The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-02-19

OItS-ttS iIllll to IuC I4lAot, anu tto easily
dissipated.'
ooh, George" said Mabel, her eyes
shining, what cloud is there in this
world that love cannot dispel?"
Her smooth, round face looked so
pretty when she said this that the young
man could not help putting an arm
about her waist and kissing her glowing
cheek.
Chat is a woman's theory" he said,
smiling. ea7a5
at is true one," she answered.
'Love can dispel every trouble-every
pain p
"Wait till the baby has the cramp,
and see if it will dispel that p came, at
this moment, the bluff voice of Captain
Pearl, as he suddenly descended the COM
panion steps.
"Now, uncle, for shame You have
been listening !" cried Mabel, starting up
in some confusion.
In due time the vessel arrived in the
vicinity of the Cape Of Good Hope.
The face of some of the sailors then wore
a solemn look.
1t was in this locality that the fable
phantom craft, the Flving Dutchman,
was said to have heen seen.
Captain Pearls crew predicted that
now the ships "bad luck" would COM
mence, on account of that unfortunate
name on her stern.
AS if to verify this prediction, one Of
the men fell from the foreyard and was
badly hurt. Another, soon after, was
taken so ill that it was feared he would
die. True, the young doctor cured him
in few hours, but his shipmates in
sisted that there was a bad look in his
eyes-that he was not at all the 'same
person" as before.
On that very day, at night, boat, in
which the carpenter had been at work
repairing the cabin window shutter, was
left towing astern.
The captains pipe, as he leaned from
the window smoking, dropped into the
boat. He got into the latter to pick it
up, when the pin to which the warp was
fastened, and which was somewhat worn,
gave way as he drifted off in the dark
ness.
His absence was not discovered till
hours after, when fruitless search was
made for him in the darkness.
Just before daylight, however, boat
with man in it, was dimly seen APP
preaching from the direction of the land,
which was not league distant, off the
weather. beam.
But the crew were mistaken in their
suppositions. 1t proved to be the cap
tain As he sculled the boat under the
stern of the ship, when she was hove to,
instead of alongside, it was noticed that
he had a roll of canvas, which had been
in the light craft, spread out so as to
cover nearly all thwarts.
After lie had sent forward the men,
who were staring over the rail at him,
some of them apparently surprised, If
not disappointed, that their superstitious
prediction of his loss was not fulfilled,
he stated that his boat 'had drifted
ashore, where he had remained to watch
for his ship to wear round, ere attempt
ing to reach her.
A fortnight later, when fifteen miles
south IF Table bay, and not far from
land, the ship was struck by terrible
gale.
A thin, sulphurous sort of haze par
italy obscured the full moon, the dim
dim rays of which, together with the
phosphorus of the sea and the vessels
lanterns, threw strange, CHASTITY light
over her sails and deck.
Almost upon her beam ends, with
every timber cracking and groaning,
away she went under shortened canvas,
driven with fearful velocity towards the
white breakers and the rocks, now not
fifty fathoms ahead.
Pale and gloomy stood the men, for
it seemed as if no human power could
save the craft from being dashed upon
the rocks.
There was scarcely one among the
foremost hands who did not believe that
their impending doom was owing to the
unlucky name the vessel bore.
Aft stood George LOSING, the young
doctor, with one arm supporting the
trembling, affrighted Mabel, who chung
closely to him.
"On, George we are lost !" she said.
The men rushed for the boats.
"Pack !" cried Captain Pearl. "No