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lings of ill-will, was evident. And each minute the gale increased. "The wind is not steady," observed Hillebrant: "there is no saying from which quarter the storm may blow: it has already veered round five points. Philip, I don't much like the appearance of things, and I may say with the captain that my heart is heavy." "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 canvass 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 we
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