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.