The daily Alaskan., 1905-06-14
THE DEVILS PACKET
lolginaLl

lOriginhLl
 The pirates thrt infested the gulf ot Mexico during the early years of the Spanish occupation Of Central America disappeared gradually, reappeared oc. casionally and vanished, the last shlr showing up in 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 storm, and made for open waters.
 "NNhat Is that black hulk out therel" said the man at the wheel to the cap- tain. "and how does she find anchorage in such deep waterT'
 "She's not anchored" said the chp- 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 salls. How can those few patches of canvas move so large a vessel, I woudery"
 "AlI the better for us," replied the captain. "A hulk of a merchantman with such rags will be easily over. hauled. Put her no'th by half no'th- cast"
 Whether the merchantnan espled the pirate and proposed 10 get away from her or no, she turned and moved In the same direction as the latter. Not withstanding her meaEcr show ct can vas. she did not seem to lose much interval
 How does she keep that pacey" in- qulrcd the captain Of one ot his prln- cipal men who came up 10 ask about the stranger.
 shes 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 reserve supply Of cutlasses was dumped at the foot of the malnmast Then the groppling 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 headway of half dozen knots they began to look puzzled,
 Presently it began to be apparent 10 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 ful to relate, she resumed her former speed. The captain. the wheelman and half dozen of the crew who had come up to ask questions about the singular craft all looked at one another in as- toniShment
 That's no real ship~ exclaimed one with blanched cheeks. "She Is a phan- tomv'
 shut upr" cried the captain, she's a ship, a real ship, and we'll he aboard Of her within an hour, The first man who talks about a phantom VIII feel the edge of my cutlass"
 This ouictcd the crew temporarily, though several who had been born within the fold or the church secretly crossed themselves. They were of the lowest classes. and their captain was no more enlightened than themselves, though made cf stcrner stun. The breeze freshencd, 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 verltable phantom. Nevertheless at 2 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 ahated or she ceased to move entirely, After one of these changes Of Cait 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 Cunners got gun ready on the forccastlc, but there seemed to be some delay. The captain went forward and found the men shivering beside the gun.
 whats the mattery" he thundercd.
 May be she's under the protection of the blessed saints" whlmpered one of the men. It would be impious to fire. Look, there's something white in the water amidships! She moves again, Santa Maria! The sea monsters are bearing her forward.'