The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-03-25
THE HAUNTED SHIP.

THE HAUNTED SHIP.
/ shipped in the Norway, for the
passage from Cronstadt to Hull, and
another Englishman who went by the
name of Jack Hastings, joined her at
| the same time. He was n man OF con
siderable information, and from his
| talk had seen his share of the world,
| but was not much Of a sailor, as l had
already surmised from the cut OF his
iib. -,
We found Captain Phelps OF the
Norway, a Tartar in tho worst sense OF
the word and the voyage was anything
but pleasant one, especially to Hast
ings He had ehipped for able sea
mans wages, and his deficiencies were
soon apparent, especially to the cap
tain who had hawks eye for the weak
points in man, shat he might come
down to him. AS had a strong feel:
ing of respect for the young man, l
stood his friend whenever could, by
irving to do more than my own share
of duty and cover up his shortcomings;
but couldn't always be on hand, OF
course.
One hight, when it was blowing quite
fresh, and | was at the wheel, the
captain was up and all hands putting
reefs in the topsails. The men had
lain down on deck, and were manning
the halyards to hoist away, when poor
Hastings, instead OF the reef tackle, let
90 the weather fore -topsail brace, and
away went the yard fore and ant.
However, by lufiing 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 lub-
ber's hide that did it, and would "ride
him down like main-tack. " he
rushed at Hastings with piece OF
ratliue stuff and Brought it down once,
with terrific cut, over his neck and
shoulders. =,
AS he raised it aloft 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 clear, seemed to come down out OF
the msin-top. The captain fell back
aft, 80 as to look up, but could sec
nothing.
"Aloft there !" he yelled in a rage
No answer.
Maintop there p
"Halloa /" was answered spitefully.
"Come down on deck
"Come up here, and see how you
like it I"
The captains rage was now fearful to
behold. E, NJ,
"Who's aloft there? Who is it, Mr..
Rsynor?" he demanded of the mate.
"Nobody that | know of sir, an
swered the officer. "Theyre all here
in sight" IT.
The men looked from one to another,
but the number was correct. The sec
ond mate, without waiting for orders,
spranp up aloft and looked over the
top-rim and made the circuit OF It,
looking all around the masthead, anc
reported himself alone. The captain
dropped his ropes end and went below
his mind in strange chaos OF rage ant
fear, and Hastings escaped furthe
beating for that night.
But few days were sufficient Tor th'
captain to forget his fears, and | mysel
was the next victim of his wrath. H'
had ordered me to make a lanyard -kno
in the end of an old tagged rope, to b'
used for lashing somewhere. die
so and returned it to him, telling hin
/ had made the best job OF it that
could.
"Well, if that's your best, you're al
much of lubber as your partner, Hast
ings. I'll dock you both to ornary
seaman's pay" said he. =,
In vain / demonstrated, saying that
the rope was two much worn and tagged
to make nice piece OF work: . E.,
Gagged is it? Well, III finish 1t
up over your lubberly back y
=" No you won't p sang out u voice
from behind the long boat.
He rushed round in the direction oi
the sound, but there was no one there.
"Who was that that spoke?' he cried.
eff I knew who it was I'd cut his heart
outp
"Ha ha would yea was answered
derisively- the main-top, now. :.
1t was broad daylight, and all coulC
see that there was no one up there. !
was quite as much startled and mysti
fed as my tyrant could possibly be, bu
the diversion served as good purpo,s'
as on the previous occasion. for he di'
not attack me again. Had he done 80
meant to resist, and grapple with him
if it cost me my life.
That night the captains slumber
were disturbed by fierce cry, whlcl
appeared to come in at the slde-llght II
his state. room, left open for fresh ali
The cry had been heard by the mate o.
the quarterback, and by Hastings a
the wheel, who could give no explana
ton of it, and seemed to share his as
, tonishment and fear, when he rushe
: ON the deck and looked vainly over th
quarter in search of the cause.
I, From that day he was harassed an
i persecuted at every turn by an lnvls
b. bic presence which gave him no peat
!, of his life. Whether on deck or belo'
0 he found no escape from it, and esp
q cially when he began to abuse any
i the ships company the voice OF Il
hidden champion invariably took the
part. The insolent laugh that rang
It his ears on every such occasion seem'
" to come from overhead. -,
# But no manifestations ever trouble
4 MS in the forecastle, nor did the u
N earthly voice ever address any one
,e board but Capt. Phelps. The me