DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND—CAPTAIN JACK’S ADVENTURES.
When Phillip Redgill found himself safely locked in his prison cell,
deep, dark remorse took possession of his wicked heart.
He could not sleep, he could not eat.
All he could do was to walk about the stone chamber, and curse
everything and everybody.
He called the gaoler and spoke to him.
“They accuse me of fearful crimes,” said Phillip, faintly attempting
to smile; “but mere accusation will not avail much, they must prove
all they say.”
“There can’t be much difficulty about doing that,” said the old
gaoler, “when such men as Colonel Blood and Captain Jack take the
affair in hand, for Captain Jack can prove anything if he likes.”
“Yes; and perhaps can disprove anything also if he thinks proper, eh?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” said the turnkey, with a knowing grin.
“Perhaps not,” said Phillip, with a sad smile; “but I dare say you
might give a rough guess.”
“No one has any right to guess about such things,” said the turnkey,
“and, besides, you must know he is our superior officer, and I have
no right to speak about what he does.”
“Well, you need not fall out with me,” said Phillip; “I have no
friends here, but I think I could make one of you.”
“How do you mean?”
“Would you take a note to the post office for me?”
“I dare not.”
“Not for a guinea?”
“I must not.”
“Not for three guineas?”
“Don’t tempt me!”
“Yes, do; give me pen, ink, and paper, and I will give you ten
guineas!”
“My life is at stake; I should be implicated as an accomplice.”
“Nonsense. Do as I wish, and I will give you twenty guineas.”
The turnkey left the cell.
But he soon returned.
“Let me see the colour of your money,” said he, “and I will deliver
your note.”
“Agreed,” said Phillip, and as he spoke he drew out of the lining of
his coat a twenty guinea note, and gave it to the gaoler.
In less than two minutes Phillip wrote a very hurried note, and gave
it to the gaoler to post.
He had scarcely done so, and the frightened gaoler had barely time to
put the pen and ink into his pocket when heavy footsteps were heard
approaching.
The turnkey turned deadly pale as he whispered to Phillip,
“It is Captain Jack, and half drunk as usual.”
“Hillo!” said the captain to the gaoler, “what brings you here?”
“The prisoner wished me to lend him a bible and prayer book, that’s
all.”
“Ha! ha!” laughed Captain Jack. “So Mr. Redgill has turned religious
all at once, eh? Very good. Ha! ha! it’s time he did something of
the kind. Get you gone, and don’t let me catch you talking to the
prisoner any more. Do you understand me? If you do, you shall be
dismissed.”
“But, captain, I have done no wrong; no offence was meant. You know
I have been gaoler here more than twenty years, and a steadier, a
soberer, or a honester man never was than myself, though I say it.”
“I dare say,” Captain Jack replied, with a grin. “All men are honest
till they’re found out; I’m a real saint myself. Ha! ha! Then leave
us, I wish to speak to the prisoner alone. Get you gone, turnkey!”
The gaoler left.
Captain Jack and Phillip Redgill were now alone,
The captain took a seat on the edge of the table, and looked at
Phillip much like a wild beast who has got his prey firmly in its
clutches.
Neither spoke for some time.
Phillip’s eyes glowed with rage, but he spoke not a syllable for some
time.
Captain Jack amused himself with whistling and playing with a pistol.
“May I ask what you want with me?” Phillip began, at length,
endeavouring to suppress the rage he felt.
“Me want with you?” said Jack. “Oh! I really beg pardon for
intruding—ha! ha! but I thought you might want to see me, that’s all.”
As he spoke he smiled like a demon.
“You have acted the knave towards me, Captain Jack.”
“Have I, though? How complimentary you are!”
“Yes, you have, Captain Jack; you have acted like a black-hearted
scoundrel!”
“Go on, go on, I am listening; you can’t hurt anybody with your
tongue; you are bound too fast to the stone floor to do much harm.”
“Am I?”
“Yes, of course you are but go on—I want to hear all you’ve got to
say.”
“Why did you take my money, and then arrest me?”
“Because I wanted the cash; and, in the next place, I wished to save
my own neck. Colonel Blood swore to hang one or the other, so I
thought you might do better than myself, you perceive.”
“But suppose I were to tell Colonel Blood what I have done for you?”
“He wouldn’t believe you, that’s all.”
“I don’t know that.”
“But I do, though. If I had not thought and known so, I shouldn’t
have captured you alive.”
“What then?”
“Why, would have so arranged it that you would have been a dead man,
that’s all.”
“And did you mean that all along?”
“Of course I did.”
For some time neither spoke, but looked at each other occasionally
with an expression of fierce brutality in their eyes.
At last, Phillip said:
“Suppose I disprove all your charges and accusations—what then?”
“Oh, but you can’t.”
“Can’t?”
“No—impossible.”
“But if I get witnesses to swear to my innocence?”
“Why, then, I’ll so manage it as to have two witnesses to your one to
swear quite the contrary.”
“You are a villain, Captain Jack!”
