“In an instant, however, the blade was shivered into halves, and the skeleton laughed loudly and grimly.
“‘My life is charmed. Thy steel to me is useless. They hung me on a gibbet, and called me the Red Man from the mass of gore which flowed from the wounds inflicted by thy brother; but, as I have said, my life is renewed through mystic charms and spells, and at certain times of night, during certain seasons of the year, I can go abroad wherever I will.
“‘See,’ said the intruder, ‘I come not alone.’
“He stamped his foot.
“In a moment, Lord Edward was astonished to find that the room was filled with skeleton men.
“‘You see I come not alone,’ said the intruder again; ‘this is my band, the Skeleton Crew; we are the scourge both of the sea and land; fear us, Warbeck, for never, until the last of thy name shall have ceased to live, will I, or my crew, cease to follow, and thwart you in all your designs.’
“‘Unholy fiend,’ Lord Edward exclaimed; ‘if even it be that all of you are endowed with life anew, heaven hath its counter spells for all your charms.’
THE MEETING IN THE WOOD.—(See No. 23.)
“‘True,’ said the grisly visitor; ‘heaven had one on earth who, until to-night, preserved you and yours, but that one has departed, hence our hour of triumph has come.’