"Oh, there I can't go with you. The phenomenon is rare, but it is well established. I never saw it myself, but I have come across those that have. Suppose we catechise the forecastle. Hy! Fok'sel!"
"Sir!"
"Send a man aft; the oldest seaman aboard."
"Ay, ay, sir."
There was some little delay; and then a sailor of about sixty slouched aft, made a sea scrape, and, removing his cap entirely, awaited the captain's commands.
"My man," said the captain, "I want you to answer a question. Do you believe land and ships have ever been seen in the sky, reflected?"
"A many good seamen holds to that, sir," said the sailor, cautiously.
"Is it the general opinion of seamen before the mast? Come, tell us. Jack's as good as his master in these matters."
"Couldn't say for boys and lubbers, sir. But I never met a full-grown seaman as denied that there. Sartainly few has seen it; but all of 'em has seen them as has seen it; ships, and land, too; but mostly ships. Hows'ever, I had a messmate once as was sailing past a rock they call Ailsa Craig, and saw a regiment of soldiers a-marching in the sky. Logged it, did the mate; and them soldiers was a-marching between two towns in Ireland at that very time."
"There, you see, general," said Captain Moreland.