lings of ill-will, was
evident. And each minute the gale increased.

"The wind is not steady," observed Hillebrant: "there is no saying from
which quarter the storm may blow: it has already veered round five
points. Philip, I don't much like the appearance of things, and I may
say with the captain that my heart is heavy."

"And, indeed, so is mine," replied Philip; "but we are in the hands of a
merciful Providence."

"Hard a-port! flatten in forward! brail up the trysail, my men! Be
smart!" cried Kloots, as from the wind's chopping round to the northward
and westward, the ship was taken aback, and careened low before it. The
rain now came down in torrents, and it was so dark that it was with
difficulty they could perceive each other on the deck.

"We must clew up the topsails while the men can get upon the yards. See
to it forward, Mr Hillebrant."

The lightning now darted athwart the firmament, and the thunder pealed.

"Quick! quick, my men, let's furl all!"

The sailors shook the water from their streaming clothes, some worked,
others took advantage of the night to hide themselves away, and commune
with their own fears.

All canvass was now taken off the ship, except the fore-staysail, and
she flew to the southward with the wind on her quarter. The sea had now
risen, and roared as it curled in foam, the rain fell in torrents, the
night was dark as Erebus, and the wet and frightened sailors sheltered
themselves under the bulwarks. Although many had deserted from their
duty, there was not one who ventured below that night. They did not
collect together as usual--every man preferred solitude and his own
thoughts. The Phantom Ship dwelt on their imaginations and oppressed
their brains.

It was an interminably long and terrible night--they thought the day
would never come. At last the darkness gradually changed to a settled
sullen grey gloom--which was day. They looked at each other, but found
no comfort in meeting each other's eyes. There was no one countenance
in which a beam of hope could be found lurking. They were all doomed--
they remained crouched where they had--sheltered themselves during the
night, and said nothing.

The sea had now risen mountains high, and more than once had struck the
ship abaft. Kloots was at the binnacle, Hillebrant and Philip at the
helm, when a wave curled high over the quarter, and poured itself in
resistless force upon the deck. The captain and his two mates we