ADVENTURES IN SOUTHERN SEAS

A Tale of the Sixteenth Century

by

GEORGE FORBES

First published August 1920 by GeorgeG. Harrap & Co. Ltd. 39-41 ParkerStreet, Kingsway, London, W. C. 2Reprinted July 1924Printed in Great Britain by Neill & Co. Ltd. , Edinburgh

INTRODUCTORY

In the year 1801 was found by the chief coxswain of the "Naturalist" (aship commanded by Captain Hamelin on a voyage of discovery performed byorder of the Emperor Napoleon I), at Shark's Bay, on the coast of WestAustralia, a pewter plate about six inches in diameter, bearing aroughly engraved Dutch inscription, of which the following is atranslation:

 "1616

 "On the 25th of October arrived here the ship 'Endraght', of Amsterdam; first supercargo Gilles Miebas Van Luck; Captain Dirk Hartog, of Amsterdam. She set sail again on the 27th of the same month. Bantum was second supercargo; Janstins first pilot. 

 "Peter Ecoores Van Bu, in the year 1616. "

No connected account of the voyages of Dirk Hartog is extant, but thereport of the discovery of this pewter plate suggested the task ofcompiling a narrative from the records kept by Dutch navigators, inwhich Dirk Hartog is frequently referred to, and which is probably ascorrect a history of Hartog's voyages as can be obtained. Theaborigines of New Holland, as Australia was then called, judging by thedescription given of them by Van Bu, the author of the writing on thepewter plate, appear to have been a more formidable race of savagesthan those subsequently met with by Captain Cook on his landing atBotany Bay, and the dimensions of the tribe among whom Van Bu was heldcaptive were certainly larger than those of the migratory tribes ofAustralian blacks in more modern times. The "sea spider" described byVan Bu in his second adventure was probably the octopus, which attainsto great size in the Pacific. The "hopping animals" are doubtless thekangaroos, with which Australians are now familiar. 

Captain Dampier, in 1699, first mentions the water serpents referred toby Van Bu. "In passing, " he says, "we saw three water serpents swimmingabout in the sea, of a yellow colour, spotted with dark brown spots. Next day we saw two water serpents, different in shape from such as wehad formerly seen; one very long and as big as a man's leg in girth, having a red head, which I have never seen any before or since. "

From an examination of the Dutch records, it would appear that a shipnamed the "Arms of Amsterdam" drove past the south coast of New Guineain the year 1623. This is, perhaps, the voyage described by Van Bu tothe Island of Gems. The gigantic mass of ice seen by Van Bu in the Southis particularly interesting, since it may have been the first sight ofthe ice barrier from which glaciers in the Antarctic regions break offinto the sea. 

The north portion of New Guinea was for the first time rightly exploredin the year 1678, by order of the Dutch East India Company, and foundalmost everywhere to be enriched with very fine rivers, lakes, andbays. About the north-western parts the natives were discovered to belean, and of middle size, jet-black, not unlike the Malabars, but thehair of the head shorter and somewhat less curly than the Kafirs'. "Inthe black of their eyes, " says a report given of this voyage, "gleams acertain tint of red, by which may, in some measure, be observed thatblood-thirsty nature of theirs which has at different times caused somuch grief from the loss of several of our young men, whom they havesurprised, murdered, carried into the woods, and there devoured. Theygo entirely naked, without the least shame, except their rajahs orpetty kings, who are richly dressed. The heathens of Nova Guineabelieve there is some divinity in serpents, for which reason theyrepresent them upon their vessels. "

The "Golden Sea-horse" is mentioned as one of the Dutch ships said tohave taken part in the discovery of Australia between the years 1616and 1624. Other vessels noted are the "Endraght", "Zeewolf", "Arms ofAmsterdam", "Pera", and "Arnheim". All these vessels lay claim tohaving touched at the 'Great Southern Continent' as well as at theislands of the South Seas. 

The 'Place of the Painted Hands', the objective of the third voyage ofVan Bu with Dirk Hartog to New Holland, is referred to by the late MrLawrence Hargrave, who made a very interesting study of picture-writingsdiscovered in Australia, in a collection of pamphlets entitled "Lope deVega", now in the possession of the Mitchell Library at Sydney. "Thereare picture-writings, " he says, "which have remained for hundreds ofyears without any archaeologist discovering their meaning. They arenot as ancient as those on the monuments of the Egyptians, but they areequally interesting. If they are read in the light of a message toposterity, they may yet reveal something of surprising interest. By whomwere they chiselled? What is their meaning? The more recent discoveriesshow an oval encircling a cross--the symbol of Spanish conquest. On anironstone rock-face on the Shoalhaven River are many 'hands. ' These havebeen there to the memory of the oldest inhabitant. No aboriginal will gonear them. Gold is still washed in this river, and possibly thesehands, or fingers, refer to the days worked here washing gold, or to thenumber of 'quills' of gold obtained. You will understand these 'hands'are not carved, but painted with some pigment that has withstood theweather for some hundreds of years. "

The Malays locate the Male and Female Islands visited by Van Bu, anaccount of which appears in many ancient manuscripts from the twelfthto the sixteenth century, as being the islands of Engarno, to the southof Sumatra. Marco Polo speaks of them in his voyage round the world, undertaken in 1271, and both Spanish and Dutch explorers refer to themin the accounts of their travels of more recent date. 

In "The Discovery of Australia" (a critical documentary and historicinvestigation concerning the priority of discovery in Australasia byEuropeans before the arrival of Lieutenant James Cook in the Endeavourin the year 1770), by George Collingridge, may be found accounts ofSpanish and Portuguese attempts at settlement upon the Great SouthernContinent--'Terra Australis'. 

Staten Land was the name first given to New Zealand in honour of theStates of Holland, and the monstrous birds seen there were probably thenow extinct moa. The Cannibal Islands are doubtless Fiji. The data andreferences to chronicles in this work are genuine, and the result of acareful study of rare and (in some cases) unique books and manuscriptsin the Mitchell Wing of the Public Library at Sydney, said to be themost comprehensive collection known of accounts of discoveries in SouthSeas. 

G. F. 

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I. I FALL INTO CAPTIVITYII. THE BLACK CANNIBALS OF NEW HOLLANDIII. THE ONLY WHITE MAN IN NEW HOLLANDIV. THE SEA SPIDERV. THE VOYAGE CONTINUEDVI. THE FIGHT ON THE SANDSVII. THE SPIRIT OF DISCORDVIII. PEARL ISLANDIX. MUTINYX. I EMBARK ON A SECOND VOYAGEXI. A SECOND VOYAGE WITH HARTOG TO THE SOUTHXII. THE SEA SERPENTXIII. THE FLOATING ISLANDXIV. AN OLD ACQUAINTANCEXV. THE SEAWEED SEAXVI. THE ISLAND OF GEMSXVII. QUEEN MELANNIEXVIII. A QUEEN'S FAVOURITEXIX. I BECOME CHIEF COOKXX. THE SNAKE GODXXI. A PLAN OF ESCAPEXXII. THE NIGHT OF THE SACRIFICEXXIII. AT THE MERCY OF THE SEAXXIV. HOW MY SECOND VOYAGE ENDEDXXV. I ARRIVE AT AMSTERDAMXXVI. HAPPILY MARRIEDXXVII. ONCE MORE TO THE SOUTHXXVIII. THE MOLUCCA ISLANDSXXIX. THE VOYAGE CONTINUEDXXX. A SPANISH SETTLEMENTXXXI. THE PLACE OF THE PAINTED HANDSXXXII. MAROONEDXXXIII. CAPTAIN MONTBARXXXIV. WE AGAIN EXPLORE THE CAVESXXXV. I AM KIDNAPPEDXXXVI. THE MALE AND FEMALE ISLANDSXXXVII. A TASK IS SET MEXXXVIII. THE SLAYING OF THE GREAT CROCODILEXXXIX. I BECOME A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC INFELICITYXL. THE YELLOW PARCHMENTXLI. THE RUBY MOUNTAINSXLII. THE VALLEY OF SERPENTSXLIII. WE AGAIN LEAVE NEW HOLLANDXLIV. THE ISLANDS OF ARMENIOXLV. SUMATRAXLVI. MAHOMET ACHMETXLVII. KING TRINKITATXLVIII. STATEN LANDXLIX. THE CANNIBAL ISLANDSL. AGAIN AT THE MOLUCCASLI. GETTING BACK OUR OWNLII. CONCLUSION

ADVENTURES IN SOUTHERN SEAS

CHAPTER I

I FALL INTO CAPTIVITY

Let those who read this narrative doubt not its veracity. There be muchin Nature that we wot not of, and many strange countries to explore. The monsters who roamed the earth in ancient times, as their fossilbones attest, are still to be seen in those regions hitherto unvisitedby white men, and in the fathomless depths of uncharted seas leviathansfind a home. 

Peter Ecoores Van Bu was born upon the island of Urk, in the ZuiderZee, in the year 1596, and was brought up a fisher-lad until the comingto the island of a priest, to whom my parents, ambitious for myadvancement, entrusted my education in the arts of reading and writing, accomplishments in little vogue at this time. Hence it comes that I amable to set down here a record of perils and adventures by sea and landwhich may prove entertaining reading to those who have never travelledbeyond the limits of their own countries. 

My parents, who had stinted themselves to provide my education, placedme when I was eighteen years old in a merchant's office at Amsterdam, where I became acquainted with Dirk Hartog, a famous navigator, who, ayear later, invited me to become his secretary and engraver of chartson board the ship "Endraght", being then commissioned for a voyage ofdiscovery to the South, and having obtained a reluctant consent from mymaster, De Decker, the merchant, to Hartog's proposal I gladlyabandoned the office desk for the sea. 

The discovery of America by Christopher Columbus in 1492 had given riseto a theory that a vast continent known as Terra Australis existed inthe South, and Portuguese and Spanish ships had made report from timeto time of this southern land. It was to confirm or dispel this beliefthat the voyage of Dirk Hartog was made. 

For many months after leaving Amsterdam we sailed south, touching atsome islands to obtain vegetable food and replenish our water-casks. Worn out with hardship, our crew more than once showed signs of mutiny. Sometimes for weeks together we lay becalmed in the tropics, when theair hung like a pall of vapour from the sky, and the pitch boiled andblistered in the seams of the deck-planks. In other seasons we weredriven by storm and stress. But at length, in spite of every obstacle, an unbroken coast stretched before us far as the eye could reach. Forthree days we sailed past verdure-covered hills, white, sandy beaches, and bluff headlands, until Hartog felt assured the Great SouthContinent was at last in very truth before him. 

