Many of his followers did not need this second warning; but leaped over the sides of the vessel, and plunged into the sea in wild despair.
On every part of the ship did the Skeleton Crew swarm like bees.
Up the rigging they climbed like monkeys, making the most hideous noises.
Death-wing, with his black banner on high, and with an immense cutlass in hand, seemed to mow down Sea-hawk’s men; and in less than fifteen minutes from the time the action commenced, the Phantom Ship was cleared of all its intruders save the dead and dying.
The smugglers, entrapped as they had been, fought like bears; but nothing could withstand Death-wing and his grisly band.
And ere Sea-hawk and his boats pushed off from the vessel, two cannons, loaded up to the muzzle with grape and canister shot, were fired after them, and the missiles of death swept the waters around the Phantom Ship with a hissing and fatal sound.
CHAPTER XXIII.
NED’S FIRST BATTLE—THE SHIP ON FIRE.
After the action, the first thing the Skeleton Crew did was to examine the bodies of the dead and dying.