Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-01-29
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. eeTHE.e
: PHANTOM SHIP:
esOR,ss
: The PLYING DUTCHMAN.
BY CaPtain F\arryAt

choice-the dungeon, or liberty and pas.
sage by the first vessel which calls. y
II don't doubt-in fact, I'm sure he
must be dead by this time" replied
Krantz, drawing out the words In a mus
Ing manner. "Commandant, will YOU
give us till tomorrow morning to make
out our calculations
Yes; you may CO."
But not to the dungeon, oomman.
dant, replied Krantz; i've are not pris.
oners, certainly; and If you wish us to do
you favor, surely you will not Ill treat
us?"
By your own acknowledgment you
have taken up arms against the most
Christian king; however, you may re-
main at liberty for the night-tomorrow
morning will decide whether or not you
are prisoners.
Philip and Krantz thanked the little
commandant for his kindness, and then
hastened away to the ramparts. 1t was
now dark, and the moon had not yet made
her appearance. They sat there on the
parapet, enjoying the breeze and feeling
the delight of liberty even after their short
incarceration; but near to them soldiers
were either standing OF lying, and they
spoke but in whispers
What could he mean by requiring us
to give certificate Of the captains death;
and why did you answer as you didp"
Philip Vanderdscken, that have often
thought of the fate of your beautiful wife,
you may imagine; and when heard that
she was brought here, / then trembled for
her. What must she appear, lovely as she
Is, when placed in comparison with the
women Of this oountrys And that little
oommandant-is he not the very person
who would be taken with her charmsY I
denied our condition, because thought
no would be more likely to allow US our
liberty as humble individuals than as cap.
tain and first mate; particularly as he sus-
poets that we led on the Ternate people to
the attack; and when he asked for certifi-
cate of your doath, Immediately imagin-
cd that he wanted 1t In order to induce
Amino to marry him. But where is shep
is the question. II we could only find out
that soldier, we might gain some informa.
tion."
Depend upon 1t. she is here, replied
Philip, olinohine his hands.
81 am inclined to think so," said
Krantz; that she is alive, 1feel assured. "
The conversation was continued until
the moon rose and threw her beams over
the tumbling waters. Philip and Krants
turned their faces toward the sea, and
leaned over the battlement in silence; after
some time their reveriss were disturbed by
a person coming up TO them with "Bue-
nos noctes, signors."
Krantz Immediately recognized the Por-
tuguese soldier whose conversation with
him had been interrupted.
Good night, my friendl We thank
heaven that you have no longer to turn
the key upon us.''
Yes, I'm surprised" replied the SOL
der, in low tone. "our commandant
Is fond Of exercising his power; he rules
hero without appeal, that oan tell you. ("
HE Is not within hearing of us now,"
replied Rrantz. s'It 10 q lovely spot this
to live inl How long have you been in
this country"
"Now 10 years, signor. and I'm tired Of
1t. have wife and children in oporto
that is, had-but whether they are
alive or not, who can tell
DO you not expect to return and see
thsm?'
"Return-signor! No Portuguese SOL
der like me ever returns. We are enlisted
Tor five years, and we lay our bones here"
That IL hard, indeed"
Hard, signor," replied the soldier in
q low whisper; sit is cruel and treacher-
GUS. 1 have often thought Of putting the
muzzle of my arquebus to my head; but
while there's life there's hope
81 pity you, my good fellow" rejoined
Krantz; "look you. have two gold
pieces left-take one; you may be able to
send 1t home to your poor wife. ~
and here is one of mine, too, my good
fellow" added Philip, putting another
in his hand.
Now may all the saints preserve you,
signors, replied the soldier, "for 1t is the
first act Of kindness shown to me for many
ysars-not that my wife and children
have much chance Of ever receiving it,
You were speaking about young
European woman when we were In the
dungeon, :" observed Krantz, after pause.
Yes, signor; she was very beautiful
creature. Our commandant was very much
in love with her,
where is she now?"
"She went away to Goa, IN company
with priest who knew her. Father Ma
thias, good old man; he gave me abso-
luton when he was here
Father Mathiasr' exclaimed Philip;
but touch from Krantz checked him.
"You say the oommandant loved herr"
ooh, yes; the little man was quite mad
about her; and had it not been for the ar
rival of Father Matthias, he would never
have let her go, that I'm sure of, although
she WAS another mans wife.
Sailed for Goa, you saidS"
''Yes, in ship which called here. She
must have been very glad to have got
away, for our little commandment perse-
outed her all day long, and she evidently
was growing for her husband. Do you
know, signors, II her husband Is alives"
"No; we do not; we have heard nothing
OF him."
well, If he is, hope he will not come
here; for should the commandant have
him in his power, it would go hard with
him. Heis a man who sticks at nothing.
He is brave little fellow, that cannot be
denied; but to get possession Of that lady,
he would remove all obstacles at any risk
h,,ch ou 10
signors. Well, signors," continued the SOL
dier, after pause. 81 had better not be
seen here too long; you may command me