The day upon which Hartog determined to land was bright and fine; theplace a sandy beach upon which the waves broke in frothy spume. We wereall keen to be ashore after so long a spell of the sea, and I reckonedmyself in luck to be chosen as one of the boat's crew to land thecaptain. 

"Let Peter come, " said Hartog when the boat was alongside. "I wouldhave him engrave a plate to be set in some safe place, so that it maybe known that I, Dirk Hartog, landed here, to any who may come afterme. "

When we had come to the shore Hartog, taking the boat's crew with him, set off inland, leaving me to my work. The plate was soon finished, when I fastened it to a rock out of reach of the waves. 

It bore the following inscription:

 "1616

 "On the 25th of October arrived here the ship 'Endraght, ' of Amsterdam; first supercargo Gilles Miebas Van Luck; Captain Dirk Hartog, of Amsterdam. She set sail again on the 27th of the same month. Bantum was second supercargo; Janstins first pilot. 

 "Peter Ecoores Van Bu, in the year 1616. "

I engraved the date upon which the ship was to sail according todirections given me by the captain, though whether the "Endraght" didsail at that time I cannot say, by reason of an adventure which befellme. 

When I had finished my work I began to think in what manner I mightemploy myself until my companions returned, and, perceiving a grove oftrees not far distant from where I stood, I determined to rest a whilein the shade. As I penetrated these silent forests I beheld sightswholly novel. Parrots and paroquets flew among the trees, as also largewhite birds with sulphur crests, the like of which I had never seenbefore. Presently I came to a stream which took its course through avalley, and, kneeling, I was about to quench my thirst when I felt ahand upon my shoulder. Springing to my feet, I was confronted by a bandof savages, many of whom held their spears its though about to strike. They were all quite naked, their bodies marked with white streaks. Itried to make them understand I came as a friend, and endeavoured toretrace my steps to the open, where I hoped my shipmates might see meand effect a rescue, but I now perceived that whichever way I turned mypath was barred by these wild men. The savages now began to jabber toeach other in a jargon which I could not comprehend, and presently twoof them laid hold of me, one by each arm, and in spite of my protestsand such resistance as I made, forced me through the scrub inland. Someof the tribe followed, others went on ahead, flitting like shadowsamong the trees, the journey being performed at a rate which made ithard for me to keep pace with them. 

All day we continued to penetrate the bush toward the interior of thecountry, and just before dark we came to a native village, where wefound the tribe assembled at their camp fires. There must have beenseveral hundred blacks in this camp, and many gathered round to look atme, although they did not appear to regard me with as much curiosity asmight have been expected, from which I conjectured that white men werenot unknown to them. 

After a meal of fish and wild duck, together with a pasty kind of breadmade from the bulrush root, which I found palatable, I was permitted tolie down in one of their gunyahs upon a bed of freshly-picked leaves, where, in spite of my anxieties, I soon fell asleep. 

Toward morning I awoke to a full conviction of my sorry plight. Thecamp was in darkness, save for the glow of the fires and the light ofthe stars, which shine with a wonderful brilliancy in these southernskies. The cry of some night bird came from the bush beyond the camp. All else was still, but a crouching form at the entrance to the gunyahwarned me I was a prisoner. There was no need, however, to set a guardupon me, for without a guide I knew I could never reach the coast, sothat even if I succeeded in making my escape from the savages, I mustperish miserably in the bush. 

My thoughts now turned to home and friends whom it seemed unlikely Iwould ever meet again. Dirk Hartog and the crew of the "Endraght", though rough as became the hardy lives they led, had always shown akindly disposition toward me. They would miss me, and speak of meperhaps, until, in the changing events of their adventurous career, Iwould be forgotten. My parents also would mourn me as dead. But therewas one at Urk who would miss me more than friends or parents; AnnaHolstein, to whom I had plighted my troth, and to whom I looked to bewed on my return. Anna was above me in station as the world goes. Herfather was the Governor of Urk, who would not willingly give hisdaughter in marriage to a poor lad such its I. But who in love is wise?Who reckons worldly wealth when love, the spirit and spring of theuniverse, awakens in the soul? Like birds who call their mates withlove-learned songs, Anna and I loved each other, so that nothing bid, death could part us. I had promised Anna I would return rich from myvoyage as others had done, when her father might be the more inclinedto look with favour upon my suit. Well--here was the and of mypromises, and my hopes--death, or, still worse, life among a savage andbarbarous people. 

CHAPTER II

THE BLACK CANNIBALS OF NEW HOLLAND

On the morning after my capture by the black cannibals of New Holland, at daybreak, I was driven, out of the gunyah in which I had passed thenight, to be looked at by the tribe, who had now collected in greatnumbers, and who encircled me with a ring of hazel eyes. Theircomplexion was black, their hair woolly, and many of them were quitenaked, as though they lived in a state of brute nature. There did notappear to be anyone in recognized authority among them, for they alltalked their outlandish jargon at the same time, and, presently, theybegan to search me for such small articles of personal property as Ipossessed. My engraving tools and a sailor's sewing kit, given me byAnna, were taken from me, but to my great good fortune they did not robme of my dagger-knife, or my flint and steel which lay concealed in theinner pocket of my leathern belt, nor of a lock of Anna's hair which Icarried in a silken bag round my neck; and in the possession of which Ifound much comfort in my present predicament. My clothes did notinterest my captors, and I was thankful not to be deprived of them. 

I was now startled to observe that some of the natives carried at theirgirdles a human skull, but I subsequently learned that these trophieswere not, as I had at first supposed, the result of a massacre, butwere the drinking-cups of these people, who appeared to be the mostdebased in the scale of humanity I had ever encountered. 

During the morning, although I could see that a watch was kept upon me, I was allowed my liberty, and, in spite of my wretched plight, I becameinterested in observing the natives at their daily occupations, one ofwhich consisted in the capture of wild-fowl from a lagoon close to thecamp by the ingenious method of floating upon their quarry submerged upto their necks in water, their heads covered by a mass of weeds andbulrushes. When among the birds they suddenly drew some of them underthe surface without appearing to disturb the others. 

And now a loud noise made by the beating of spears and waddiesattracted my attention, when I came to the conclusion some tribalceremony was in progress, and shortly afterward a number of youths wereled in procession through the camp. These young men presented a strongand muscular appearance. Their naked bodies bore evidence of ill-usage;purple weals and open sores upon their backs and shoulders appeared tohave been inflicted by the severe and long-continued stroke of thelash. 

After a dirge-like song had been sung, a number of the elder warriorsstepped forward, and with a piece of quartz formed a deep incision inthe nape or the neck of each youth, cutting broad gashes from shoulderto hip, all the while repeating rapidly the following curiousincantation:

 "Kangar-marra--marra, Kano-marra-marra, Pilbirri-marra-marra. "

A bunch of green leaves was then fastened round each middle and abovethis a girdle of human hair. They then blackened with charcoal, andtheir wounds plastered with clay in order to form the hands of gristlewhich they regard as an ornament upon their flesh. During thisperformance the lads showed no sign of pain, although their sufferingsmust have been very severe. Further ceremonies then took place, inwhich the women played a part too degrading to be here set down. 

That night a feast was held, with dancing, in honour of the morning'sceremonies. The night was warm and the moon shone with a wonderfulbrilliancy, casting deep shadows upon the earth. In the distance rose apillar of sparks and fire, which marked the place where the performerswere preparing for the corroboree, a name given to their dancing bythese savages, and presently 200 men and 60 boys in nudity came fromamong the forest trees. Each dancer was provided with a bunch of leavesfastened above the knee, which, as they stamped in unison, made a loudswitching noise. These natives were painted from shoulder to hip, withfive or six stripes rising from the breast, their faces streaked withwhite perpendicular lines, making it appear as the dancing of deadmen's bones. For some time the dancers continued to stamp to and fro, and then, assembling at a fire that burned close by, theysimultaneously sat down. Other dancers then took their places, dressedin fur cloaks, and wearing white and yellow feathers in their hair, their black visages rendered hideous by fish-bones stuck through thecartilage of the nose above their thick lips. These singular beingsstamped their way backward and forward, giving vent to yells ofexcitement, and causing their bodies to tremble and twitch in the mostsurprising manner. The last act of this strange drama represented thewarriors sitting cross-legged round the fire, when suddenly theysimultaneously stretched out their right arms as if pointing to somedistant object, at the same time displaying their teeth and rollingtheir eyes, and then, springing to their feet, they uttered a shoutthat echoed for miles over the surrounding country. 

And now the preparations for a feast began. A number of women and younggirls brought baskets of fish, roasted birds, and prepared bulrushroot, whilst some very large eggs, such as I had never seen the likebefore, with green shells were stacked upon the grass. Strange-lookinganimals also, together with snakes and lizards, were stewed in clayvessels, while the savages gathered round in gloating anticipation ofthis repulsive food. When all was prepared one of the women gave apeculiar cry, when there came from among the trees the young men whohad that morning undergone the baptism of initiation, each carryingupon his shoulder a bundle wrapped in reeds and bulrushes. Arrived infront of one who now acted as chief, much laid down his burden, exposing the contents--the body of a native child!--half roasted anddrawn--the "long pig" of the cannibals!

Overcome by what I had seen, I sought my gunyah, where I passed thenight a prey to the most dismal forebodings. Next morning I became ill, with violent pains and headache, which incapacitated me for some days, during which time a lubra named Moira sat beside me, apparently anxiousto do what lay in her power to ease my sufferings. 

Helped by the words I had learnt in my former intercourse with savagesat the islands we had visited in the early part of the voyage, I wassoon able to make myself understood to Moira, and to understand whatshe said when I confided to her my desire to escape to the sea coast Atfirst she would only shake her head, but I became so insistent that atlength she consented to help me. A tribal ceremony was very shortly tobe celebrated, so Moira informed me, when the night would be favourablefor the success of our project, since the tribe would then be assembledat the camp fires. On that night, moreover, there was no moon untillate, and we trusted to be able to slip away in the darknessunobserved. 

I had always been impatient of my captivity, but now that escape was insight I could scarcely control my desire to be rid of these savages. Icounted the days, dreading lest some change in the manner of mycaptivity might prevent the carrying out of the plan we had formed; butall went well until the time came when Moira whispered to me our chancehad come. 

