The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-08-30
THE DEVILS PACKET
IOrlglnal.l

casionally and vanished, the last ship showing up fin the early part of the nineteenth century. One moonlight night she sailed out of Puerto Cabello, in Honduras, where she had been lying at anchor during Q storm, and made for open waters.
 What is that black hulk out thereT' said the man at the wheel to the cap tain, "and how does she find anchorage fin such deep waterr
 She's not anchored" said the cap tain. "she's lying to-"
 "No, she's moving. Her yards arc squared toward us. but she has altered her course, and can see her sails. How can those few patches of canvas move so large vessel, wonderr
 "All the better for us," replied the captain. "A hulk of merchantmen with such rags will be easily over. hauled. Put her noth by half no'th- east"
 Whether the merchantman espied the pirate and proposed to get away from her or no, she turned and moved fin the same direction as the latter. Not. wlthstanding her meager show of can vas. she did not seem to lose much interval.
 How does she keep that paceT in- ouired the captain of one of his prin- cipal men who came up to ask about the stranger.
 "she's a 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 Of the malnmast Then the grappling irons were fixed fin place, and the crew stood ready. So long Gs 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 ves- sel a headway of half G dozen knots they began to look puzzled.
 Presently 1t began to be apparent to 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 sud den her sails were furled, but, wonder (ul to relate, she resumed her former speed. The captain, the wheelman and 6alf A dozen of the crew who had come up Eo ask questions about the singular craft all looked at one another In as- tonishment.
 That's no real shlpw exclaimed ono with blanched cheeks. "She is phan' tomr
 "shut up!" cried the captain. shes 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 cutlass"
 This quieted the crew temporarily. though several who had been born within the fold of the church secretly crossed themselves. They were of the lowest classes, and their captain was no more enlightened than themselves though made of sterner stun. 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 verltable phantom. Nevertheless at z oyclock fin the morning, when the moon had passed the horizon, the pirate.ous as ,far astern as ever. The myste. vessel moved on like 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 ono of these changes of gait the pirates found themselves sailing half mile behind her and on parallel lines a quar- ter of a mile apart.
 "Send a shot" said the captain
 The guuners got gun ready on the forecastle, but there seemed to be some delay. The captain went forward and fouRd the men shlvering beside the gun.
 "whats the matterr' he thundered.
 "Afay be she's under the protection of the blessed saints," whimpered one of the men. Tt would be impious to fire. Look. there's something white In the water amidshipsl She moves again. Santa Maria! The sea monsters arc bearing her forward!
 Every man fell on his knees ana made the sign of the cross.
 Suddenly the vessel, notwithstanding the direction of the wind, sheered around and stood on course that would take her directly across the pirates bow. The captain still kept on his feet in the midst of his kneelins men and watched her with open mouth and staring eyes. On went his vessel and on went the stranger, passing hh course an eighth of a mile ahead. Pres ently his fighting nature oyercame hh superstition, and, selzlng an ironl that was heating in a brazier. he appted if 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 fared through n square opening fin her side, glaring on the figure of Satan, who was thrustlng huge poker into the placs from whence the light was emitted.