They composed his limbs, and pouring some spirits down his throat, he recovered in a few moments, and convulsively said, “When I die——” “Die, indeed!—don’t think of such a thing,” said Garnet, sadly. “Yes,” said the brave smith, “it has come to that at last. I feel it. I have done my duty like a man, and am content to die.” After a very brief struggle the gallant fellow breathed his last. “Avenge him! Avenge him!” Ned Warbeck cried. “Follow me,” shouted Lieutenant Garnet. With loud shouts, and amid a storm of shot and other missiles showered down upon them, three separate parties of stormers under the leadership of Ned Warbeck, Garnet, and Bob Bertram, assailed the burning stronghold. On every side the flames were now burning, and illuminated the darkness of the night. Past the windows and on the roof could be seen flitting about the forms of Death-wing’s and Captain Jack’s men, who were nearly roasted alive. Bravely they fought, but they dared not rush forth to encounter the valour of Ned Warbeck’s escaped followers. Some of the Crew leaped from the roof into the river; others jumped from windows upon the weapons of those below, until at last a fearful explosion occurred. Several barrels of powder exploded in the cellars, and in a moment afterwards the old Block-house, which for years and years had been the rendezvous of Captain Jack’s men, was a mass of ruins. While in the river were numerous of the Skeleton Crew and others, who were swimming for their very lives far away from the bright crackling mass of timber. CHAPTER XLIV. CAPTAIN JACK AND OLD BATES ARE FUGITIVES—THEY FLY FROM LONDON AND CONCEAL THEMSELVES IN HORNSEY WOOD—THEIR DEPREDATIONS. With the arrest or dispersion of the principals of their gang the greater part of Captain Jack’s anxieties and difficulties ceased. The remainder of the vagabonds pursued through the villages and woods soon fell into the hands of justice. Beggars, sham hawkers, deserters, came in succession to swell the list of prisoners in the London gaols. Jack and his friend Bates had withdrawn to the country. There, in almost inaccessible thicket, they constructed a hut of branches and leaves, very skilfully contrived to deceive the eyes of the passers by. Only at night did they venture out into the neighbouring commons, and the fears their audacity inspired prevented the peasants from betraying their place of concealment. Ned Warbeck and others undertook to effect this difficult capture. Four of them, disguised as wood-cutters, with two others to assist them, and who were well acquainted with every nook and corner of the forest, determined to enter at nightfall under the trees of Hornsey Wood, and bivouacked in silence. At about four o’clock in the morning they surrounded the retreat of the two outlaws.