Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-06-30

UOn, clleny because there was no wa
ter on it. Moreover, there was ledge
of white rock on the highest part of
Eastern. with very tall spruce tree
near by.
Girs service on the cutter kept him
prisoner, and the days dragged on.
Lenoir and his seamen were released
and sailed on the little fishing smack,
which was speedily reported lost in
gale. A rumor arose that his ghost
was already haunting Gunner's island
and had been seen standing on the
water at the point where his brigan-
tine had lain at anchor. Probably
walking across to Eastern" said Gil
to himself when be heard the tale.
He was as superstitious as most
people of his class and time. but his
chief anxiety was based upon the pos
sibility that the figure seen on Gun
ner's island might have been the real
Lenoir and not ghost. Immediately
upon hearing the story, therefore, GIL
was taken sick, and the revenue cut
ter sailed away upon an errand Of
Uncle Sans without our friends serv-
ices. Then Gil started on his expedi-
ton with all possible secrecy.
His boat was already in an out Of
the way cove, with a basket Of food.
jug of water and some digging
tools concealed on board, and in the
late forenoon he set forth to seek his
fortune. When he got out into the
bay the fog was advancing. a vast
gray pail over black water streaked
with lead color The wind was
against him. His boat compass was
of little use, and when he stumbled
upon Eastern island near the close Of
the afternoon he was amazed to find
that it was not some other land.
Gil made a sort of camp in thick
clump of spruce trees, weaving some
boughs for a shelter overhead and
laying others on the ground for his
bed. Here he deposited the basket Of
food and jug of water with the spade
and pickax, and as there was still
some light he decided to have look
at the white rock and the tall spruce.
In the fog he lost his way and ap-
preached the spot by the most incon-
venient access, finally scrambling up
steep bank to the top of the white
ledge.
When he rose from all fours after
this scramble he saw, barely ten feet
distant, the seafaring man with the
n,,,i rrbl,. ha haor q
considerable shock to Gil, and doubt
whether his nerves were ever in nor
NAL condition during the remainder of
| his adventure. He seems to have be-
| lieved at first that what he saw was
a ghost and, though he himself car
ried double barreled shotgun while
| the appartion bore no weapons. Gil
had no thought that the advantage
lay with him. He advanced because
he dared not stand so near the edge
of the steep rock, and he tried to cir
Gle his adversary merely with the idea
Of getting into a better position for re,
treat.
The figure remained still, except that
it turned slowly to keep its face to-
ward Gil; then suddenly it rushed
upon him. He saw knife in its hand
OF the struggle which ensued Gil
retained no accurate memory except
| of the enormous relief which came to
| him at the contact with human body
The knowledge ran through Gil like
fire in his blood and gave him giants
strength. Yet it was his adversary
and not himself who was probably re-
sponsible for the result. Gil Is sure
that he did not fire his gun; it went
off while the other was trying tC
wrench it away, and there lay the
black bearded man dead In an instant
with such wound as blanched Gi's
lips to describe more than fifty years
afterward
Gil took one look at this horror an(
fed. He ran until the limits of tn,
island checked him, and then, collect
ing a part of his wits. he tried to fin(
his way back to his camp.
The last daylight was now dying IL
the gray sea fog, and Gil could Sc,
not more than ten feet before him
He must therefore have been yer!
close upon the second apparition whel
he perceived It, The seafaring mai
with the black beard stood in hi
path, precisely as Gil had seen hin
first upon the rock, except that hi
breast was now stained crimson.
''This is ghost for sure" though
Gil, and fed again. "He wasn't
ghost before, but now he is. I've kill
ed him, and I'm haunted by him"
BY chance he ran toward the ledge
and when he burst through som
bushes and found himself almost upoI
the spot where the encounter too
place a dreadful curiosity took pos
session of him. Did ghost use hi
own body or another one? Was tn
corpse upon the rock or walking? H
went to the spot where the body ha
lain, and it was gone. This was cor
elusive; the mans ghost was using 1t.
Gil found his way back to his camI
He had been shaking as If with cold
he was now burning with fever. Thirs
consumed him. and he thought first 9
his water jug. 1t was gone.
AS he had come toward the camp b
had been conscious Of being attende
by the specter, although it RENAME
Invisible except for one instant at tn
very last. Gil had then seen it or ha
imagined that he saw 1t and ha
rushed in pursuit, he knew not VIII,
But this had been brief folly, and /
had not gone far. The ghost meal
while must have stolen the water ju
a fearful vengeance, for there was nj
drop Of drinkahle water on the
land. a.
oT can't atay hnrao said Oil "I