The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-03-08
THE H4CC1ED SHIP.

b ''Hi SipHStdul Ia HUH. ana anptt her En-
gi'sii gentleman, who went 10y the name of
Jack Hastings. joined hrI AT the Same time
lie aud lodged tnget her on the shore, and
uectfne somewhat acquainted before We
became sliil'uates. lie was "A mau af cou
slderabie inf"rmatiou, and f,om his talk,
had seen his share of the world. but was
hn' much of IL sailor, as | ha0 already sur
missed frou' the cut of his jIb.
Ne found Capt. Ph lpS of the Norway.
aitar III the worst sense of the umd !:
aud Tue voyage was anything but pleas
ant "ne, especially Ia Hastings. He had
shlpped Tor able sean,au's wages. and his
"ehcichcieS were soon apparent, especially
u captain who bad hawks eve for the
weak points in a msu. shat I've might come
down "n him. As had stroug feeling
at rspecI fui the young man. | stood his
freud Whenever | could, 10y trying To do
more than my own share nf duty. aud COW
eIing up his shortcomings bat [ couldn't
always ire AT baud. uf course
'"ie Light wien t WAS blowing quite
fresh. aud | was at the wheel, the captain
vas up. aud had al hands putting rec is in
the t"l'sails. The men had laid down on
Geek, aud we've nianniug the halyaids to
hoist away, When p,rr Hastings, instead of
tir reei-iackle. let the weather ,ciop-
sail brace, andSwa went The yard foie
, aud aft. However by lutfiug up smartly,
"e managed :" get 1. checked in agaiu
Without carrying away auttting. But
Capt. Phelps, fIOthiug at the mouth, vowed
lac wtSItd tan the clumsy lubber's hide that
did ~, and wOulC ride him down like a
inhi;iiack. lie rushed at liza -tingS with
a Ii,ce "f atlIne stuff. aud bl bluugit i down
once, with Il terrific cut over hIs neck aud
shoulders.
As he raised 1t again to repeat the blow,
while all Eands stpd looking on husIIed
'nto silence, voice fiom aluit roaIed out !:
''lIuid your hand ~
Tie sound, which was wonder fully loud
and clear, seemed to c,me DIVA ouL of the
maintop. The captain fell back aft, SO a.
To- I,"ik up, but could see nothing.
'Al"rt, there ~ he yelled iu "a rage.
M answer.
"MaInrop, 'here!'
"ilhlloa !! was answered spitefully.
Come down on deck -
Come up her aud sce how you like ~
The Captain rage was now fearful To
behnld.
Who's aloft Il erep Who is it, Mr..
Rayu"r? he inquired of the mate.
''Nnb,dy that know of, sii,'' answered
the officer. "Fney re- all here in sight"
The n4cn looked from to another.
but the number MAS coiiect. The second
nIate, withou, waiting fur ordcr>. spraug
up aluit and looked over the top rim, then
made the ciIcuIt of IL, loukin all around
the mast head. ana reported himself aioue.
The captain dropped lis ioIe's end and
vent below. his mind in strange chaos III
rage and fear. and Hastings escaped iur
tn,r pu 'islm nt for that night
But few days were sufficient for the
captain To fo geI his feaIs. aud l myself
was the next victim of his wrath de had
ordered me to make Il ldnyaIdknoi III the
end of an old. ragged rope. {" he used foI
d lashi ing somewhere l did So and re-
finn hi f.alI / lad
the best job eft II that could.
well. if that's your best" said he.
''you'te as much of a lubber a. your part
uer, Hastings. FL dock you both To- ordi
nary seamans pay"
In vain demonstrated, saying that the
rope too much worn and j ,gged to
make "A neat piece. of work
Jagged. is il? Well I'll finish it up
over your lubbrrly back
mo you wont ?' sung out "a voice froT
behind the long b.at.
He rushed rouu6 in the direction of tho
souud. bu there was n" one here.
.'Who was thar thai spoke % lie cried.
"lf | knew who he was I'd cut his heart
ont
lila, ha wnuld yer' was answered
derisivey from the maintop. now.
1t WAS broad daylight, and all could see
that there was no one up there. | WAS
quite as much startled and mysI flied as my
tyraut could possibly be, but the diversion
served As good a purpose as on the previous
occasion, fpr he d al not attack me again
Had lie done SO l meant to resist, aud
grapple with him if il cast me my life.
That night the Captains slumbers were
Disturbed by fierce ciy, which appeared
to cJne in at the side light in his state
iooni left open for fresh air. The cry had
been heard 10y the mate on the qnafter-
deck. and by Hastings, at the wheel. who
could give no explanation Of it. aud seemed
to- share his establishment aud fear. when
he rushed on deck aud looked vainly over
the quarter la search OF the cause.
From that day he was harassed and per-
secuted at every turn by an ''invIsible
presence" which gave him no peace of his
life. Whether on deck or below lie found
no escape from it, and especially when he
began to abuse or swear at any of the ships
company the voice oC the hidden champion
invariably took their part. the insolent
laugh rang in his ear ON every Auch occa-
Sion, seeming to cUne from overhead.
Bat no such manifestation ever troubled
us i'll the forecas le. nor did the unearthly
voice ever address any one on board except
Capt. Phelps. Tue more superstitious part