There's no dead body about, so ghost et were.

I were a-thinkin', wi' your lave, sir, I'd go down to Troy to church this mornin'; I wants to be exercised a bit arter all this witchcraf'." Mr.Fogo wondered at this proposal to go to church for exercise, but readily granted leave.

Nor was it until Caleb had departed that "exorcised" occurred to him as a _varia lectio_.
Left to himself, Mr.Fogo spent a tranquil hour among his roses; and then, remembering his determination, unmoored his boat and prepared to satisfy his doubts.
The tide was low--so low that on the further side of the old wreck his paddles plunged once or twice into mud.

Nor was it easy to swing himself on board; but a rusty chain helped him, and after one or two failures he stood upon deck.
All was desolation.

He peered down into the hold, where the water lay deep and still; crawled forward, and peeped through a shattered deadlight into the forecastle.