St. Landry democrat., 1878-02-23
The Haunted Ship.


ssge from Cronstadt to Hull, and another
English gentleman, who went by the
name Jack Hastings, joined her at the
same time. He and l lodged together
on the shore, and became somewhat
! acquainted before we became shipmates.
He was a man of considerable intorma-
ton, and, from his talk, had seen his
share Of the world, but was not much of
sailor, as I had already surmised from
the cut of his jib.
We found Capt. Phelps, of the Nor
way, q tartar in the worst sense of the
word and the voyage was anything but
pleasant one, especially to Hastings.
lie had shipped for able seaman's wages,
and his deficiencies were soon apparent,
especially to captain who had hawks
eye for the weak points in man, that
he might come down on him. AS I had
strong feeling ef respect for the young
man, I stood bis friend whenever |
could, by trying to do more than my
own share of duty, and covering up his
shortcomings but couldn't always be
at hand, of course.
One night when it was blowing quite
fresh, and was at the wheel, the cap
tain was up, and had all hands putting
reefs in the topsaiIs. The men had lain
down on deck, and were manning the
halyards to hoist away, when poor Has
tings, instead Of the reef.tackle, let go
the weather foretopsail brace, and away
went the yard fore and aft. However,
by lufing 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 main
stack" He rushed at Hastings with a
piece of ratllne stuff, and brought it
down once with terrific cut over his
neck and shoulders.
As he raised it again to repeat the
blow, while all hands stood looking on,
hushed in silence. a voice from aloft
reared out:
Hold your hand!''
The sound, which was wonderfully
loud and clear, seemed to come down ont
of the maintop. The captain fell back
ait, SO as to look up, but could see moth
ing
"Aloft, there" he yelled, in a rage.
No answer.
" Maintop. there!"
d" 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.
J. Who's aloft there? Who is it, Mr.
Raynor?" he demanded of the mate.
Nobody that l 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 second
mate, without waiting for orders sprane
up aloft and looked over the top-rim
then made circuit of it, looking all
round the masthead, and reported him
self alone. The captain dropped hi
ropes end and went below, his mind in
a strange chaos of rage and fear, ano
Hastings escaped further beating fol
that night.
But a few days were sufficient for the
captain to forget his fears, and 7 mysel
was the next victim of his wrath. H.
, had ordered me to make q lanyard -knot
! in the end Of an old tagged rope, to b.
used for lashing somewhere. I did 80
and returned it to him, telling him I hac
made the best job of it that I could.
"Well, if that's your best" said he
"you're as much of lubber as YOU
partner, Hastings. I'll dock you botl
to or'nary seaman's pay.
In vail | demonstrated, saying thai
the rope was too much worn and tagged
to make neat piece of work.
Tagged is it? Well, I'll finish it ul
over your lubberly back
"No you WON'T" sang out a voics
from behind the long boat. ..
He rushed round in the direction O
the, sound, but there was not sou
there.
Who was that spoke % he cried
IF / knew who he was I'd cut his hear
out"
Ha, ha would ye?" was answered
derisively y-from the maintop, now l.
It was broad daylight, and all ceult
see that there was no one up there.
was quite as much startled and mystfet
as my tyrant could possibly Be, but ths
diversion served as good a purpose as or
the previous occasion, for he did mo-
attack me again. Had he done so
meant to resist, and grapple with him
if it cost meymy life.
That night the captains slumber'
were disturbed by fierce cry, which
appeared to come in at the side-light il
his state room, left open for fresh air
The cry had been heard by the mate, OF
the quarter deck, and by Hastings, a
the wheel, who could give no explana