“Lor’ bless you! Didn’t you know it before? I’m called that name
every day—I’m quite used to it now.”
“Tell the truth, Captain Jack—What did you come here for?”
“Have you any money?—answer me that first.”
“Not a penny piece.”
“Then you will as surely die as eggs are eggs, that’s all.”
“What do you mean?”
“Couldn’t you manage to get some money, by fair means or foul?”
“Why?”
“Oh, nothing; but it’s possible you might only be transported if you
could raise a thousand pounds to pay lawyers to defend you, and—ah—”
“And what?”
“Why, ‘palm’ Colonel Blood and myself, that’s all. The affidavits are
not made out yet. I have only taken you on suspicion, you know.”
“I understand.”
“But then the suspicion is very strong, you know—very, very strong
indeed; it almost amounts to a dead certainty, since we’ve got the
identical suit of clothes ‘a certain party’ exchanged, on the night
of the murder, with young Bob Bertram.”
Captain Jack smiled as he said this.
Phillip bit his lip.
“How did you procure the clothes?”
“Ned Warbeck gave the suit to me this very morning, for Bob had kept
them by him, and young Warbeck says he could swear they belong to——”
“D—n Ned Warbeck!” said Phillip Redgill, in a terrible rage; “D—n
him! he is always crossing my path. I wish he were dead; yes, buried
at the bottom of the ocean he loves so much!”
“Aye, but there’s no killing a lad like him,” said Captain Jack;
“he’s got more lives than a cat, and as to drowning, it’s out of the
question, for he swims like a duck and can float like a cork.”
“Then what do you propose?”
“I can’t propose anything if you can’t raise the wind. If you will be
hanged, it’s your fault, not mine. It would suit me to know you were
in a penal settlement quite as well as to know you were buried.”
“You are quite disinterested, Captain Jack, and very polite.”
“I always was.”
“But suppose I do not give you money, that I do not hang or be
transported—what then?”
“Oh, that’s impossible; out of the question entirely; you must do one
thing or the other. Do you refuse to raise the money?”
“No. I do not.”
“Well, then, I have got pens, ink, and paper in my pocket; write a
note, and I will take it to any place you like.”
“You are a cunning rascal, Captain Jack.”
“No matter; time is flying—there is no use of wasting compliments.
Can you raise the amount by writing for it?”
“In a case of life or death I think I could.”
“Well, that’s sensible. Here is the pen.”
“But suppose I refuse?”
“Well, then, you are a doomed man, that’s all, and there’s an end of
it. Good-day!”
“Stay; do not go yet. Upon second thought, I think I will write a
note. Will you wait for an answer?”
“Of course, if the money is likely to be forthcoming.”
“But it’s contrary to the rules of the prison to write letters
unknown to the governor, you know.”
“Oh, the governor be d——d! What matters? He’ll not know a syllable
about it. Here you are; scribble away.”
Phillip Redgill took the pen and paper.
“Go out for a minute, Captain Jack, and stretch your legs. By the
time you return I shall have the note written.”
Captain Jack strolled out of the cell carelessly.
Directly he had gone Phillip Redgill pulled out his pocket knife, and
made a small wound in his arm.
The blood gently flowed.
With the liquid he wrote a note in a strange hand, and in a still
stranger character, which ran thus,
D——W——G,—By our solemn oath, help me. My former note will explain
all. This night decides my fate!
PHILLIP REDGILL.
When Captain Jack returned, the prisoner had finished his note, and
directed it with ink to—
CAPTAIN GINGLES,
Blue Boar,
City.
Strictly private and confidential.
“Captain Gingles, eh? Is that the name of your friend?”
“Yes.”
“It’s a queer one, any way,” said Captain Jack, taking the note, and
balancing it between his fingers in a musing manner. “He’s got plenty
of cash, I suppose?”
“Yes, lots of money—that’s why he’s called Gingles, for he’s always
got his pockets well filled, and is fond of gingling it about.”
“I see, I see; but what time have I to present it?”
“Don’t go there before twelve o’clock to-night, for he always likes
to have his wine undisturbed. You must catch him when he is coming
out.”
“Very good.”
“And when shall I see or hear from you, Captain Jack?”
“Directly I get the money—to-night, perhaps, or to-morrow morning
early.”
“That’s satisfactory. Give my respects to Gingles, Captain Jack.”
“I shan’t fail. Keep up your courage; you will only be transported if
we get the coin.”
So speaking, he left the prisoner, who, strange to say, now began to
smile and look quite elated.
“It is my last card,” said Phillip, to himself, “and I have played
it. Death-wing will surely not prove a craven to one who has so much
and so often befriended him. If all goes well, I may yet escape out
of the clutches of this stony-hearted Captain Jack; and if I do!” he
said, clenching his fist, and striking it heavily on the table—“and
if I do, I’ll have revenge on him first!”
Captain Jack went his way with the note in his pocket, and as he was
about to leave the prison he met the turnkey who had been speaking
with Phillip.
“Hello! who gave you liberty to leave the prison, eh?”
