The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-08-15
A GHOST ON sHIPBoARD.
BY EDGAR 8. rARNswoRrB.

ne night amer We cleared tIle OlTaltS Oh QUIZ |
da, my watch had the deck from eight until !
twelve. 1t was beautiful starlight night, |
and the watch, with the exception of my |
self and The man at the Wheel were for
ward on the top gallant forecastle, listening |
TO the yarns of an old gra1-headed son OF |
Neptune. | was lazily pacing the quarter
deck, when, on looking forward, saw the
whole of the slarboard watch come tumb.
ling up out Of the forcastle in haste.
What this could mean was beyond my
comprehension, for it was but little past
two bells, an1 the ship was heading her
course with all sails set. ! went forward 10
ascertain the cause of their coming on deck
before eight bells; pausing mnment at
the gangway heard the following remarks:
''Fine doin's this, to call all hands such a
pleasant night as this !"
81 wonder what skipper's thinking o"
says another.
''He means 10 work us up little for be-
in so long bendin' al that new mainsaiI this
morning." said third.
"Whal does all this mean, boys 2" said |,
before eight bells for !'
They all looked at me in utter asionish-
ment.
81 AK pardon sir,p said one, ''but wasn't
we called !'
''No; bit of it,n said "you must have
been dreaming, for il has only struck two
bells. Go below and turn in, and mind how
| you dream"
eli all hands warn't called, then my name
aint Bob Wilkins" said another OF the men.
! 'Shiver my timbers, il we wasn't" spoke
a third, stepping forward, "for | was as
wide awake as | am al this blessed minute,
and Pm beggared if somebody didn't come
| 10 the scutlle and sing out ;AIl hand ahoy."
! | now suspected it was a trick played
upon them by some one in the watch; ques.
tiosing my men they all denied it so earn
estly, that | Immediately came 10 the con-
clusion that some of the off watch had in
dreaming, imagined he heard The watch
called, and arousing up on the instant had
awakened the rest. sent the of watch
below again, and went aft.
bells, the staTboard watch again came on
deck. was provoked, for was now fully
confident they had been called by by some
one in my watch. went forward again,
and found that the most superstitious of the
men believed that there was a ghost on
board.
The next night kept sharp lookout for
ward not one of my men went nigh the
scuttle, but little past four bells, however,
the starboard watch made their appearance
on deck. | was completely taken aback,
for had been looking forward continually,
from the moment came on deck, and was
certain not one of my men had been near
the scutile. | went forward, and found the
men nearly lrightened out of their senses.-
They all declared there was no longer any
doubt that there was a ghost aboard, and
one of them, who happened TO be awake
when they were called, said the voice
didn't sound like any one of the crew, ''bul
kind o. unearthy like"
laughed at the idea of ghost calling
the watch, but the man shook his head land
declared he had seen too many ghosts in
his day 10 doubt that there was one or
board the Favio now. This was conclusive
evidence, tor the man who had spoken haC
been in nearly every i.au of the world, and
was great favorite with the crew. tried
. 10 reas on with them, although must con.
Tess that things did begin 10 look a little
; mysterious. could not prevail on them &c
] go below for The remainder OF the walch.- -
They all stayed uron deck and told ghos
! stories TIL the least Tapping of sail o.
cFesking of block would cause them tc
: start as if they exepected 10 see ghost i'm
{ mediatey.
, In the morning made the affair known
TO the captain. He promised 10 solve IN.
, mystery on the following night, provided
: the watch came on deck before eight bells
again. Not much was talked OF during the
day by the men, but the ghost that called
the starboard watch the night before. The
: next night soon after my watch came OF
! deck, the captain came up, and gong tc
r eeward into the shade OF the bulwarks
, crept forward and went down into the fore
castle without being seen by any of the
} watch or deck.
? His plan was TO station himself in the
7 forecastie so that no one could come nlgt
The scuttle wiihou. being seen by him, TO
! he thought, as had done until convincet
5 10 the contrary, that il was one of my mer
who had cursed The disturbance station
T ed myself in the s,arboard gangway, wher,
! could command view OF everything for
| ward without being seen, and awaited pa
| tienily The result OF The captains investiga
ton had been waiting nearly an hour
when the captain made a furious rush mp
!. ON deck exclaimino as his head made ID