We might have been about two hours or less in this state, in the most intense darkness--our own whispers being all that we could recognise of each other, even although in contact--when a low pleasant murmur suddenly fell upon our ears: It was the voice of Dick Bates, who, having either been requested, or, moved by his present situation, had, of his own accord, commenced singing in an under tone his favourite ballad of "Hozier's Ghost." Now, Dick was the best singer in the whole crew, with a voice like a singing bird; it was at this moment so low that, had it been broad daylight, he would have appeared only to have been breathing hard; yet it was at this time distinctly heard by all, and made our flesh creep upon our bones, although a strange kind of pleasure was mingled with the feeling. We scarcely breathed when he came to the lines--
"With three thousand ghosts beside him, And in groans did Vernon hail-- Heed, O heed my fatal story, I am Hozier's injured Ghost."
I thought the whole was present before me, and I could see the scene the poet described, and shuddered when he breathed forth--
"See these ghastly spectres sweeping Mournful o'er this hated wave, Whose pale cheeks are stained with weeping-- These were English captains brave.
"See these numbers pale and horrid! These were once my seamen bold. Lo! each hangs his drooping forehead While his mournful tale is told."
I believe there was not a man in the old church who did not think he saw the ghastly train of spectres flitting before his eyes, and who did not feel every nerve thrill, and every hair of his head stand on end. Many were the tales of superstition and of terror related, until overpowered nature sank into sleep; but I have since often reflected that, of all the accounts of fearful sights I heard, they were all related at second hand, from the authority of others. No one asserted they themselves had ever seen anything out of the ordinary course of nature except Bob Nelson, and his was calculated to lead a more prejudiced observer astray. It was as follows--
"It was during a voyage I made to New York from Greenock, in the brig _Cochrane_, that I once saw, with my own eyes, a strange sight, such as I hope never to witness again. Our cargo consisted of dry goods, and we had several emigrants as passengers; in particular, a family of six in the cabin, the husband and wife, with four children; they were wealthy, and had sold off their farm stock to purchase land, and settle somewhere in America. When they came on board at the quay of Greenock, they were accompanied by a great many relations and friends, who took a most affectionate leave of them; in particular one old woman, the mother of the emigrant's wife. Her wailings were most pitiable; she wrung her hands, and stood as if rooted to our decks. I heard her say more than once--