Year: 1871

any present way out of my trouble. I


turned in, trusting to fortune for the


future, but at the same time resolved


to keep an extra lookout whenever any


ships were about getting ready for sea.


Things progressed as usual aboard Of


the ship for several days, and head


nothing more of the ghost; but my own


time was coming. One evening had


given my junior ofIicers permission to


absent themselves from the ship, and


was sitting alone by myself in the cabir


awaiting their return. Being tired Of


my book, I sat dosing in my chair,


when my reverles were disturbed by .


q sound like a half smothered groan


that seemed to come from the forward


part of the cabin on the starboard side.


I was wide awake in an instant. though


scarcely able to credit my senses. This


groaps were distinct enough, and were


repeated in about the same intervals


that it required for human breath; still


my light did not burn blue, nor did the
ghost appear. As listened, the sound
came nearer, but seemed to rise up
from the the lower between decks.
felt assured that the men, wing
my officers were absent, had arranged
this plan to try my nerves. Without
any further consideration, slipped off
my shoes, trimming my dark lantern,
armed myself with good stick, aud
started in search Of the ghost. Going
to the main hatch, the only one open,


went down between decks, and, haul
ing the ladder after me, proceeded aft
where the noise could be disti nctly
heard; but before reaching the mizzen
mast, they came, apparently, from be-
meath my feet. This was not pleasant,
but my pride was aroused, and if there
were any tricks in the matter, it would
not do for me to back out without dis.
covering it; SO 1 went back to the
main hatch again, and down to tho
lower deck; but this time did not take
the ladder away. Flashing the light
ahead of me, I went carefully along,
guarding against surprise. This was
needless, for, upon reaching the locality
of the sounds, they were beneath my
feet again, coming up from the lower
hold. Matters were assuming an un-
pleasant aspect. will not say my hair
stood on end, but certainly my feet stood
still, while my confidence in myself be.
gan to be slightly shaken. I hesitated,
doubted, and finally concluding
would be better to wait until my officers
returned before pursuing the investiga.
ton, beat a most inglorious retreat to
the cabin /; but there 1 could not rest, for
now the sounds were apparently under
the cabin floor, as if they had followed
me up from the lower hold. Suddenly
I thought of the carpenter, a stalwart
and hurrying to his room,
reused him out.


"Chips! do you hear that noise"'


"Yes, sir; 1 pest hear him many
times and shust puts my head unter
my blankets and says notings."


Turn out now and down with me,
and we will see what it is.'


"Dunder unit Bitten! 1 shall nicht
CO."


"Come along you fool" said l impa-
tiently; "You are no worse off there
than here. / have been down between
decks alone, aud now want you along
30 that if any of the men are down in
hold we can cut them Off"


This view of the case seemed to re-as-
sure him somewhat, and We sooE found
in the lower hold. Vending
,ur way aft the ballast-the sounds con-
'tantly becoming more audibly-we
inally reached the stern post, and there
while the groans came mournful!y from
lmong the timbers Of the stern frame,
We stood still, no one visible but our.
elves.


do not know whether was fright
med, but my heart never beat SO fast
,efore; and the poor dutchman stood
's If struck with palsy, the drops of
starting out like beads
Ny own nerves were somewhat shaken,
ut there was the pride of rank and sta
ion; SO, after listening to the unearth-
Y sou nds for few minutes, we return
ID to the cabin together for the carpen-
er would not turn in again until his
DOM mate came on board. When my
uniors returned we all went down into
he hold and listened some time to the
ounds, which were apparently travels
ng along through the tilnbers. We could
lot satisfy ourselves regarding the cause
nd finally retired, thinking that the
'oor darkies might after all, have some
oundation for their fears.


We remained some three months
onger in the Bay, and as no secret was
made of these occurrences, the old "H."
eceived the name of "The Haunted
ship" Many a merry party we had in
he cabin, and then all would go down
II the hold and listen to the unearthly
vailings of the tortured spirit who had
hosen my ship for its abiding place.
1t length our own day of sailing came.
having but little wind in the morning.
he steamboat Swan cane to tow US out>
ide of Mobile Point. While at my sta
ion on the forecastle heard Captain
ieorge, aboard the Swan calling for my
arpoon, which was handed over to
lin, and in few moments there was
FLASHING in the water alongside, q
houting aboard the steamer, and then
-our ghost was lying on her forward
yards!