The tribe were assembled at the camp fire, engaged in one of their manyrites to propitiate the evil spirits whom alone they worship. Beyondthe glow, darkness complete and compelling hung like a pall. The starswere hid by a curtain of clouds. 

"Come, " I whispered to Moira, and reckless of consequences, we fledinto the pitch black of the scrub. 

CHAPTER III

THE ONLY WHITE MAN IN NEW HOLLAND

After leaving the blacks' camp I made my way through the forest, guidedby Moira, who could see in the dark. I was fearful lest we might bepursued, in which case I resolved I would not be taken alive. Moira, however, did not believe that we would be followed. Her people, shetold me, were afraid to enter the forest at night, when evil spiritswere supposed to be abroad, and indeed her own terror was so great thatI realized her devotion to me in having braved, for my sake, thesuperstition in which she had been reared. 

Moira was right in thinking we would not be followed, for no attemptwas made to follow us. But now a fresh anxiety arose. There were shapesamong the trees which were visible to Moira, though I could not seethem, which caused her such terror that I was obliged almost to carryher, and I sometimes thought by the chill of her body that she had diedin my arms. With the dawn, however, the shapes disappeared, and Moira'sfears were dispelled. 

Daylight found us several miles on our way to the coast, which we made, as I reckoned, about noon, to the north of where I had first landed. The cliffs here were high and rocky, the waves breaking at the foot infountains of spray. The sky was dull and overcast, which betokened astorm. A number of white birds with yellow crests, such as I had seenon my first landing, flew inland, and several fur-coated animals, withheads resembling deer, and powerful tails, hopped across the stubble tothe shelter of the trees. The prospect was a dreary one, and a feelingof melancholy oppressed me, which I found it hard to dispel. 

Moira did her best to cheer me, but I could not rid myself of the dreadof being the only white man upon this desolate shore. When we hadwalked for some distance we came to a sandy beach, where we found acave in which to shelter from the storm which now burst upon us. For an hour or more the elements raged with a fury only to be equalledin the tropics. Lightning flashed and thunder rolled, whilst rain fellwith the force of a deluge. Then, suddenly, the storm passed, and thesun shone with renewed splendour, decking the dripping foliage withmyriads of raindrop gems. 

We had depended for food since leaving the blacks' camp upon a supplyof dried fish and prepared bulrush root, which Moira had brought withher in her dilly-bag, but we were now compelled to seek fresh means forour support. Moira collected a quantity of shellfish, for the cookingof which I made a fire of some dried wood. Moira showed the greatestastonishment and some alarm at my flint and steel, which I now used forthe first time in her presence. Nothing would persuade her to touch it. She regarded it as something beyond her comprehension, as a fetish tobe worshipped. When we had finished our meal we fell asleep, worn outby the fatigues of the long journey. 

And now began for me a life of dull monotony, with days devoted towatching the ocean, and sleepless nights of anxiety and despair. I hadbuilt a beacon upon the highest part of the cliff above our cave, to befired in case of sighting a ship, and every morning, with the dawn, Imounted to this look-out to scan the horizon. Here I remained all day, and when darkness drove me to the shelter of the cave I tried topersuade myself that each night in this lonesome place would be mylast. 

Had it not been for Moira I must have perished from want and neglect, for I could not bring myself to do anything for my personal comfortlest it might seem I had abandoned hope of rescue. But Moira was neveridle. She worked for both, and displayed such ingenuity in convertingto our use what Nature provided that we lacked nothing for our support. To begin with, she made an oven of baked clay, in which to cook ourfood. Next she plaited fishing lines from grass-tree fibre, andfashioned hooks from the bones of slaughtered birds and animals, tocatch the fish which abounded near the rocks. With the aid of mySailor's knife she made a bow and arrows to shoot the hopping animals, the flesh of which when roasted resembled venison, while theirfur-coated skins made us warm sleeping mats. She even succeeded, aftermuch labour, in constructing a canoe, in which to paddle along thecoast, and sometimes, when it was calm, for some distance out to sea;nor did she appear to regret the loneliness of our lives. But I couldnot bring myself to take part in her work. Hour after hour, in moodysilence, I paced the cliff beside the beacon, scanning the ocean, andspeculating upon my chances of rescue. 

If I had not been so absorbed in my selfish thoughts I might possiblyhave prevented a catastrophe which afterward caused me muchself-reproach. Moira had more than once told me that food hadmysteriously disappeared from a cave in which she kept a store ofmeat for our use, and she showed me where the rocks in front of thiscave had been scraped of seaweed and mussel-shells as though by thepassage of some cumbersome body. But I gave no heed to her anxieties, and although she urged me to shift our camp I would not leave thebeacon lest a ship might pass during my absence. 

Of the dreadful consequences which followed my selfishness it now onlyremains for me to tell. 

CHAPTER IV

THE SEA SPIDER

I was occupied one midday, as usual, scanning the horizon from the topof the cliff near the beacon in search of a passing vessel, when Inoticed Moira urging her canoe toward the shore at a rapid pace. In thewake of the canoe a disturbance of the water betokened the presence ofsome denizen of the deep, and Moira's action in making for the rocks attop speed betrayed her terror of whatever it was that followed her. Hastily descending the cliff I ran to her assistance, when I saw Moiraspring on to a flat rock upon which she generally landed from hercanoe. At the same moment a snaky tentacle rose out of the sea andcaught her, while other tentacles quickly enveloped her. The monsternow dragged its shiny bulk upon the rock, and except in a nightmaresurely no man had beheld such a creature before. It resembled amonstrous spider, but out of all proportion to anything in Nature. Itseyes, like white saucers with jet black centres, stared from its flathead, and the tentacles with which it seized its prey were providedwith suckers to hold what they fastened upon. 

Even in her extremity Moira thought more of my safety than her own. "Goback!" she cried. "You cannot help me. The sea devil has the strengthof ten men. "

Not heeding her warning I continued to advance to her assistance but asI approached the sea-spider drew back into its native element, andpresently sank with its prey beneath the waves. 

In my first feeling of dismay for what had happened, I could notbelieve that Moira had been taken from me, and as I remembered myingratitude to her and thought of how surly I had become, absorbed inmy own trouble, I threw myself down upon the rocks in an agony ofremorse. Alas, poor Moira! Faithful friend! True heart, and loyal todeath! A thousand times I reproached myself with my neglect of her, but my regrets were unavailing, and my repentance came too late. 

It now became necessary if I would live to provide myself with food, and in this enforced occupation I obtained some relief from thedejection which had formerly obsessed me. I found no difficulty inprocuring fish, and I quickly became expert with Moira's bow andarrows. Salt, also, I gathered from the rocks, and some roots whichMoira had shown me served as vegetables. Of water I had an abundancefrom a fresh-water lagoon near by. So that I lacked nothing for mysupport. But although my body was nourished, my mind became sooppressed by solitude that, at times, I even thought of returning tothe blacks and conforming to their ways, and had it not been that Iknew them to be cannibals I might have spent the remainder of my lifeamong them, so intense had become my longing to meet with others of mykind. 

Another cause for anxiety now made me consider whether I had not bettermove my habitation to some cave along the coast. Within a week from thecarrying off of Moira by the sea-spider, I began to miss supplies offish and flesh which I kept in the storehouse cave. Strange sounds, also, as of some heavy body dragging itself over the rocks kept meawake at night, and filled me with alarm. Could it be that the monsterwas once more paying its visits to the cave? The sounds continuedduring the night, but with the break of dawn they ceased. 

One morning, however, when I had resolved upon moving my camp, onmounting the cliff I sighted a vessel which I recognized as the"Endraght", coming up the coast from the south. In a frenzy ofexcitement I lighted the beacon and taking a silk handkerchief from myneck I waved it to attract attention. A dread overpowered me that mysignals might not be observed, and had the ship passed without seeingme I verily believe I would have cast myself from the cliff on which Istood to certain death upon the rocks below. But now I saw that thevessel was heading for the shore, and presently a boat put off for thebeach. Carried away by the thought of my salvation, I waded knee deepto meet my comrades, and climbing into the boat I soon found myself onboard the "Endraght". 

So wild-looking and unkempt had I become that at first my shipmates didnot know me, but when they recognized me I was given a hearty welcome. 

"Of a truth, Peter, " said Hartog, smiling at my sorry appearance, "Ihave small wonder the cannibals did not make a meal off one so skinny. "And, indeed, the hard life I had led on the island had reduced me to abag of bones. But when I had washed and trimmed my hair and after I hadclothed myself from my own sea-chest Hartog declared me fit to become, once more, his secretary. 

I sat late that night with my comrades, to whom I recounted myadventures, and when I reflected upon the dangers I had passed I couldscarcely contain my joy at my rescue from a fate worse than death. 

CHAPTER V

THE VOYAGE CONTINUED

Dirk Hartog, convinced that he had discovered the continent known asTerra Australis, determined now to seek the gold and gems which thisfabled land was said to contain. The "Endraght" was accordingly broughtto anchor near to the mouth of a river on the coast, and preparationswere made to explore the stream in one of the ship's boats for somedistance along its banks. In the course of the afternoon we attempted alanding, but as the boat neared the shore a number of natives ran downto the water's edge with spears in their hands, and with loud criesforbade our progress. A present of some nails and beads thrown amongthem seemed, for the moment, to produce a good effect, but on ourattempt to land being renewed the natives again showed signs ofopposition. Hartog endeavoured to make them understand that no injurywas intended, but his friendly advances met with no success. A musketwas then fired amongst them, which was replied to by a flight ofspears, but no damage was done on either side. One of the natives thenthrew a stone at our boat, which was answered by a discharge of smallshot, which struck him in the legs, causing him to jump like one of thehopping animals I had seen on the island. When we pointed our musketsagain he and his companions made off into the bush. We then landed, thinking the contest at an end, but we had scarcely quitted the boatwhen the blacks returned, carrying shields for their defence. Theyapproached us and threw spears, but with no result. Another musket shotconvinced them their shields were no protection against our firearms, when they again disappeared. 

