlord, “don’t you open that door upon no account! We might——” Here he was interrupted by another forcible appeal to the knocker, which made the glasses and cans rattle on the table. The sexton, rubbing his eyes, shook with fear, while the host hobbled to the door as fast as’ his extreme corpulency would allow him. “ Who’s there ?” cried he, with a voice which would not have disgraced a sentinel giving the challenge. « Who’s there, and what’s your business ?” « A shelter for the night,” was the answer from without. “That’s impossible; ull my beds are taken, and my house is full.” “ A corner in’ your hay-loft, or in the stable, will be enough. Open the door, for goodness’ sake, and you shall be rewarded for your trouble.” At the word “reward” the landlord unfastened the bolts of tne doors and cast a keen glance on his nightly visitor. « A wet night, this,” said he, opeaing the door wide. “ Ab, so it be, master,’ answered a third person, whom the landlord had;:not yet discovered. “Youn are not alone, sir traveller, it seems,’ said the landlord. | “It is only my, servant,” replied the. young gentleman, entering,/and shaking a broad-brimmed hat, dripping with wet. At the same time he bade his servant lead. the horse to an “adjoining shed, the landlord’s stable being fully occupied, It was none other than Wildfire Ned and Tim, on their way to London. He then unclasped his cloak, which he threw upon a bench. He was dressed in the uniforni of a lieutenant in the navy, The sexton, relaxing from his former harshness, invited the young’ officer to approach the fire, around which were seated five or six persons, whose uninteresting appearance requires but a few words. The most conspicuous amongst the group was the landlady, a short, fat, buxom dame onthe wrong side of forty, who might have been considered considerably handsome but for a small pair of twinkling eyes, disproportionate to the rest of her features, At her right was seated the sexton. ORNICOOKS.Cconm ( &