The Phantom Ship

readers by a succinct recapitulation of the circumstances that had directed the enterprise of the Dutch towards

a and its dependencies; to Philip Spain; but to make the division more equal and palatable to the latter, he threw the Low Countries, with the few millions vegetating upon them, into the bargain. Having thus disposed of his fellow-mortals m

d, and Philip, to stop their grumbling, burnt a few of them. Upon which, the Dutch, who are aquatic in their propensities, protested against a religion which was much too warm for their constitutions. In short, heresy made great progress; and the Duke of

d which, after having saved some hundreds of thousands the trouble of dying in their beds, at l

e right, and they defended it by force. For a long time no private company ventured to oppose them, and the trade was not of that apparent value to induce any government to embark in a war upon the question. The English adventurers, therefore, turned their attention to the discovery of a nort

tor accomplished more than the most sanguine had anticipated. He returned to England in the month of May, 1580, after a voyage which occupied

a Company, in the meanwhile, received their first charter from the government, and

quarrelled with Philip, they were no longer admitted as retailers of his Indian produce: the consequence was, that, while asserting, and fighting for, their independence, they had also fitted out expediti

ore than fifty years; and the Portuguese had lost nearly all their power, from the alliances and friendships which

e extended beyond the Cape; for, on the other side of it, the Portuguese, English, and Dutch fought and captured each other's vessels without ceremony; and there was no law but that of main force. The m

s in earnest, he seized more than two hundred Dutch vessels, and the Dutch then (very unwillingly) prepared for war. Blake and Van Tromp met, and the naval combats were most obstinate. In the "History of England" the victory is almost invariably given to the English, but in that of Holland to the Dutch. By all accounts, these engagements were so obstinate, that in e

he hastened to embark with his effects on board of the Ter Schilling. Philip had not forgotten to bring with him the money which he had agreed to pay the captain, in consideration of being received on board as an apprentice rather than a sailor. He had also furnished himself with a further sum for his own exigencies. It was late in the evenin

a truant spirit? No! I seek communion with the dead. Can I meet the dead without danger to myself and those who sail with me? I should think not, for I cannot join it but in death. Did they surmise my wishes and intentions, would they permit me to remain one hour on board? Superstitious as seamen are said to be, they might find a good excuse, if they knew my mission,

said a mild voice, which made

ge. His hair was flaxen, and fell in long flakes upon his shoulders, his complexion fair, and his eyes of

forgotten myself, and where I was: my thought

se of the present day. She was ship-rigged, and of about four hundred tons burden. Her bottom was nearly flat, a

the water. The bowsprit staved very much, and was to appearance almost as a fourth mast: the more so, as she carried a square spritsail and sprit-topsail. On her quarter-deck and poop-bulwarks were fixed in sockets implements of warfare now long in disuse, but what were then known by the names of cohorns and patteraroes; they turned round on a swivel, and were pointed by an iron handle fixed to the breech. The sail abaft the mizen-mast (

en. The supercargo had not yet come on board. The cabin (under the poop) was appropriated to the su

he water smooth, and the bustle and novelty of the scene were cheering to his spirits. The captain, Mynheer Kloots, was standing on the poop with a small telescope, made of pasteboard, to his eye, anxiously lo

red plush waistcoat, with large metal buttons; a jacket of green cloth, over which he wore another of larger dimensions of coarse blue cloth, which came down as low as what would be called a spencer. Below he had black plush breeches, light blue worsted stockings, shoes, and

ir fluttered in the breeze, and his nose (although quite straight) was, at the tip, fiery red from frequent application to his bottl

over-willing to come on board; the boat has been on shore this hour waiting for him, and we shall be last of the fleet under weigh. I wish th

duty on board?"

y, studying little except their own comforts; in fact, they play the king on board, knowing that we dare not affront them, as a word from them would prejudice

hing of this one

hom he has sailed) told me that he is most fearful of the da

plied Philip; "I am most a

, my son: I hear that you leave a comfo

l a ship before I purchase one, and try to make the fortune that I covet." (Al

good ship into a good house, with plenty of guilders to keep the house warm, you would not find me standing on

gerous, then?

you may be blown away from your anchor to sea, or be driven on shore among the savages, before the men can well put on their clothing. But when once you're well on the other side of the Cape, then the wa

hall we go i

ave orders to trade down the Straits for camphor, gum, benzoin, and wax; they have also gold and the teeth of the elephant to barter with us: there (should we be sent thither) you must be careful with the natives, My

e all at p

the English press us hard, and tread upon our heels wherever we go. They must be checked

expect your voyag

-nay, if not detained by the factors, as I expect we

Amine! and he sighed deeply, for he felt

etain me by force; they would not barter for my cargo, or permit me to seek another market. My powder had been landed, and I could make no resistance. The worms ate through the bottom of my vessel, and she sank at her anchors. They knew it would take place, and that then they would have my cargo at their own price. Another vessel brought us home. Ha

o perform?" observed Philip

e Company, and may assist me in various ways, as soon as the unpleasant nausea, felt by those who first embark, has subsided. As a remedy, I should propose that you gird a handkerchief tight round your body so as to compress

, was pulled alongside. Philip watched the appearance of the supercargo, but he remained in the boat until several o

n velvet, with broad flaps: his waistcoat of white silk, worked in coloured flowers, and descending half-way down to his knees. His breeches were of black satin, and his legs were covered with white silk stockings. Add to this, gold buckles a

een the World" surrounded by his tribe. There was not, however, the least inclination on the part of the seamen to laugh, even at his flowing, full-bottomed wig: respect was at that period paid to dress; and

he coils of ropes with which his path was encumbered. The door was opened, and the supercargo disappeared. The ship was then got under weigh, the men had left the windlas

forward), taking the pipe out of his mouth. "Mynh

argo perched upon the table and pulling the bell-rope, which hung over its centre, with every mark of fe

atter, sir?" i

be murdered, torn to pieces, and devoured? For mercy's sake, sir, don't stare, but do something-look, i

amusing himself with the supercargo's flowing wig, which he held in his paws, tossing it about, and now and then burying his muzzle in it. The unexpected sight of the animal

whose disposition he was unacquainted with, when the ap

recovered the supercargo's wig. "Out of the cabin, Johannes! Out, sir!" cried Mynheer Kloots, kicking the breech of the bear till the animal had escaped throu

e to the high-backed chair near it, shook out the damaged curls of his wig, and replaced it on his head; pulle

ing of this disrespect to the sup

e was three months old. It was all a mistake. The mate, Mynheer Hillebrant, put him in the cabin, that he might be out of the way while the duty was car

percargo to the Compa

nimal must be thrown

mal that I hold in much affection, Mynheer

any, to whom I shall represent the affair. Your charter wi

behaviour on the part of the supercargo raised his bile. "There is nothing

curious animals, sent home by the governors and factors to be presented to crowned heads,-such as lions, tigers, elephants, and other productions of the East;-but in no instance is i

for sale, Mynh

e ship, Mynheer Kloots; I order you to

e point. If the Company insists that the brute be put on shore, be it so; but recollect, Mynheer Von Str

ercargo; he had no wish to sail alone, and the fear of th

e animal is chained, so that it does not approac

haining up the poor animal, it will howl all day and night, an

ll that a man could do who could not help himself. He vowed vengeance in his own mind, and then, with an

r, muttering as he walked away-"If the Company send their monkeys on board, I think I ma