The Yale expositor., 1899-02-17
PHANTOM Strip
The Flying DUtchmon.
<1-BY

BY CAPTAIN MARRYAT.


way, the man had left the windlass,
the sails had been trimmed and they
were securing the anchor on board
when the bell of the poop cabin zap
propriated to the supercargo) was
| pulled with great violence.
What can that be?" said Mynheer
Kloots (who 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 off, and his bare
stull 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
! frelocks. 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 establishment, perceived a small
bear upon the deck, who was amusing
himself with the supercargo's flowing
wig, which he held in his paws, tossing
| IL about, and now and then burying
his muzzle in it. The unexpected sight
| of the animal was at first shock to
! Philip; but at a moments considera-
| ton 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 DISPOSE
ton he was unacquainted with, when
the appearance of Mynheer Kloots 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
a kick, as he recovered the supercar-
! COS 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, l am very sor-
! ry-here is your wig. Shut the 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
off the table to the high-backed chair
near it shook out the damaged curls
of his wig and replaced it on his head
pulled out his ruffles, and, assuming an
air of magisterial Importance, struck
his cane on the deck, and then spoke:
"Mynheer Kloots, what is the mean
ing Of this disrespect to the supercargo
Of the puissant company"
God in heaven! no disrespect, myn-
heer; the animal is a bear, dis you see;
| he is very tame, even with strangers.
! He belongs to me. l have had him
| ever since he was three months old. 1t
was all a mistake. The mate, Mynheer
| Hildebrant, put him in the cabin, that
| he might be out OF the way while the
duty was carrying on, and he quite for
! got that he was here. l 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 Kloots, the animal must be thrown
overheard Immediately"
NAY, nay; l cannot throw over
board an animal that 1 hold in much
affection. Mynheer Won Stroom, but
he shall not trouble YOU"
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. If the company insists that the
brute be put on shore, be it So but
recollect, Mynheer Won Stroom, we
shall lose the protection of the feet,
and have to sail alone. Shall 1 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, l will not be too
severe; II the animal is chained, so
that 1t does not approach me, 1 will
consent to its remaining on board.