Something like a rude prosaic
outline of several of the most noted of the Northern ballads, the
adventures and depredations of the old ocean kings, still lends life
to the evening tale; and among others, the story of the Haunted Ships
is still popular among the maritime peasantry.
One fine harvest evening I went on board the shallop of Richard Faulder,
of Allanbay; and, committing ourselves to the waters, we allowed a
gentle wind from the east to waft us at its pleasure toward the Scottish
coast. We passed the sharp promontory of Siddick; and skirting the land
within a stone-cast, glided along the shore till we came within sight
of the ruined Abbey of Sweetheart. The green mountain of Criffell
ascended beside us; and the bleat of the flocks from its summit,
together with the winding of the evening horn of the reapers, came
softened into something like music over land and sea. We pushed our
shallop into a deep and wooded bay, and sat silently looking on the
serene beauty of the place. The moon glimmered in her rising through
the tall shafts of the pines of Caerlaverock; and the sky, with scarce
a cloud, showered down on wood, and headland, and bay, the twinkling
beams of a thousand stars, rendering every object visible.
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