“I only went across the road to have a drop of ale.”
“Oh, that’s nothing, eh, you rascal? Don’t you know that your
prisoner is one of the most determined villains that ever lived? Keep
inside, and mind your duties, and if I catch you having any chat with
Redgill, or up to any nonsense with him, such as taking letters and
the like, I’ll have you publicly horsewhipped, mind ye.”
“Letters?—me take letters, Captain Jack? I’d never dare to do such a
thing.”
“I wouldn’t trust you further than I could see you,” was the reply.
“Now go and doubly lock the prisoner’s door. If he escapes I will
hang you instead, mark me.”
With these words Capt. Jack went his way, and he had not gone far
when he entered a wine-shop.
“I wonder what this Redgill has said in his note. There’s no harm in
opening it. I can soon seal it up again.”
So thinking he opened the note.
“Hillo, he’s written it in red ink! How the devil did that happen?
My ink was black. No matter, it seems he’s cleverer than we thought;
he’s got some things concealed on his person yet, I fancy, although
we searched him twice. No matter, let’s see what he says.
“What does this ‘D—w—g’ mean?” thought Capt. Jack, as he puzzled
himself over the note.
“There is some mystery here, or why say ‘by our solemn oath’? Perhaps
he belongs to some secret band, who knows? It was well I opened it,
or perhaps I might have fallen into a trap!
“‘My former note explains all,’ does it? What other note has he
written then, I wonder? How could he write unknown to the prison
officers, eh?
“Ha, ha, Mr. Phillip Redgill, I begin to smell a rat,” thought Capt.
Jack. “He has made friends with some one in the prison, no doubt;
that cross-eyed turnkey, I shouldn’t wonder. Oh, if I catch the
rascals up to any kind of tricks to thwart me in my plans, I’ll have
them all hung, that I will.
“‘This night decides my fate,’ eh? Quite right there, Mr. Phillip;
quite correct, and no mistake. ‘But I must be careful.’ Yes, Capt.
Jack, you must be very careful of yourself in dealing with this
tricky customer, for it strikes me that this Capt. Gingles may be
some powerful friend of his, and an enemy to me.
“What shall I do.
“Shall I take the note myself, or let one of the ‘dozen’ do it? No, I
must take it myself, for if this Gingles gives the money, ten to one
my men would bolt off with it.”
For several hours Capt. Jack didn’t know how to act in the matter.
He didn’t want to trust any of his men with such a large sum as
£1,000.
For if he had done so, and they for a miracle proved honest, he would
have had to divide the spoil with them all.
This was a consideration that Capt. Jack did not at all relish.
“No, no,” said he, “I must stick to this little sum myself, and if I
get it, why, Phillip Redgill may be assisted to escape without trial
at all, and the trial will be sure to fall on the sleepy gaolers, for
we _must_ hang somebody.”
Time was flying, however, and something must be done in the matter.
It was now ten o’clock, and yet he was undecided how to act.
He was sauntering along the dark streets, when he accidentally came
across one of his own men.
“Hello, captain! is that you?”
“Why, Ben, my lad, how are you? I’ve not seen you for three or four
days. You seem rather ‘mellow.’”
“Yes, captain, ‘mellow’ is the word. I _am_ rather ‘mellow’, if it
comes to that, and I like it.”
“So it seems. You seem to be pretty well off for money, Ben.”
“Yes, captain, I’ve made a little this last day or two.”
“How was that?”
“Why, seeing that the dozen haven’t had anything to do, not a single
job on hand for this last month, I thought I’d do a little bit of
business for myself on the extreme quiet, for our trade has been as
flat as ditch water of late.”
“True, Ben; and money is very tight.”
“So _I_ thought; but, as I’ve got a few pounds to spare, you are
welcome to them, captain.”
“No, thank you, Ben; but where did you pick up the money?”
“At the old ‘Bull and Mouth.’”
“Indeed!”
“Yes, the old house is full of people, and there card-playing is
going on both night and day. There’s one chap there as must have won
over a thousand pounds these last few days.”
“What’s his name?”
“Gingles—Captain Gingles, I think they call him.”
“Ah! you don’t say so? What sort of a fellow is he?”
“Well, he’s rather tall, and strong-looking; but he’s got a grey head
and long hair, and wears spectacles, and stoops like a very old man.”
“Not much good in a quarrel or a fight, I suppose”
“Him! Bless your heart, no; he’s as gentle as a child, and, I warrant
me, as weak as a cat.”
This description of the person to whom Redgill addressed his note so
pleased Captain Jack that he altered his mind again for the hundredth
time, and resolved to take and present the note himself, and thus
pocket the large sum bargained for.
He soon got rid of Ben, and, with a light heart, bent his steps
towards the well-known inn.
He was muffled up to the eyes, and when he had ordered a bottle of
wine and other luxuries, he entered the card-room and seated himself
in a quiet corner.
He cast a quick glance around him, and instantly perceived old
Gingles, who had at his elbow a large sum in gold.
