The tide of battle ebbed and flowed.
Success for a moment attended the Skeleton Crew, and they drove the sailors to the wall.
In an instant, however, and as if by magic, Wildfire Ned dashed again to the front.
“They are beaten!” he cried; “they give ground! Down with the demons! scatter their ghastly bones! Follow me!”
It was quite true.
The Skeleton Band did give way.
They had never met with such a fierce resistance before in all their lives.
They retreated in dumb terror before Wildfire Ned.
That brave youth rushed here, there and everywhere among his bloodthirsty foes, as if he courted death itself.
But no harm came to him.