The Flag of Distress: A Story of the South Sea. Reid Mayne

do they thus stand. Then the lieutenant, rushing up the stair, and on to the side, shouts out —

      “Back to the ship, and bring the doctor! Row with all your might, men. Away!”

      The boat’s people, obedient, pull off with alacrity. They are but too glad to get away from the suspected spot. As they strain at their oars, with faces now turned towards the barque, and eyes wonderingly bent upon her, they see nought to give them a clue to the conduct of their officers, or in any way elucidate the series of mysteries, prolonged to a chain and still continuing. One imbued with a belief in the supernatural, shakes his head, saying —

      “Shipmates! we may never see that lieutenant again; nor the young reefer, nor the old cox – never!”

      Chapter Six.

      “A Phantom Ship – Sure!”

      During all this while those on board the man-of-war have been regarding the barque – at the same time watching with interest every movement of the boat.

      Only they who have glasses can see what is passing with any distinctness. For the day is not a bright one, a haze over the sea hindering observation. It has arisen since the fall of the wind, perhaps caused by the calm; and, though but a mere film, at such far distance interferes with the view through their telescopes. Those using them can just tell that the cutter has closed in upon the strange vessel, and is lying along under the foremast shrouds, while some of her crew appear to have swarmed up the chains. This cannot be told for certain. The haze around the barque is more dense than elsewhere, as if steam were passing off from her sides, and through it objects show confusedly.

      While the frigate’s people are straining their eyes to make out the movement of their boat, an officer, of sharper sight than the rest, cries out —

      “See! the cutter coming back!”

      All perceived this, and with some surprise. It is not ten minutes since the boat grappled on to the barque. Why returning from her so soon?

      While they are conjecturing as to the cause, the same officer again observes something that has escaped the others. There are but eight oars, instead of ten – the regulation strength of the cutter – and ten men where before there were thirteen. Three of the boat’s crew must have remained behind.

      This causes neither alarm, nor uneasiness, to the frigate’s officers. They take it that the three have gone aboard the barque, and for some reason, whatever it be, elected to stay there. They know the third lieutenant to be not only a brave man, but one of quick decision, and prompt also to act. He has boarded the distressed vessel, discovered the cause of distress, and sends the cutter back to bring whatever may be needed for her. Thus reasons the quarterdeck.

      It is different on the fore, where apprehensions are rife about their missing shipmates – fears that some misfortune has befallen them. True, no shots have been heard nor flashes seen. Still they could have been killed without firearms. Savages might use other, and less noisy, weapons.

      The tale of the skin-clad crew gives colour to this supposition. But then the “cutters” went armed – in addition to their cutlasses, being provided with pikes and boarding-pistols. Had they been attacked, they would not have retreated without discharging these last – less likely leaving three of their number behind. Besides no signs of strife or struggle have been observed upon the barque.

      All the more mystery; and pondering upon it, the frigate’s crew are strengthened in their superstitious faith. Meanwhile, the cutter is making way across the stretch of calm sea that separates the two ships, and although with reduced strength of rowers, cleaves the water quickly. The movements of the men indicate excitement. They pull as if rowing in a regatta! Soon they are near enough to be individually recognised, when it is seen that neither of the two officers is in the boat! Nor the coxswain – one of the oarsmen having taken his place at the tiller.

      As the boat draws nearer, and the faces of the two men seated in the stern-sheets can be distinguished, there is observed upon them an expression which none can interpret. No one tries. All stand silently waiting till the cutter comes alongside, and sweeping past the bows, brings up on the frigate’s starboard beam, under the main-chains.

      The officers move forward along the gangway, and stand looking over the bulwarks; while the men come crowding aft, as far as permitted.

      The curiosity of all receives a check – an abrupt disappointment. There is no news from the barque, save the meagre scrap contained in the lieutenant’s order: “Back to the ship, and bring the doctor.”

      Beyond this the cutter’s crew only knew that they have seen the hairy men. Seen and heard them, though without understanding a word of what these said. Two had sprung upon the shrouds, and shouted at the cutter’s people, as if scolding them off!

      The tale spreads through the frigate, fore and aft, quick as a train of powder ignited. It is everywhere talked of, and commented on. On the quarter, it is deemed strange enough; while forward, it further intensifies the belief in something supernatural.

      The tars give credulous ear to one who cries out: “That’s a phantom ship – sure!”

      Their other comrade repeats what he said in the boat, and in the self-same words:

      “Shipmates, we may never see that lieutenant again, nor the young reefer, nor the old cox – never!”

      The boding speech appears like a prophecy, on the instant realised. Scarce has it passed the sailor’s lips, when a cry rings through the frigate that startles all on board, thrilling them more intensely than ever.

      While the men have been commenting upon the message brought back from the barque, and the officers are taking steps to hasten its execution – the doctor getting out his instruments, with such medicines as the occasion seems to call for – the strange vessel has been for a time unthought of.

      The cry now raised recalls her, causing all to rush towards the frigate’s side, and once more bend their eyes on the barque.

      No, not on her; only in the direction where she was last seen. For, to their intense astonishment, the polacca has disappeared!

      Chapter Seven.

      A Black Squall

      The surprise caused by the disappearance of the strange vessel is but short-lived; explained by that very natural phenomenon – a fog. Not the haze already spoken of; but a dense bank of dark vapour that, drifting over the surface of the sea, has suddenly enveloped the barque within its floating folds.

      It threatens to do the same with the frigate – as every sailor in her can perceive. But though their wondering is at an end, a sense of undefined fear still holds possession of them. Nor is this due to the fast approaching fog. That could not frighten men who have dared every danger of the deep, and oft groped their way through icy seas shrouded in darkness almost amorphous.

      Their fears spring from the old fancy, that the other phenomena are not natural. The fog of itself may be; but what brings it on, just then, at a crisis, when they were speculating about the character of the chased vessel, some doubting her honesty, others sceptical of her reality, not a few boldly pronouncing her as a phantom? If an accident of nature, certainly a remarkable one.

      The reader may smile at credulity of this kind; but not he who has mixed among the men of the forecastle, whatever the nationality of the ship, and whether merchantmen or man-of-war. Not all the training of naval schools, nor the boasted enlightenment of this our age, has fully eradicated from the mind of the canvas-clad mariner a belief in something more than he has seen, or can see – something outside nature. To suppose him emancipated from this would be to hold him of higher intelligence than his fellow-men, who stay ashore ploughing the soil, as he does the sea. To thousands of these he can point, saying: “Behold the believers in supernatural existences – in spirit-rappings – ay, in very ghosts; this not only in days gone by, but now – now more than ever within memory of man!” Then let not landsmen scoff at such fancies, not a whit more absurd than their own credence in spiritualism.

      Aside from this sort of feeling in the warship, there is a real and far more serious cause for apprehension, in which