Card playing was now at its height, and so tempting did it appear to
Captain Jack, that, after a time, he joined them, and for the first
hour won a good stake.
Heated with wine, and flushed with his unexpected success, he made
a very heavy bet with old Gingles, and, to the astonishment of all
present, _lost_ it!
Gingles raked the heap of shining gold into his old hat and put it
into his pocket with a wicked grin which almost drove Captain Jack
mad.
Captain Jack lost every farthing he had, and was so aggravated that
he could have danced around the room with passion, and felt as if he
could have shot old Gingles, who, calm, quiet, and unruffled, played
on, and still continued to win with astonishing good fortune.
“No matter,” thought Captain Jack, “he will have to pay me a thousand
pounds for his friend, which will make me all right again. I wish
they’d stop playing, I want to present this note, and learn what
he’ll do in the matter. If he refuses, I’ll get one or two of my lads
to waylay the old rascal and rob him. I’ll have his money, by fair
means or by foul!”
Midnight had long chimed, and still the play continued.
The “noble captain” felt very sore about his losses at cards, and
chewed the end of his cigar in a terrible temper.
“I should like to get up a game to beat old Gingles,” thought he;
but ere he had sat long in meditation a great cheer rose from the
card-table.
“Gingles won it.”
“No, he didn’t.”
“I say he did.”
“I’ll swear he didn’t.”
“You lie, old Gingles!” said the other, who was called Alick, and a
notorious card-sharper.
As he spoke, he struck the table violently.
“I tell you I did win the game—the money is mine.”
“Lay a hand on that gold, and I’ll knock you down, you cheating old
scamp!” said Alick, in a terrible rage. “The money is mine.”
“It is not. I’ll leave it to any gentleman in the room.”
“Alick won it fairly,” said a chorus of voices.
“No, old Gingles is entitled to the money. He could beat Alick all
night.”
“Could he?”
“Yes, he could,” said several, “and I don’t mind wagering a hundred
guineas on another game.”
“So would I.”
“And I.”
“Well, then, gentlemen, since there is a dispute about the game, I am
willing that we increase the stakes fourfold, and play it again.”
“Hear, hear,” cried several voices.
“I don’t mind,” said old Gingles; “but not till I’ve had some supper,
and a walk in the cool air, to freshen me up a bit.”
“Well, then, it’s decided—put down your money. Gentlemen, in half an
hour the game begins again.”
“Agreed, agreed!” shouted every one.
The money was put down for the contested game of cards, and great
enthusiasm prevailed amongst the audience, all of whom seemed to
have plenty of money.
Captain Jack was pleased that old Gingles did not win the last stake,
and mixed among the company, who were almost unanimous in their
opinion that Alick would be sure to play “his very best,” and win,
“for,” said several, “of all men on earth he hates most, it is old
Gingles.”
“I am sure to win,” said Alick, triumphantly, “and will lay two to
one on it.”
“Hear, hear!”
“So will I.”
“And I.”
“And so will I,” said Captain Jack, whose brain now began to get
muddled with wine and excitement.
“Where’s your money?”
“Oh, I shall have some presently,” said Jack, “as much as any one in
the room.”
At that moment he saw old Gingles leave the room.
He followed him.
In a few moments he overtook the old man, and presented Redgill’s
note.
“In difficulties, eh?” said the old man, eyeing Captain Jack like a
hawk; “but he has not stated the amount he wants.”
“Oh! he left that to me.”
“Indeed! can I trust to your honesty?”
“Oh! honour bright!”
“Then who are you?”
“Well, they call me Captain Jack, and I am one of the Crown officers.”
“Oh! yes; I think I have heard your name mentioned before in very
flattering terms in your endeavours to suppress or destroy the famous
Skeleton Crew.”
“Exactly,” said Captain Jack, bowing in mock humility.
“And what is the sum you need, my noble captain?”
“Well, I think £1,500 will get him out of trouble.”
“Quite a modest sum, certainly.”
“But, then, you know, Mr. Gingles, you are very rich, and there are a
great number of persons to be paid out of it.”
“I see, I see; but how much do you intend to keep for yourself?”
asked the old man, fumbling in his pockets.
“Me! my dear sir? I do not intend to keep a farthing. It is out of
pure friendship for the poor young man that I do this.”
“How very kind of you. Well, captain, all I can say is, that if I
give you this amount, I hope you will use it properly; for I must
help young Redgill out of this difficulty. I have sworn it on my
oath, and my oath must be fulfilled. How much was the sum you named?”
“£2,000.”
“Why, just now you said £1,500.”
“But I made a great mistake.”
“Never mind, never mind; £500 more or less isn’t much in a case of
life or death.”
So saying, the old man pulled a large wallet of bank notes, and paid
Captain Jack the large sum demanded.
One would have thought that Captain Jack might have been satisfied
with this large amount, and would have gone homewards and fulfilled
his engagement with Phillip Redgill.
But he did not.
The more money he had the more he wanted.
Besides this, he had suddenly entertained a deep and deadly hatred
against old Gingles for winning his money at cards.
