La Junta tribune., 1899-05-06
| PHANTOM SHIP !
The Flying Dutchman.



the surf toward the beach. In a few
minutes he>was near to the land. and
shortly afterward the piece OF plank
Ing to which he was clinging struck
on the sand, and then. being turned
over by the force OF the running wave.
Philip lost his hold, and was left to
bis own exertions. He struggled long.
but although SO near to the shore,
could not gain footing; the return
ing wave dragged him back. and thus
was he hurled to and fro until his
strength was gone. He was sinking
under the wave to rise no more when
he felt something touch his hand. He
seized it with the grasp of death. 1t
was the shaggy hide of the bear Jo-
hannes. who was making for the
shore. and who soon dragged him
clear Of the surf. SO that he could gain
a footing. Philip crawled up the beach
above the reach of the waves. and. ex-
hausted with fatigue, sank down In
swoon.
When Philip was recalled from his
state OF lethargy, his first feeling was
intense pain in his still closed eyes.
arising from having been many hours
exposed to the rays Of an ardent sun.
He opened them, but was obliged to
close them Immediately, for the light
entered into them like the point OF a
knife. He turned over on his side,
and. covering them with his hand, re-
mained some time In that position, un-
til. by degrees. he found that his eye
sight was restored. He then rose, and
after few seconds could distinguish
the scene around him. The sea was
still rough. and tossed about in the
surf fragments Of the vessel; the whole
sand was strewn with her cargo and
content. Near him was the body OF
Hillebrant. and the other bodies which
were scattered on the beach told him
that those who had taken to the boat
had all perished.
It was. by the height of the sun,
about 8 o'clock in the afternoon, as
near as he could estimate; but Philip
suffered such an oppression of mind,
he felt SO wearied and in such pain.
that he took but slight survey. His
brain was whirling. and all he de-
manded was repose. He walked away
from the scene OF destruction, and.
having found a sandhill, behind which
he was defended from the burning rays
Of the sun, he again lay down. and
sank into deep sleep. from which he
did not wake until the ensuing morn
ing.
Philip was reused a second time by
the sensation Of something pricking
him on the chest He started up, and
beheld figure standing over him. His
eyes were still feeble and his vision
indistinct; he rubbed them for time.
for he first thought 1t was the bear
Johannes. and. again. that 1t was the
supercargo. Won Stroom, who had ap-
peared before him. He looked again,
and found that he was mistaken, al
though he had warrant for supposing
1t to be either or both. A Hottentot,
with an assegai in his hand, stood by
his side; over his shoulder he had
thrown the fresh-sevcred skin of the
poor bear. and on his head, with the
curls descending to his waist. was one
of the wigs OF the supercargo, Won
Stroom. Such was the gravity of the
blacks appearance In this strange
costume (for in every other respect he
was naked) that at any other time
Philip would have been induced to
laugh heartily; but his feelings were
now too acute. He rose upon his feet
and stood by the side of the Hottentot,
who still continued immovable, but
certainly without the slightest appear
ance of hostile intentions.
A sensation of overpowering thirst
now seized upon Philip. and he made
signs that he wished to drink. The
Hottentot motioned him to follow. and
led over the sandhills to the beach,
where Philip discovered upward Of ff-
ty men, who were busy selecting va
rious articles from the scattered stores
Of the vessel. It was evident by the
respect paid to Philips conductor that
he was the chief OF the kraal. A few
words, uttered with the greatest SOL
emnity. were sumcient to produce
though not exactly what Philip re-
quired-a small quantity of dirty water
from a caIabass, which. however. was
to him delicious His conductor then
waved to him to take seat on the
sand.
After time the Hottentots began
to collect all the wood which appeared
to have iron In 1t. made 1t up into
several piles. and set them on FIRE.
The chief then made a sign to Philip.
to ask him II he was hungry. Philip
replied in the affirmative. when his
new acquaintance put his hand into
bag made Of goatskin and pulled out
of very large beetles. and
presented them to him. Philip refused
them with marks Of disgust. upon
which the chief very sedately cracked
and ate them. and having finished the