[21.] Death-fires. There is a superstition that death is sometimes foreshadowed by death-fires or fetch-lights. In this instance the fires presaged the death of the sailors.
[22.] The spirit that plagued us so. This was "the lonesome spirit from the south pole," who was seeking revenge for the death of the albatross.
[23.] I wist, I knew.
[24.] Agape, with mouths open as though surprised.
[25.] Gramercy (from the French grand-merci), an exclamation formerly used to denote thankfulness with surprise.
[26.] To work us weal, to do us good.
[27.] Straight, straightway, immediately.
[28.] The Sun was flecked with bars. The frame of the skeleton ship showed clearly against the setting sun as she passed before it.
[29.] Heaven's Mother, the Virgin Mary.
[30.] Gossameres, gossamers, cobwebs.