The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-12-19

glimpse of the features of some of these night visitors by the casual glance of a lantern, and declared that he recognized more than one of the freeboohng fre- quenters of the Wild Goose in former times; from whence he concluded that Vanderscamp was at his old game. and that this mysterious merchandise was nothing more nor less than piratical plum der. The more charitable opinion, hoGev- CT, was that VAndeTscamp and his com. rades, having been driven from their old line of business, by the expressions of government" had resorted to smuggling to make both ends meet.
 Be that as it may; come now to the extraordinary fact, which is the butt end of this story. It happened late one night that Van YoH Vanderscamp was returning across the broad bay, in alight skiff, rowed by his man Pluto. He had been carousing on board of vessel, newly arrived, and was somewhat obfus- cated in intellect, by the liquor he had imbioed. 1t was still, sultry night; a heavy mass of lurid clouds was rising in the west, with the low muttering of dls tant thunder. Vanderscamp called on Pluto to pull lustily, that they might get home before the gathering storm. The old negro made no reply, but shaped his course so as to skirt the rocky shores of Gibbet-Island, A faint creaking over head caused Vanderscamp to cast up his eyes, when, to his horror, he beheld the bodies of his three pot com panions and brothers in iniquity dangling in the moonlight air, their rags huttering and their chains creaking, as they were swung backward and forward by the rising breeze.
 What do you mean, you blockheadlr cried Vanderscamp," by pulling so close to the island2'
 :" thought you'd be glad to see your old friends once more," growled the ne gro "You were never afraid of living man, what do you fear from the dead ?"
 "Who's afraid?' hiccupped Wander. scamp, partly heated by liquor, partly nettled by the jeer of the negro who afraid Hang me, but would be glad to see them once more, alive or dead at the Wild Goose. Come, my lads, in the wind " continued he, taking draught, and fiourishing the bottle above hls head, here's fair weather to you in the other world; and if you should be walk ing the rounds to night, odds fish but I'll be happy if you will drop in to sup per-"
 A dismal creaking was the only reply. The wind blew loud and shriil, and as IL whistled round the gallows and among the bones, sounded as if they were laugh ing and gibbering in the air. Old Pluto ehuckled to himself, and pulled for home The storm burst over the voyagers. while they were yet far from shore. The rain fell in torrents, the thunder crashed and pealed. and the lightning kept up an in- cessant blaz.. It was stark midnight be- fore they landed at Commuuipaw.
 Dripping and shivering, Vanderscamp crawled homeward. He was completely sobered by the storm; the water soaked from him without having diluted and cooled the liquor within. Arrived at the Wild Goose, he knocked timidly and du. biously at the door, for he dreaded the reception he was to experience from his wife. He had reason to do so. Sae met him at threshold in precious ill humor.
 "Is this time" said she, ito keep people out of their beds, and to bring home company to turn the house upside down2'
 Company" said Vanderscamp, meek ly;" have brought no company with me, wife,
 No, indeed they have got here be- fore you, but by your invitation and blessed looking company they are, truly 1"
 VAnderscamp's knees smote together F'r the love of heaven, where are they, wite ?"
 Where ?-why, in the blue-room, up- stairs, making themselves as much at home as if the house were their own " Vapderscamp made desperate effort, | scram oled up to the room, and threw | open the door. Sure enough, there at a | table, on which burned light as blue as birthstone, sat the three guests from Gib- | bet.lsland, with halters round their necks and boboing their cups together, as If they were hob-or-nobbing, and trolling the old Dutch freebooter glee, since translated into English:
 For three merry lads be we,
 And three merry lads be we;
 on the laod, and thou on the sand,
 And ack on the gallows-tree.
 Vanderscamp saw and heard no more. Starting back with horror, he missed his footing on the landiog-place, and fell from the top of the stairs to the bottom He was taken up speeches., and, either from the fall or the fright, was buried in the yard of the little Dutch church at Bergen on the following Sunday.
 From that day forward the fate of the Wild Goose was sealed. It was pro. nounced haunted house, and avoided accordingly. No one inhabited it but VAnderscamps shrew of widow and old Pluto, and they were considered but little heifAF fh an hoh00hl;n x;s;tore pi,.o | grew more and more haggard and mo- rose, and looked more an imp of darkness than human being. He spoke to no one, but went about muttering to himself; or, as some one hinted, talking with the