There came a sudden tap-tapping in the wainscoting. It was, no doubt, but a rat; but, I must confess, I shrank with fear of it: whereupon my brother clapped me boisterously on the shoulder, crying:
“Hallo, my land-captain! Did you think it was the ghosts from the Haunted Island? I’ll show you something to cheer you up.”
Hereupon, clapping hand to pocket, he plucked forth a little box, or casket. It was of gold, very cunningly wrought with the representation of a galleon; and her hull was of rubies, her sails of pearls, her flag and flowing pendants of emeralds and sapphires, and the sea of amethyst.
It was exquisite, and I said so; but my brother bade me read what was written on a piece of parchment that he took from the box and laid open before me.
“I know you like poesy,” said he, “read it. ’Tis better than a sonnet to my lady’s shoe-latchet!”
The writing was old and small, and thus it was:
Go you not nigh the island, Captain;
Go you not close abroad:
For death would ride on every side,
And hell on your steerboard.