We then walked up to the blacks' camp and examined with much curiositythe primitive nature of their dwellings. Then, leaving some beads andpieces of cloth in exchange for some spears, which we took away withus, we returned to our boat, observing on our way several light canoes, each made of a single piece of bark, bent and laced up at both ends. In the evening two boats' crews were sent away fishing, and they caughtin two hauls of the seine nearly three hundredweight of fish. Hartog, after our first landing, made many friendly overtures to the natives, who would not, however, hold any communication with us, from which wecame to the conclusion that other navigators had been here before us, not so well disposed. 

With regard to the gold and precious stones we expected to find, ourinspection of the blacks' camp convinced us that nothing of the kindexisted, at all events, in this part of the country. Such ornaments orutensils as the natives seemed to possess were of the crudestdescription, made of wood or clay, or consisting of shells and pebblesfrom the seashore. The stories of fabulous wealth, therefore, to befound in this new land appeared to be myths. It was to seek fortreasure that the "Endraght" had been equipped by a number of merchantsat Amsterdam, of whom my master, De Decker, made one, and we realizedhow disappointed they would be if we returned empty-handed. Our crew, also, began to show signs of discontent, and to murmur at having beenbrought so far on a fool's errand. It was only Dirk Hartog'sindomitable personality that prevented a mutiny. 

It was this same sordid greed for gain which had caused ChristopherColumbus to be sent home in chains from America because he had failedto find gold. The acquisition of new countries did not interest thosewho equipped the navigators of this time. For this reason, no attemptwas made by Hartog to take possession of any of the countries wevisited. It was to find treasure he had been sent out, and should hereturn without it he might look for a surly welcome. 

Yet Hartog himself, I am convinced, with the spirit of a greatnavigator, found satisfaction in having accomplished so long a voyage, to reach the goal for which he sailed. 

"Can I help it, Peter, " he said to me one evening when we sat togetherin his cabin examining the charts I had drawn under his directions, "that the natives of this country are poor? Gold, ivory, preciousstones, spices even, seem not to exist in the South as they do in theEast. Did I make this country, that I should be held responsible forwhat it contains?"

But, although he spoke thus, I could see he was bitterly disappointedat finding the land we had come so far to seek little better than awilderness, and the people upon it so poor that they went entirelynaked, and devoured each other in order to satisfy their hunger. Itried to cheer him by reminding him we might yet find chances to enrichourselves before returning home, but I could see he was troubled by thethought that the voyage he had accomplished with so much skill anddaring might prove resultless in the accumulation of wealth. In order to hearten the crew with fresh adventure, the course of the"Endraght" was now directed toward the islands of the Pacific. Theseislands were reported to abound in pearl shell, and whilst cruisingamong them we looked forward to obtaining a supply of pearls whichmight compensate the merchants at Amsterdam for the expense of ourvoyage, and send us all home rich men. 

CHAPTER VI

THE FIGHT ON THE SANDS

I must now tell of all incident I would willingly have left unrecorded, but as I have undertaken to set down here, in the order of itssequence, each event which took place upon my voyages with Dirk Hartogon southern seas, I must not, as a faithful chronicler, omit to recordeach happening in its order. 

Now it so fell out that our first supercargo, Gilles Miebas Van Luck, bore me a grudge, although I could recall no act on my part upon whichto attribute it, unless it be that I had gained the favour of thecaptain, of which I could see Van Luck was jealous. From the first VanLuck made no secret of his dislike of me, and more than once hecomplained to Hartog that by reason of my youth; I being at the time ofsailing but nineteen years old, it would be more seemly if I took mymeals with the men in the forecastle instead of in the cabin. ButHartog had overruled his objections. As his secretary he maintained Iwas entitled to berth with the officers, and after my rescue from theinhospitable shores of Terra Australis I continued to occupy my formerplace at the captain's table, although I would as lief have messed withthe men sooner than have been the cause of a quarrel. 

At length matters came to a climax, when Van Luck ordered me to setabout some menial work which I did not consider compatible with myposition as the captain's secretary, and which, therefore, I declinedto perform. In his rage at my refusal Van Luck came at me with abelaying pin in his hand, but I had fought many a battle with thefisher lads upon the sands at Urk, and was well able to take my ownpart, so that when Van Luck was almost upon me I nimbly stepped aside, and with a trick I had been taught by an old smuggler at Urk, I trippedhim as he passed so that he fell into the scuppers, when, with amuttered oath, he scrambled to his feet, and, plucking a pistol fromhis belt, he would have shot me had not Hartog at this moment appearedon deck, and commanded him to throw down his arms. 

"How now, " said Hartog, "am I captain of this ship or not? What meansthis mutiny? Come both of you to my cabin that I may hear the case andsee justice done. "

Without so much as a look at either of us Hartog then descended to hisstate room, whither we followed him in shamefaced silence, for when thecaptain spoke we knew he must be obeyed. 

When Hartog had heard what we had to say, and the argument advanced byeach on his own behalf, he delivered judgment in the following terms:

"You are both of you in the wrong, " said he. "Peter should not haverefused to obey an order without referring the matter to me, and youVan Luck ought not to have taken the law into your own hands when I, your captain, am the proper judge upon such matters. Still I am willingto overlook your dereliction of duty (though by every rule of the seayou are both deserving of death at the yard arm) provided that at thefirst suitable place, and time, you fight out your quarrel as man toman, and pass me your words that, whatever the result, the survivor, orvictor, shall bear the other no ill will. "

This was a favourite method of Hartog's for settling disputes that wereoccasionally bound to arise among his crew upon so long a voyage. Orderupon the ship, he maintained, must, for the common safety, be rigidlyobserved, but if bad blood arose between men of high spirit and hottemper, the malcontents were landed at some convenient place where, inthe presence of the ship's company to see fair play, they fought thematter out, afterwards returning on board with their ardour cooled, andtheir anger properly chastened. This plan, on the whole, was found towork well. Sometimes one and sometimes both of the combatants werekilled, but, as a rule, the matter was settled without the sacrifice oflife, and the parties returned from their blood-letting the betterfriends. 

After hearing Hartog's decision we both bowed and retired, and, in theterms of our promise, resumed the ordinary routine of our duties asthough nothing out of the common had occurred. But the news of thecoming fight spread among the crew and became the subject of gossipthroughout the ship. 

I was now near twenty-one and Van Luck was three years my senior, webeing all young men on board the "Endraght"; but I had led a hardylife, and my spell ashore had taken off superfluous flesh, and left meactive and alert, with muscles like steel, an advantage not given to myolder antagonist, who had, perforce, lived a monotonous existence formonths past on shipboard. So I looked forward to the coming trial ofstrength and endurance with some degree of confidence, notwithstandingthat Van Luck and his supporters promised me I would lose both my earsas forfeit, if not my life, in the encounter. 

The discussion over the right at length became so keen that Hartog, fearing it might lead to further disputes, determined to get it over assoon as possible, and for this purpose he altered the ship's course toan island he sighted on the horizon which we made during the sameafternoon, when we came to anchor in a natural harbour formed by acoral reef and opposite to a hard sandy beach well suited to the matterin hand. 

At daybreak the following morning we landed two boats' crews on thebeach, only the watch being left on board, who would nevertheless beable to see the fight from over the ship's bulwarks. It was a finesummer's morning, with little wind and no sea. The waves broke in crispdiamond sparkles upon the sand, and the feathery palms and coconuttrees, with which the island abounded, imparted to the place afairy-like aspect such as the hand of man could never design. Theisland appeared to be uninhabited and it seemed likely we would havethe arena to ourselves, although our men were armed in order to repelattack. 

When Hartog had taken up a position upon a spot he had selectedas suitable for the contest, he explained the conditions under which thedispute was to be settled. The fight won to be to the death, or untileither party confessed himself vanquished or was unable to continue, and in no case was malice to be shown after the event, whatever mightbe the result. Having then proclaimed strict silence he ordered us tomake ready and begin. Both my opponent and I were now stripped to thewaist, our singlets being used as bandages for the right arm to protectit from a chance wound from the dagger knives with which we were armed, we being allowed no other weapon. My adversary was stouter than I, butwe were both of a height, and what I lacked in strength I made up forin agility. 

And know we began to circle each other, waiting an opportunity tostrike, which presently came to my opponent, who aimed a blow at mewhich I caught when his blade was within an inch of my heart. Puttingforth my strength I strove to force his hand so that with his own bladehe might kill or wound himself, but after a desperate struggle he brokeaway. Not a word was spoken by the onlookers, and no sound was heardsave only the tread of our feet as we circled and waited for a chanceto strike again. 

It now occurred to me that since my adversary had proved himself thestronger when I had tried to force his hand, my better plan would be totire him if possible before taking the offensive again, and to this endI led him on, always nimbly avoiding the strokes he aimed at me insteadof spending my strength by attempting to oppose them, and this methodproved so successful that I presently had the satisfaction of observingin my opponent evident signs of exhaustion. Realizing his impotence, and now beside himself with anger, Van Luck suddenly rushed upon me, when, using a trick I had learnt, I tripped him so that he fell, dropping his knife, which, before he could recover it, I secured. Byall the rules of the game he was now at my mercy, and I called upon himto surrender, but, with a scowl, he refused to give in. The advantageI had gained now entitled me to stab him to death where he stood, or tocut off his ears if I had the mind to do it, but I could not bringmyself to kill, or maim, an unarmed man. I therefore threw down bothknives at Hartog's feet, and returned once more to the fight with barehands. My superior agility now began to tell in my favour, and I foundI was the better boxer and wrestler of the two, so that I rained blowsupon my opponent, some of which drew blood. He then tried to clinchwith me, but I had waited for this, and when he seized me in hispowerful grip I held myself as I had been taught to do by my friend thesmuggler, so that when he tried to throw me, he himself, by his ownweight and a dexterous twist I gave him, was hurled over my head somedistance along the sand, where he fell upon the broad of his back thebreath being knocked clean out of his body. For some time he lay to allappearance dead, and it being evident he would not be able to continuethe fight, Hartog awarded me the victory, and, later, when Van Luckregained consciousness, he ordered him to shake hands with me, which hedid with an ill grace, though of a surety I bore him no malice. 

"Peter, " said Hartog to me when we were alone together in his cabinafter the fight, "henceforth I look upon you as my comrade as well asmy secretary; but do not, on that account, believe I shall be lessstrict to enforce discipline upon you equally with all under mycommand. At the great distance we are from home it behoves some one tobe in authority, if we are ever to see the Netherlands again. Promiseme then to set a curb upon your temper, and when Van Luck is able toresume his duties after the drubbing you have given him, let there beno bad blood between you. "

I gave my promise willingly, and I can honestly say that, on, my part, I bore no grudge against Van Luck, nor against any man of the ship'scompany, though I could see that Van Luck would never forgive me forhaving bested him, nor could I disguise from myself the fact that therewere some among the crew who sided with him. 

