_To return to our muttons_--This mode of progression At length upon Spanking Bill made some impression. --"Hillo, messmate, what cheer? How queer you _do_ steer!" Cried Bill, whose short legs kept him still in the rear. "Why, what's in the wind, Bo?--what is it you fear?" For he saw in a moment that something was frightening His shipmate much more than the thunder and lightning. --"Fear?" stammer'd out Waters, "why, HIM!--don't you see What faces that Drummer-boy's making at me!-- --How he dodges me so Wherever I go?-- What is it he wants with me, Bill,--do you know?" --"What Drummer-boy, Harry?" cries Bill, in surprise, (With a brief explanation, that ended in "eyes,") "What Drummer-boy, Waters?--the coast is all clear, We haven't got never no Drummer-boy here!" --"Why, there!--don't you see How he's following me? Now this way, now that way, and won't let me be! Keep him off, Bill--look here-- Don't let him come near! Only see how the blood-drops his features besmear! What, the dead come to life again!--Bless me!--Oh dear!" Bill remarked in reply, "This is all very queer-- What, a Drummer-boy--bloody, too--eh!--well, I never-- I can't see no Drummer-boy here whatsumdever!" "Not see him!--why there;--look!--he's close by the post-- Hark!--hark!--how he drums at me now!--he's a Ghost!" "A what?" return'd Bill,--at that moment a flash More than commonly awful preceded a crash Like what's call'd in Kentucky "an Almighty Smash."-- And down Harry Waters went plump on his knees, While the sound, though prolong'd, died away by degrees; In its last sinking echoes, however, were some Which, Bill could not help thinking, resembled a drum! "Hollo! Waters!--I says," Quoth he in amaze, "Why, I never see'd _nuffin_ in all my born days Half so queer As this here, And I'm not very clear But that one of us two has good reason for fear-- You to jaw about drummers, with nobody near us!-- I must say as how that I thinks it's mysterus." "Oh, mercy!" roared Waters, "do keep him off, Bill, And, Andrew, forgive!--I'll confess all!--I will! [Illustration: THE DEAD DRUMMER.] I'll make a clean breast, And as for the rest, You may do with me just what the lawyers think best; But haunt me not thus!--let these visitings cease, And, your vengeance accomplish'd, Boy, leave me in peace!" --Harry paused for a moment,--then turning to Bill, Who stood with his mouth open, steady and still, Began "spinning" what nauticals term "a tough yarn," Viz.: his tale of what Bill call'd "this precious _consarn_." * * * * * "It was in such an hour as this, On such a wild and wint'ry day, The forked lightning seemed to hiss, As now, athwart our lonely way, When first these dubious paths I tried-- _Yon livid form_ was by my side!--