, and then 'e gave a dreadful scream and
dived under the bed-clothes agin.

"Oh, well, 'ave it your own way, then," ses his wife. "If it pleases you
to think there is a ghost there, and to go on talking to it, do so, and
welcome."

She turned over and pretended to go to sleep agin, and arter a minute or
two Silas spoke agin in the same hollow voice.

"Bill!" he ses.

"Yes," ses Bill, with a groan of his own.

"She can't see me," ses Silas, "and she can't 'ear me; but I'm 'ere all
right. Look!"

"I 'ave looked," ses Bill, with his 'ead still under the clothes.

"We was always pals, Bill, you and me," ses Silas; "many a v'y'ge 'ave we
had together, mate, and now I'm a-laying at the bottom of the Pacific
Ocean, and you are snug and 'appy in your own warm bed. I 'ad to come to
see you, according to promise, and over and above that, since I was
drowned my eyes 'ave been opened. Bill, you're drinking yourself to
death!"

"I--I--didn't know it," ses Bill, shaking all over. "I'll knock it--off
a bit, and--thank you--for--w-w-warning me. G-G-Good-by."

"You'll knock it off altogether," ses Silas Winch, in a awful voice.
"You're not to touch another drop of beer, wine, or spirits as long as
you live. D'ye hear me?"

"Not--not as medicine?" ses Bill, holding the clothes up a bit so as to
be more distinct.

"Not as anything," ses Silas; "not even over Christmas pudding. Raise
your right arm above your 'ead and swear by the ghost of pore Silas
Winch, as is laying at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, that you won't
touch another drop."

Bill Burtenshaw put 'is arm up and swore it.

Then 'e took 'is arm in agin and lay there wondering wot was going to
'appen next.

"If you ever break your oath by on'y so much as a teaspoonful," ses
Silas, "you'll see me agin, and the second time you see me you'll die as
if struck by lightning. No man can see me twice and live."

Bill broke out in a cold perspiration all over. "You'll be careful,
won't you, Silas?" he ses. "You'll remember you 'ave seen me once, I
mean?"

"And there's another thing afore I go," ses Silas. "I've left a widder,
and if she don't get 'elp from some one she'll starve."

"Pore thing," ses Bill. "Pore thing."

"If you 'ad died afore me," ses Silas, "I should 'ave looked arter your
good wife--wot I've now put in a sound sleep--as long as I lived."

Bill didn't say anything.

"I should 'ave given 'er fifteen shillings a week," ses Silas.