История о корабле призраке

           Mycompanion,thereupon,advisedmetorepeatsomesentencesfromtheKoran,whichassistedmetoretainmyconsciousness. Allatonceitseemedtobecomelivelyoverhead;theropescreaked,therewerestepsuponthedeck,andseveralvoiceswereplainlydistinguishable. Weremained,afewmoments,inintenseanxiety;thenweheardsomethingdescendingthecabinstairs. Whentheoldmanbecameawareofthis,hebegantorepeatthewordswhichhisgrandfatherhadtaughthimtouseagainstspiritsandwitchcraft: 

           "Comeyou,fromtheairdescending, 

           Riseyoufromthedeepsea-cave, 

           Springyouforthwhereflamesareblending, 

           Glideyouinthedismalgrave: 

           Allahreigns,letalladorehim! 

           Ownhim,spirits—bowbeforehim!" 

           ImustconfessIdidnotputmuchfaithinthisverse,andmyhairstoodonendwhenthedoorflewopen. Thesamelarge,statelymanentered,whomIhadseennailedtothemast. Thespikestillpassedthroughthemiddleofhisbrain,buthehadsheathedhissword. Behindhimenteredanother,attiredwithlessmagnificence,whomalsoIhadseenlyingonthedeck. TheCaptain,forhewasunquestionablyofthisrank,hadapalecountenance,alargeblackbeard,andwildly-rollingeyes,withwhichhesurveyedthewholeapartment. Icouldseehimdistinctly,forhemovedoveroppositetous;butheappearednottoobservethedoorwhichconcealedus. Thetwoseatedthemselvesatthetable,whichstoodinthecentreofthecabin,andspokeloudandfast,shoutingtogetherinanunknowntongue.