“No goodness among ye all, then, eh?” said the chief. “Why, a moment ago ye were all praying like so many saints. Come, answer me this, the third time, then I’ll give some of you another chance. Who considers himself to be brave among you, and don’t fear death? Answer me!” No one did so, however. “How artful this bloodthirsty monster is!” each thought; “for those who don’t fear death are sure to be hung first!” “Well, no one answers, I find,” said the chief, laughing. “I’ll give you a last chance, poor devils; mark me, the only one you’ll have. Who is the greatest coward among you, and fears most to die?” “I do.” “I am.” “That’s me.” “Oh, spare us!” Such were the unanimous answers of all, and in one breath. “Ha! ha! you have answered at last, eh? Well, then, since there are no good nor brave men, but plenty of cowards, we’ll hang you altogether, for none of you deserve to live.” Groans were now heard on all sides, and many repented not having answered before. “If there had been only a few brave men among you I would have spared——” “I’m brave! I’m brave!” “I’ll do any mortal thing.” “A lion’s courage is nothing to mine!” “Only just try me—a tiger is nothing compared to me!” “I’d face the devil, _I_ would!” Thus gasped out many when they found that brave men only were to be spared. “Oh, that’s it, eh?” said the Skeleton Chief. “I now find that all of you are brave.” “I’m the bravest,” said Roger, very meekly; “on my word, I am!” “You are, eh?” “No, he isn’t,” said the coachman; “_I_ am.” “Oh, you are; then this footman must be a liar.” “So he is,” said the coachman, “an awful liar; the biggest as ever lived!” “Then we will begin with you two first, and give you a trial,” said the chief. “How do you best like to fight, with swords, or what? Daggers are the quickest to do the work with!” “I’d prefer fists,” said the burly coachman. “And what do _you_ prefer my brave fellow?” asked the chief of Roger. Roger much preferred to escape out of the mess altogether, but it could not be. “Strip,” said the chief, “you’ve got a fair chance to settle; the one who gives in first shall be hung, and the conqueror shall have the choice of poison or a bullet if he refuses to join my crew. We only have well-tried men alive or dead on board the Phantom Ship.” Neither Roger nor the coachman saw any very great choice in the terms offered, but ere many minutes they were pounding each other’s ribs in gallant style till the sounds of their own blows reached through the immense hall. Both combatants fought for ten minutes fiercely and fast, and went at it like two blacksmiths. At last, however, Roger began to blow like a grampus, and with a well-directed smack on the nose the burly coachman knocked him down. “I give in,” gasped Roger. “Bring the rope,” said the chief, calmly. “No, I don’t; stop a bit,” said the footman. “D—n it! I’ll have a few more rounds; anything’s better than being scragged like a cat.”