“Aye, sir, but we on board the ‘Dolphin’ were men.”
“Brave men, too, no doubt.”
“Yes; but them on board the Phantom Ship weren’t men at all.”
“What, then, in heaven’s name?”
“Why, devils!”
The footman, nay, every one of Ralph’s audience, were listening open-mouthed and with staring eyes.
“Devils?” asked Ned.
“Yes, devils, young man.”
A pause took place, and every one took a long breath, and creeped closer to the fire as Ralph continued—
“We caught sight of the Phantom Ship once. It was painted red. We gave chase, and came within two miles of it, when it changed its colour to blue! We wasn’t going to be taken in, so we fired a broadside right into her, and——”