These were Jones Bradley, Old Ropes, and the man who went by the name of the Parson. They were discussing the occurrences of the previous night.
"I'm very much of the captains opinion," said the Parson, "that the noises are caused by the wind rushing through the chinks and crevices of the rocks."
"Yes; but, then, there wan't no wind to speak of, and how is the wind to make that horrible groan, s'pose it did blow a hurricane?" said Jones Bradley.
"Just so," said Old Ropes; "that notion about the wind makin' such a noise at that, is all bosh. My opinion is, that it was the voice of a spirit. I know that the captain laughs at all such things, but all his laughin' don't amount to much with one that's seen spirits."
"What! you don't mean to say that you ever actually see a live ghost?" asked the Parson.
"That's jist what I do mean to say," replied Old Ropes.
"Hadn't you been takin' a leetle too much, or wasn't the liquor too strong?" said the Parson.
"Well, you may make as much fun about it as you please," said Old Ropes; "but I tell you, that was the voice of a spirit, and, what's more, I believe it's either the spirit of some one that's been murdered in that cave, by some gang that's held it before, and buried the body over the treasure they've stowed away there, or else the ghost of some one's that's had foul play from the captain."
"Well," said the Parson, "if I thought there was any treasure there worth lookin' after, all the ghosts you could scare up wouldn't hinder me from trying to get at it."
"But, no matter about that; you say you see a live ghost once. Let's hear about that."