He therefore retraced his steps towards the “Bull and Mouth,” and
when near the door, who should he espy coming out but Alick, the
well-known card-sharp.
“Ah! my noble captain; how are you? I was glad to see you had so much
spirit in the card-room as to offer to back me in this game, and as I
rather like you, I’ll let you into the secret.”
“Secret! What is it?” asked Captain Jack, with his ears all cocked
ready to receive it.
“Well, you see,” said Alick, taking the “noble captain’s” arm; “but
come away from the doorway first, there may be listeners. You see
this old Gingles is very rich, and passionately fond of cards; he
has cart loads of money; where he gets it nobody knows; but, at
all events, during the past week, he has won enormous sums at the
card-table, and how he does it nobody can find out.”
“You don’t mean that?”
“I do though. There is a secret about it, and I have found it out.”
“What is it?”
“All the cards have private marks on the back, which cannot be seen
by the naked eye; but his spectacles magnify I have found out, and,
therefore, when he looks across the table he can see what cards I
hold in my hand.”
“Oh! the cunning old devil!”
“Yes; isn’t he? But in this game we are going to play to-night I have
made a promise that he shan’t be allowed to wear his spectacles.”
“Then you are certain to win. What a capital idea.”
“Yes, isn’t it? Those gentlemen brought me there to-night to fleece
old Gingles.”
“But he won from you all the time.”
“Yes, true,” said Alick, grinning; “but that was the ‘dodge,’ in
order to give him courage.”
“I see it all plainly enough now.”
“Very well; and now that I have told you this important secret, will
you give me shares in your winnings?”
“Yes, half.”
“Agreed. How much have you?”
“Two thousand pounds.”
“Well, I will so play that the odds which are on me now shall change
on him, and when you think he is winning, do you take up all the odds
laid against me.”
“I will, and be glad to do it.”
“Certainly; why shouldn’t you win a thousand or two as well as he?”
“Why not, indeed? and I will, you’ll see.”
“I know you will if you follow my advice.”
“I will to the letter.”
“You see through it, don’t you? Nice dodge, ain’t it, captain?” said
he, half reeling with wine. “You’ll make a clean four thousand pounds
by the job, and hazard nothing, you know; while I win the stake, and
make twice as much by outsiders, friends, who, with unlimited cash,
will bet on me! Can you see through it, my boy?”
The noble captain saw through it clearly enough, and, although half
tipsy, gave Alick an ominous but eloquent wink, and squeezed his hand
in token of friendship.
“Come along, my boy,” said Alick, taking the captain’s arm. “Come
along, old boy; don’t let’s pass a public without a drop or two; they
keep the best old wines in the whole kingdom up this street. Come on,
now, only one more, captain, and then we’ll return. I’m sure to win
this match; it is for a large sum, you know. But are you fly to a
thing or two? Well, then, listen to me.”
Mr. Alick, half laughing and half hiccuping, explained the little
game again.
“Old Gingles knows I can beat him now—Lord bless you, I have improved
wonderfully of late—but the ‘gentlemen’ won’t believe it, and will
back Gingles to any amount. I shall beat him by long odds! I heard
him confess it himself; he told me so to-night on the sly, and
wouldn’t play the game at all, only some gentlemen agreed to stand
most of the money for him. Pretty dodge, ain’t it? Well, I’ll play
the match, if I have to pawn the rags off my back. This night’s
work will supply me with small change, my boy, and then I shall say
good-bye to the card table, quit London, begin to lead a new life,
and be ‘a good boy’ for the future.”
“Half the world is made up of knaves, Alick, my boy; the other half
are fools,” said the captain, hiccuping, and with a great air of
wisdom.
When Alick returned to the card-room he looked as calm and sober as a
judge.
Old Gingles, however, appeared nervous, and unwilling to play.
But the gentlemen present insisted on his doing so; but when Alick
demanded that he should play without spectacles the old man got into
a terrible rage, and refused to do so.
However, after a stormy discussion, in which it was insinuated that
old Gingles had some dishonest motive in wearing them, he threw them
upon the floor and smashed the spectacles all to pieces.
The game commenced, and heavy wagers were laid on Alick’s winning it.
Old Gingles, however, so turned the odds against Alick that many
began to murmur at the extraordinary change in the play.
“Now’s your time,” said Alick to the noble captain, “the odds are two
to one against me; take all you can get at that price. I am sure to
win.”
The noble captain having received “the tip” from his friend Alick,
took all the odds laid against him, until his £2,000 was exhausted.
The game progressed, and was very, nay, intensely exciting.
Now old Gingles was a point or two in advance, but in a few moments
Alick was level again, and great applause was the consequence.
The two players now stood game and game.
The third game or the rubber was to decide it.
It began, and was quickly played, but by the merest chance of bad
luck Alick lost it by a single point.
“Lost it!” gasped Captain Jack.
“Yes,” said Alick; “by the merest chance in the world.”
The friends of old Gingles were in ecstacies, and carried him out of
the room in triumph, but not before the old man had well-nigh filled
his large pockets with his winnings.
