CHAPTER XXII.
FEARFUL ENCOUNTER BETWEEN THE SKELETON CREW AND THE SMUGGLERS.
FEARFUL ENCOUNTER BETWEEN THE SKELETON CREW AND THE SMUGGLERS.
“Well, Dolphin, and what news of this new wonder, Wildfire Ned?” asked the Smuggler Chief. “He has joined Lieutenant Garnet, say you?”
“He has.”
“And what does he intend to do?”
“He swears to exterminate the Skeleton Crew.”
“So much the better for us, then,” laughed the Smuggler Chief. “If young Ned Warbeck can only rid the seas of such monsters as they are, then there may be some chance of honest folks, like ourselves, getting along a bit farther than we have done of late,” said the Chief, with a dry grin.
“Just so, Sea-hawk,” the Dolphin replied; “if he can manage to rid us of such grim devils as they are, all well and good; for, you see, we don’t stand much of a chance with them, for they have played the very devil with us smugglers of late years. And as to Death-wing, I don’t think there is any hope of getting him out of the way, for he seems to be made of cast iron.”
“I only hope this young dare-devil, Ned Warbeck, will only letusalone, though,” said the Chief, “because you know he might turn his attention this way after doing the first job.”
“That’s just what heisgoing to do.”
“You don’t mean that?”
“I do, though. I found out all his plans, as well as his instructions.”
“Indeed!—how?”
“You remember what I said about the marriage at Walton Abbey, and of Death-wing running away with the young bride?”
“Yes.”
“Well, Garnet and Wildfire Ned, accompanied by Bob Bertram, and others, started in pursuit.”
“Did they overtake the Crew?”
“That you will quickly hear.”
“For some time, Wildfire Ned and Garnet continued the chase over hedge and ditch; but they went at such a terrific pace, that in less than half an hour they had distanced all who followed them, save Bob Bertram.
“But still they could not make out or trace the route taken by Death-wing.
“In about an hour, however, they perceived some of the band in the distance.
“With swords drawn, they shouted in defiance, and made at them.
“But the Skeleton rascals declined the combat.
“The chase then continued.
“But, as before, they lost sight of them, for the last trick was only a ride to gain time in order that Death-wing and his fair captive might get off clear.”
“Clever, artful devils,” said the Chief, with a gruff laugh; “anddidthey get off clear?” he asked.
“They did. Wildfire Ned rode like a madman in every direction after them. But it was all to no purpose. They escaped, and Death-wing and his crew made their way to the sea-shore, and got safely on board their Phantom ship before Garnet or Wildfire Ned could overtake them.”
“Well, and what next?”
“Wildfire Ned and Bob Bertram made the best of their way to Garnet’s ship, the ‘Diamond,’ and went on board. The ship set sail immediately in search of the Skeleton Crew, and every man on board swore to be revenged.”
“If they fall in with Death-wing, then, we may expect to hear of some stirring news,” said the chief. “If they conquer Death-wing, or he conquer them, it’s all the same to us, you know, Dolphin.”
“True,” replied the messenger; “but I would much rather hear they had made short work of the Skeleton Crew, for wecangenerally manage to escape the revenue-cruisers, but it would puzzle the very devil to get out of the way of these grim and ghastly wretches,” said the Dolphin.
“So far we agree,” said the grim Chief. “But now to business. Have you found out anything more about that vessel you wrote to me about?”
“What, that ship which we have long expected from the East Indies?”
“Yes.”
“Of course I have; she is now in the offing; and, if the wind rises, we may expect her abreast of this place by midnight.”
“Good. Did you hear how many men she carries?”
“Only fifteen.”
“That ain’t too many; so far, so good; but about her guns, Dolphin,that’sthe question; I heard she had four.”
“But I know better; she hasn’t got a single one.”
“Not one?”
“No; not even a pop-gun on board.”
“What’s her name, say you?”
“The ‘Sea Spray.’”
“Then she will prove an easy prize?”
“No doubt of it.”
“What’s her cargo?”
“Silks, spices, and gold dust.”
“Hem,” said Sea-hawk, “then we must prepare for her. Tell the night-watch to have a bright look-out, and get all the boats ready. How is the weather?”
