A GHOST STORY. 203 



happened into the forecastle, and was there star- 

 tled by a most unearthly groan. Thinking that 

 his ears were deceived, he listened intently for its 

 repetition, and was soon gratified. A moan as of 

 one in terrible agony, he said, issued from the 

 berth of the present writer. Two jumps carried 

 him safely to the deck, where he at once informed 

 the cook of what he had heard, declaring hia firm 

 belief that the ship was haunted. 



The cook laughed at the to him funny idea, and 

 thought a ghost must have but poor taste, to come 

 into this outlandish part of the world. The stew- 

 ard, however, related his story to the ship-keepers, 

 and asked them, to make assurance doubly sure, 

 to step into the forecastle in person, and regale 

 their ears with the mysterious noise. Accord- 

 ingly, all hands (only three, the other three being 

 at work ashore), descended to the haunted region. 



They had scarcely entered, when the groans 

 were repeated with even more horrible emphasis 

 than before. With hair erect, and elongated faces, 

 they listened sufficiently long to vouch that the 

 dread sounds proceeded from no where else but 

 n} berth; and then, overcome with terror, rushed 

 to Jie deck, seized the jolly boat, and took refuge 

 on board our partner ship. 



The black cook alone remained on board. He 

 Bcorned to run from anything that could only 

 groan, and having satisfied himself that there was 

 no tangible cause for the noises, in or about my 

 berth, qiretly busied himself about his galley 



