La Junta tribune., 1899-04-22
/ PHANTOM SHIp
The Flying Dutchmdn.
~A-H (

!
the sails had been trimmed and they
when the bell OF the poop cabin tap
| propriated to the supercargo) was
pulled with great violence.
What can that be-" said Mynheer
Kloots twho was forward). taking his
| pipe out Of his mouth. ''Mynheer Van
derdecken. will you see what is the
| matter?"
Philip went aft. as the pealing of
the bell continued. and. opening the
| cabin door, discovered the supercargo
perched upon the table and pulling the
bell rope. which hung over its center,
| with every mark of fear in his coun-
tenance. His wig was OF. and his bare
| skull gave him an appearance peculiar
ly ridiculous.
What is the matter. sir?" inquired
Philip.
Matter" spluttered Mynheer Won
Stroom; ''call the troops in with their
firelocks. Quick. sir. Am to be MUIR
| dered. torn to pieces and devoured? !?
For mercy's sake. sir. don't stare. but
do something-look, it's coming to the
table! oh. dear. oh. dear!" continued
the supercargo. evidently terrified out
| OF his wits
Philip. whose eyes had been fixed on
| Mynheer Won Stroom. turned them in
the direction pointed out. and, much
to his astonishment, perceived small
bear upon the deck, who was amusing
himself with the supercargo's flowing
wig. which he held In his paws. tossing
| 1t about. and now and then burying
his muzzle in II. The unexpected sight
| OF the animal was at first a shock to
| Philip; but at moments considera-
| tion assured him that the animal must
be harmless. or 1t never would have
| been permitted to remain loose in the
| vessel.
Nevertheless, Philip had no wish to
| approach the animal. whose disposi-
ton he was unacquainted with, when
the appearance OF Mynheer Kioots put
an end to his difficulty.
| What is the matter. mynheer?" said
the captain. "Oh. see! 1t Is Jo-
| hannes." continued the captain, going
up to the bear. and saluting him with
kick, as he recovered the supercar-
| go's wig. "Out Of the cabin. Johannes!
out. sir" cried Mynheer Kloots.
| kicking the breech of the bear till the
| animal had escaped through the door.
-Mynheer Won Stroom. am very sor-
ry-here is your wig. Shut tho door.
| Mynheer vanderdecken, or the beast
may come back. for he Is very fond Of
| me-"
AS soon as the door was shut be-
tween Mynheer Won Stroom and the
| object Of his terror the little man slid
on the table to the high backed chair
4 near 1t shook out the damaged curls
Of his wig, and replaced 1t on his head; {;
pulled out his rufles. and. assuming an
air OF magisterIal Importance, struck
| his cane on the deck, and then spoke:
| .'Mynheer Kioots. what is the mean
ing of this diarespect to the supercargo
| OF the puissant company"
| God in heaven. no disrespect. myn-
heer; the animal Is bear, as you see /:
he is very tame. even with strangers.
| He belongs to me. l have had him
ever since he was three months old It
was all IA mistake. The mate. Mynheer
1 Hildebrant, put him In the cabin, that
he might be out OF the way while tho
duty was carrying on. and he quite for
got that he was here. ! am very sor-
| ry. Mynheer Won Stroom: but he will
not come here again. unless you wish
to play with him."
PLAY with him? /. supercargo to
the company. play with bear! Myn-
heer Kioots. the animal must be thrown
overheard Immediately"
May, nay: / cannot throw over
board an animal that l hold in much
affection. Mynheer Won stroom, but
he shall not trouble you.y
1T must Immediately be sent out Of
| the ship. Mynheer Kloots. order you
to send 1t away-on your peril to re-
fuse"
Then We will drop the anchor again.
Mynheer Won Stroom, and send ON
shore to headquarters to decide the
| point. II the company insists that the
brute be put on shore. be It 20; but
recoliect. Mynheer Won stroom, We
shall lose the protection Of the neet.
and have to sail alone. Shall l drop
| the anchor. mynheer?"
This observation softened down the
pertinacity Of the supercargo: he had
no wish to sail alone. and the fear OF
this contingency was more powerful
than the fear Of the bear.
"Mynheer Kloots. will not be too
severe; II the animal IL chained. 90
that It does not approach me, I will
consent to It's remaining on board.
CHAPTER VIII