Arming himself with a sword, Wildfire Ned led the way, lamp in hand. “I’ll lead the way,” said he; “follow me! Uncle you can remain behind; there is nothing to fear. I care not for a hundred skeletons, or ghosts either; follow me.” CHAPTER VI. THE SKELETON CREW AT DARLINGTON HALL—THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE SERVANTS—DEFEAT OF THE SKELETON CREW BY WILDFIRE NED. Every one knew what a brave, bold, adventurous boy Wildfire Ned was, and directly he said “follow me,” each one regained his courage, and prepared to follow him. They were all unarmed save Ned; but Roger, very cunning, stole a short poker from the fire-grate without being perceived, and stuffed it under his coat. “I don’t so much fear now,” he thought. “I’ve got the poker, and if any of ’em come near me I’ll try and smash their ugly skulls in quick time; that is, if they will let me.” Bold as a lion, and with an eye like a night hawk, young Wildfire Ned led the way, followed by the male servants. They searched in every place that could be imagined, but neither ghosts nor skeletons could be found. The rest of the servants were summoned and closely questioned by Wildfire Ned. No such thing as ghost or skeleton had been seen in other parts of the old Hall, and the bare mention of the armed man in armour, who rushed out upon them, caused great merriment among the majority of the servants, who laughed outright, and called Roger and Tim “two old women.” So there was every prospect of a quarrel among the servants on this great question. Roger was very indignant, and when he pulled out the short poker from under his clothes, he flourished it about in great wrath, threatening to massacre the coachman, butler, and every one, indeed, who did not believe him. Order, however, was soon restored among them, and when the supper bell rang all repaired in great haste to the servants’ hall to hear the various odds and ends of the footman’s strange adventure. They were all seated round the table, playing sad havoc with rounds of beef and good old ale, when all at once the lamps went out! Roger would have fled on the instant, but he was afraid of being afterwards branded as a coward, and, therefore, remained in his seat, but felt very uneasy. The French cook, at the head of the table, left his chair to go for other lamps. At the moment that lights reappeared the whole assembly were struck dumb at what they then saw. Behind the chair of each there stood one of the Skeleton Crew! They would have shouted out loudly, but one of the Skeletons, who appeared to be chief of the party, said, sternly, and in a sepulchral tone, to a gigantic Skeleton, “The first one that stirs—the first one that speaks above his breath, despatch him!” Roger groaned inwardly, and felt more dead than alive. Tim wriggled on his chair like a half-skinned eel. The chief cook’s eyes were wildly dancing, and his long working cap rose up to a prodigious height, while, with open mouth, he stood shivering and shaking.