he was not understood.
It was not until the following afternoon that they brought in a
seaman who spoke Dutch. He told the man his entire story, from
the time he had signed aboard until the time he had jumped into
the sea.
"Incredible!" the seaman observed, pausing after a long spell of
translation for the officers. "Then that storm-tossed
apparition we saw yesterday was really the _Flying Dutchman!_
There truly _is_ such a thingўand you, you are the only man to
have escaped from it!"
Van Berkum smiled weakly, drained his mug, and set it aside,
hands still shaking.
The seaman clapped him on the shoulder.
"Rest easy now, my friend. You are safe at last," he said, "free
of the demon ship. You are aboard a vessel with a fine safety
record and excellent officers and crewўand just a few days away
from her port. Recover your strength and rid your mind of past
afflictions. We welcome you aboard the _Marie Celeste_."
_____________________________________________________________________
Last modified 3/21/98
