The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 91: what you’re looking at

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

EEE a THE SKELETON CREW; OR, WILDFIRE NED. 85 0 SS SS ee se SS SS ee ee After him came Ned Warbeck,.between the sexton and the blacksmith. im brought up the rear with the rest of the party, They having arrived at the “ haunted house,” the landlord soon applied to the door a key of vast dimensions. It creaked on its hinges, with a harsh noise, as if forboding some calamity. They all went up a few steps, looking cautiously around them, and came at last to a small apartment on the first floor. This was to be the scene of action. The landlord in a moment raised a sparkling flame on the hearth, and placed a table near it, with the refreshments alreaJy described upon it. After having made his guests as comfortable as the place would allow, the host departed with his companions. The young officer let them out with strict injunc- tions to the landlord to take great care of his horses ; then, shutting the door, he put the key in his pocket, and prepared himself to meet with courage what- ever might happen. Young midshipman (or as he now was Lieutenant) Ned’s first step was to search the apartment. But all his own and Master Tim’s endeavours to find an intruder were useless. : Three cupboards were divested of their contents, and the old tapestry, which served as wainscoting, was lifted up. But all to no purpose. They then proceeded to the room above, which underwent the same examination. They looked into every corner likely to conceal a man. Finally, tired of a fruitless search, they returned to the comfurt3 of their own fireside. But judge of their astonishment at finding the candle removed from its place, and also ex- tinguished!! After a short pause, however, Ned attributed it to the wind which arose from the opening or shutting of the door. Ned Warbeck remembered tle candle before he left the room again, not wishing, he said, to leave two such irreconcilable enemics near one another in their absence ; meaning the brandy-bottle and can- dle. Satisfied that nothing could now disturb them, Ned took a seat near the fire, and desired Tim to do the same, who, nothing loth, obeyed the mandate. He drew the cork from the bottle, and loaded his pipe, His master, for greater safety, examined the primings of the pistols, and, giving them a fresh supply from the powder-horn, laid them on the table by the side of his naked sword. This done, they both agreed to try and keep awake, for which purpose they each took a draught from the brandy bottle, and trimming their pipes, began smoking at a tremendous rate, Now and then laying these aside they relapsed into a friendly, humorous chat, till, overcome by the fatigues of the day, Ned at last showed symptoms of drowsiness, which soon communicating to Tim, they eventually sunk in their chairs overpowered by sleep. They had not been long in this position when Wildfire Ned starting from his slumber, thought he heard a distant rattling of chains! His first impulse was to seize a pistol, and then to listen more attentively to the sound. All was silent for a short time, and Ned was induced to think he was labouring under the effects of a dreans. He was half disposed to resum? his seat, when he was again startled by the same noise, which this time seemed much nearer. Surprised but not alarmed, he gave Tim a hearty shake to awake him, and beckoned him to take up the remaining pistol, He himself seized the sword, which he replaced in the scabbard and girt to his side. They now distinctly heard footsteps. A moment after, they saw in a corner of the room the shadow of a tall man! Tim drew near to Ned Warbeck, his master, and silently pointed to this apparition, which now seemed to have stopped! They were not left long in this suspense. The figure advancing, stalked into the room and stood motionless at the further end. It seemed to be about seven feet in height and was clothed in aloose red robe, which came to its heels and concealed the feet. The head-dress was composed of a large steel cap which covered the whole face. A thick chain encircled the body and hung to the ground. * Advance not an inch further,’ exclaimed Ned bravely, ‘or I will kill you dead on the spot.” ‘“T too,” said Tim, resolved not to be behind-hand, “ we will drive two bullets through your gizzard if you'll not be off,” said Tim, bravely. These threats had not the desired effect. The figure began to march towards them as if regardless of their presence. Tim and young Warbeck fired at once. At the report of the fire-arms, the figure stopped once more, and, by a significant nod of the head, invited Ned to come towards him. Excited by this extraordinary circumstance, Ned drew his sword, and determined to run all hazards to see where it would end. He gave the pistols to Tim, with orders to load them, and walked fearlessly up to the figure, which, turning on its heels, took the direction it came in by! Tim, though fond of his young master, followed reluctantly. “For,” as he washeard to say afterwards, “he was sure it was a skeleton, and bullet proof, as he had never yet missed his aim, and that had he been the devil himself he would have brought him down.” They proceeded for a considerable time through a dark hall, which must have had a secret door that hail escaped their observation, since, in their search above mentioned, they had seen nothing of the kind. Suddenly, at the end of the hall, which gradually became lighter, the figure disappeared, and Ned Warbeck, with his servant, Tim, felt the floor give way under them, and soon perceived they were descending atarapid rate by the means of some invisible machine ! CHAPTER XXVI. MR, PHILLIP’S MARRIED LIFE. Art Mr, Redgill’s calculations for worldly pros- perity had hitherto proved untrue. Disappointed in his father’s affairs, he had mar- ried wholly and solely for mere consideration of money. But the smashing of Sir Andrew’s offices, and of the South Sea Bank, in the general monetary “crash” which had suddenly and unexpectedly come upon all the banks, had found him bereft of MUCIOOLS ——— Corn