The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-02-05
THE HAUNTED SHIP.

shipped in the Norway, for the pas
sage from Cronstadt to Hull, and an
other Englishman, who went by the
name of Jack Hastings, joined her at
the same time. He and 1 had lodged
together on shore, and become some
what acquainted before we became
shipmates. He was man of consider
able information, and, from his talk,
had seen his share of the world, but
was not much of sailor, as 1 had
already surmised from the cut of his
iib.
We found Capt. Phelps, of the Nor
way, Tartar in the worst sense Of the
word; and the voyage was anything but
a pleasant one, especially to Hastings.
He had shipped for able seaman's
wages, and his deficiencies were soon
apparent, especially to a captain who
had hawks eye for the weak points in
q man, that he might come down on
him. AS had strong feeling of re-
spect for the young man, 1 stood his
friend whenever 1 could, by trying to
do more than my own share of duty,
and covering up his shortcomings but
l couldn't always be at hand, of course.
One night, when it was blowing
quite fresh, and was at the wheel, the
captain was up, and had oil hands put
ting reefs in the topsails. The men
had lain down on deck, and were man.
ming the halyards to hoist away, when
poor Hastings, instead of the reef
tackle, let go the weather foretopsail
brace, and away went the yard fore and
aft. However, by lufling up smartly,
we managed to get it checked in again
without carrying away anything. But
Capt. Phelps, frothing at the mouth,
vowed he would tan the clumsy lubber's
hide that did it, and would "ride him
down like q main-tack." He rushed at
Hastings with q piece of ratline-stuff,
and brought it down once, with ter
rife cut, over his neck and shoulders.
AS he raised it again to repeat the
blow, while all hands stood looking on,
hushed into silence, voice from aloft
roared out, Hold your hand!"
The sound, which was wonderfully
loud and clear, seemed to come down
out of the maintop. The captain fell
back aft, 50 as to look up, but could see
nothing.
"Aloft there " he yelled, in a rage.
No answer.
Maintop there 1"
Halloa was answered, spitefully.
"Come down on deck
"Come up here, and see how you
like it !"
The captains rage was now fearful
to behold.
"Who's aleft there? Who is it,
Mr.. Raynor?" he demanded of the
mate.
Nobody that know of, SIR" an
swered the officer. They're all here
in sight"
The men looked from one to another,
but the number was correct. The sec-
ond mate, without waiting for orders,
sprang up aloft and looked over the
top-rim, then made the circuit of it,
looking all round the masthead, and
reported himself alone. The captain
dropped his ropes end and went below,
his mind in strange chaos of rage and
fear and Hastings escaped further
beating for that night.
But few days were sufficient for the
captain to forget his fears, and myself
was the next victim of his wrath. He
had ordered me to make a lanyard.knot
in the end of an old, tagged rope, to be
used for lashing somewhere. l did so.
and returned it to him, telling him
had made the best job of it that could.
"Well, If that's your best, said he,
"you're as much OF a lubber as your
partner Hastings. I'll dock you both
to or'nary seamans pay"
In vain I demonstrated, saying that
the rope was too much worn and tagged
to make neat piece of work.
Tagged, is it Well, I'll finish it
up over your lubberly back!'
No you won'tl" sang out voice
from behind the long-boat.
He rushed round in the direction of
the sound; but there was no one there.
Who was that that spoke?" he
cried. "If knew who he was, I'd cut
his heart outl'