The Phantom Ship

ery variety of wind and weather. Some had parted company; but the re

ployment prevented him from dwelling too much upon the cause of his embarkation, and he worked hard at th

he seldom ventured out of his cabin. The bear Johannes was not confined, and therefore Mynheer Von Stroom confined himself; hardly a day passed that he did not look over a letter which he had framed upon the subject, all rea

er Kloots smoked his pipe, drank his schnapps, and played with Johannes. The animal

fficer, Schriften dared not openly affront, though he took every opportunity of annoying him, and was constantly inveighing against him before the ship's company. To the bear he was more openly inveterate, and seldom passed it without be

with the heat that he had fallen asleep. He awoke with a shivering sensation of cold over his whole body, particularly at his chest, and half-opening his eyes, he perceived the pilot, Schriften, leaning over him, and holding between his finger and his thumb a portion of the chain which had not been concealed, and to which

indignant look, as he released

t being detected in his attempt: looking with his

in hold her pi

pushed him away,

ite so curious, Master Pil

rdless of Philip's wrath, "it may be a child'

your duty, sir,

nger-nail of a saint; or, yes, I h

p sta

the seamen were standing at the gangway. "News for you, my lads!" said

e descended the poop-ladder, and was forward on the qua

o the pilot; "not only the devil,

or two forward, so as to conceal himself behind the mainmast, hoping to obtain some

s worse than meeting with the dev

aw him?" sa

d just as sartain that ill-luck follo

he to be fal

ot so sartain-but he

e whole long and short of

a doomed vessel; they were pirates, a

ain he was. They say that, like somebody else on board of us now

ey know th

sels that he falls in with. But, woe to the vessel that takes ch

this," said one of the men.

l giggle, and he added, "but we need not fear her, boys; we've a bit of the true cross on board."

Pray did you bring that on board, in case w

Dutchman," replied

e same name; at least they say th

plied Philip, who had recovered his composure; and having

whether it is a mere fancy on the part of Amine and myself. I dare ask no questions.-Strange, too, that the man should feel such malice towards me. I never injured him. What I have just overheard confirms all; but there

eets used to water and obtain cattle from the Hottentot tribes who lived on the coast, and who for a brass button or a large nail would willingly offer a fat bullock. A few days were occupied in completing the water of the squadron, and then

ard, until it increased to a gale, and the fleet were blown down to the northward of the bay. On the seventh day the Ter Schilling found herself

must be near meridian, and the sun will enable me to discover our latitude. It is difficult to say how far we may have been swept by the ga

xtants were the invention of a much later period. Indeed, considering that they had so little knowledge of navigation and the variation of the compass, and that their eas

oots, after he had computed his latitude. "The currents must be running stron

on the surface, following the vessel as she drove before the swell; the fish darted and leaped in every d

r?" observed Philip; "it s

heer Kloots. "Aloft ther

ending the topmast shrouds. "It is right ahe

sweep in fast with this heavy ground-sw

he swell had driven the Ter Schilling so rapidly on the shore that now

lot?" observed the captain

ast. In half an hour the good ship will be beaten into toothpicks, without

ined in groups on the forecastle and gangway, listening with dismay to the fearful roaring of the breakers. The sun had

do much good, I'm afraid; but at all events the boats will be ready for the men to get into before she d

the bear, when Mynheer Kloots made his appearance, and informed him in a few words that they were in a situation of peculiar danger, and that in all probability the ship would be in pi

e? I will go on deck. Quick! A light-Mynheer Kloots, if you please to order a light to be brought; I can

he cabin. The boats were down and the ship's head had been turned round from the land; but it was now quite dark, and noth

. Let my boat come alongside-I must have the largest boat fo

our boats will hardly hold the men as it is, and every

's supercargo. I order you-I wi

eplied the captain, taking

s!-we are lost. O Lord! O Lord!" And here Mynheer Von Stroom, not knowing why, hurried down to the cabin, and in his haste

-help here! for the Compan

ots; "we have no time to spare. Quick now, Philip, put in the compa

culty that the orders could be heard. In the meantime Mynheer Von

off the shore," cried Phi

things into the boats, and be cool, my men. We have

ed over here and there on its long line, but the breeze freshened, and the vessel was stationary! th

gh the water no

u go, Hillebrant," continued he to the first mate, who was at the he

at last the breeze came off strong, and the vessel cleaved through the water. The men were called out of the boats; Mynheer Von St

er Kloots, "and let us all, before we lie do

wenty miles, and then stood to the southward; towards t

illebrant upon the danger of the evening, and the selfishness and pusillan

the good man lost his senses from the frigh

vant of the supercargo

-help my master-he will be

ynheer Kloots. "Why, the animal is

the affrighted supercargo. "My God! my God! am I to be murdered?-eaten al

en he found him attempting to mount the rigging, he turned aft and walked into

fragments on the floor, the two spare wigs were lying by them, and upon them were strewed fr

d, following the scent, had come into the cabin, and was about to enter the sleeping-berth of Mynheer Stroom, when the servant slammed the door in his face; whereupon Johannes beat in the panels, and found an entrance. He then attacked the wig-boxes, and, by showing a most formidable set of teeth, proved to the servant, who attempted to drive him off, that he would not be trifled with. In the meanwhile, Mynheer Von Stroom was in the utmost terror: not aware of the purport of the bear's visit, he imagined that the animal's object was to attack him. His servant took to his heels after a vain effort to save the last box, and Mynheer Von Stroom, then finding himself alone, at length sprang out of his bed-place, and escap

oom," said Kloots, "but the bear

sant Company-the lives of their servants are not to be sacrificed

d I myself cannot take it from him. There is no altering the nature of an animal. Will you be

ome trouble, with the assistance of the seamen, the bear was secured and dragged away from the cabin, much against his will, for he had still some honey to lick off the curls of the full-bottomed wigs. He was pu

the captain, who with Philip was standing on the poop;

strange that we do not fall in with any of the vessels

have kept a

. "That was a narrow escape last night. There is such a th

ed together, and looking in the direction of the vessel's qu

ip," said Schriften, comi

he

t, pointing to the darkest quarter

ale light, which extended about fifteen degrees above the horizon, there was indeed a large ship about three miles distant; but, although it was a perfect calm, she was to all appearance buffeting in a violent gale, plunging and lifting over a surface that was smooth as glass, now careening to her bearing, then recovering herself. Her topsails and mainsail were furled, and the yards pointed to the wind; she had no sail set, but a close-reefed fore-sail, a storm stay-sail, and trysail abaft. She made little way through the water, but appar

!" exclaimed M

s whole frame. He turned round and met the one eye of Schriften, who