The Phantom Ship

The story is about a sailor, Philip Vanderdecken, who is in search of his father. His father is the captain of the Phantom Ship and is condemned to sail for eternity after he made an unwise oath before killing a man. Philip wears a piece of the True Cross tied around his neck and, with it, he hopes to free his father from his bondage-if he can find him. This is one of Marryat's very best stories, containing great sea adventure, a dash of the supernatural, and even a chapter featuring a werewolf that has been excerpted in numerous anthologies.