The Night-Side of Nature; Or, Ghosts and Ghost-SeersCrowe, Catherine
Religion
The Night-Side of Nature; Or, Ghosts and Ghost-Seers
Crowe, Catherine
Ghosts; Parapsychology
Not many years since, Captain S—— was passing a night at the Manse of
Strachur, in Argyleshire, then occupied by a relation of his own;
shortly after he retired, the bed-curtains were opened, and somebody
looked in upon him. Supposing it to be some inmate of the house, who was
not aware that the bed was occupied, he took no notice of the
circumstance, till it being two or three times repeated, he at length
said, “What do you want? Why do you disturb me in this manner?”
“I come,” replied a voice, “to tell you, that this day twelvemonth you
will be with your father!”
After this, Captain S—— was no more disturbed. In the morning, he
related the circumstance to his host, though, being an entire
disbeliever in all such phenomena, without attaching any importance to
the warning.
In the natural course of events, and quite irrespective of this
visitation, on that day twelvemonth he was again at the Manse of
Strachur, on his way to the north, for which purpose it was necessary
that he should cross the ferry to Craigie. The day was, however, so
exceedingly stormy, that his friend begged him not to go; but he pleaded
his business, adding that he was determined not to be withheld from his
intention by the ghost, and, although the minister delayed his
departure, by engaging him in a game of backgammon, he at length started
up, declaring he could stay no longer. They, therefore, proceeded to the
water, but they found the boat moored to the side of the lake, and the
boatman assured them that it would be impossible to cross. Captain
S——, however, insisted, and, as the old man was firm in his refusal,
he became somewhat irritated, and laid his cane lightly across his
shoulders.
“It ill becomes you, sir,” said the ferryman, “to strike an old man like
me; but, since you will have your way, you must; I can not go with you,
but my son will; but you will never reach the other side; he will be
drowned, and you too.”
The boat was then set afloat, and Captain S——, together with his horse
and servant, and the ferryman’s son, embarked in it.
The distance was not great, but the storm was tremendous; and, after
having with great difficulty got half way across the lake, it was found
impossible to proceed. The danger of tacking was, of course,
considerable; but, since they could not advance, there was no
alternative but to turn back, and it was resolved to attempt it. The
manœuvre, however, failed; the boat capsized, and they were all
precipitated into the water.
“You keep hold of the horse—I can swim,” said Captain S—— to his
servant, when he saw what was about to happen.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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