“Even so—­Merciful Heaven!  It is—­it is”—­and Philip, overpowered by his feelings, sank upon deck.

The vessel had now passed over the Utrecht; the form of the elder Vanderdecken was seen to walk aft and look over the taffrail; Amine perceived it to start and turn away suddenly—­she looked down, and saw Schriften shaking his fist in defiance at the supernatural being!  Again the Phantom Ship flew to leeward before the gale, and was soon lost in the mist; but before that, Amine had turned and perceived the situation of Philip.  No one but herself and Schriften appeared able to actor move.  She caught the pilot’s eye, beckoned to him, and with his assistance Philip was led into the cabin.

Chapter XXIII

“I have then seen him,” said Philip, after he had lain down on the sofa in the cabin for some minutes to recover himself, while Amine bent over him.  “I have at last seen him, Amine!  Can you doubt now?”

“No, Philip, I have now no doubt,” replied Amine, mournfully; “but take courage, Philip.”

“For myself, I want not courage—­but for you, Amine—­you know that his appearance portends a mischief that will surely come.”

“Let it come,” replied Amine, calmly; “I have long been prepared for it, and so have you.”

“Yes, for myself; but not for you.”

“You have been wrecked often, and have been saved—­then why should not I?”

“But the sufferings!”

“Those suffer least, who have most courage to bear up against them.  I am but a woman, weak and frail in body, but I trust I have that within me which will not make you feel ashamed of Amine.  No, Philip, you will have no wailing, no expression of despair from Amine’s lips; if she can console you, she will; if she can assist you, she will; but, come what may, if she cannot serve you, at least, she will prove no burden to you.”

“Your presence in misfortune would un-nerve me, Amine.”

“It shall not; it shall add to your resolution.  Let fate do its worst.”

“Depend upon it, Amine, that will be ere long.”

“Be it so,” replied Amine; “but, Philip, it were as well you showed yourself on deck—­the men are frightened, and your absence will be observed.”

“You are right,” said Philip; and rising and embracing her, he left the cabin.

“It is but too true, then,” thought Amine.  “Now to prepare for disaster and death—­the warning has come.  I would I could know more.  Oh! mother, mother, look down upon thy child, and in a dream reveal the mystic arts which I have forgotten, then should I know more; but I have promised Philip, that unless separated—­yes, that idea is worse than death, and I have a sad foreboding; my courage fails me only when I think of that!”

Philip, on his return to the deck, found the crew of the vessel in great consternation.  Krantz himself appeared bewildered—­he had not forgotten the appearance of the Phantom Ship off Desolation Harbour, and the vessels following her to their destruction.  This second appearance, more awful than the former, quite unmanned him; and when Philip came out of the cabin, he was leaning in gloomy silence against the weather bulkhead.