, and
the air of a man belonging to a good family. He had, moreover, a
benevolent, kindly face, which could not fail to win the confidence of
anyone who gazed upon it.

Whilst the fisherman was wondering who his visitor was and how he had
managed to come so mysteriously into the boat, the stranger said:
"Allow me to explain who I am and to apologise for intruding on you
without first having got your permission to do so. I am the spirit of
a man who two years ago was drowned not very far from where your boat
is now anchored. Many attempts have I made to inveigle others into the
river, so that I might be free to leave the spot to which my miserable
fate binds me until another unhappy wretch shall take my place."

The spirit of a drowned person is condemned to hover round the spot
where his life was lost, until, either by accident or by the wiles of
the sufferer, someone else perishes in the water and thus takes the
place of the spirit, which then travels with lightning speed to the
Land of Shadows.

"I was so dull this evening," continued the stranger, "that I felt
impelled to come and have a chat with you for a short time. So I hope
you will take my visit in good part, and allow me to sit in your boat
until it is time for you to go to bed."

The fisherman, who was greatly taken with his courtly visitor,
expressed his great pleasure in receiving him, and invited him to share
his evening meal and to make himself quite at home for as long as he
liked.

After this the solitary spirit of the river used frequently to come and
spend an evening with the fisherman, until quite a friendship sprang up
between them. One evening this ghostly visitor appeared with a face
covered with smiles and with a glad note of joy in his voice. No
sooner had he sat down than he said, "This is the last evening I shall
be able to spend with you. The long weary time of waiting is now
nearly at an end, and to-morrow another victim to the river will give
me my release and you will see me no more."

Now, the fisherman was a deeply benevolent man, and he was most anxious
to see what unhappy person was to be drowned on the morrow. About
midday, as he was watching by the river-side, he saw a poor woman,
weeping and sobbing, come rushing with hasty steps towards the water.
Her hair was dishevelled, and her eyes red with tears, and frequent
cries of sorrow burst from her lips. Straight as an arrow she made for
the stream, and was just prepar