The Supersitious Man’s Story

"There was something very strange about William’s death—very strange indeed!" sighed a melancholy man in the back of the van. It was the seedman’s father, who had hitherto kept silence. "And what might that have been?" asked Mr Lackland. "William, as you may know, was a curious, silent man; you could feel when he came … Read more

The Haunted Cove

Commonplace in itself and showing positive vulgarity in the style in which its pleasure-grounds are laid out, Clyffe, near Berwick-on-Tweed, has yet one delightful feature of its own,—to wit, a private bay to which access is obtained by a tunnel seventy or eighty yards long, cut through the soft formation of the cliff from the … Read more

Drake’s Drum

Sir Francis Drake—who appears to have been especially befriended by his demon—is said to drive at night a black hearse drawn by headless horses, and urged on by running devils and yelping, headless dogs, through Jump, on the road from Tavistock to Plymouth. Sir Francis, according to tradition, was enabled to destroy the Spanish Armada … Read more

The Spectral Coach of Blackadon

"You have heard of such a spirit, and well you know The superstitious, idle-headed eld Received and did deliver to our age This tale of Herne the Hunter for a truth." Merry Wives of Windsor. The old vicarage-house at Talland, as seen from the Looe road, its low roof and grey walls peeping prettily from … Read more

Dr Duthoit’s Vision

I knew a fine specimen of an English abbĂ© when I was at school at Hereford. This was Dr Duthoit, Prebendary of Consumpta per Sabulum in Hereford Cathedral, Rector of St Owen’s, bookworm and, chiefly, rose-grower. He was a middle-aged man when I was a little boy, but he suffered me to walk with him … Read more

The Ghost of Lord Clarenceux

In the chair which stood before the writing-table in the middle of the room sat the figure of Lord Clarenceux. The figure did not move as I went in; its back was towards me. At the other end of the room was the doorway, which led to the small bedroom, little more than an alcove, … Read more

A Story of Ravenna

Ravenna being a very ancient city in Romagna, there dwelt sometime a great number of worthy gentlemen, among whom I am to speak of one more especially, named Anastasio, descended from the family of Onesti, who by the death of his father, and an uncle of his, was left extraordinarily abounding in riches and growing … Read more

The Messenger of Death

We have often been told how some of us receive in an unlooked-for manner an intimation of death some time before that incident does actually occur. The late Mr. W.T. Stead, for instance, before he sailed for America in the Titanic had made his will and given his friends clearly to understand that he would … Read more