Why , that cottage down yonder aint more 'n fifty year old , and they say there 's been a lot of ghosts seen there , owin ' to a man 's killin ' of himself in the back bedroom . '' `` What , that house at the end of the lane ? '' I asked , with sudden interest . `` Jes ' so ; nice place , but lonesome and dampish . Ghosts and toadstools is apt to locate in houses of that sort , '' placidly responded the venerable tar . The dampness scared me more than the goblins , for I never saw a ghost yet , but I had been haunted by rheumatism , and found it a hard fiend to exorcise . `` I 've taken a room there , so I 'm rather interested in knowing what company I 'm to have . '' `` Took a room , hev you ? Wal , I dare say you wo n't be troubled . Some folks have a knack of seeing sperrits , and then agin some has n't . My wife is uncommon powerful that way , but I aint ; my sight 's dreadful poor for that sort of critter . '' There was such a sly twinkle in the starboard eye of the old fellow as he spoke , that I laughed outright , and asked , sociably , -- `` Has she ever seen the ghosts of the cottage ? I think I have rather a knack that way , and I 'd like to know what to expect . '' `` No , her sort is the rappin ' kind . Down yonder the only ghost I take much stock in is old Bezee Tucker 's . He killed himself in the back bedroom , and some folks say they 've heard him groanin ' there nights , and a drippin ' sound ; he bled to death , you know . It was kep ' quiet at the time , and is forgotten now by all but a few old chaps like me . Bezee was allers civil to the ladies , so I guess he wo n't bother you , ma'am ; '' and the old fellow laughed . `` If he does , I 'll let you know ; '' and with that I departed , for my friend called to me that the beach party was clamoring for our company . In the delights of that festive hour , I forgot the croaking of the ancient mariner , for I was about to taste a clam for the first time in my life , and it was a most absorbing moment .
Perched about on the rocks like hungry penguins , we watched the jovial cooks with breathless XXXXX , as they struggled with refractory frying-pans , fish that stubbornly refused to brown , steaming seaweed and hot stones .
company fellow folks interest mariner moment room sort sound tar