Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1860 Excerpt: ...same predilection for naval architecture which Earl David possessed. It was a long building, and has been subdivided into several dwellings--store houses--and a stray ruin. Earl David's conception, however, is still traceable through the bright red stone-work. The roof is nearly fiat, arched slightly in the centre like the deck of a ship, and planked. It is now covered in with a pointed roof of red tile. Deep casemates in two rows for windows, gave the building further the appearance of a double decker, with her port-holes. Round about this house of Earl David's were the salt magazines. You will be delighted to hear there is a ghost on board the double-decker, converting it thus into a sort of phantom-ship. The ghost in question was once a wood merchant or carpenter, and contracted to supply the wood work of the double-decker. Somehow or another, his little account was not paid, and in despair (having to meet a bill very likely), he drowned himself in Methill harbour. And this would have been bad enough--but he was vindictive, and concluded to haunt the place which he had fitted up at his unrequited pains. Taking, therefore, upon himself, by' common consent, the somewhat unaccountable name of Thrummy-cap, ha proceeded to disturb, and still disturbs, the midnight equanimity of the crew of Earl David's double-decker." We endeavoured to gleam a few more facts concerning Mr Thrummy-cap from an old fisherman who dwelleth, in lieu of Earl David, within the red ship; but beyond these circumstances he knew nothing, pleading, in extenuation, that he "did'na mind o' him"--which was likely to be true, seeing that Thrummy-cap drowned himself a century and a half ago. In 1803, the east pier of Methill was knocked to ruins by a strong gale, and in 1838, wa...
