After a time, when Roger was dragged out with his nose bleeding, he looked about him with a wild and frightened gaze, as he stammered out, “O-h-h-h, s-i-r! we-e-’ve s-e-e-n him!” “Seen him! Seen who, knave? Speak quickly! or, by my honour, I’ll whip my sword through your trembling carcase!” said old Sir Richard, getting red in the face. “Speak, some of you!” he continued, looking daggers at his alarmed domestics. “Oh! m-e-r-cy! master, m-e-r-cy!” croaked out Roger, falling on his knees. “Speak, rascal! Who have ye seen?” “The skeleton! ghastly, ghostly, all bones, and sword in hand, grinning like an angry demon.” “A skeleton!” “Aye, sir; two on ’em.” “Two, do you say?” “Yes, Sir Richard; one at the bottom of the kitchen stairs, and t’other opened the drawing-room door! H-o-o! ask ’em all if it ain’t true, good master!” continued the footman, rolling his eyes and moaning. “And another grim rascal in armour rushed at us lance in hand at the dining-hall door?” whined Tim, the valiant groom. “Oh, lor, the whole place is full on ’em, I do believe.” For some moments Sir Richard did not know what to do. All around him knelt his frightened domestics, groaning and shaking. “Why, but just now, knave, you said it was all a lark, perhaps, got up by some of the silly villagers to frighten us. Ghosts and living skeletons indeed! There, go down and get your suppers at once, and let’s have no more of such silly nonsense.” “Nay, good master, we dare not.” “Stuff and nonsense,” said Ned, laughing; “how can you be geese enough to believe in such old women’s tales. Get up off your knees at once, I say, and don’t stick there shivering like leaves. I have lived in the Hall this many a year, and have never seen anything of the kind. I only wish I could come across the rascals who are playing such tricks, that’s all; _I’d_ soon find out whether they were ghosts or not.” “Would you? Ha! ha!” said suddenly a voice. “What was that? Who spoke?” said Ned, colouring with anger. “Would you? Ha! ha! then you shall soon have a chance, bold youth,” said the voice again. “Who or what is that?” said old Sir Richard, starting. “That’s him, master; that’s him! the ghosts! ho-o-o!” said Roger, with chattering teeth. “This is strange,” thought Wildfire Ned, “there cannot be any doubt but that there is some mystery hanging about the old Hall. I have long been persuaded of it, but it will not do to let my uncle or his people know what I think of this mystery.” “What is that you are saying, Edward?” asked Sir Richard. “Nothing, uncle,” he replied. “I was only smiling at the foolish fears of these tremblers here.” “Come, rouse up all of you,” said old Sir Richard; “and follow me!” “That’s just what _I_ was about to propose, uncle,” said Ned. “We’ll soon get to the bottom of this strange affair.”