The first edition of this book is dated 1839. The publisher was George Routledge and Sons. The number of pages is 316.

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General information

Captain Frederick Marryat was born July 10 1792, and died August 8 1848. He retired from the British navy in 1828 in order to devote himself to writing. In the following 20 years he wrote 26 books, many of which are among the very best of English literature, and some of which are still in print.

Marryat had an extraordinary gift for the invention of episodes in his stories. He says somewhere that when he sat down for the day’s work, he never knew what he was going to write. He certainly was a literary genius.

“The Phantom Ship” was published in 1839, the thirteenth book to flow from Marryat’s pen. It is one of his very best books.

This e-text was transcribed in 1998 by Nick Hodson, and was re- formatted in 2003, and again in 2005.

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Contents

Chapter I.
About the middle of the seventeenth century, in the outskirts of the small but fortified town of Terneuse, situated on the right bank of the Scheldt, and nearly opposite to the island of Walcheren, there was to be seen in advance of a few other even more humble tenements, a small but neat cottage, built according to the prevailing taste of the time.

Chapter II.
Philip Vanderdecken, strong as he was in mental courage, was almost paralysed by the shock when he discovered that his mother’s spirit had fled; and for some time he remained by the side of the bed, with his eyes fixed upon the corpse, and his mind in a state of vacuity.

Chapter III.
The discovery of the beautiful daughter of Mynheer Poots had made a strong impression upon Philip Vanderdecken, and now he had another excitement to combine with those which already overcharged his bosom.

Chapter IV.
If the reader can imagine the feelings of a man who, sentenced to death, and having resigned himself to his fate, finds himself unexpectedly reprieved; who, having recomposed his mind after the agitation arising from a renewal of those hopes and expectations which he had abandoned, once more dwells upon future prospects, and indulges in pleasing anticipations: we say, that if the reader can imagine this, and then what would be that man’s feelings when he finds that the reprieve is revoked, and that he is to suffer, he may then form some idea of the state of Philip’s mind when he quitted the cottage.

Chapter V.
Philip Vanderdecken sat down at the porch of the door; he swept his hair from his forehead, which he exposed to the fanning of the breeze; for the continued excitement of the last three days had left a fever on his brain which made him restless and confused.

Chapter VI.
“This, then, is the chamber, which has so long been closed,” said Amine, on entering it the next morning long before Philip had awakened from the sound sleep produced by the watching of the night before.

Chapter VII.
It was not until late in the autumn that Philip was roused from his dream of love (for what, alas! is every enjoyment of this life but a dream?) by a summons from the captain of the vessel with whom he had engaged to sail.

Chapter VIII.
Before we follow Philip Vanderdecken in his venturous career, it will be necessary to refresh the memory of our readers, by a succinct recapitulation of the circumstances that had directed the enterprise of the Dutch towards the country of the East, which was now proving to them a source of wealth, which they considered as inexhaustible.

Chapter IX.
We must allow the Indian fleet to pursue its way to the Cape with every variety of wind and weather.

Chapter X.
The sudden gloom which had succeeded to the pale light, had the effect of rendering every object still more indistinct to the astonished crew of the Ter Schilling.

Chapter XI.
It need hardly be observed that Philip made all possible haste to his own little cottage, which contained all that he valued in this world.

Chapter XII.
Philip had not been long on board, ere he found that they were not likely to have a very comfortable passage; for the Batavia was chartered to convey a large detachment of troops to Ceylon and Java, for the purpose of recruiting and strengthening the Company’s forces at those places.

Chapter XIII.
“Far be it from me to wish to annoy you, my son,” said Father Mathias, as with difficulty he kept pace with the rapid strides of Philip, who was now within a quarter of a mile of his home; “but still, recollect that this is but a transitory world, and that much time has elapsed since you quitted this spot.

Chapter XIV.
Six weeks had flown away, and Amine, restored to health, wandered over the country, hanging on the arm of her adored Philip, or nestled by his side in their comfortable home.

Chapter XV.
It was about three months after this conversation that Amine and Philip were again seated upon the mossy bank which we have mentioned, and which had become their favourite resort.

Chapter XVI.
We must leave Amine to her solitude, and follow the fortunes of Philip.

