National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-02-21

in sailors suit, made OF jet black cloth,
instead Of the usual blue. His black
cap was surrounded by gold band,
and large cloak OF sables was thrown
across his shoulders. His features were
rigid as those of a corpse, save that the
eyes were bright and piercing, and
shone in the chasms of his skull like
luminous globes of fire. The nose was
high and aquiline, curved like the beak
Of a bird /; the lips thin and blue, and
drawn back over q set of cleaning white
teeth. Altogether, the man looked like
a partly animated. corpse and the cap
tain and crew of the Osprey shuddered
in a cold perspiration of awe, as the new
conner rose in his boat and saluted them,
demanding permission to come on board.
This was no sooner granted than, with
out the use of ladder, side-ropes, or any
convenience of the sort, he stood sud-
denly upon the deck of the osprey,
while the captain of the latter vessel
and his crew, rooted to the spot, stood
quaking, as if with some violent attack
of ague.
"What ship?' inquired the stranger,
politely.
osprey" gasped out the captain.
by supreme effort.
Where from?"
"London."
Where to ?"
Calcutta.
"Cargo ?"
Iron and steel goods"
Something more precious, think"
said the stranger, with a horribly sar-
donic grin.
q do not understand you," stam-
mered Captain Grayling.
"He had but one fair daughter, whom
he loved passing WE'LL" said the stran-
ger.
The captain trembled, and grew pale
as death.
"One fair daughter" persisted the
satanic stranger" Eleanor Grayling
Come, I want your daughter"
" How did he know my daughters
name?" thought the unfortunate cap
tain. at must be the devil himself.
OH"
And he staggered backwards, and
leant against the mainmast.
"Come, am waiting!" said the un-
welcome guest. Then he roared ont to
his phantom boats crew, "Room there
for LADY,"
Captain Grayling looked appealingly
at the mate, who came to his assist
ance.
"Sir," said Matson, "who and what
are you? In the name of God"
But he had no sooner pronounced the
last sacred word when inslantaneously
the stranger was gone, and boat, crew,
and leader had vanished like fash of
Captain Grayling and Matson rubbed
their eyes, and the crew gazed on one
another like men in dream. The iucu-
bus was removed, and they awoke as it
were from nightmare.
1T must have been the Evil One!"
said Matson, who was the first to find
voice.
"No, sir!' replied sorrowfully one of
the crew who had previously spoken.
" He were the captain of the Flying
that's what he were and to
Davy Jones locker we shall all go. Not
a man Jack of us will see dry land no
more"
Say, ay, mate, worse luck" chimed |
in the rest of the crew despondently.
"Then Heaven have mercy on us!'
said the captain.
"Amen!" cried all.
And sure enough, the Osprey, her
crew and cargo, were never afterwards
heard Of
"But, father" said Elizabeth Rudd,
70 if the vessel was never heard of more,
who knows that all this happened %
81 know it," said old Rudd, his eyes
with suppressed fun.
You, father!"
"Ay, l. lass l was there"
"You were there ?"
Yes-in dream"
"Oh! it is too bad you have been
making fun of us.
"Not l. 1 saw it all, as plain as see
you."
"Oh, father!" cried the bride elect;
. how could you see it ?"
The jolly old sailor winked at his fu-
,ure son-in-law, whitfield his pipe, and
ook steady pull at the schiedam and
water then he said with loud roar,
9 SO much for your ghost stories! Well,
f you must know, lass, that ere night 1
,at tremendous supper of toasted
cheese and onions!"