“We shall never reach port again, sir,” said he to Philip, as he came up to him.

“Silence, silence; the men may hear you.”

“It matters not—­they think the same,” replied Krantz.

“But they are wrong,” replied Philip, turning to the seamen.  “My lads! that some disaster may happen to us, after the appearance of this vessel, is most probable; I have seen her before more than once, and disasters did then happen; but here I am alive and well, therefore it does not prove that we cannot escape as I have before done.  We must do our best, and trust in Heaven.  The gale is breaking fast, and in a few hours we shall have fine weather.  I have met this Phantom Ship before, and care not how often I meet it again.  Mr Krantz, get up the spirits—­the men have had hard work, and must be fatigued.”

The very prospect of obtaining liquor, appeared to give courage to the men; they hastened to obey the order, and the quantity served out was sufficient to give courage to the most fearful, and induce others to defy old Vanderdecken and his whole crew of imps.  The next morning the weather was fine, the sea smooth, and the Utrecht went gaily on her voyage.

Many days of gentle breezes and favouring winds gradually wore off the panic occasioned by the supernatural appearance, and if not forgotten, it was referred to either in jest or with indifference.  They now had run through the Straits of Malacca, and entered the Polynesian Archipelago.  Philip’s orders were to refresh and call for instructions at the small island of Boton, then in possession of the Dutch.  They arrived there in safety, and after remaining two days, again sailed on their voyage, intending to make their passage between the Celebes and the island of Galago.  The weather was still clear and the wind light:  they proceeded cautiously, on account of the reefs and currents, and with a careful watch for the piratical vessels, which have for centuries infested those seas; but they were not molested, and had gained well up among the islands to the north of Galago, when it fell calm, and the vessel was borne to the eastward of it by the current.  The calm lasted several days, and they could procure no anchorage; at last they found themselves among the cluster of islands near to the northern coast of New Guinea.

The anchor was dropped, and the sails furled for the night; a drizzling small rain came on, the weather was thick, and watches were stationed in every part of the ship, that they might not be surprised by the pirate proas, for the current ran past the ship, at the rate of eight or nine miles per hour, and these vessels, if hid among the islands, might sweep down upon them unperceived.

It was twelve o’clock at night when Philip, who was in bed, was awakened by a shock; he thought it might be a proa running alongside, and he started from his bed and ran out.  He found Krantz, who had been awakened by the same cause, running up undressed—­another shock succeeded, and the ship careened to port.  Philip then knew that the ship was on shore.