Captain Jack was like a madman.
He raved and cursed and swore in the most frightful manner.
He called every one the hardest and the worst names he could think
of, and wanted to fight anybody or everybody.
Alick was just as noisy.
He swore that he had been cheated, swindled, robbed, and whatever
else his imagination could conjure up.
So noisy and turbulent was he, and “the noble captain,” that the
gentlemen at last bundled them both out into the street.
There they stood out in the cold with drawn swords, and using the
most dreadful language.
“Never mind,” said Alick, “we will best old Gingles yet.”
“What do you mean?”
“I know where he lives.”
“Well?”
“Let us hasten to his house, and, as he returns home, let us set upon
him, and fleece him of everything.”
“Not a bad idea. I can quickly wake up a dozen lads who will do the
trick in no time.”
“Never mind calling in assistance, surely two strapping fellows like
us can easily ‘settle’ the old man, and the money will be our own.”
“Agreed,” said Captain Jack. “I’ve got a black mask in my pocket.”
“So have I.”
“Then when we assail him let us wear them, and speak not a word.”
This plan was agreed to, and the two intended robbers set out on
their journey.
They had a mile or two to go, but by quick walking they soon arrived
at the residence of old Gingles.
“It don’t look like a gentleman’s house,” said Captain Jack. “Why, it
stands by the river side, like a huge warehouse for goods.”
“So it does,” said Alick, “and I’ve often heard it whispered that he
is engaged in secret with smugglers, robbers, and the like, or why is
he so wealthy?”
“I think as you do from the looks of the place,” said Captain Jack.
“But I wonder if he has returned yet.”
“What time is it?”
“Why, four o’clock,” said Captain Jack, who thought for an instant of
his engagement with the prisoner, Phillip Redgill.
“Then he must have returned.”
“Hang the luck! Who is that, though, whose shadow just now passed
across the blinds? There it is again.”
“Why, that is the old rascal, for a hundred pounds!” said Alick, in a
tone of great disappointment. “What shall we do?”
“Do? Why, we’ll knock, and demand admittance in the name of the
Crown, and search his premises for stolen goods.”
“An excellent idea,” said Alick, rubbing his hands, “and as he lives
alone, why, we can rob him of every farthing he’s got in cash!”
“So we will; but are you sure that he lives alone?”
“I am; there is but one old servant in the whole place, and he is
over sixty years of age.”
Firmly bent on revenge for what he had lost, and caring not a jot for
Phillip Redgill’s escape, Captain Jack knocked at the door.
“House, ho! house! Open to officers of the crown!” said Captain Jack,
in a very brave tone.
In a moment the window was raised, and old Gingles appeared at it in
his night-cap and dressing-gown.
“Who calls so lustily at such an unseemly hour?” asked the old man.
“I do,” said Captain Jack, “Open, or I’ll break in the door!”
“Call to-morrow.”
“Open, I say!”
“Come some other time, madcaps.”
“Open, or I’ll break it open!”
“Go to the devil!” said the old man, and he slammed down the window
again with great violence.
Alick could not but laugh secretly as Captain Jack walked up and
down, cursing and swearing.
“Have you any keys?” said Alick.
“Yes; I never thought of that. I’ve got several skeleton keys in my
pocket,”
“Let us stop a little while until the old man goes to bed, and then
we can let ourselves in without making any disturbance. The night is
dark, no one will perceive us.”
After a time, Captain Jack and his friend Alick tried the keys in the
door, and were very happy to find that they could open it.
“Now the old rascal must look out for squalls,” said Jack; “we have
got him at last.”
“Won’t he be surprised, though!”
“Yes, and no mistake—particularly when he finds out that I am an
officer of the crown.”
The door was gently opened, and the two intruders entered very
quietly.
They crept upstairs.
When they arrived at the top of the landing on the first floor,
Captain Jack peeped into the front room.
No one was there.
The room was dimly lighted by a small, solitary light.
Yet, dark as it was, Captain Jack could see that a large dining-table
was laid out, as if for the supper of a dozen or more.
“Hullo! what does all this mean?” said the noble captain, in a
whisper.
“Rather strange, ain’t it?” echoed Alick, in a whisper.
Before they could make any other observation, old Gingles appeared
upon the scene, and came from a secret closet so suddenly and
noiselessly, that neither of the intruders heard or perceived him
until he said, abruptly, in their ear,
“Well, and who are you? What do you want, and where do you come from?”
This was so unexpected by Jack and Alick that the former, for a
moment, could not answer, and the latter began to titter in the
background.
“Did you come to rob me?” the old man asked, in a determined voice.
“No—that is to say, not that exactly, but—”
“Well, no ‘buts’ for me—what do you want?” said the old man,
advancing towards Captain Jack.
In an instant the night-cap and dressing-gown, the false wig,
moustache, and stooping gait disappeared like magic, and, to Captain
Jack’s horror, he stood before no less a person than the terrible
Death-wing.
“Death-wing!” gasped Captain Jack, staggering back.
