“Did we indeed do as much, sir?” I asked, despite the pain, for the words sounded very sweet in my ears.
“It is a fact, and Captain Ropes himself said as much not ten minutes ago. What is more, the ghost has been discovered.”
“Ay, sir, Simon and I have known without seeing him, these ten days past; but how was he discovered?”
“Joshua Seabury came upon his hiding-place quite by accident, after the scrimmage was over, and the Britishers packed in the brig once more. There, also, was found that with which he clothed himself when the men saw the form so plainly although the night was dark.”
“What was it, sir?” I cried, eagerly, trying to rise on my elbow, but falling back with a groan immediately afterward.
“Neither more nor less than a piece of white bunting, beneath which he admits having carried a lantern found on the gun-deck while all hands were above. The light shining through the thin fabric disclosed his form, and yet was sufficiently thick to hide the shape of the flame.”
“Do all the crew know this, sir?”
“You may be sure they do. Captain Ropes took good care it should be no secret, and there’s not a man aboard who is not ashamed to admit he ever believed in a ghost.”
When this brief conversation had come to an end I was assailed by a sensation of faintness which overpowered me, and could only close my eyes in utter helplessness.