CHAPTER VII

THE SPIRIT OF DISCORD

The days which followed my fight with Van Luck were full of anxiety forthose who were responsible for the safety of the ship. It was evidentthat a spirit of discord had begun to show itself among the crew, whichthreatened a mutiny. Janstins, the pilot, whom we knew to betrustworthy, did not attempt to hide the peril that was brewing in theforecastle. 

"Those lubbers for'ard, " he said when Hartog, he, and I sat togetherone evening in the cabin, "will make trouble if they can. They are apig-headed lot, and a dozen apiece at the gratings would do them noharm. But while they outnumber us, as they do, three to one, we mustavoid a quarrel. Besides, if we got the upper hand, and drove the scuminto the sea, we'd be undermanned for the voyage, and unable to weatherthe first storm that came upon us. "

"What is it they want?" asked Hartog impatiently. "Am I a wizard toconjure gold and jewels out of the wilderness? They knew the chancesthey took when they set sail, and will have their wages paid in full, whereas I shall receive nothing but abuse, so that in this they are inbetter case than I, their captain. "

"Granted you are right, " answered Janstins, "yet these dunderheads willnot view the matter with such common sense. They believe that gold andjewels are to be found, but we have not the wit to find them. "

"Who has told them this?" demanded Hartog with a frown. "They must havea leader amongst them whom we wot not of. If I find him I'll send himadrift upon the sea to look for the treasure he speaks of with none tohinder him. "

It was the first time I had seen Hartog so deeply angered, aroused ashe was by the rumoured treachery that was being hatched against hiscommand, and when he spoke of the punishment most dreaded by seamen, ofbeing cast adrift in an open boat with three days' provisions, I knewfull well he would not hesitate to inflict this penalty upon whomsoevermight be found attempting to undermine his authority. 

At these consultations held by the officers in the cabin, I noticed VanLuck was never present. He made an excuse for his absence that, asfirst officer, his place was on deck when the captain was below. Although this could not be disputed, yet I bethought me he might havefound an opportunity to add his voice to our councils had he theinclination to do it. But as yet I had no proof of treachery againstVan Luck, and although I suspected him, I was loath to voice mysuspicions lest my action might be attributed to malice for his scurvytreatment of me. 

As luck would have it, an incident now occurred which, for the time, diverted the men's minds from the dangerous brooding in which they hadindulged. A dark line appeared on the horizon, which at first we tookfor a breeze, but which, as it swept down upon us, proved to be aprodigious number of flying fish. These delicate creatures rose out ofthe water like silver clouds, and as they passed over our Vesselnumbers fell upon our decks. These fish are excellent eating, and ofthose that fell aboard of us we soon had an ample supply. Hartog, asmuch to give the crew some novel occupation as from any other motive, set the men to work salting and drying the fish, so that we securedthree barrels full, as an addition to our ordinary fare, which was veryacceptable. The flying fish were pursued by a shoal of dolphins, whichcontinued to play round our ship for several days, and some of these wecaptured with the line and converted into food. 

In the excitement of the sport the sailors soon forgot their mutinousconduct, and resumed something of their former cheerfulness. Likechildren, seamen are easily led and readily influenced. 

"I thank Providence, " declared Hartog, "for the draught of fishes sentto us at so opportune a time; but for their coming I doubt we wouldhave been at each other's throats ere this. "

And indeed there is more in chance and circumstance than most believe. 

I observed that Van Luck took no part in the fishing. The sport inwhich the seamen were engaged appeared to afford him more irritationthan amusement. 

I often wondered that Hartog did not note the surly demeanour of hischief officer. But he did not appear to do so, and it was no part of myduty to make mischief between the captain and his first mate. 

When the fishing and salting were over, a breeze sprang up whichfreshened to half a gale--before which we scudded under furled mizzenand foresails. The men had now plenty to do, and there was no time forbrooding or lamenting over lost hopes. It is mostly during a calm, whenthe ship rides motionless upon a painted sea, that mutinous andrebellious thoughts arise among seamen. When the vessel is ploughingher way through storm and stress, each man seems a part of the ship andto have an interest in her voyage. It is then, too, that the word ofcommand carries weight and meaning, and the knowledge of commondependence upon the captain makes for obedience and discipline, so thatwhile the gale lasted we had no fear of mutiny. 

At the end of a week, during which time we covered many leagues of sea, the weather moderated, when we found ourselves once more among theislands of the South Seas, and the thoughts of being again on shore, and the adventures that might be in store for us, put to flight lesswholesome and healthy thoughts. 

By the time we came in sight of the islands Janstins had recovered hisspirits, and Hartog his good humour. Janstins, who was of a sanguinedisposition, began to speculate upon our chances of finding treasure, and Hartog predicted that fortune stood upon the shores of one of thesepleasant islands to welcome us, and send us home rich men. 

"It is not in nature, Peter, " he said to me, "that precious stones andmetals exist only in the Old World. They are as much the elements ofthe earth as rocks and water. It only needs a patient search todiscover a mine of wealth, as yet untouched by civilized man. "

I did not like to discourage him, but, young as I was, I knew howfickle a jade is fortune, giving to one with both hands, and fromanother withholding that which he most deserves. 

Besides, who could tell, among these countless islands or the Pacific, upon, which one Nature had lavished her wealth?

As we approached the land I noticed that Van Luck appeared to have lostthe influence he had acquired over the crew, many of whom seemed now asanxious to avoid him as before they had been inclined to follow him. Hewas, therefore, left much to his own devices, which, from his surlymanner, did not seem to be pleasant company. 

"I am resolved, Peter, " said Hartog to me, "not to return home withoutsufficient treasure, at all events, to pay for the expenses of thisvoyage. So make up your mind to grow old among savages unless luckbrings us a ransom from this banishment. My reputation, nay more, myhonour, is pledged not to go back empty-handed, and I'd face greaterperils than any we have encountered sooner than tell thosemoney-grubbers at Amsterdam their principal would not be returned tothem with interest. "

I could understand the captain's dilemma, but I sighed when I thoughtof the time that might elapse before I would again see my betrothed. 

CHAPTER VIII

PEARL ISLAND

For some weeks after sighting the South Sea Islands we continued tocruise among them, visiting many places, some of which were unknown toformer navigators. 

The weather at this time was calm and fine, but one day when in theopen sea a tempest drove us among a number of islands, most of whichappeared to be little better than barren rocks. As we approached, however, we observed one of large size, mountainous, well wooded, andfertile, and here we hoped to find the fresh water and vegetable foodof which we stood in need. On rounding a coral reef which made anatural breakwater, we anchored in a quiet bay opposite a beach, and aparty of us made ready to go ashore. 

The waters of this bay were blue as the sky above, and we could see inthe depths below a marine garden of seaweed and coral, and whatinterested us more, a great quantity of pearl shell. As we rowedtowards the shore the beach became thronged with natives who appearedby their gestures to be full of wonder at the sight of our vessel. Thepeople here were of a light coffee colour, with wavy hair. The men, oflarge stature, well formed, and dressed with a degree of taste far inadvance of any of the savages we had hitherto met with. Elaboratedevices were tattooed upon the exposed parts of their bodies; apetticoat of finely-plaited cloth reached from waist to knee; beautifulnecklets made from red and white coral hung round their necks; whiletheir hair was frizzled like a mop upon their heads, powdered red oryellow. The women were similarly attired, save that their petticoatswere longer and their hair hung straight, while the children wententirely naked except for garlands of bright flowers. No weapons werecarried by these islanders, and upon landing we found them friendly, and inclined to offer us hospitality. 

The houses in the town to which they welcomed us are of a beehiveshape; the sides open during the day, but closed at nights by blindsmade from the leaves of the coconut tree. The floor is formed ofpowdered white coral, and is very clean. The town was built in asemi-circle facing the beach. In the centre was the king's house, abuilding of the same construction as the others, but of larger size. Beautifully-made mats and wooden bowls formed the only furniture inthese dwellings, some of the mats being trimmed with red feathers, while others resembled shaggy white wool rugs, which, on closerinspection, proved to be made from the bark of a dwarf hibiscus, withwhich the islands abound, bearing a bright red flower. The food of theislanders consists of fish, coconuts, taro, yams, and breadfruit, ofwhich there is a plentiful supply. 

In return for their hospitality, Hartog distributed among the nativespieces of bright-coloured cloth, beads, knives, and other trifles, which, in the eyes of these simple savages, were so many wondershitherto undreamed of. 

When we had been some days upon the island Hartog expressed to the kinghis desire to obtain the pearl shells of which we could see anabundance at the bottom of the bay, within easy reach of an expertdiver, and as these islanders were as much at home in the water as uponland, we soon had a pile of shell upon the beach which some of the crewset to work to open; but although we opened a great number of shellsvery few pearls were found, and none of any special value. 

When the king observed what we were in search of he offered Hartog forhis acceptance a number of pearls, some of large size and perfectcolour, which from time to time he had collected. 

"'Twill be enough to satisfy the merchants, " said Hartog to me when hehad safely locked up this treasure on board the "Endraght", "butnothing over, unless we can add to the collection by our ownexertions. " But although we continued to open shells for several daysno great haul of pearls was made. The pearl shell we shipped, knowingthat it would fetch a good price at Amsterdam. 

Hartog was so relieved at having secured something that would repay theexpenses of the voyage that he recovered his natural buoyancy ofspirits which had lately been oppressed by the prospect of returninghome empty-handed. 

"'Tis wonderful, the power of money, Peter, " he said to me one eveningwhen we were counting, in secret, the pearls which the king of theisland had given him; "we have come through some perils, as you know, but I give you my word I was never so afraid of anything as of goingback without money's worth to satisfy the men who put their capitalinto this voyage. It was that which broke the great heart of Columbus, and I'd have become a pirate sooner than return empty-handed. The piousrogues who sent us out, and who never miss their churchgoing, would nothave cared whence the money came so long as it filled their pouches. "

Hartog had not confided the secret of the king's present to any but me, as he feared the crew, disappointed in the treasure hunt which they hadbeen promised, might try to take forcible possession of it. He was soabsorbed in counting the pearls and in speculating upon their valuethat he gave no heed to the possibility of being spied upon. But sinceI was to have no share in them, the pearls did not interest me as muchas they did the captain, and I allowed my eyes to wander, when, in aflash of summer lightning, I saw the face of Van Luck looking down uponus from the skylight above our heads. 

