Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-12-18
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eeTHE..
PHANTOM SHIP;
..oR,..
THE FLYING DUTcHf1AN.
BY Captain Marryat

BY Captain MarryaA

elicIo UclOIS
Never fear for tho good ship Vrow
! Katerina," replied the captain; "see what
weather she makes of It,"
Cursed bad" observed one of the sea-
mon, for the seamen had gathered near to
Philip to hear what his advice might be.
"1f had known that she was such an old
crazy beast, never would have trusted
myself on board. Mynhecr Vanderdecken
Is right; we must go back to Table bay
ere worse befall us. That ship to leeward
has given us warning she is not seen for
nothsng-ask Mr.. Vanderdecken, captain;
he knows that we'll, for he is a sailor"
This appeal to Philip made him start;
it was, however, made without any knowl.
edge of Philips interest in the phantom
ship.
81 must say" replied Philip, "that,
whenever have fallen in with that ves-
sci, mischief has ever followed"
Vessel why, what was there in that
vessel to brighten you? She carried too
much sail, and she has gone down.
"She never goes down." replied one of
the seamen.
"Nol noP exclaimed many voices;
"but we shall, II we do not run back"
"Poohl nonsense! Mynheer Wander
decken, what say your"
~ have already stated my opinion, - re-
piled Philip, who was anxious, If possible
to see the ship once more in port, "that
the best thing we can do, is to bear up for
Table bay"
And, captain" continued the old sea-
man who had just spoken, I'VE are all de-
terlnined that it shall be SO, whether you
like it or not; SO up with the helm, my
hearty, and Mynheer vanderdecken will
trim the sails.'
"Why! what is thiss" cried Captain
Barentz. "a mutiny on board of the
Vrow Katerinaf Impossible! The vrow
Katerina! the best ship, the fastest in the
whole feet!'
1.-THE dullest old rotton tub" cried one
Of the seamen
What" cried the captain, "what do
hear? Mynheer Vanderdecken, conflne
that lying rascal for mutiny''
Pooh! nonsense! he's mad" replied
the old seaman. Never mind him; come,
NY AhOOA hAutAucChCu, VIC Will OBEY
you; but the helm must be up immedi-
ately"
The captain storlned, but Philip, by &C.
knowledging the superiority of his vessel,
at the same time that he blamed the sea-
men for their panic, pointed out to him
the necessity Of compliance, and Mynheer
Barentz at last consented The helm was
put up, the sails trimmed, and the yrow
Katerina rolled heavily before the gale.
Toward the evening the weather moderat-
ed, and the sky cleared up; both sea and
and Philip was in hopes that in day or
two they would arrive safely in the bay.
Tbs sun had sot before Philip had quit
ted the gangway and gone below. Com
mending himself, and those embarked
with him, to the care of Providence. he at
last fell asleep; but, before the bell was
struck eight times, to announce midnight,
he was awakened by rude shove of the
shoulder, and perceived Krantz, who had
tho first watch, standing by him.
By the heaven above US! yanderdeck-
en- you have prophesied right. Up
quick! The ships on fren'
Son fire." exclaimed yanderdecken,
jumping out of his berth-'sw herc?"
"The main hold. y
Il will up Immediately, Krantz. In
the meantime, keep the matches on and
rig the pumps"
In less than a minute Philip was on
deck, where he found Captain Barentz,
who had also been informed of the caseby
the second mate. In few words all was
explained by Krantz: there was a strong
smell of fire proceeding from the main
hold; and, on removing one of the hatch
cs, which he had done without calling for
any assistance, from knowledge of tho
panic 1t would create, he found that the
hold was full of smoke; he had put it on
again Immediately, and had only made it
known to Philip and the captain.
Thanks for your presence Of mind,
replied Philip; I'VE have now time to re-
fleet quietly on what is to be done. If the
troops and the poor women and children
knew their danger, their alarm would
have much impeded us'
The smoke and steam now burst through
the interstices of tho hatchways and the
holes cut in the deck, with a violence that
proved the extent of the fire which ragged
below, and Philip thought 1t advisable to
remove all the women and children to the
poop and quarter deck of the ship, desir-
ing the husbands of the women to stay
with them. 1t was a melancholy sight,
and the tears stood in Philips eyes as he
looked upon the group of females-some
weeping and straining their children to
their bosoms; some more quiet and more
collected than the men: the elder children
mute or crying because their mothers
cried, and the younger ones, unconscious
of danger, playing with the first object
which attracted their attention, or smiling
at their parents. The officers command
Ing the troops were two cnsigns newly en-
tered, and very young men, ignorant Of
their duty and without any AUTHORIZATION
men In cases of extreme danger will not
obey those who are more ignorant than
themselyes-and, at Philips request, they
remained with and superintendent the
women and children.
So soon as Philip had given his orders
that the women and children should be
properly clothed (Which many of them
were mott, he Went again forward to SUI
perintend the labor of the seamen, who al
ready began to show symptoms of fatigue,
from the excess Of their exertions; but
many of the soldiers now offered to work
at the pumps, and their services were will
ingly accepted. Their efforts were in vain.
In about half an hour more, the matches
were blown up with loud noise, and a
column of intense and searching flame
darted up perpendicularly from the hold,
high as the lower masthead. Then was
heard the loud shrek of the women, who