Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-11-23
CHAPTER Y.

ing every object still more indistinct to
the astonishcd crew of the Ter Schilling
For moment or moro net word was ut
tered by soul on board. Some remained
with their eyes still strained toward the
point where the apparition had been seen
others turned away full of gloomy and
foreboding thoughts. Hillcbrant was the
first who spoke: turning round to the
eastern quarter, and observing light or
the horizon, he started, and Selling Philir
by the arm, cried out, whats that.''
"That is only the moon rising from the
bank of clouds, replied Philip, mourn
fully.
"Welln' observed Mynheer Kloots, wip
ing his forehead, which was damped with
perspiration, II have been told of this be
fore, but have Knocked at the narration. y
Philip made no reply. Aware of the
reality of the vision, and how deeply it in.
terestcd him, he felt as if he were a guilty
person.
The moon had now risen above the
clouds, and was pouring her mild pale
light over the slulnbcring ocean. With q
simultaneous impulse, every one directed
his eyes to the spot where the strange vi
sion had last been seen; and all was dead
dead calm.
Since the apparition, the pilot, Schrif.
ten, had remained on the poop; he now
gradually approached Mynheer Kloots,
and looking round, said:
"Mynheer Kloots, as pilot of this vessel,
tell you that you must prepare for very
bad weather. -
Bad weather." said Kloots, rousine
himself from a deep reverie.
Yes, bad weather, Mynheer Kloots.
There never was vessel which fell in
with-what we have just seen, but met
with disaster soon afterward. The very
name Of Vanderdecken is unlucky-he!
he!"
Philip would have replied to this sar.
casm, but he could not; his tongue was
tied.
What has the name of Vanderdecken
to do with it?" observed Kloots.
"Haye you not heard then? The can.
tain of that vessel we have just seen is a
Mynheer Vanderdecken-hei is the FLYING
Dutchman!"
"How know you that, pilots" inquired
Hillebrant.
II know that, and much moro, if /
chose to tell" replied Schriften; ''but
never mind, have warned you of bad
weather, as is my duty;" and, with these
words, Schriften went down the poop lad
der.
God in heaven! 1 never was SO puzzled
and SO frightened in my life," observed
-klla5rs. 81 don't know what to think or
say. What think you, Philip Was it not
supernatural"
Yes" replied Philip, mournfully. 81
have no doubt of it,"
81 thought the days of miracles had
passed, said the captain, "and that we
We're now left to our own exertions, and
had no other warnings but those the APP
pearance of the heavens gave u.s."
And they warn us now," observed
Hillebrant. "See how that bank of clouds
has risen within these five minutes-the
moon has escaped from it, but it will soon
catch her again-and see, there is flash
of lightning in the northwest
We'll, my sons, I can brave the ele-
ments as we'll as any man, and do my
best. have cared little for gales or stress
of weather; but like not such warning
as we have had tonight My hearts as
heavy as lead, and that's the truth.
Philip, send down for the bottle of
schnapps, If it is only to clear my brain q
little"
Philip was glad of an opportunity to
quit the poop; he wished to have a few
minutes to recover himself and collect his
own thoughts. He fastened to his cabin
ana buried his face in the coverlid of his
bed and then he prayed-prayed until he
had recovered his usual energy and cour-
age, and had brought his mind to that
state of ocmposure which could enable
him to look forward calmly to danger and
difficulty, and feel prepared to meet IT
with the heroism of martyr.
Philip remained below not more than
half an hour. On his return to the deck,
what change had taken place! He had
left the vessel floating motionless on the
still waters, with her lofty sails hanging
down listlessly from the yards. The moon
then scared aloft In her beauty, rejecting
the masts and sails Of the ship in extended
lines upon tho smooth sea. Now all was
dark: the water rippled short and broke in
foam; the smaller and lofty sails had been
taken in, and the vessel was cleaving
through the water; and tho wind, in fitful
gusts and angry meanings, proclaimed
too surely that it had been awakened up
to wrath, and was gathering its strength
for destruction. The men were still busy
reducing the sails, but they worked
and discontentedly What Schrif-
ten, the pilot, had said to them, Philip
knew not; but that they avoided him and
appeared to look upon him with feelings
Of Ill will, was evident. And each minute
the gale increased
Hard aport tlatten in forward brazil
up the trysail, my men! BE smart!" cried
kloots, as from the wind chopping round
TO the northward and westward, the ship
was taken aback, and careened low before
It. The rain now came down in torrents,
and 1T was with difficulty they could per-
,eive each other on the deck.
1t was an unfortunately long and terri
Die night. ALI was confusion. Captain
kloots was stunned, and it was with diff
Guilty that Philip could persuade two Of
The men to assist him down below. Hille-
orant had been more unfortun;ate-his
light arm was broken, and he was other
wise severely bruised; Philip assisted him
20 his berth, and then went on deck again
% try and restore order.
Phillp Vanderdecken was not yet much
u seaman, but, atal events, he OK ercised
nat moral influence over the men which
s ever possessed by resolution and cour-
lge. Obey willingly they did not, but
hey did obey, and in half an hour the