The San Francisco call., 1898-07-24

the face of the moon, as the lone watcher meditatively munched his meal and listened to the mournful sobbing of the waves as they washed around the piling and under timbers of the wharf. Apparently in unison with the sobbfng of the waves came the wind in f1tful gusts, causing a dismal creak- ing of chains and pulley blocks on the derrick spars, while the occasional slapping of ratline aginst the sides of the poles and staging, with occa- sional whfstling through gaping holes in the ships side, added to the many sounds of the sea, familiar to all old sailors, furnished anything but food for pleasant thoughts.
 It was while thus surrounded that Narvey was suddenly aroused from his reverie by the sight of some black sig nal wlgWagging on the wharf almost at his feet.
 With a wild cry he dashed his dinner bucket at the phantom shadow and then realizing that it was but the Ie- tiection of something overhead quickly turned his gaze upward, only to be hor- ror-stricken by the sight of that Ter rible Thing leaning out over the yes sel's bow and jeering at him.
 With an effort he grasped his gun, discharged both barrels, striking the horrid object full and fair, for with thrill and quiver it rusted for a mo- ment, then hung limp and still across the ledge of iron.
 Now Narvev was in scarce less de- spair Would he be justified by tue law in staying a fellow mortal? Was it ad- yisable to throw the body overheard 10 be carried off by the out-rushing tide? No! He would awake the town, and telling what he had done stand oy his deed.
 Resolved on this course he started for the gate. but had scarce taken two steps when there came sWfshing sound from above, and in second he was doused from head to heels with a bucketful of chilling cold water! A horrid. uncanny laugh of derision rang out on the still air, and then the almost naralyzed watchman saw the aWfll thing step lightly off the bow, glide easily through the air and disappear in space over and beyond the roof of the main workshop
 The next day the story of this latest visitation was all over Vallejo and the navy yard, but people only tapped their foreheads significantly and looked pity ingly at Narvey.
 Narvey dropped his job and there was a different watchman on duty the next night The new man seemed to tire of his job. however, in week or so and resigned. Another and another followed in short order, and then it was admitted that either it was a ghost ar else in the long list of ap- plcants for the job the contractors had not yet appointed the man who was working for it in such a mysteri- Ous manner.
 
 As sailors are more superstitious than gamblers it may be well to add the statement, whether accurate or not, that several years after the happening of the events recorded, some small boys In bathing near the old shipyard brought to the surface ,l rudely formed scarecrow, made of wire and covered with an old dress that had once been white This, it was claimed, solved the mystery of the ghost" the expla- nation being offered that the author of the malicious pranks on the night cf the shooting by Harvey had thrown 1t from the bow of the vessel over the workshop, whence it fell into the bay and sank.