“Come on!” said he, “I told you we should meet again; draw, I tell you, draw villain, or I will slay you where you stand, Phillip Redgill!” “He shall _not_ fight!” said Captain Jack; “but, if you _will_ kick up a shindy, and insist upon blood-letting, why, then, _I_ will accommodate you.” “Yes, and I!” “And I!” “Wait, then,” said Ned. “Trust me, you shall all have your turn, but I will commence with this one first. Phillip Redgill, draw!” He did so, but with an air of great reluctance. Ned stood upon his guard. On the instant, however, and before he was aware of any treachery, Redgill fired at him. The ball grazed Ned’s cheek. “Cowardly hound!” he cried, and rushed on his foe with the fury of a fiend. In an instant, the whole place was in an uproar. Bob Bertram, Tim, and the landlord were surrounded by Captain Jack’s followers, and a deadly encounter took place. The clash of swords, the report of fire-arms, and the shouts and cries of all in the house, awoke wild echoes in the silent night. To add to the confusion all the lights were overturned and extinguished. At the first opportunity Master Tim crept under the table out of harm’s way. But Bob, the publican, and Wildfire Ned, pushed their antagonists so fiercely that in less than ten minutes Phillip Redgill was carried out into the yard bleeding and pale. Captain Jack and his men were thoroughly beaten, but they continued the fight outside the house, on the spacious green in front of the doorway. Here in the moonlight was seen the flash of swords, and heard the deep guttural curses of the antagonists. “We must get out of this at all cost,” said Captain Jack to Faulkner; “all our chaps are wounded; we must beat a retreat once. Get our horses, Faulkner.” Captain Jack vaulted upon one animal, Faulkner did so upon another. Just when about to start off, they were surprised to see a horseman approaching at a terrific gallop. In his arms he held a lovely female, whose snow-white garments were streaming in the wind. It was Colonel Blood with Ellen Harmer! In about five minutes Captain Jack and Faulkner were seized with horror at what they then saw. Colonel Blood’s carriage, with its skeleton coachman and footman, and with weird-wild skeleton forms inside, dashed past the inn door in pursuit, waving their bony arms and shrieking most hideously. This strange, unearthly spectacle seemed to fill all with horror. Even Wildfire Ned desisted from the combat and gazed steadfastly upon the grim cortége as it passed the inn. Suddenly a piercing and uncommon cry was uttered by Phillip Redgill as he turned his eyes towards the vehicle. The coach stopped. In an instant the skeleton descended from the box. Those inside alighted with great expedition, and, weapon in hand, advanced towards the inn door. Wildfire Ned was astonished, but not dismayed. He bit his lip, and his eyes flashed fire. Without a word of warning the Skeleton rushed upon him.