The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1899-06-16
CHAPTER XXXI.-(Continued.l

Dutchman'" shrieked Schriften;
told you so, Philip Vanderdecken;
there is your father-He, he!"
Philips eyes had remained fixed on
Qhe vessel; he perceived that they were
lowering down a boat from her quar-
ter. ct is possible" thought he. 81
shall now be permitted" and Philip
put his hand into his bosom and
grasped the relic.
Shortly afterward the splash OF oars
was heard alongside, and voice call
ing out: 81 say, my good people, give
us a rope from forward"
No one answered or complied with
the request. Schrften only went up
to the captain and told him that II
they offered to send letters they must
not be received or the vessel would be
doomed and all would perish.
A man now made his appearance
from over the gunwale, at the gang
way. You might as we'll have let me
had side rope, my hearties," said he
as he stepped on deck; where is the
captain?"
Here" replied the captain, trem-
bling from head to foot. The man who
accosted him appeared weather-beat-
en- seaman, dressed in fur cap and
canvas petticoats
WA: do you want?" at last scream
ed the captain.
"Yes-what do you want?" continued
Schriften. He! he!"
What, you here, pllot?" observed
the man; well, l thought you had
gone to Davy's locker long enough
ago"
He. he" replied schriften, turning
away.
why, the fact is, captain, we have
had very foul weather, and we wish
to send letters home; do believe that
We shall never get round this Cape"
Il can't take them!" cried the cap
tain.
Cant take them! Well. it's very
odd; but every ship refuses to take our
letters. It's very unkind; seamen
should have a feeling for brother sea-
men, especially in distress. God knows
we wish to see our wives and families
again; and 1t would be matter of COM
fort to them if they only could ahear
from us"
81 can not take your letters-the
saints preserve u.s." replied the cap
tain.
1--WE have been a long while out"
said the seaman, shaking his head.
How long?" inquired the captain.
I'VE can't tell; our almanac was
blown overheard, and we have lost our
reckoning. We never had our latitude
exact now, for we cannot tell the suns
declination for the right day.
Let me see your letters" said Phil
ip, advancing and taking them out OF
the seaman's hands.
They must not be touched!" scream
ed Schriften.
out, monster!" replied Philip; who
dare interfere with me?"
Doomed! doomed! doomed" Shrek
ed Schriften, running up and down
the deck, and then breaking into a wild
fit of laughter.
Touch not the letters" said the
captain, trembling as IL in an ague fit
Philip made no reply, but held his
hand out for the letters.
Here is one from our second mate
to his wife at Amsterdam, who lives on
Waser Quay"
"Waser Quay has long been gone,
my good friend; there is now a large
dock for ships where it once was" re-
piled Philip.
"Impossible!" replied the man; "here
is another from the boatswain to his
father, who lives in the old market
place."
THE old market place has long been
pulled down, and there now stands a
church upon the spot"
"Impossiblev' replied the seaman;
"here is another from myself to my
sweetheart, Vrow Ketser-with money
to buy her a new brooch"
Philip shook his head. II remember
seeing an old lady of that name buried
some thirty years ago."
Impossible! l left her young and
blooming. Here's one for the house OF
Slutz & Co., to whom the ship be-
longs"
There's no such house now" re-
piled Philip; but have heard that
many years ago there was a firm of
that name"
Impossible! you must be laughing
at me. Here is letter from our cap
tain to his son"
GIVE II me-" cried Philip, SELLING
the letter. He was about to break the
seal, when Schriften snatched II out
of his hand, and threw 1t ever the lee
gupwale
That's a scurvy trick for an old
shipmate," observed tho seaman.
SchrIften made no reply. but catching
up the other letters which Phillip had
laid down on the capstan, he hurled
them after the first.
The strange seaman shed tears, and
walked again to the side. 1T is very
hard-very unkind," observed he, as
he descended; "the time may come
when you may wish that your family
should know your situation" So say
ing, he disappeared. In few seconds
was heard the sound OF the oars re-
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