MIDNIGHT

The battered slave ship slanted its way through the raging storm with its howling wind, rolling and reeling to and fro unsteadily as the great giant waves tossed it like a cork in the indifferent pea green sea. The mist was thick and unrelenting ,then with a loud sound it crashed against some hidden rocks in its unsteady path. The main sail fell with a loud crash onto the slippery deck, awakening the residents in a nearby Hamlet.

That night, they were awakened by loud groans and screams amidst harsh words and cursing coming from the wreck. The residents cowered and trembled in their beds, no one daring to go outside.

The storm ceased the next morning and all was quiet but for the calling of circling sea gulls. The residents all went out to see the wreck that laid in a crumpled heap against the huge rock .

They approached the wreck cautiously ,in their small sailing boats,but to their surprise, found not a trace of life aboard nor in the surrounding waters!  It was just an empty ship,which was strange, very strange!

They looked at each other in stunned silence,and scrambled back to shore in superstitious fright.

They slept uneasily that night,

The next morning, they saw to their horror ,that the ship had vanished completely  without a trace!

PS :  There were later reports that a slave ship was seen plying the waves at nights, but usually vanish on approach.

Michael Lance Kersting