Making an excuse to go on deck, I stole cautiously up thecompanion-stairs, expecting to catch Van Luck red-handed in the act ofplaying the spy upon us, but when I reached the skylight I could see nosign of him. From where I stood, however, I was able to observe thecaptain counting the pearls, and I determined to warn him to have a covermade for the skylight, or a blind inside that might be drawn to ensureprivacy. But I did not think it would be wise to say anything about mysuspicion. It would be hard to prove, and might be set down to malice, though honestly I bore Van Luck no ill will. 

CHAPTER IX

MUTINY

A month after leaving Pearl Island, when it became known to the crew ofthe "Endraght" that a course had been set for home without havingobtained the treasure which had been the object of the voyage, thespirit of discontent in the forecastle which had previously shownitself, became so marked as to threaten a mutiny. Had it not been thatwe held all the arms and ammunition aft, there would have been littledoubt of the seamen refusing duty. As it was, they went about theirwork in so surly a manner, that if Hartog had not kept a check upon histemper, a serious outbreak on more than one occasion would haveoccurred. 

"I cannot think what evil influence is at work among the men, " saidHartog to me one evening, when we sat together alone in the cabin, forVan Luck, except at meals, seldom joined us. "As sailors, they ought toknow that treasure hunts often prove disappointing, and they will eachreceive a good round sum in back pay when the crew is disbanded afterthe voyage. What, then, would they gain by mutiny? Without a navigatorthey would either lose the ship, or, if they succeeded in making aport, they would become food for the gallows. Knowing sailors as I do, I cannot understand, in present circumstances, what it is that fostersrebellion, unless some influence is at work that we wot not of. "

It was then that I thought it my duty to tell the captain of mysuspicions regarding Van Luck, and of how I had seen him looking downupon us through the skylight at the counting of the pearls. 

Hartog was amazed at such treachery on the part of his first officer. His own nature was so open that he found it hard to credit deception inothers. My disclosures, however, enlightened him on much that wastaking place, and he bade me keep him advised of anything further Imight see or hear. To this end, I made frequent excuses for spending mytime in the forecastle among the men, pretending I found thecompanionship in the cabin irksome. I had not been long among thembefore I discovered a plot that was hatching to take the ship. Hartogand I, together with those who would not join in the mutiny, were to beset adrift with three days' provisions in one of the boats, when VanLuck would navigate the "Endraght" to the nearest port, promising todivide the pearls, the value of which he had greatly exaggerated, equally among all hands, share and share alike. 

To be forewarned is to be forearmed, and I had no sooner divulged theplan of the mutineers to the captain than Hartog began to consider howwe might meet the situation. Janstins, the pilot, the ship's carpenter, and three of the crew we knew we could depend upon, and they wereinstructed where to find arms and ammunition, and told to rally to usaft at the first signs of mutiny. Having completed these arrangements, Hartog's next step was to bring matters to a climax, for he arguedrightly there was nothing to be gained, and much might be lost, bydelay. 

Stepping boldly upon his quarterdeck, he now issued his orders in hisold peremptory style, and, upon one of the crew not moving smartly, hethreatened him with a dozen at the ship's gratings. The man turnedinsolently, and demanded to know to whom Hartog was speaking, while, atthe same moment Van Luck, who was standing near, remonstrated with thecaptain on the man's behalf. I had never seen Hartog really rousedbefore. In two quick strides he was beside Van Luck, and picking him upas easily as if he had been a child, he flung him from the poop on tothe deck below. At the same moment the mutineers made a rush aft, butthose who were loyal to us were before them, and we presented such aformidable front that the rebels fell back, taking Van Luck with them. Hartog now turned the brass cannon, which had already been loaded uponthe mutineers where they crowded together in the fore part of thevessel, swearing he would fire upon them if they did not instantlysurrender. A hurried consultation followed, after which Van Luckstepped forward as spokesman. He complained that the crew had not beenfairly dealt by. They had suffered much hardship, he said, and it wasunderstood that all treasure obtained on the voyage was to be sharedamong them, whereas it appeared that the captain was concealing aparcel of pearls of sufficient value to make them all rich men. To thisHartog replied as follows:

"I am captain of this vessel, and I claim the right to do as I please. The pearls you speak of none of you helped to obtain, and they will beused to pay the expenses of the voyage, including what may be found tobe due to each man as wages when the when the ship is paid off. As foryou, Van Luck, who have acted the spy and played traitor, you mayexpect nothing from me but the fate you intended for those who havestood by me. The others may now return to duty. "

It was then seen that Van Luck had no followers, for rebels are everprone to abandon their leader when their cause is lost. 

I would have pleaded with Hartog, even then, to spare Van Luck frombeing cast adrift upon the sea, but I knew no word of mine would changehis purpose. Besides, an example must be made, and in the rough life weled the administration of justice was the prerogative of the captainalone. A boat was therefore prepared, three days' provisions wereplaced on board of her, and Van Luck was sent upon what promised to behis last voyage. 

For as long as the boat remained in sight we could see that thecastaway made no effort, either with the sail or the oars, to shape acourse in any direction. He appeared to have abandoned hope, and tohave made up his mind to let the wind and the waves carry himwhithersoever they would. At length the boat appeared but a speck uponthe ocean, and finally it vanished beyond the horizon. 

For some time after the quelling of the mutiny Hartog maintained strictdiscipline among officers and crew, issuing his orders in theperemptory manner of one accustomed to command, and seldom speaking toany except upon matters connected with the ship. But when order wasrestored his mood changed, and we resumed our friendly chats togetherin the cabin. He never referred to Van Luck, whom he seemed to havewiped from the slate of his recollection, nor did he again allude tothe mutiny. Once, when I touched upon it, he had cut me short, and Icould see from his manner that all reference to it must henceforth betaboo. But I could not help sometimes recalling the picture of the boatwith the solitary man on board of her, drifting upon the grey waste ofsea, and I often wondered if Dirk Hartog had been able to obliteratethat picture from his mind. 

We now once more sailed in familiar waters, and passed many vessels aswe neared home, where we arrived, without mishap, towards the end ofthe year 1620, after an absence of nearly five years, which was notregarded at that time as a voyage of unusual duration. 

CHAPTER X

I EMBARK ON A SECOND VOYAGE

On my arrival at Amsterdam I obtained leave from my master, De Decker, to visit my parents, and was received by them at my home at Urk with agreat show of affection, which, however, I found to be somewhatlessened when it was known I had come back with empty pockets. Myfather urged me to give up the sea, and to stick more closely to thebusiness of a merchant at Amsterdam, for which my education had fittedme, and my mother extorted from me a half-willing promise that I wouldfollow my father's advice. I also met Anna Holstein, to whom I relatedmy adventures; nor did I conceal from her that my worldly condition wasnot yet sufficiently improved to warrant my making formal proposals forher hand in marriage. 

My mother pronounced my appearance much improved, when she heard of myattachment to Anna she declared me to be a fit mate for any lady in theland. 

"Of a truth, Peter, " she said, "thou art become a proper man, like thyfather was before thee, and in my day a young man of spirit chose hiswife where he would. My own parents made objections to my being marriedto your father without some payment to them in goods or money, tocompensate for the expense of my upbringing. But Abel Van Bu, thyfather, came to our house one June morning and bade me make ready tomarry him that very day, a clerk in holy orders being come to Urk tomate together those islanders who were willing to be wed according tothe rites of the Church, and Abel's manner was so masterful thatneither I nor my parents dared say him nay. This is how I came to marryyour father, my son, and were I a man such as thou, art, I would takethe girl of my choosing, in the same manner as thy father did. "

But although I laughingly agreed with my mother, I knew that such a wayof proceeding would not answer with Anna Holstein. Anna was rich. Itwould have shamed me to go to her, a penniless husband. Still, love isblind, and that Anna and I loved each other was not to be denied; so, one evening, by the Zuider Zee, we once more plighted our troth. 

It was then that Anna confided to me a trouble of which she had keptthe knowledge secret, fearing it might vex me, to the neglect of mywork at Amsterdam. I had become so absorbed in my love for her, that Ihad given no thought to the question of others paying their court. Yetthat such should be the case was but natural. Anna was young, beautiful, and wealthy, the only child of a proud noble, so that whenCount Hendrick Luitken proposed for her, Anna's father regarded hissuit with approval, and recommended him to his daughter's good graces. But Anna, whose heart was wholly mine, had evaded the Count'sattentions, although she dared not openly reject him, lest theclandestine love we bore each other might become known by reason of tooclose questioning, so she had been compelled to play the part of awilful maid who did not know her own mind, and could not be made to seehow advantageous the alliance proposed for her would be. 

"I could never marry anyone but you, Peter, " she whispered to me, as wesat together on the terrace of the palace by the Zuider Zee, after shehad confided to me her anxieties, "but I find it hard to keep up thedeception that I am heart-whole and fancy-free, and yet indifferent toCount Hendrick's attentions. Indeed, my father openly upbraids me withbeing fickle, inconstant, unmaidenly, and I know not what besides, until I am driven to my wit's end to keep the peace between us. Yet Idoubt not, if he knew the truth, he would marry me willy-nilly to CountHendrick Luitken by force. "

"Then it would be to a corpse he would marry you, " I cried, "for soonerthan see you wedded to Count Luitken I would strangle him with my barehands if he refused to meet me as an equal in fair fight. "

"Dear Peter, " whispered Anna, as she nestled closer to me, "if I cannotmarry you I'll marry none other, and the Church does not now sanctionmarriage vows given unwillingly. If they drive me to it I can at leastseek the cloister or the grave. "

"Do not speak so, dear Anna, " I entreated. "We are both young, and bypatience and industry I may yet win a place in the world. "

But although I spoke hopefully I could see but little prospect of myadvancement at Amsterdam. My master, De Decker, the merchant, in whosehouse I was employed, told me plainly that I need expect nothing morethan a clerkship so long as I remained in his service. His son, then aboy at school, would inherit his business, and it might be many yearsbefore I could hope to buy a partnership in it. De Decker's business atthis time, moreover, was not in a very flourishing condition. Itseemed, therefore, not improbable that I would lose my clerkship unlessit improved. 

