Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1869-01-02
09lo Statesnlall.
BILLY MORGiN's GHOST.
[CONCLusIoNl. !.

CONCLUSioN.I fst 4-
Some years subsequent to his return
from the Mediterranean, Capt. R..
being on a journey to the westward, had
occasion to seek refreshment and lodging
at log-house on the borders of Tennes-
see. A man came forth to receive him,
whom he at once recognized as his old
acquaintance, Billy Morgan. "Heavens!"
thought Captain R. '.here's Mon
sieur Tonson come again with a ven
geance % Billy, who had also found out
his guest, was then too late to retreat,
looked rather sheepish, and invited him
in with little of the frank hospitality of
a genuine backwoodsman. Captain
R followed him into the honse, where
he found a comely, well-looking dame,
and two or three yellow-haired boys and
girls. all in fuster at the stranger. The
habitation had an air Of comfort, and the
mistress, by her cheerful aspect and ac-
tivity, seemed pleased at the rare incl
dent of a visitor entering their door.
Billy was at first shy and awkward, but,
finding himself treated with cordial
frankness, he, in the course of the even
ing. when the children were in bed. and
his wife busy milking the cows, thus ac-
costed his old commander, Captain, !
hope you don't mean to shoot me for my
desertion ?" "By no MEANS" says Cap
tain, pleasantly; "there would be little
use in shooting a ghost, or a man with
as many lives as cat" Billy smiled
rather melancholy smile. "Ah, Cap
tain, you have not forgot the ghost. |
see; but it is long time to remember
an old score, and 1 hope you'll forgive
me-" -'s 1'e.-s7 70 -t s9a
"On one condition I WILL" replied
Captain R--, "that you will tell
me honestly how you managed to make
all my sailors believe they saw you,
night after night. on board the ship, as
well as on shore."a lfi d" 5Is - .l.ir
"They did see me-" rejoined Billy,
in his usual sepulchral voice.
"Then their seeing you jump over
board was all deception p sly4a lo 2
"By no means. sir; did jump over
board, but then L climbed back again
after" 59s si-i-p ell lssq s-sa
"The deuce you did-explain.
81 will, sir, as well as L am able. ]
was many years amongst. the Sandwich
Islanders, where the vessel in which /
was cabin-boy was wrecked a long time
ago; and l can pass whole hours, l he
lieve days, in the water, without being
fatigued, except for want of sleep. /
have also got some other habits, such as
great dislike to hard work, and a liking
for going where I will and doing just
what 1 please. The discipline of the
man-of- war did not suit me at all, and
grew tired after afew days To pass the
time, and make fun with the sailors,
told them yarns about myself and my ad
ventures, and played many pranks t.
make them believeI was a sort of wizard
The punishment you gave me, thoug ia
own L deserved it, made me resolve t.
desert as soon as an opportunity offered
1 had an old shipmate with meowhom
could trust, and weGplanned the Who'll,
thing together Iknew if I deserted q
Gibraltar or any ofthe ports in the Med
iterranean L should almost certainly b,
caught, and shot off:handedz IAN ex
ample.i i got Tom Brown to write my
will, intending to leave my watch ant
chest to my messmate, who was to tretur1
them to me again at Giberaltar, but Ton
played us a trick, and put his own nam
instead of my friends in, and the tricl
was not found out until afterwards, whel
my frind was afraid of discovery, if b
mady. any rout about the natter
"Who is your friend 2" asked Captain
R -5t.ssts sd 9luods asi1tla.5
"He is alive and in the service; l ha'
rather not mention his name" 10
$50 on,p said the Captain. isl3-
- "That night jumped overheard"
Glow did you get back into the ship!
asked the Captain, hastily. sIdad5sa .id
| "Why, sir. the forward port-hole o.
the starboard side was left open, inten
tionally, with a bit of rope fastened t
the gun, and hanging down, SO that
could catch it." a. .7ss.
| The Captain struck his forehead wit
the palm of his hand, and said to hin
self, "What set of lock-heads W
were !'' esg rse.. .e7..- as H.. b
T "Pretty, well for that" responde
| honest Billy, "though not quite so grea
as might be expected" The last par
of his speech, he meant for complimen
but it sounded directly the contrary.
Gas soon as 1 was overheard" cor
tinued he, 81 swan to the rope, waitin
| for the signal from my friend to clim
up, and hide myself in coil of cabl
slowed away close to the bows. In th
hustle that followed it was easy enoug
to do this; and nobody saw me but m
friend. Here I remained in my we
clothes, rather uncomfortably, as yo
may suppose, until my provisions wer
expended, and my baccy-box empty.
calculated they would last till we arrive
at Gibraltar, where nothing could hav
been easier for me than to slip out of th
portfolio and swim ashore. But tn
plague head winds and claims, which
dare say you remember, delayed th
squadron several days longer than l ex
pected, and exhausted my stock.
shouldn't have minded the want of bis
cult and water, but it was impossible t
live without the baccy. My friend ha
promised to come sometimes within
hail of signals of distress, but as he toll
me afterwards, he was confined for sever
al days for picking quarrel with Tor
Brown, whom he longed to pay off wit
a good hiding for forging the will.
| :" / remained in this state until wa
nearly starved, when, not able to stand j
any longer, 1, one night when everybod.
between decks seemed fast asleep, crep
out of my hole, where l lay coiled up i
the shape of a cable, covered with
l.. n l.