With sword upraised, and amid great applause of the Crew, Phillip Redgill swore an awful oath to slay Ned Warbeck the first moment they met, whether publicly, privately, in night or day. CHAPTER XLIII. THE ATTACK AND COUNTER ATTACK ON THE BLOCK HOUSE—NED WARBECK TO THE RESCUE. “To action,” said Death-wing; “to action then; let us attack Captain Jack’s store-house, and for ever silence the babbling of ‘the Dozen;’ they are all braggarts.” With an unanimous voice the Skeleton Crew proposed to sally forth, and armed themselves to the teeth. Led on by Death-wing and Phillip Redgill, who was now recognized as one of their chiefs, they went forth into the darkness bent upon sacking the stronghold where for many years the Dozen had kept their plunder. “We will serve Captain Jack out once and for all,” said Death-wing. “Yes, if he is there,” said Phillip; “but I doubt it. Both he and old Bates are too old birds to be caught with chaff.” “No matter,” said Death-wing, “we shall be sure to fall foul of some of the gang, and the beautiful Ellen Harmer shall be the wife of the first one who enters their stronghold.” “Agreed!” shouted all. With one accord they moved on through the dark streets like phantoms. In a short time they reached the strong and barricaded store-house of the Dozen. The sounds of carousing were heard within. “They do not suspect that anyone is aware of their doings. We can capture the place without trouble of any kind.” “But the place is surrounded by high and thick palisadings of timber,” said Phillip; “it has two gates, both of them of amazing strength.” “So much the better,” said Death-wing, “when we have massacred all within we will keep the place as our own. Does any of the King’s officers know of it?” “I think not,” said Phillip, “for Captain Jack and his men had it built expressly for themselves in such an out-of-the-way place that I doubt much if even Colonel Blood ever heard of it.” “Excellent news,” said Death-wing; “if Captain Jack and Bates have thoroughly ransacked the Colonel’s house there must be a great deal of treasure inside.” “No doubt of it.” “Then let us surround it quietly. When I give the word let one and all of you scale the walls, and spare no living soul save Ellen Harmer. Have the scouts returned?” asked Death-wing. “We must not commence operations until the coast is clear.” “Here are the two scouts,” said Phillip; “they have just returned.” “What news do you bring?” asked Death-wing of them. “Colonel Blood has been thrown off the scent; he and his soldiers endeavoured to follow Captain Jack and old Bates, but they escaped in the darkness.” “Hang the trick,” said Death-wing, “so we shan’t have the pleasure of killing those two rascals after all.” “Never mind,” said Phillip, “it will only be a pleasure for us to do it at some distant time.”