In these circumstances I was approached by Dirk Hartog some twelvemonths after the return of the "Endraght", who offered to take me asfirst officer on the "Arms of Amsterdam", a new vessel upon which hewas about to make a second voyage of discovery to the South. 

"It is not because we met no luck with the 'Endraght' that there isnothing to be gained, Peter, " he said. "There is an island I have heardof which, if we can strike it, will make us rich men. Nothing venture, nothing win, and there is little prospect here for a man like you tomake money by quill-driving. "

His words impressed me, as well they might, for the love of adventurewas strong within me, and I reflected that in my present calling of amerchant's clerk I could not hope to obtain an independence for manyyears--perhaps not at all. De Decker, also, appeared anxious that Ishould go. The sale of the pearls which the king of Pearl Island hadgiven Hartog had more than repaid the merchants for sending out the"Endraght", and with the "Arms of Amsterdam" they hoped to accumulatefurther treasure. I was influenced also by Hartog's description of theIsland of Gems, and the more I thought of the offer he had made me themore I liked it. Finally, I agreed to sign on for this second voyage, and, taking leave of Anna and my parents, I embarked upon the "Arms ofAmsterdam", and set sail once more for southern seas. 

CHAPTER XI

A SECOND VOYAGE WITH HARTOG TO THE SOUTH

For three months after leaving the North Sea we sailed south, meetingwith no land until we sighted a group of islands which Hartog believedto be the group that the Spaniard Cortes attempted to explore in 1519, when one of his ships was burned by the hostile natives, while he andhis crew escaped with difficulty in the other vessel. These islands aremountainous, well wooded, and apparently fertile. In most places thatwe saw the trees were very thick, with spreading branches, in which weperceived houses to be built, which looked like the nests of some largebird. We approached the land with caution, for we knew from experiencethat the tides in the vicinity of the South Sea Islands are veryirregular, and seem to be much affected by the prevailing winds andcurrents. There is only one tide in the twenty-four hours. Theflood-tide sets to the north, and the ebb to the south. It thereforebehoved us to choose a safe anchorage, which, after consultation, wefinally decided upon, selecting a spot sheltered from the prevailingwind, in deep water, close to a beach and opposite to a stream. 

Two boats were then lowered and manned, Hartog taking charge of one andI of the other. The natives, who had assembled in great numbers on thebeach, did not appear so surprised at the sight of our vessel as mighthave been expected. As the boats drew near, some of them waded out tomeet us, showing no fear, but rather an anxiety to welcome us. Theywere all entirely naked except for a strip of tapa cloth, which formeda tee-band around the middle and hung down behind like a tail. This wasprobably the reason for the reports given by the earlier navigators ofthe existence of tailed men in these regions. 

Some of the natives wore feathers in their hair, and all had fish bonesthrust through the cartilage of the nose, which gave them a ferociousaspect. Even young boys wore sticks in the same fashion. The women wereattired in petticoats of white tapa cloth, which hung down in stripsfrom a girdle round their waists. 

Before trusting ourselves among these savages we gave them, as peaceofferings, coloured beads and bright pieces of cloth. Our presents werewell received, but immediately on becoming possessed of them thenatives laid them at the feet of a young man who stood apart from thecrowd, surrounded by several tall and fierce-looking savages. From thiswe concluded the young man to be the king of the country, though wewondered he should be so young, as the leadership amongst savagesgenerally goes to the strongest. 

We then showed the natives our water-casks, and, pointing to a streamclose by, made them understand we desired to fill them, to which theyoffered no objection, so that we at once began to water the ship. Whenwe had finished our task we were invited by signs to go to the king, and, being well armed against treachery, we boldly marched up in a bodyto the king's house, which we found to be an immense building, nearly300 feet long and 30 feet wide. It had a high peaked portico, supportedby posts 80 feet high, from which a thatched roof narrowed and taperedaway to the end, where it reached the level of the ground. The houseresembled nothing so much as an enormous telescope, and here the kinglived with his numerous wives and families, together with all hisrelatives and immediate retainers. 

From the knowledge I had picked up on my travels, particularly duringthe time I was captive among the black cannibals of New Holland, I hadacquired the art of understanding, either by words or signs, whatsavage people wished, by their language, to convey, which to most wouldhave been unintelligible, and from what I could gather it appeared thatthe young king, who had but lately inherited his kingdom from hisfather, whose tomb, perched on the top of a tree, was pointed out tous, was threatened with war by a neighbouring chief, the former king'shereditary enemy, and that if we would help him vanquish his opponenthe was willing to hand over to us the property of other white men whichhad been left upon the island in years gone by. 

When I had imparted this proposition, so far as I was able tounderstand it, to Hartog, he expressed a wish to see the white men'streasure, and on my repeating this request to the king's councillors, we were invited to accompany them to a part of the island where we wereshown what were undoubtedly the remains of Cortes' vessel, the one thatwas burnt and abandoned to the savages. There did not at first sightappear to be anything of value among the ancient relics, but I noticedsome iron boxes, which had rusted at the locks, so that it becamedifficult to open them. With the aid of a crowbar, however, which Isent for from the ship, we were able to prise the lid off one of them, when it was found to be filled with Spanish money, much gold coin beingamongst it. There were twelve iron boxes, and we reckoned that each boxcontained money to the value of two thousand English pounds. At thesight of this treasure Hartog readily consented to assist the king ofthe islands against his enemies by every means in his power, and anagreement was come to accordingly. Hartog then ordered the specie to betaken on board, when we attended a council of the chiefs to ascertainthe part it was proposed for us to play in the war, I acting asinterpreter. 

It then appeared that a number of canoes were expected shortly toarrive from the adjacent islands. They would be met by the young king'sfleet, when a naval battle would take place; but the issue wasdoubtful, since the hostile chief possessed many more canoes than theyoung king did. It was to neutralize this disadvantage that ourservices were required. 

Now the "Arms of Amsterdam" was a more powerful vessel than the"Endraght", mounting four guns, so we had little doubt but that wewould be able to render valuable assistance to the young king in thedefence of his country, and having pledged ourselves to support him wereturned to our ship, well pleased with our adventure. 

Next day the beating of war drums and much commotion ashore announcedthe approach of the enemy fleet, and having loaded our cannon we stoodout to meet them. Twenty war canoes belonging to the king, eachcontaining 100 men armed with spears and clubs, put off to take part inthe battle. They were far outnumbered, however, by the hostile fleet, which now approached. At the sight of our ship the oncoming war canoesappeared to hesitate, and for some minutes ceased rowing, but presentlythey advanced again in the form of a crescent, evidently intending bytheir superior line of battle to surround us. We were now midwaybetween the opposing fleets, and when the enemy canoes were well withinrange Hartog delivered a broadside, which had the most remarkableeffect ever witnessed in a naval engagement. Not wishing to kill thenatives if it could be avoided, since the quarrel was not ours, Hartogdirected that the first broadside should be fired over the heads of theadvancing savages, but the result was the same as if we had sunk orcrippled the hostile fleet. At the flash and sound of the cannon, withblack smoke rolling across the water towards them, the savages turnedand fled, driving their canoes back to the place whence they had comeat a pace which sent the foam flying from the paddles. But the mostunexpected part of our interference was that the savages on board theking's canoes appeared to be as terrified as were the enemy, for theyalso turned and fled towards the shore. So we had the satisfaction ofseeing the opposing fleets flying from each other without blood beingshed. 

Having thus brought matters to a satisfactory conclusion, and fulfilledour agreement with the young king to drive off the enemy fleet, wecontinued our voyage, well satisfied with our first transaction. 

CHAPTER XII

THE SEA SERPENT

For some days after leaving Cortes' island the weather continued fineand the sea calm, but a strong breeze then springing up from thenorth-west made it necessary to shorten sail. While so engaged wesighted a number of whales, which swam to meet us. Never before had Iseen so strange a spectacle. Their vast numbers, their great bulk, andtheir quick evolutions impressed me with wonder. 

The whales in these parts are fearless of man. They have not yetlearned to regard him as an enemy. This fearlessness, however, althoughremarkable, was not to our liking, for some of the whales came so closeto us that our decks were often deluged by the water which they spoutedupon them. 

One day, some little time after this adventure, the weather havingmoderated to a calm, a number of ripples appeared upon the sea, whichat first we took to be a breeze, but on drifting among them we foundthe phenomenon to be caused by a number of water snakes, varying insize from a few inches to many feet in length. Some of them appeared tobe asleep, whilst others reared their heads at us, although they madeno attempt to attack us. Suddenly they disappeared, as though scaredby the approach of a common enemy. 

We had now been for some days becalmed, and at length we began to fearwe had drifted into a dead sea, where the wind never rose, and thecurrents ran in a circle. The sun by day blistered the decks so thatthe tar bubbled in the seams. The nights were more tolerable, but theair below had become so foul that the cabins were deserted for theopen. A musty smell rose out of the water, and made it hard to breathethe oppressive atmosphere. We lay about the deck exhausted, like acompany of sick men. 

One night the watch came aft to where Hartog and I were trying toobtain some rest, with the report that a monstrous shape had beennoticed passing under the vessel, and on looking to leeward we couldsee that the water was agitated by some large body. Hartog inclined tothe belief that the disturbance was caused by a number of whales, theone following the other, but the men declared the shape they had seenwas a monster of amazing proportions. Both Hartog and the men wereequally resolved upon their respective theories; but while they werearguing the matter, and the dawn being now come, all doubts were setat rest by the appearance of a prodigy so incredible that I scarcedare set down, in this plain tale, a description of it. Within fiftyyards from the vessel a serpent's head, not unlike those we had seen, but infinitely larger, rose above the surface of the water, andpresently a great water-snake began to swim slowly round our ship indecreasing circles. Its length could not have been less than 200 feet, while its girth, in the middle, was almost that of a fair-sized whale, tapering towards the head and tail. Lashing the sea around it intofoam, the serpent drew closer until it looked as though it would crushthe ship in its folds. Hartog, the only man amongst us who preservedhis presence of mind, ordered our guns to be loaded and fired at themonster. This was done, but our broadside had no more effect upon theleviathan than to cause it to swerve from its circling movement, whenit made off with incredible speed towards the horizon, whence itreturned apparently bent upon destroying us. 

