Bisbee daily review., 1903-05-09
THE DEVILS PACKET
Iorlgisall

Spanish occupation of Central America disappeared gradually, reappeared oc. casionally and vanished, the last ship showing up in the early part of the nineteenth century. One moonlight night she sailed out of Puerto Cabelio, in Honduras. where she had been lying at anchor during a storm, and made for open waters.
 What is that black hulk out thereW said the man at the wheel to the cap. tain, 'and how does she find anchorage in such deep water?"
 She's not anchored" said the cap tain. She's lying to-
 No, she's moving. Her yards are squared toward us, but she has altered her course, and I can see her sails. How can those few patches of canvas move so large vessel, wonderY
 "All the better for us," replied the captain. "A hulk of a mercbantman with such rags will be easily over. hauled. Put her no'th by half no'th- east"
 Whether the merchantman espied the pirate and proposed to get away from her or no, she turned and moved in the same direction as the latter. Not. withstanding her meager show of can vas. she did not seem to lose much interval
 How does she keep that paceT in- quired the captain of one of his prin- cipal men who came up to ask about the stranger.
 "She's queer one." replied the oth. CT musingly.
 The captain called the crew on deck and ordered them to prepare for action The guns were run out, ammunition was brought up, and a reserve supply of cutlasses was dumped at the foot ct the mainmast Then the grappling irons were fixed in place, and the crew stood ready, So long as they were busy they kept their heads, but the mo- ment they began to watch the strange vessel moving steadily on under sails incapable of giving their own little yes sel a headway of half dozen knots they began to look puzzled.
 Presently it began to be apparent te the pirates that they were gaining on the vessel Notwithstanding that she was under the same sail as before, she was scarcely moving. Then of a sud den her sails were furled, but, wonder full to relate. she resumed her former speed. The captain. the wheelman and half a dozen of the crew who had come up to ask questions about the singular craft all looked at one another in as- tonishment
 of I.fp with blanched cheeks. "She is phan. tomr'
 "Shut upr" cried the captain. She's a ship. real ship, and we'll be aboard of her within an hour. The first man who talks about a phantom will feel the edge of my cutiasst"
 This quieted the crew temporarily. though several who had been born within the fold of the church secretly lowest classes. and their captain was no more enlightened than themselves, though made of sterner stuff. The breeze freshened, and it was apparent to the pirates that with the difference of sail area they must soon catch the stranger unless, indeed, she were a veritable phantom. Nevertheless at ? o'clock in the morning, when the moon had passed the horizon. the pirate was as far astern as ever. The mysterious vessel moved on like a jack O lantern, and the pirates began to believe that she was under the protection of dark mist that hung over her. Several times this mist disappeared, and the pursuers always noticed that at such times the strangers pace was either abated or she ceased to move entirely. After one of these changes of gait the pirates found themselves sailing half a mile behind her and on parallel lines quar- ter of mile apart.
 'Send a shot," said the captain.
 The gunners got gun ready on the forecastle, but there seemed to be some delay. The captain went forward and found the men shivering beside the gun.
 What's the matter?' he thundered.
 "May be she's under the protection of the blessed saints." whimpered one of the men. "It would be impious to fire. Look, there's something white in the water dmidshipsI She moves again. Santa Marial The sea monsters are bearing her forward"'
 Every man fell on his knees and made the sign of the cross.
 Suddenly the vessel. notwithstanding the direction of the wind, sheered around and stooc on a course that would take her directly across the pirates bow. The captain still kept on his feet in the midst of his kneeling men and watched her with open mouth and staring eyes. On went his vessel and on went the stranger. passing his course an eighth of mile ahead. Pres ently his fighting nature overcame his superstition. and, seizing an iron that was heating in a brazier. he applied it to the vent of the gun. The sailors covered their eyes with their hands as the gun boomed When they looked again. the vessel had passed their course. and at the moment there was flash. and the light of Tophet hared through square opening in her side, gIaring on the figure of Satan. who was thrusting a huge poker Into the place from whence the light was emitted. Not only the crew, but the captain,