The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-03-01
THE HAUNTED SHIP.

shipped in the Norway for the pas
sage from Cronstadt 10 Hull, and an
other English gentleman, who went by
the name OF Jack Hastings, joined her
AZ the same time. He and l lodged to-
gether on the shore, and became some
what acquainted before we became ship
mates. He was q man Of considerable
information, and, from his talk, had seen
his share OF the world, but was not much
Of a sailor, as ! had already surmised
from the cut Of his jib.
w found Capt. Phelps OF the Norway
q Tartar in the worst sense Of the word,
and the voyage was any thing but 4
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 Z hawks eye for the weak points IN
q man, hat he might come down on
him. AZ had a strong feeling Of res
pect for the young man, l stood his
friend whenever | could, by trying to
do more than my own share Of duty,
and covering up his shortcomings;
but 1 could not always be nj hand, Of
course.
One night when il was blowing quite
fresh, and was at the wheel. the Cap
tain was up. and had all hands putting
reefs in the topsails. The men had lain
down on deck, and were manning the
halyards to hoist away, when poor Has
tngs, instead Of the reef-tackle, let 20
the weather foretopsail brace, and away
went the yard fore and aft. However,
by luffing up smartly, w managed TO get
1t checked in again, without carrying
away any thing. But Capt. Phelps,
frothing al the mouth, vowed he would
tar the clumsy lubbcr's hide that did il,
and would ssride him down like a main
tack lie rushed at Hastings with a
piece Of ratline stuff, aud brought il
down once, with a terrific cut, over his
neck aud shoulders.
AS he raised it again to repeat the
blow, while all hands stood looking on.
hrshed into silence, a voice from aloft
rOared out
"Hold your hand,-
The sound, which was wonderfully
loud and clear, seemed 10 come down
out Of the maintop. The Captain fell
aft, 50 As TO look up, but could see
nothing.
"Aloft, there.- he yelled, in a rage.
No answer.
"Maintop. there"
"Halloain was answered, spitefully.
"Come down on decklm
"Come up here and see how you like
i'm
The Captains rage was now fearful
TO behold.
"Who's aloft therep Who is it, MI.
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 Sec
Dnd Mate, without waiting for orders,
sprang up aloft and looked over the
then made the circuit Of il,
all round the masthead, and
reported himself alone. The Captain
dropped his ropes end and went below,
his mind in a strange chaos Of rage and
lear, and Hastings escaped further beat
tor hat night.
But a few days were sufficient for the
Captain 70 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. i
did so, and returned IL 70 him, telling
him ! had made the best job Of il /
"Well, II that's your best,'' said be,
= you re a. much Of a lubber as your
partner, Hastings. Iii dock you both
to Urinary seaman's pay"
In vain | demonstrated, saving that
the rope was o much worn and tagged
10 make a neat piece OF work.
"Fagged, il ip Well, III finish il
up over your lubberly back
"No you won't!u sang out d voice
from behind the long-boat.
lie rushed round In the direction OF
the sound, but there was no one there.
"Who was that that spokeP'' he
cried. "If | knew who he was I'd cut
his heart OUT
"Ha, hal would ye?f' was answered
derisiyciy-from the maintop, now.
II was broad daylight, and all could
see there was no one up there. / was
quite a. much startled and mystified a.
my tyrant could possibly be, but the d.
version served A. good a purpose As on
the previous occasion, for he did not A.
tack ms again. Had he done SO,