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The Strange Tale of Cap'n James' Portrait

The providential care of our Lord never ceases to be wondrous.

Mike Fentz resides in Muncie, Indiana, with his wife and two daughters. One day they discussed how busy they had all been, especially Mike, a professional artist. Wisely his wife and daughters knew of Mike's fascination with privateers and pirates since boyhood and suggested taking a trip along these lines. After reading about Sir Francis Drake they had all become infatuated with the Spanish Main and the Seven Seas. So, they decided to take a once in a lifetime voyage.

The Fentz family took months to prepare for the journey and plotted out their course with professional navigators. Classes were taken, the various areas of the ship learned, equipment understood and the necessary victuals obtained.

The first stop was to a little village on the east coast of the U.S.A. There the Fentz family contacted an old captain that knew the ways of the sea for final preparations. It was in the village they had first heard the strange tale of Cap'n James. Apparently, this old sea dog was a chivalrous, Christian privateer that had been good friends with Sir Francis Drake. Throughout time stories had mounted up and circulated about those that had bearly made it back to land telling of a strange apparation rescuing them. Cap'n James and his first mate, Patch, along with his crew would mysteriously appear out of nowhere to help Christian families in trouble on the high seas. The village people would tell the tales over and over again, half believing them, but would inform all outsiders that it was just a fun superstition.

Mike and his family certainly enjoyed the stories, but they were not there to listen to these old wives' tales, but to sail the Spanish Main and the Seven Seas. Soon all the preparations were complete. Everything had gone well for several weeks on the voyage; however, one day, the ship's engine refused to turn over and the radio equipment went dead. This was a most serious situation! How would the Fentz family reach shore without help?

They prayed to the One that hears, sees, and knows all protecting His own for three days and nights. Other than the obvious concerns of the Fentz family these days passed without incident and they often look upon this time as our Lord's providential care as the family got to spend extra time in one another's company.

On the twilight of the third day, Mike thought he saw an old fashioned ship off in the distance. As the ship got closer, they noticed the crew were all dressed in costumes. Was this a re-enactment troupe? The ship got closer and closer.

"Ahoy there, mateys!" someone shouted in a rich, luxurious booming voice.

"Hello!," replied Mike, "How fortunate you happened by! Our engine stopped working and, it is strange to say, all our electricity stopped working except for food making equipment."

"Ah ... that is most serious indeed!" said the rich booming voice. "Ye will need to board me ship whilst me crew and I make repairs. Me first mate here will keep ye well entertained with wondrous tall tales and yarns whilst repairs be made to yore vessel."

The Fentz family was given a tour of the ship while listening to spell binding stories that could not possibly happen from the first mate. Strangely enough anytime a member of the Fentz family attempted to take pictures of the crew, the Cap'n, the ship, or the first mate, the camera refused to work. How odd. Repairs were soon completed and the family returned to their own vessel. Mike insisted that the good Cap'n receive compensation for all that he had done, but the Cap'n flatly refused with a twinkle in his eye.

As the ships separated from one another, a mist rolled in with the Cap'n's ship slowly disappearing into the haze. A loud voice was heard before the ship disappeared.

"Trust and rest ye in the Lord, mateys, and know that Cap'n James is at work about His business."

Mike and his family looked at one another open mouthed .... so THIS was Cap'n James himself ... the privateer the village people had spoken about. Quickly, Mike went for his art supplies and did not rest until he captured the likeness of the chivalrous Cap'n James and Patch.

The Fentz vessel reached shore early the next morning.

While breaking their fast in the morning, the family all looked at one another oddly. They found themselves not in a ship off shore, but in the comfort of their own home in Indiana sitting around the breakfast table. How was it possible that the entire family had the same dream! Mike went to his home studio and there was the portrait of Cap'n James and his first mate, Patch!!