nt.

"Do?" repeated Mr. Brown, "what can we do against a ghost?"

"We can at least find out what claims it has upon the treasure, and
whether it requires a fair dividend in case we are successful. Come,
change your clothes, and let us return and question this wonderful
visitant."

"Would you dare to speak first?" demanded Mr. Brown, in astonishment.
"Don't you know, or have you not read, that the person who holds
conversation with a ghost dies within a week?"

"A week is better than a day, so we can have time to think of our sins
and get prepared for the event. Come, let us return like men and face
this white object, and see what kind of stuff it is made of."

While I was urging Mr. Brown I did not have the faintest idea that he
would accede to my request. In fact, I rather hoped that he would not,
for, in spite of my expressed doubts in relation to the ghost, I was
more than half inclined to believe that there was something supernatural
about it. A desire to make my companion think that I was more reckless
than himself prompted me to attempt to combat his fears.

While I was talking, Mr. Brown was changing his clothes, and getting a
portion of the mud from his person by means of the contents of the
water-keg, and when he had succeeded I think that his courage revived,
for he asked me for the loan of my flask; and when I handed it to him,
he lowered its contents materially, and then declared that he felt
better than when he was up to his neck in mud.

"You say that you are anxious to return and have an interview with the
old fellow with horns on his head?" Mr. Brown asked, and I observed a
wonderful change in his bearing all at once, which I could only
attribute to putting on clean clothes, or due to the magical influence
of my flask. I was inclined to the latter opinion, and therefore tasted
the liquor for the purpose of seeing if I could not get a little Dutch
courage.

"The fact of it is," my friend continued, "I am inclined to think that
we have been frightened at a shadow, and therefore I am in favor of
returning to the island without delay. No blasted ghost is to keep me
from the treasure which was bequeathed to me in due form by its owner,
and for which I paid him in candles, six to a pound. How does the liquor
hold out?"

I shook the flask, and found that almost half a pint remained.

"I think that a quantity of salt mud got in my mouth, for I have a bad
taste which nothing but brandy can remove. Let