The Gentleman's Magazine (Volume 286) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1899. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE. January 1899. THE GHOSTLY ADVENTURE OF PETER NICHOLAS. By W. M. Childs. IN the dead hour of a February night, Peter Nicholas, the fisherman of Treleven, was roused from sleep by his wife crying out to him from the window. "Peter " cried she, "come you out o' bed. There's Jack o' Lanterns all over to Polpeer Cliff." "Not them," growled Peter from the bed-clothes. "Don't tell me such nonsense. Your head's always buzzing with some passel o' foolishness. Put down the window, Susan; you'll catch your death there in your shift." "Peter, I see him as plain as ever my two hands There's one top o' cliff, and another runnin' round him--how my blood run cold to see such And you frightened to quit your bed They'reghostes, I do believe." "Hoosh, woman, there's no call to talk o' ghostes," said Peter crossly, getting forth upon the floor. "You ought to know there be no such things, you with your schooling. He's some light in one o' the housens." By this time he was at the window. Susan, her face pressed against the panes, was shaking with cold and fear. "There, Peter there--there he runs again--running up the cliff, where a mortal can't set his foot, as roguish as ever you see. God o' mercy, there's three of 'em now " And she broke into dry quavering sobs. "Gosh " said Peter, staring whither his wife's finger pointed. "Well, I never see such " VOL. CCLXXXVI. NO. 2017. B Peter's cottage was situated, with the other cottages of Treleven Cove, upon the north shore of a wide bay. The rest of the bay was bounded by desolate cliffs and sand dunes. That which now riveted the attention of himself and his wife was a trinity of bright shifting lights upon the opposite shore across the bay, above the sands of Polpeer. The s...