COLONEL BLOOD MEETS WITH DISAPPOINTMENT.
But, although Wildfire Ned, as narrated in a previous chapter, made a
vow never to rest until he had captured or destroyed all who belonged
to Captain Jack’s band and the Skeleton Crew, he did not succeed so
well with Death-wing’s followers as he could have wished.
During the night of the terrible commotion and desperate encounter
at the Block-House, that part of the town was thrown into a fearful
state of commotion.
Excited citizens rushed to and fro in all directions.
Colonel Blood, himself, was one of the first who was informed of the
whole transaction.
For the second time that night he pushed off to the royal palace, and
asked for the assistance of the military.
Two companies were entrusted to him, and he marched to the scene of
conflict as speedily as possible.
When he got there, however, the Block-House was nought but a blazing
mass of ruins.
When informed that it contained most, if not all, of the property
and valuables which had been stolen from his own house, he fumed and
raved like one half demented.
But what else could be done?
He stood gazing at the fiery element feeding on his own property, and
gnashed his teeth in rage.
“Who led on the citizens to the attack?” he asked.
“Ned Warbeck, ‘Wildfire Ned,’ as he is called,” the simple citizens
replied.
“What, Sir Richard Warbeck’s nephew, as he is called?”
“Yes, Colonel.”
“I have heard of him before. He bares no love towards the Skeleton
Crew or Captain Jack’s followers, I hear.”
“If you had seen how fiercely the gallant youth fought, you would
have been sure there was no love between them,” laughed several
shopkeepers triumphantly.
“Who else helped him?”
“Lieutenant Garnet, of the Royal Navy, Colonel, and a strong
determined young man from the country; they call him Bob Bertram,
Colonel.”
“Were any of the assailants killed?”
“Yes, a brave and gallant youth, who was the first to break through
the barricaded gates.”
“Any one else?”
“Yes, Colonel, several other good citizens were killed or much
injured in the fray.”
“And where is this Ned Warbeck?” asked Colonel Blood, biting his lip.
“I should like to see him; I wish to report the full particulars to
the king.”
“He has saved you that trouble most worthy Colonel,” said Tim, who
was still in the crowd, “he has gone to the palace himself; as he did
most of the fighting, he thought he had a good right to most of the
honor and reward.”
“And who are you that speak so boldly?”
“I, sir, am Mr. Edward Warbeck’s groom—a faithful and brave servant,
I have ever proved to be; and, although I say it, no man behaved more
gallantly in the encounter than I did.”
A general laugh followed this speech, and the crowd around tittered
again with merriment.
“And what did you do?” asked the colonel, with a smile.
“Well, in the first place, most worthy sir, I made a most capital
speech to the mob in order to stir them up, and excite them to deeds
of valour. The best speech it was as ever I made in my life.”
“And what then, my good fellow?”
“Don’t believe him, colonel.”
“He is telling a string of lies.”
“A perfect coward, sir.”
“As timid as a mouse, colonel,” said one and another, as they still
laughed outright at Tim’s account of the affair.
“On my word, most noble colonel, all I say is true.”
“Well, go on then, I am listening. What part did you take?”
“Well, sir, when the fight was at its highest, and when the smith,
by not following my advice, got killed, I exhorted all to be more
prudent, and to hide their heads well behind the palings and
wood-work, for I could see that those devils called the Skeleton Crew
were dead shots and knocked over every one they aimed at.”
“Well?”
“Oh, it was beautiful to see how they jumped out of the windows, and
off the burning roof into the river,” said Master Tim, grinning and
chuckling.
“I dare say it was, but I didn’t ask for any description of that. I
asked and still ask, what did you do, not see?”
“Well, sir, when my master, Lieutenant Garnet, and Bob Bertram made
their fierce attack upon the burning Block-House, and, followed
by their gallant fellows, were fighting in the court-yard, in the
passages, and other places, I—— Well—I—that is to say, most worthy
colonel, because I couldn’t get near enough to engage in the combat
myself—I——”
“He stood on a door-step and looked on, colonel,” said a dozen voices
at once.
“Yes, sir,” said Tim, meekly bowing, and trembling, as he saw the
colonel’s blood mounting; “I stood on the door-step, and acted as
commander-in-chief, cheering the lads on.”
“I thought so,” said Colonel Blood, angrily.
At the same time he rewarded Tim for his great valour by giving him a
sound smack in the face, which knocked him right among the applauding
crowd.
This was more than Master Tim expected.
But, for fear he’d get any more, Tim sneaked away among the crowd
like a dog who has lost his tail.
“Who is that I saw just now borne away upon a shutter?” said Colonel
Blood.
“That is one of the rascals who were in the Block-House, colonel,”
said several.
“Is he dead?”
“Not quite, I think; but if he isn’t he ought to be, for I saw a
sword go right through him.”
“How did it happen?”
“The unfortunate young man was making his escape from the Block-House
with a female captive whom he claimed as his own, and was making his
way off with her, when he was stopped by Wildfire Ned and challenged.”
“Carrying off a female?” said Colonel Blood, in surprise. “Did any of
you hear her name?”
“Yes, colonel. I heard her name was Ellen Harmer.”
“Ellen Harmer?”
“The same.”
“You are sure?”
“Quite sure.”
“And did this Ned Warbeck fight a duel with the wounded man?”
“Yes. His name was Phillip Redgill.”
“I have heard of him; as great a rascal as ever lived. And where was
the maiden taken to?”
“Nobody knows for certain, colonel. She was insensible when he took
her away to a cottage near by, but when the fight was over he came
with a coach and galloped away, no one knows whither.”
“I’d give a hundred pounds to find where he has taken her to,”
said Blood, with a bitter smile. “I am foiled again, and by a mere
boy,” said he to himself; “but I must have her; yes, I will!” he
thought. “Take care, Ned Warbeck, take care! you are treading on very
dangerous ground when you cross my path. I am not to be trifled with.
You may be brave, noble and handsome, but if you endeavour to thwart
my plans, I will tread you under my heel like a worm!”
There was nothing now to do upon the spot, so, crestfallen and in a
rage, he returned with his soldiers, leaving it to the night-watch to
keep order among the excited crowd.
“I will go to the palace,” he said, “and will be the first to inform
the king of this strange affair. It will be good excuse for me, for
now I can tell the truth for once in my life, and say that in my
absence Ellen Harmer was abducted from my mansion. Yes,” he thought,
“I will go to the king at once, and be the first to inform him of all
that has happened; he will be sure to believe me.”
But Colonel Blood was not the first to see the king, as will quickly
be seen; neither was he believed.