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"So he caused the cook to make water hot,
And the corpse both flesh and bones,
(To see what fat Bill Jones had got,)
The captain boiled in the negro-pot,

But there wasn't much fat in Jones.
"If well his word the captain kept,
Bill Jones kept his as well;
For just at midnight, all who slept,

With one consent from their hammocks leapt,
Roused by a dreadful yell.

"Never was heard a more terrible sound!
Fast to the deck we hied;

And there by the moon-beam's light we found
The murdered man, in spite of his wound,
Sitting close by the steerman's side!
"And from that hour among the rest,
Bill served, nor left us more;
With bloody trowsers, bloody vest,
And bloody shirt, and bloody breast,
Still he stood our eyes before.

"And he'd clean the deck, or fill the pail,
Or he'd work with right good will,

To stop a leak or to drive a nail,—

But whenever the business was handing a sail,
Then specially ready was Bill.

"And to share in all things with the crew
Did the spectre never miss :

And when to the cook for his portion due
Each sailor went, Bill Jones went too,
And tendered his platter for his.

"His face looked pale; his limbs seemed weak,
His footsteps fell so still,

That to hear their sound you'd vainly seek;
And to none of the crew did Bill e'er speak,
And none of us spoke to Bill.

"But when three weeks had crept away
Just as you now have heard,

66

The captain came on deck one day,

And quoth he, My lads, I've something to say,-
Bill Jones is as good as his word.

'He never leaves me day nor night!
But haunts me, haunts me still!
By the midnight lamp I see the sprite,
And when at morn the sky grows light,
The first sunbeam shows me Bill.
"At meals, his pale lips speak the grace,
His cold hand gives the wine:
At every hour, in every place,
To which ever side I turn my face,
Bill's eyes are fixed on mine!"

"Now, lads, my resolution's made,
One means will set me free,
And Bill's pursuit for ever evade-

He comes! he comes! then away!' he said,
And plunged into the sea.

"None moved a joint the wretch to save!
All stood with staring eyes!

Each clasped his hands! a groan each gave! When lo! on a sudden above the wave Once more did the captain rise. "Fix'd and fearful was his eye,

And pale as a corpse his brow,
And we saw him clap his hands on high,
And we heard him scream with a terrible cry,
By God! Bill's with me now!'

"Then down he sunk through the foaming flood
To Hell, that worst of havens !-
Now Heaven preserve you, Master good,
From perilous rage, and from innocent blood,
And from meeting with three ravens."

[graphic][subsumed]

A

mo

A. work in three gols 12 called Tales of the northern nations. Was published in 1823. It contains but part of the tales published in this volume. Still it is Searce, And sells high.

ER

לג

642

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