She was too much frightened to speak, and trembled violently as the colonel supported her. But Blood seemed fastened to the spot. He looked, and looked again at the terrible dance of the skeletons. He had never dreamed of ever seeing anything so hideous or horrible. “Who and what are they?” said Blood, half aloud; “are they men or devils?” “Devils!” said a chorus of unseen voices. “Who stabbed Andrew Gamble? Ha, ha! Who wants to run away with the pretty daughter of Harmer the miller, eh? Go, tell your master what you have seen—go, tell him; he may one day expect us. Away, Colonel Blood, away!” These words were uttered in such fierce tones, and with such a hissing sound, that they grated on Blood’s ears. “I fear not man nor devil,” he growled savagely in return. But the continual sight of the strange, wild, skeleton dance seemed to discompose him. He seized Ellen Harmer round the waist, and with the greatest ease vaulted into his saddle. “These devils have seized my carriage and servants,” said he, “but ’tis lucky they did not discover my horse here under the gateway, or all would have been lost.” While in the act of mounting his splendid animal, the colonel did not perceive that the skeleton dancers had approached him. When he looked to the right and left he found himself surrounded by the grim disciples of Death-wing, the grim skeleton chief. With a shout, and an oath of surprise and annoyance, he raised his riding-whip and cut his way from the midst of those around him. He put spurs to his horse, and plunged forward on the road towards London, with Ellen Harmer on the saddle before him. He had not gone two miles when he turned round to ascertain the cause of a distant rumbling noise. Not far behind him, he could perceive his own carriage, driven by a skeleton coachman, in full pursuit! Skeleton heads were protruding from windows on each side of the coach, who waved their long arms and shook them in gestures of savage revenge. “Pursued!” thought Blood; “and by this terrible band.” He dug his spurs deeply into the flanks of his gallant steed, and fled like the wind. But the Skeleton Band was slowly and surely gaining on him. It was now a race for life or death! CHAPTER XII. WILDFIRE NED, TIM, AND RAMBLING BOB SET OUT UPON THEIR TRAVELS—STRANGE AND EXCITING ADVENTURES. The first thing which Wildfire Ned did, when he left his uncle’s presence, and had publicly insulted Redgill, was to proceed to the stables, and saddle his own gallant mare “Starlight.” “What, off again, Master Ned?” said Tim, rubbing his eyes. “Why, surely you ain’t going anywhere this time of night?” “Yes, I am, Tim. I am going to leave Darlington altogether.” “Leave it altogether, sir! Why, you must be joking.” “No I’m not, Tim. Come, saddle my mare at once. I must leave this place within half-an-hour. Will you come with me?”