Year: 1878

SdDldtili W anu s'NA


was the next victim OF his wrath. Ht
had ordered me TO make lanyard


knot in the end of an old, tagged rope


to be used for lashing somewhere.
did SO, and returned it to him, telling


him | had made the best job of it
could.


"Well, if that's your best" said he,


"you're as much Of lubber as voul
partner, Hastings. I'll dock you both


to Urinary seaman's pay"


In vain | demonstrated, saying that
the rope was too much worn and tagged
to make a neat piece of work.


gagged, is it? Well, I'll finish il
up over your lubberly back"


"No you WON'T" sang out a voice


from behind the long-boat.
He rushed round in the direction OF


the sound, but there was no one there.
"Who was that that spoke?n he
cried. "If | knew who hewas I'd cut


his heart out"


"Ha, ha, would ye?" was answered


derisively-from the maintop, now.


1t was broad daylight, and all could


see there was no one up there. l was


quite as much startled and mystiiied as
my tyrant could possibly be, but the di-
version served as good purpose as on
the previous occasion, for he did not at
tack me again. Had he done so, |
meant to resist, and grapple with him,
if il cost me my life.


That night the Captains slumbers
were disturbed by fierce cry, which
appeared to come in at the side-light in
his state-room, left open for fresh air.
The cry had been heard by the Mate, on
the quarterback, and by Hastings, at
the wheel, who could give no explana-
ton of il, and seemed to share his as
tonishment and fear, when he rushed on
deck and looked vainly over the quarter
in search of the cause.


From that day he was harassed and
prosecuted at every turn by an ''inyisi-
BILE presence" which gave him nopeace
of his life. Whether on deck or below
he found no escape from it, and es-
pecially when he began to abuse or
swear at any of the ships company the
voice of the hidden champion invariably
took their part, the insolent laugh rang
in his ears on every such occasion. SEEM
ing to come from overhead.


But no such manifestations ever trou-
bled us in the forecastle, nor did the un-
earthly voice ever address any one on
board except Capt. Phelps. The more
part of our crew would
rather have borne his tyrannical treat
ment than have lived in haunted ship,
while some of us welcomed friend in
this unaccountable spiritual presence,or
whatever it might be.


The Captains angry passions were to
some degree checked by it, though now
and then they broke forth so suddenly
that the object of his fury received a
blow before it could interfere. We had
arrived within a couple of days sail of
the English coast, when, bee, ming ex-
asperated by some blunder OF Hastings,
he hurled 4 Delaying pin, which struck
him on the head. The poor fellow sud-
denly clapped both hands to the spot
with yell and rushed into the forecas-
lie. The Captain, after having thrown
he missile, appeared, as | thought, sur
Drised at not hearing any thing, and
noticed him glance nervously aloft. But |
still hearing nothing he recovered his
courage and ordered Mr.. Raynor to
'call that man on deck again"


The Mate, getting no answer to his
,all, went below and found Hastings
lelirious. He reported that he believed
he man TO be in critical condition,
md the Captain directed him to do what
,ver he thought best for his relief. l
hink Captain Phelps, like some other
lard cases that / have sailed with, did
lot dare venture into the forecastle him.
elf, for fear that he might never get
'ut again alive.


That night il became necessary to call
II hands out to reef again, and while
We were on the yards thrilling cry
rose from the bows, such as might well
lave been raised by maniac A hu-
nan form was seen by several of us
rect on the rail, near the fore-swifter,