“Yes—Death-wing—no one else!” repeated a dozen voices behind him.
On turning round Captain Jack perceived that he was surrounded by no
less than a dozen of the Skeleton Crew!
Before he could say a word, two of the grim gentlemen took the
astonished officer by the scruff of the neck, and held him out at
arm’s length.
“Where is Alick?” gasped Captain Jack.
“Here I am, you scoundrel,” said that worthy, who now re-entered the
room, attired like one of the Crew.
“What, was it all a trap, then?”
“It was,” said Alick; “it was diamond cut diamond, Captain Jack, and
you have lost the game.”
NOW READY,
THE BOY SAILOR;
OR,
LIFE ON BOARD A MAN-OF-WAR.
This will be found one of the most exciting and powerful tales of the
day. The scene of the story is laid in Cornwall, and it abounds with
the wild legends and strange adventures of the daring wreckers and
smugglers that haunt the bays and inlets of that rocky coast.
FOUR ENGRAVINGS,
IN A
HANDSOME COLOURED BORDER,
GIVEN AWAY WITH NUMBERS 1 and 2.
ORDER EARLY. ONE PENNY WEEKLY.
[Illustration: ENTRAPPED BY THE GYPSIES.—_See Number 19._]
“Do you know that your life is forfeit, fool?” said Death-wing.
“You cannot mean that?”
“I do, though, except on one condition.”
“Name it, then, most worthy Death-wing.”
“Have you liberated Phillip Redgill with the money I gave you for
that purpose, or have you squandered it to-night in card-playing?”
“Oh, no! Upon the honour of a gentleman, I assure you I procured his
release.”
“Indeed!”
“Yes.”
“You did it, say you?”
“I did.”
“And how?”
“Well, then, most worthy Death-wing and gentlemen,” said Captain
Jack, turning to the Crew around him, “I’ll unburden my heart, and
tell you the truth.”
“For once in his life!” said Alick, with a boisterous laugh. “Go on,
I am listening.”
“In the first place,” said Captain Jack, beginning to invent a string
of lies, “in the first place I took the fifteen hundred pounds—”
“Two thousand pounds was the sum I gave you.”
“Ahem—beg pardon—so it was—I forgot all about it at the moment.
Well, I took the two thousand pounds directly you gave it to me, and
mounted my horse, so as to make all the haste I could in order to
return and see the famous game between old Gingles—”
“Sir?”
“I beg pardon; I should have said Captain Death-wing and his friend
Alick.”
“Well?”
“I paid Colonel Blood £1,000 for his share.”
“Did he give you a receipt?”
“Why, no, I was in such a hurry I forgot to ask for one.”
“And yet you promised to produce receipts for all your expenses.”
“So I did, most august Death-wing; but, as I said, I was so much
interested in your game of cards, I forgot to take note of my
promise.”
“Well, go on; what did you do with the other thousand?”
“I gave £250 to each of the three gaolers, and——”
“Why, you told me there were but two gaolers.”
“Did I? Ah, I forgot; I meant to have said three.”
“Well, and how did you lay out the other £250?”
“I gave it to the prisoner to help him along with in order to escape.”
“Very kind of you, indeed,” said several.
“Yes, wasn’t it?” said Captain Jack, who was now much pleased with
the effect his lies had upon his grim hearers.
“You are sure you did not keep it for yourself?” asked Death-wing, in
a savage tone.
“Keep it for myself? Impossible! I could not think of such a thing!”
“Of course not, as an honourable man——”
“As an honourable man, not having the least personal interest in such
a matter, I could not think of——”
“Certainly not, certainly not. The noble captain of ‘the Baker’s
dozen’ is too high-minded and honest to resort to such a trick.”
Captain Jack bowed very humbly to this compliment; but it must be
confessed his knees began to tremble under him from fear.
“And did the prisoner escape?”
“He did.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive of it; I saw him do it.”
“And how did it happen, then?”
“As soon as I gave the money to the jailers, they entered his cell,
unfastened his irons, loaned him some of their clothes, and I having
procured a horse for the fugitive, he galloped away at full speed.
After that I returned to see the match between you and Alick, and I
came here with him to tell you all about it.”
“Very obliging of you,” said Death-wing, “very obliging, certainly;
but it strikes me very forcibly you came here, expecting to find me
alone, with the intent of robbing me.”
“Robbing you! Oh! you cannot think that. I am incapable of conceiving
such a thing.”
“That may be; but who have you got to prove all you have said about
the prisoner’s escape?”
“I did not think it necessary to bring the jailers with me to witness
all I have said; but it is true, nevertheless, every word.”
“That may be; we shall quickly see.”
So speaking, Death-wing stamped his foot thrice heavily upon the
floor.
A stranger answered the summons by entering the room.
He walked up towards Captain Jack, and confronted that officer boldly.
He looked pale, haggard, and worn.
It was Phillip Redgill himself.
Captain Jack could have sunk through the floor.
“Do you know this person?” said Death-wing, speaking to Phillip.