“It looks as if we should have a dense fog to-night.”
“So much the better, then,” said the Smuggler Chief. “There’s nothing half so nice as a thick fog when one wants to come up to a craft unseen. Get all the boats ready, and let them be moored outside the cave for instant service.”
These orders were obeyed.
During the day great preparations were made to board and capture the long-expected East Indiaman, and a look-out man was perched high upon the rocks outside, with telescope in hand, watching the distant movements of the “Sea Spray” as she lay becalmed in the far distance, her sails lazily flapping in the foggy atmosphere.
As night approached the wind freshened, and all was wild excitement and merriment among the smugglers, who looked forward to the capture of the vessel with impatient joy.
Master Tim saw all the warlike preparations going on, and felt very uneasy.
The sight of pistols and knives, cutlasses, boarding pikes, and the like, struck terror to his soul.
But he dared not show it, or express any thought about the danger all were about to encounter.
He even tried to smile and look merry.
But it was all sham.
Poor Tim could be as brave as any one as far as words went, but when it came to blows and hard knocks he wished himself a thousand miles away.
Some of the smugglers provided Tim with plenty of arms.
“As Imustgo,” thought Tim, “and as there is no getting away from these villanous, black-looking band of smugglers, I might as well arm myself to the teeth; the more weapons I have the greater chance I have for my life.”
With this thought uppermost in his mind, Master Tim put on an immense pair of water-boots that reached above the knee; and although he could scarcely walk in them, on account of their weight and clumsiness, he never said a word.
“For,” thought Tim, “it won’t do to let these devils think I am afraid, after all the hard lies I have told ’em to-day; besides, if they thought I wanted to get away, they’d scrag me on the instant.”
Next he put on an immense waist-belt, and stuck into it half-a-dozen pistols, all double-shotted.
Besides these, he thrust into his belt a heavy cutlass, a dagger, and a long knife.
Not satisfied with all these warlike preparations,he seized a heavy blunderbuss, and filled up to the muzzle with powder and shot.
This he slung on his back, and walked up and down the cave, thinking—
“It’s very nasty, dangerous work, attacking ships; if this one Sea-hawk is going to capture to-night had been well-armed and manned by a stout crew, I shouldn’t a’ thought of rigging myself this way; I should a’ fallen on to their decks, like a dead man, and let the smugglers fight it out their own way, and then joined the victors; but if the ship is unarmed, and there is much gold on board, I want to throw dust into Sea-hawk’s eyes, and get as much as possible for my share; and then, when Ihavegot the gold-dust, I shall hook it, for I know the way now into old Nettle’s place up through that trap-door.”
Tim tried to look very fierce, and smoked a pipe to keep down his fearful feelings.
But he looked like a walking arsenal more than anything else, and could scarcely move with the immense weight girt about him.
From time to time as night closed in, word was passed from the watchers outside that the “Sea Spray” was gradually approaching.
When first he heard this report, Tim pretended to be overjoyed, and very anxious to encounter the stranger and show the smuggler band what a courageous fellow he was.
But when Sea-hawk at last gave the order for all his men to make ready to start out on the expedition, Tim’s heart began to flutter and to beat very loudly.
He took a good draught of rum, however, and, as well as he could, got into the boat.
When all had assembled at the mouth of the cave, Sea-hawk called the six boats’ crew together and gave them his final instructions.
Three of the boats with muffled oars, under the Dolphin’s command, was to go on some little distance ahead, and creep through the dense fog unseen, so as to attack the stranger on the windward side.
Sea-hawk, with the other three boats, would follow, and at the same time assail the “Sea Spray” on the leeward side.
At a given signal the boats put off towards the doomed ship, which had been suddenly becalmed opposite the smugglers’ cave.
It could just be seen through the thick fog, and Sea-hawk was delighted with the prospect of its speedy capture.
“We’ll make short work of it,” said the chief to Tim, in a jolly tone.
“I believe you,” Tim replied, in a soft voice, with a ghastly attempt at a smile.
Onwards the boats’ crews rowed in dead silence.
