"Though each in turn was treated ill,
'Mongst all the crew alone

Bill Jones opposed our tyrant's will:
For Bill was cross, and old, and still
He'd give him back his own.

"And many a brutal harsh command
Old Bill had grumbled at,

Till once he was ordered a sail to hand,
When Bill was so weak he scarce could stand;
But the captain scoffed at that.

"For a lazy old brute' poor Bill he abused, And he forced him aloft to go:

But their duty to do his limbs refused,

And at length from the ropes his hands Bill loosed, And he fell on the deck below.

"Towards him straight the captain flew,
Crying, 'Dog, dost serve me so?'

And with devilish spite his sword he drew,
And he run Bill Jones quite through and through,
And the blow was a mortal blow.

"At the point of death poor Bill now lies,
And stains the deck with gore,

And fixing his own on his murderer's eyes,
Captain, alive or dead,' he cries,

'I'll never leave you more!'

''You won't?' says the captain, ' time will show,

If you keep your word or not,

For now in the negro-kettle below,

Old dog, your scoundrel limbs I'll throw,

And I'll see what fat you've got!'

"So he caused the cook to make water hot,
And the corpse, both flesh and bones,
(To see what fat Bill Jones had got,)
The captain boiled in the negro-poɩ,

But there wasn't much fat in Jones.

"If well his word the captain kept, Bill Jones kept his as well;

For just at midnight, all who slept,

With one consent from their hammocks leapt, Roused by a dreadful yell.

"Never was heard a more terrible sound! Fast to the deck we hied;

And there by the moon-beam's light we found The murdered man, in spite of his wound, Sitting close by the steerman's side!

"And from that hour among the rest,
Bill served, nor left us more;
With bloody trowsers, bloody vest,
And bloody shirt, and bloody breast,
Still he stood our eyes before.

"And he'd clean the deck, or fill the pail,
Or he'd work with right good will,
To stop a leak or to drive a nail,—
But whenever the business was handing a sail,
Then specially ready was Bill.

"And to share in all things with the crew

Did the spectre never miss :

And when to the cook for his portion due
Each sailor went, Bill Jones went too,

And tendered his platter for his.

"His face looked pale; his limbs seemed weak, His footsteps fell so still,

That to hear their sound you'd vainly seek ;

And to none of the crew did Bill e'er speak,
And none of us spoke to Bill.

"But when three weeks had crept away
Just as you now have heard,

The captain came on deck one day,

And quoth he, 'My lads, I've something to say,—
Bill Jones is as good as his word.

"He never leaves me day nor night!
But haunts me, haunts me still!
By the midnight lamp I see the sprite,
And when at morn the sky grows light,
The first sunbeam shows me Bill.

"At meals, his pale lips speak the grace,
His cold hand gives the wine:

At every hour, in every place,
To which ever side I turn my face,
Bill's eyes are fixed on mine!

"Now, lads, my resolution's made,
One means will set me free,

And Bill's pursuit for ever evade—
He comes! he comes! then away!' he said,
And plunged into the sea.

"None moved a joint the wretch to save!
All stood with staring eyes!

Each clasped his hands! a groan each gave!
When lo! on a sudden above the wave

Once more did the captain rise.

"Fix'd and fearful was his eye,

And pale as a corpse his brow,

And we saw him clap his hands on high,
And we heard him scream with a terrible cry,
'By God! Bill's with me now!'

"Then down he sunk through the foaming flood
To Hell, that worst of havens!-

Now Heaven preserve you, master good,
From perilous rage and from innocent blood,
And from meeting with three ravens."

THE UNHOLY PROMISE.

A Norwegian Legend.

It was impossible to go farther than Rinesager. A journey of forty miles on mountainous roads, and scanty fare by the way, had made the sight of the village extremely acceptable; but my expectations of comfortable accommodation were considerably damped by the constant beating of a drum,—the music of a pandean pipe,-repeated shouts, and occasional reports of fire-arms,-all pretty clearly indicating that Rinesager was that evening the scene of festivity, and consequently no resting-place for a weary traveller. I resolved therefore to quarter with the minister, and having found an old man whose infirmities kept him seated at the door of his hut, to point out the way, I proceeded to the lowly habitation of the reverend pastor. He had gone to the church to perform the marriage ceremony; so that the occasion of the rejoicings was sufficiently explained; and, guided by the sound of the

rustic music, I soon reached the church-yard, where I found all the village assembled,—some, as 66 wedding guests," and others hoping to come in for a share of the libations which upon such occasions are liberally dealt out. It was not without the necessity of partaking in this hospitality that I was able to reach the porch; and a louder roll of the drum, more piercing notes from the pipe, and a more deafening shout from the villagers, announced the general satisfaction at this proof of good-will from a stranger. The interior of the building was almost as crowded as the area outside; but I contrived to make my way to the altar, where stood the bride and bridegroom and their respective relatives, and before them, the minister whose good offices I intended to claim. The ceremony had already begun,and I was more occupied in endeavouring to obtain a glimpse of the bride's countenance, than in listening to the questions and responses, when my attention was arrested by hearing the minister say, "Has any unholy promise been the means of bringing you and this maiden together?" -a question quite unintelligible to me, and of which I resolved to ask an explanation.

Soon after, the ceremony ended; the bride, wearing her gilded crown,* passed through the avenue that was made for her, followed by the sturdy Hedemarke to whom she belonged; and the church being cleared of its visitors, I turned to the minister and introduced myself as a stranger and a traveller,—two characters, that in Norway claim the instant exercise of hospitality. We left the church together, each carrying a basket containing provisions,-the marriage fees in this country being paid in kind; and were soon seated in the good man's parlour, with a table before us spread with the simple fare of the country.

* Throughout Scandinavia it is the custom for every bride to stand at the altar with a gilded crown-meant as a symbol of chastity.