“I do, well; too well for my own comfort.”
“Did you hear his story about your escape?”
“I did; every word of it.”
“Was it true?”
“No; every word he uttered was a lie.”
“Did he not bargain not to arrest you for a certain sum?”
“He did.”
“On his promise, as a man of honour and a gentleman, you believed
him?”
“I did.”
“You paid the price he demanded?”
“Yes; and no sooner did he receive it than he had me arrested.”
“Who assisted you to escape?”
“I know not, or how or when it was, Captain Death-wing. All I know
is, that I fell into a deep sleep, and when I awoke to consciousness
I was liberated from prison and safe and well here in this house,
surrounded by several armed men of the Skeleton Crew.”
“Do you hear that, Captain Jack?” Alick asked, with a sneer.
“I do hear it.”
“All this was done,” said Death-wing, “while this gentleman here was
betting at cards. Instead of paying the sum he spoke of, he lost
every note in betting against me. In proof of it, I had every bank
note marked, and here they are,” said he, presenting before Captain
Jack’s own eyes the very notes he had lost in bets.
“He is a rogue!” said one.
“An infamous liar!” growled several.
“He is not worthy of life!”
“What shall we do with him?”
“Kill him! kill him!”
Captain Jack now felt cold perspiration oozing from every part of his
body, and he trembled in every limb.
“You have boasted in your time of having done great things against
the Skeleton Crew,” said Death-wing, with a grim smile, “but your
tales are all lies, for a greater coward than you are never carried a
sword, Captain Jack.”
“He is not fit to live!”
“I know he is not,” said Death-wing, “and he shall die, unless he
promises to fulfil all we ask of him.”
“Name it—name anything you like, and I will do it,” said Captain
Jack, trembling.
“In the first place, you received several thousand pounds from
Phillip Redgill?”
“Yes, I did, worse luck.”
“Will you return it?”
“How can I do so?”
“That remains with yourself to think of. If you do not in less than a
week, your life is not worth a farthing!”
“But I have no money.”
“Are you not captain of the Baker’s Dozen, as your men are called?”
“I am.”
“Well, then, get it how you can, but if you fail in doing so in less
than a week, you die! Do you hear?”
“I do.”
“You will be watched and dogged both night and day, remember. There
is not the least chance of your escaping me or my band.”
“Well, and what next?”
“You told Colonel Blood that Phillip Redgill did the murder?”
“I did.”
“And what proof have you?”
“The clothes which Redgill exchanged with Bob Bertram were given
up to me by young Ned Warbeck. The proof is clear against Phillip
Redgill.”
“You think so?”
“I know so.”
“But you must not ‘know so,’ if you value your life, Captain Jack!”
said Death-wing, with an oath. “Don’t be so fast with your tongue,
but listen to me.”
“I will.”
“You know Ned Warbeck?—Wildfire Ned, as he is called.”
“I do, well. He is one of the bravest—”
“Stop!” said Death-wing, with a fierce oath; “would you thus speak of
my deadliest enemy?”
“Your enemy?”
“Yes, and that of all the band. I believe the young brat was born to
bring disgrace and ruin on the Skeleton Crew, for ever since he was
born misfortune has followed us.”
Captain Jack listened, but said not a word.
In his heart he loved Ned Warbeck, and hated both Redgill and his
grim friends with his bitterest hate.
“Now, I tell you, Captain Jack, that this youth must die, by any
means in your power or mine. Could you not, in some manner, fasten
Farmer Bertram’s murder upon Ned Warbeck?”
“It is possible, but—
“No ‘buts’ with us—you must do one thing or the other. You must die
here, where you now stand, or take a most solemn oath to arrest Ned
Warbeck, and charge him with murder.”
“But where are the witnesses to carry out the charge of murder?”
“You can do that easily enough. Once he is in prison, there will be
no difficulty in bringing up men to swear to anything we ask of them.
Some of your own band, Captain Jack, could do that.”
“Yes, if they were well paid for it.”
“And so they shall be.”
“But where is the money to come from?”
“Oh, you must find that.”
“_Me?_”
“Yes, you. Rob Colonel Blood, or whoever you choose. I care not what
you do, so you obey my commands.”
“I will do as you wish,” said Captain Jack, who was over anxious to
get away from such horrible-looking people. “Let me go, and I’ll
fulfil any commands you like.”
“So be it. Remember your oath.”
“I will.”
“And also remember,” said Death-wing, “that every step you take, and
every action you do, will be closely watched by some one or other of
the Skeleton Crew.”
“I will not forget.”
“Then, on your bended knees, before all assembled, swear on this
sword to fulfil my commands.”
“I will.”
Captain Jack fell upon his knees, and, then, in the midst of all
assembled, swore to apprehend Ned Warbeck on the charge of murder,
and to procure witnesses at any cost to support the charge.
In a few moments thereafter, Captain Jack was in the open air again,
and free.
He knew not why or wherefore, but directly he got into the streets
again, he ran from the house with great fleetness, like a hare which
has escaped from a deadly snare.