In a short time they came within full view of the dark sides of the vessel, as, like an ominous object, it loomed out through the dense mists.
The first three boats had got round to the other side of the vessel, and were waiting for Sea-hawk’s signal.
This was soon given.
With a loud shout the smugglers’ boats pulled towards the vessel.
“Let one man remain with each boat,” said the chief, “while all the rest board the craft.”
“I’ll do that,” said Tim, eagerly.
“No you won’t,” said the chief; “you are to be the first man to board the ship. Here we are; up you go,” said Sea-hawk, shoving Tim up the ship’s side with so much violence that Tim fell over the bulwarks.
Tim was awfully scared, for he expected to be shot or stabbed the instant he reached the deck.
Judge of his happiness, then, when he discovered there was not a single soul on deck.
Perceiving this, and before any of his comrades could clamber up, he began cutting, and slashing, and swearing at imaginary foes, stamping his feet, and hacking at old empty barrels, with such a vengeance and so much noise as to make every one believe that he was at the moment performing prodigies of valour.
“Die! down! surrender, villains!” he roared.
And the more he shouted, the more he cut and hacked right and left, without meeting with a foe, except a cow and a few sheep on board, which he slaughtered unmercifully in a few seconds.
When the smugglers leaped upon the deck, they were astonished at not meeting with or finding any opposition.
Tim was puffing and blowing, as if wearied and exhausted with his terrific efforts, and pointed to the hatchway, shouting,
“I have beaten the villains ten to one; they are down the hatchway; down after them, my bold boys, down after them!”
Perceiving blood on his sword, the smugglers believed what he said, and therefore rushed down into the hold of the ship, sword in hand, bent on slaughter.
Tim was immensely tickled that he had earned the reputation for valour so cheaply, and thanked his stars Sea-hawk believed him.
While Tim was alone on the deck, however, he suddenly heard unearthly shouts, screams, oaths, and the like, proceed from the hold of the ship.
“What’s all that?” thought Tim, trembling in every limb. “I wonder if they have found out any one. I didn’t see any of the crew.”
He was not left long in suspense.
There issued from the hold, the cabin, and the forecastle of the ship a band of skeletons, sword in hand.
Tim, at the first sight of them, fell on his knees, and then slipped into an empty water-barrel that was near by.
From this place he could perceive all that passed.
The Smuggler Chief had been deceived; and so had Dolphin.
But how and by whom neither of them could tell.
Instead of boarding the East Indiaman, they found themselves on the decks of the Phantom Ship!
The confusion, uproar, and clanging of arms that now ensued were dreadful.
Sea-hawk, Dolphin, and the rest of the bold smugglers, fought like demons.
“To the boats! to the boats!” shouted Sea-hawk above the din of battle.
All his men endeavoured to fight their way back again to the boats as directed by the chief.
But their retreat was cut off.
The Skeleton Crew, infuriated against their old enemies, the smugglers, fought with desperation.
Pistol-shots scattered about the decks like hail-stones, and Tim, unfortunate as ever, had the misery to find that more than one stray bullet struck the cask in which he was hiding, and grazed his body and legs; but beyond a few scratches he escaped unhurt.
Sea-Hawk, as brave as a lion, fought long and desperately with the grim crew; but many of his men were dying and wounded around him.
“To the boats! to the boats!” he again shouted.
Many of his followers did not need this secondwarning; but leaped over the sides of the vessel, and plunged into the sea in wild despair.
On every part of the ship did the Skeleton Crew swarm like bees.
Up the rigging they climbed like monkeys, making the most hideous noises.
Death-wing, with his black banner on high, and with an immense cutlass in hand, seemed to mow down Sea-hawk’s men; and in less than fifteen minutes from the time the action commenced, the Phantom Ship was cleared of all its intruders save the dead and dying.
The smugglers, entrapped as they had been, fought like bears; but nothing could withstand Death-wing and his grisly band.
And ere Sea-hawk and his boats pushed off from the vessel, two cannons, loaded up to the muzzle with grape and canister shot, were fired after them, and the missiles of death swept the waters around the Phantom Ship with a hissing and fatal sound.