Chapter XVII.
But their difficulties were not surmounted—the fire now had communicated to the main-deck and burst out of the port-holes amid-ships—and the raft which had been forming alongside was obliged to be drifted astern where it was more exposed to the swell.

Chapter XVIII.
The fleet under Admiral Rymelandt’s command was ordered to proceed to the East Indies by the western route, through the Straits of Magellan into the Pacific Ocean—it being still imagined, notwithstanding previous failures, that this route offered facilities which might shorten the passage to the Spice Islands.

Chapter XIX.
It appeared as if their misfortunes were to cease, after the tragical death of the two commanders.

Chapter XX.
We must return to Amine, who is seated on the mossy bank where she and Philip conversed when they were interrupted by Schriften, the pilot.

Chapter XXI.
The cargo of the Dort was soon ready, and Philip sailed and arrived at Amsterdam without any further adventure.

Chapter XXII.
The Utrecht sailed from Gambroon, touched at Ceylon, and proceeded on her voyage in the Eastern seas.

Chapter XXIII.
“I have then seen him,” said Philip, after he had lain down on the sofa in the cabin for some minutes to recover himself while Amine bent over him.

Chapter XXIV.
It was not until the day had dawned that Philip opened his eyes, and discovered Krantz kneeling at his side; at first his thoughts were scattered and confused; he felt that some dreadful calamity had happened to him, but he could not recall to mind what it was.

Chapter XXV.
What pen could portray the feelings of the fond and doting Amine, when she first discovered that she was separated from her husband? In a state of bewilderment, she watched the other raft as the distance between them increased.

Chapter XXVI.
We must for a time return to Philip, and follow his strange destiny.

Chapter XXVII.
The raft was found to answer well, and although her progress through the water was not very rapid, she obeyed the helm and was under command.

Chapter XXVIII.
When Amine again came to her senses, she found herself lying on the leaves of the palmetto, in a small hut.

Chapter XXIX.
Both Amine and Father Mathias started, and drew back with surprise, at this unexpected meeting.

Chapter XXX.
We must now again return to Philip and Krantz, who had a long conversation upon the strange reappearance of Schriften.

Chapter XXXI.
As every one descants upon the want of comfort in a prison, it is to be presumed that there are no very comfortable ones.

Chapter XXXII.
Tired out with the fatigue of the day before, Philip had laid himself down by Krantz and fallen asleep; early the next morning he was awakened by the sound of the commandant’s voice, and his long sword rattling as usual upon the pavement.

Chapter XXXIII.
“Thus are all our hopes wrecked,” said Philip, mournfully; “what chance have we now of escaping from this little tyrant?“

Chapter XXXIV.
It was a bright morning when the Portuguese vessel on which Amine was on board entered into the bay and roadstead of Goa.

Chapter XXXV.
Amine had just returned from an afternoon’s walk through the streets of Goa: she had made some purchases at different shops in the bazaar, and had brought them home under her mantilla.

Chapter XXXVI.
Previous to continuing our narrative, it may be as well to give our readers some little insight into the nature, ceremonies, and regulations of the Inquisition, and in describing that of Goa, we may be said to describe all others, with very trifling, if any, variation.

Chapter XXXVII.
A few hours after Amine had been in the dungeon, the jailors entered: without speaking to her they let down her soft silky hair, and cut it close off.

Chapter XXXVIII.
We must now return to Philip and Krantz. When the latter retired from the presence of the Portuguese Commandant, he communicated to Philip what had taken place, and the fabulous tale which he had invented to deceive the Commandant.

Chapter XXXIX.
Scarcely had the soldiers performed their task, and thrown down their shovels, when they commenced an altercation.

Chapter XL.
Although to-morrow was to end all Amine’s hopes and fears—all her short happiness—her suspense and misery—yet Amine slept until her last slumber in this world was disturbed by the unlocking and unbarring of the doors of her cell, and the appearance of the head gaoler with a light.

Chapter XLI.
Years have passed away since we related Amine’s sufferings and cruel death; and now once more we bring Philip Vanderdecken on the scene.

Chapter XLII.
In a few minutes the vessel which Philip and Schriften had left was no longer to be discerned through the thick haze; the Phantom Ship was still in sight, but at a much greater distance from them than she was before.

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