“How long does it take you?” asked one of the Skeletons, chuckling.
“All night sometimes,” said Roger, with a sigh.
“Oh, then, you are pious?”
“Yes, I always was.”
“Then as you are so much, the better prepared than the rest, we’ll hang you first.”
Roger groaned and rose up like a shot.
“You have heard of the Skeleton Crew, I know,” said the chief aloud, “and that they neither fear man nor devil?”
“We have,” said several; “quite true.”
“I wish the devil had him, though,” groaned poor Tim.
“And,” continued he, “you have heard that the chief is cruel, and has no mercy to his enemies.”