It must be confessed that this coach-load of grim skeletons filled the colonel with wonder, if not with fear.
“I should never have believed it had I not seen it,” mused the bold colonel.
At that moment his horror even increased tenfold, as was that of the fair Ellen.
Loud laughter was heard proceeding from the village green.
It sounded not like that of mortal.
He hastily turned his head, as also did Ellen.
They both looked through the old archway towards the May-pole.
The sight they then beheld was appalling.
Round the May-pole danced a circle of skeletons!
On top of it there sat perched a grim-looking skeleton, playing ear-piercing, diabolical music from some sort of flute made out of human bones.