taking, and defying both all force and all nations, without raising many foes, which, I must not conceal from you, are likely to crush us at last. This end, however, I think we should ward off considerably, if we could so cloak our attacks as to leave no trace of them, or cause them to be set down as the deeds of others.

"This is a difficult business, I know, but I think I have hit on a plan."

"Let's hear it!"

“You shall, my boys! but don't be surprised or downhearted at what I'm going to propose. It isn't any everyday plan that would suit our strait, and if you only give your consent, and promise obedience, I'll undertake the trick shall answer."

At this part of the corporal's address his listeners all bent forward with more anxious ears, and the speaker, after eyeing his auditors in silence for a few minutes, added, inquiringly

"You have all heard of THE FLYING DUTCHMAN, I suppose?"

At the sound of this dreaded name, a visible dejection was seen to come over the countenances of many of the older seamen, accompanied with a sort of nervous emotion, tempting them to look over their shoulders, as if at some suspicious visitant, neither of whose absence nor presence they were quite assured. A few minutes' silence intervened, and then low murmers of " Yes," ” “Ay,

ho," "What then corporal?" reached the speaker's ear. He saw that he was treading upon tender ground, and proceeded as cautiously as possible.

66

Well, shipmates, as you have all heard of this same ship, which has appeared at so many various times, and under such different circumstances, you must all know the general belief to be, that whenever she heaves in sight, some impending disaster of wreck or other matter is coming upon the vessel and the crew by which she is

seen.

"Now, this being the case, you must also know very well that any ship whose crew are possessed with such a notion, and stand in dread of such a fate, are already half conquered, whoever their enemies may be. The notion, however, that the ship bodes il luck, is as great a mistake

"Yes, yes, so I will; but hear me out patiently. I say that the notion of her boding ill luck is as great a mistake as the belief that THE FLYING DUTCHMAN is a ship at all."

Here the hubbub became so great, that for some time the bold declaimer was silenced; at last, however, by perseverance, he obtained a sufficient hearing to proceed with his theory.

"I say, then, my boys, that those captains, and admirals, and other great men,” (Jack would have treated any men of science without these titles as mere humbugs and mad imposters,) "great men who have gone deepest into this subject, have assured us that what we think is a ship, and what looks so like one, is in reality, only the reflection of some vessel in a calmer sea, and therefore carrying more sail than could be spread in those gales where the spectre ship is generally seen. What I propose, therefore, is this, that we take advantage of this superstitious legend, and the panic and fear that its appearance generally creates, and take the name and pass ourselves off in every respect as the THE FLYING DUTCHMAN!" Cries of

"Shame! Shame!"

"Bravo!"

"'Vast heaving!" "Go on !"

"Hold hard!"

Many other of the accompaniments of popular speaking here interrupted the orator; but amidst all the rout, the daring project clearly gained ground in the minds of its hearers, and after no inconsiderable squabble amongst the examiners, the examinee was at last requested to explain how, in case of the crew's consent, he proposed to carry his bold deceit into effect, and sustain the aweinspiring illusion.

CHAPTER XVI.

See to what mighty ends small means conduce,
As spider's webs may heal the deepest wounds.

WHEN Once the corporal had contrived, by his courage and address, to gain the difficult point of a fair hearing, the remainder of his task was of a nature comparatively easy. The present dénouement had been long contemplated, and allowance made for every emergency which can, as it were, be met in the distance.

The means, therefore, by which he hoped to counterfeit the dreaded phantom of the sea, was this: he proposed to form an entire set of skeleton sails, composed of tolerably thick network, growing more and more slight in material and proportion as it ascended, and which, while it would give to the distant spectator the appearance of canvass, would yet still more alarm him by seeming to be canvass of a most mysterious transparency, and on which the wind would have comparatively little power.

In addition to this stratagem, he advised the mutineers to carry very taunt slim topgallant and royal masts; and to guard against their being carried away very easily, he showed how they should be bound diagonally with sheet-copper. Besides the skeleton sails of network, his plan also embraced the power to carry the actual sails upon the yards, to be used, when necessary, inside the net work. He proposed also that the crew should be dressed as much as possible in the Dutch style, and more especially so the captain.

When these details where propounded, with a variety of minutiæ not necessary here to repeat, but all tending to further the contemplated deception, the crew received the whole with three loud cheers, accompanied, it is true, by some slight and superstitious twinges of compunction, but these where silent in the general joy; and the corporal, dismissed by his examiners, passed up to the mizentop, to be succeeded by the last of the eleven.

This latter gentleman was a solitary volunteer, and, being speedily found wanting, was told to console himself in the best way he could for the cobbing in store for him.

When the election came to be made, each name was called out in the order of the examination, and those who voted for the individual to command them held up their hands. The process soon terminated in favour of the corporal by a large majority.

His scheme was now rapidly put into execution. They sailed for the South Seas first terrifying and then taking on the way several ships of many nations, loaded with merchandize and passengers; and having discovered such an island as suited their purpose, it was named Flying Dutchman's Isle. The frigate herself was rechristened by the title of THE FLYING DUTCHMAN; and the corporal by that of Mynheer Hoogan Moogan.

Well fortified by nature, Dutchman's Island required little at the hands of its new possessors, but the moderate industry of providing themselves with houses, and the assistance of plentiful earth to bring forth such crops as they were particularly desirous to possess and cultivate. Having first, like the Sabines, procured wives, by the capture of all whom they met and ventured to engage, (for it was a standing rule with the corporal never to let slip a foe once attacked,) their next object was to increase the effective force of their illegal confederacy; and with the many temptations which, in their wild romantic tales,. they held out ad captandum, they seldom had to ask twice of their prisoners to become their comrades.

After a short but successful career, they now found themselves accidently possessed of Ramsay, by the attack which they had made upon the Spider, well knowing her inability to resist them, and thinking that they should gain some desirable recruits from her crew.

As soon, therefore, as the wind had sufficiently abated, THE FLYING DUTCHMAN had hoisted out her boats, and, taking possession of the brig, transferred every living thing to her own decks, with all such marine stores as they desired; finally setting the hull on fire.

The superstitious horror of the officers rapidly changed into surprise and rage, when they learned how mortal had been those foes, who for such a length of time had, by their appearance, filled themselves with the dismay of a spiritual enemy.

But the discovery came too late. They soon found they must submit, and ere three days had passed, fourfifths of their crew were sworn to the creed of THE FLYING DUTCHMAN.

After a most productive cruise, the results of which

were all on board, in money, provisions, stores, merchandize, and nearly five hundred men, besides twice as many more left on the island, they were now wending their way back to Dutchman's Isle, full of high hopes on the subject of their pleasures, and all overflowing with the most boisterous delight at the pleasant recreation in store.

When the corporal had detailed to Ramsay at full length the events which have here only been generally narrated, he concluded by proposing at once to resign to him that command to which he, Ramsay, had been originally ap pointed, and which the difficulty of discovering him had alone delayed.

G*