One of the dancers had a tambourine, with jingling bells.
As they danced and capered about in most fantastic styles, they shook their bony hands in a dismal manner, which made Colonel Blood’s flesh to creep again.
Directly Ellen Harmer caught sight of this dreadful exhibition, she fell back into Blood’s arms.
She now fully believed all that the colonel had told her, and relied upon his protection as a man of honour.
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!”