“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 canvas 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 were swept away, and dashed almost senseless against the bulwarks—­the binnacle and compass were broken into fragments—­no one ran to the helm—­the vessel broached to—­the seas broke clear over her, and the mainmast went by the board.

All was confusion.  Captain Kloots was stunned, and it was with difficulty that Philip could persuade two of the men to assist him down below.  Hillebrant had been more unfortunate—­his right arm was broken, and he was otherwise severely bruised; Philip assisted him to his berth, and then went on deck again to try and restore order.

Philip Vanderdecken was not yet much of a seaman, but, at all events, he exercised that moral influence over the men which is ever possessed by resolution and courage.  Obey willingly they did not, but they did obey, and in half an hour the vessel was clear of the wreck.  Eased by the loss of her heavy mast, and steered by two of her best seamen, she again flew before the gale.