The White Ship Summary

"The White Ship" is a story narrated by a lighthouse keeper named Bail Elton. Basil lives in the lighthouse and at night will stare out into the sea and imagine him on the water. One night he sees a white ship and a bearded man that he imagines beckons him to the ship. Once on the ship, Basil and the bearded man sail to the land of Zar, a place beautiful and sublime, but they do not disembark because those who set foot on Zar can never return to their homelands. Later, they sailed past the beautiful Thalarian, City of a Thousand Wonder, but again, they do not enter because only demons and madmen can live in that city.

Following a bird flying before their ship, the bearded man and Basil sail on to Xura, land of pleasures unattained...