We now gave ourselves up for lost, when suddenly out of the sea roseanother huge bulk, resembling the sea-spider which had carried off poorMoira, but ten times larger, when a combat ensued between theleviathans which created waves around our vessel, and caused her torock and plunge as in a storm. The battle raged for the best part of anhour, and sometimes when the monsters came near it seemed likely thatthe ship would be swamped by the volume of water which they lashed intothe air. Suddenly the combat terminated by both monsters disappearinginto the depths without our being able to ascertain which had provedthe victor. 

So that some record of this remarkable combat might be preserved, I setdown upon paper a description of it, intending to deposit it among thepublic archives on my return home. I had read that such leviathansexisted, and had been seen by early Phoenician mariners, though I hadalways regarded their existence more in the light of fable titan fact. 

And now, a breeze springing up, we were once more enabled to continueour voyage. Some of the crew were anxious to return home in order tospend their share of the Spanish money found on Cortes' island, butHartog would not consent to such a proposal. He had set his heart uponfinding the Island of Gems, of the existence of which he was firmlyconvinced, though our chances of finding it among the numerous islandsof the South Seas appeared remote. The captain, however, would have hisway, and a course was set accordingly. We were soon again among theislands, where we found the people more intelligent than those upon thecontinent of New Holland. Their language, although consisting of manydialects, possessed some universal key words, of which, by this time, Ihad acquired a knowledge which enabled me to make myself understood ofthe various tribes of savages we met with, and to understand also theirmeaning when they wanted to convey it to us. To this I attributed thefriendly reception which, on the whole, was given to us. Attacks uponstrangers, made by these savages, are not so much from any naturalhostility towards them as from an inability to understand that theyintend no harm--consequently I was generally able to establish friendlyintercourse between us and the tribes we visited. Besides this, ourship possessed such a powerful armament that, if molested, we had nofear but that we would be able to protect ourselves. 

We made many inquiries from the savages concerning the Island of Gems, but none seemed to have heard of it. 

CHAPTER XIII

THE FLOATING ISLAND

Soon after leaving the islands of the South Seas we encountered heavyweather, a tempest, the worst we had experienced, driving us before itto the south. The storm lasted for more than a week without abatement, and during this time we covered many leagues of sea. Owing to the sunbeing obscured, it was impossible to ascertain our whereabouts, butHartog reckoned we had passed through the Straits set down on an earlychart as named after Le Maire. But for skilful handling we would havelost our ship, so prolonged was the gale, and when, at length, theweather moderated, we found that much damage had been done to ourrigging and deck-gear. This made it necessary for us to effect repairs, and while so engaged we continued to run before the wind to the south. As we proceeded, the cold became intense, while the wind graduallydecreased. One morning, at sunrise, a snow-covered land rose before ourastonished eyes. The sun shining upon it produced an effect which, forbeauty, I had never seen, equalled. Immense ranges of mountains rosefrom a flat surface, their summits lost in fleecy clouds, while fromone of the mountain tops, incredible as it may appear, belched smokeand fire as from the crater of an active volcano. It may well bebelieved with what astonishment we beheld a burning mountain in themidst of snow and ice. We coasted for some distance along the shore ofthis new continent, which formed an ice barrier rising in a longperpendicular line from the sea, making a landing impossible. 

When the repairs to our ship had been effected, we hauled our wind, andstood away northward, when we found ourselves surrounded by masses offloating ice. In no record of any voyage that Hartog or I knew of isany mention made of this phenomenon, so we concluded we were the firstto see it. The farther we went the more numerous became the icebergs, and the more difficult the navigation owing to fogs and mists. Thewhole surface of the water as far as the eye could reach was covered bydense masses of ice, and had not the breeze freshened so that we wereable to avoid the ice pack, we might never have made our way to theopen sea. Some of the icebergs were beautifully formed, and thecountless prisms of which they were composed glowed in the sun's rayswith the delicate colour of the rainbow. 

Next day the wind had fallen to a calm, and we rode upon a sea ofglass. We had left the pack ice, but before us stretched an island ofsuch extent that the end of it could not be seen. This island rose tothe height of twenty feet. It was perfectly flat, with steep, perpendicular sides, which made it inaccessible to man. From themasthead, however, it was possible to observe its surface, which we sawto be covered by a vast number of penguins, so we knew a landing mustbe available somewhere, for these birds are wingless. This island wascomposed entirely of ice, it being, as Hartog reckoned, a glacier whichhad broken off from the main continent into the sea. It was driftingnorth, and would gradually melt in the warmer atmosphere to which thecurrent was taking it, but many years must elapse before this wouldhappen. 

That evening we remained in the vicinity of the island. The twilight ofthis region in which we now found ourselves continued without fadinginto night, and to add to the beauty of the scene an aureola appearedin the sky. It was a sight, once seen, never to be forgotten. A worldof perpetual day. 

With the return of sunlight Hartog determined, if possible, to effect alanding, and leaving the "Arms of Amsterdam" in charge of Janstins, thecutter was manned, in which the captain and I set out for the shore. After pulling for some distance; and when almost out of sight of ourship, we came to a kind of platform where the ice was broken, making itpossible to climb to the top of the island. We had no sooner set footthere than we were surrounded by penguins. They came waddling towardsus in the most comical fashion, nor were they in the least afraid ofus. The presence of man for the first time in these latitudes appearedto inspire them more with curiosity than alarm. 

The attentions shown us by these remarkable birds, however, soon causedus considerable inconvenience. They crowded upon us in such numbersthat it was difficult to force our way through them, either farther onto the island or back to the boat. Some of them stood four feet high, and although they made no attempt to molest us, the bulk of theirbodies (the ones at the back pressing upon those in front) made itdifficult to push by. It was like passing along a densely-crowdedthoroughfare. So numerous became the penguins that Hartog ordered areturn to the boat. We did not like to kill these birds, as theyappeared harmless, and the trust they showed in us was surprising. Whenwe came to the landing place we found it covered with small fur-coatedseals, who also showed no fear of us, and made no attempt to escapewhen we approached them. The skins of these creatures we knew to berare and of value, so we were impelled to slaughter some of them fortheir fur coats, and also to give us a supply of fresh meat; but theirlarge brown eyes looked at us so sorrowfully when we attacked them thatwe had not the heart to kill more than was necessary for our immediateneeds. It was too much like murder. 

The penguins followed us down to the landing-place, until it was fullto overflowing. Some of the birds pushed the others into the water intheir eagerness to witness the killing of the seals, which theyappeared to be discussing with much interest. 

A breeze springing up, we returned to the ship, and toward evening, still steering northward, the floating island was lost to view. 

We were now in better spirits than heretofore. We had filled our watertanks from the ice floes, and supplied ourselves with sufficient freshseal meat to last until we came to a warmer climate, to begin again oursearch for the Island of Gems. The men we had with us upon this voyagewere a better class than were the crew of the "Endraght", and we had nofear of mutiny. There were grumblings occasionally at the length ofthe voyage, but these vanished at each fresh adventure. Sailors, as arule, are easily led, and if there is no evil influence at work amongthem they seldom incline to mutiny when they know that the safety ofall depends upon discipline and obedience to the captain's orders. 

CHAPTER XIV

AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE

Most of the islands we visited on our return to the South Seas we foundto be inhabited. But some, although well-wooded, and possessing aluxuriant vegetation, were unoccupied except by sea-fowl. It was towardone of these islands we now directed our course in order to fill ourwater tanks, when we observed a solitary figure upon the beach whosehair and beard hung down in a tangled mass upon his chest andshoulders, while the skins of some small fur-coated animal, roughlysewn together, made him a covering for his body unlike any we had seenadopted by savage tribes. His attitude, moreover, as he stood upon thebeach, shading his eyes and gazing intently at us as we rowed towardsthe shore, suggested the European rather than, the savage, and uponcoming close up to him we knew him to be some castaway marooned uponthe island. He appeared to have lost the power of speech, although hemade guttural sounds when he saw us, and, what was more remarkable, heseemed to recognize us. 

It then came to me in a flash that this solitary man was none otherthan Van Luck, whom we had last seen drifting away from the "Endraght"upon his lonely voyage after the mutiny, and, in pity at the sight ofhis forlorn condition, I held out my hand to him in reconciliation. Sogreat, however, was his hatred of me, which he had probably nursed, that, instead of taking my hand, he rushed upon me and tried tostrangle me, in which he might have succeeded had not others of ourparty come to my assistance. He seemed demented, and he had acquiredsuch strength during his exile that it was as much as four men could doto hold him down. But, notwithstanding his unprovoked attack upon me, Ifelt I could not abandon him again to his solitude. I therefore orderedhim to be taken on board our vessel, where Hartog would be the judge ofhis ultimate fate. 

Hartog's surprise at seeing his old officer in such a deplorablecondition was equal to my own, but the terrible change which years ofsolitude had wrought in Van Luck appealed to the humane side of thecaptain's nature so forcibly that he determined to give the castaway achance of redemption. 

After some days, during which Van Luck was cared for, he began toregain some semblance to his former self. He also, by degrees, remembered his native tongue, but he spoke in a halting manner like achild. While we remained at this island we visited the cave in whichVan Luck had lived during the time he had been marooned. It containednothing belonging to the boat in which he had been set adrift, fromwhich we inferred the boat had been lost at the time when he was washedashore. He seemed to have subsisted chiefly upon turtles, of whichthere were numbers basking upon the beach, and also upon a smallspecies of squirrel, of the skins of which, roughly sewn together, hisrobe was made, but we could find no sign of a fire, so we concluded hehad devoured his food raw. There were streams and springs on theislands from which to quench his thirst, but his sufferings must havebeen very severe during his enforced solitude, nor was it a matter forwonder that his mind had become deranged. 

But although Hartog took pity upon Van Luck to the extent of taking himoff the island, he would not admit him to his old place in the cabin atthe officers' mess, so he lived with the seamen in the forecastle, where his jealousy wanted to send me on our first voyage. This, however, did not seem to trouble him. He seldom spoke, but went aboutsuch work as was given him without complaint. Sometimes he would standfor hours watching the sea, with his hand shading his eyes, in the sameattitude as we had found him. 

I could see that Hartog was troubled by this man's appearance, asindeed was I also. It seemed a reproach to us to have been the means ofbringing a fellow-creature into such a condition. Yet we had acted asnecessity demanded and in no spirit of malice or revenge. Still, theconsequences which had sprung from my fight with Van Luck and hissubsequent part in the mutiny were not such as we cared to contemplate. If judges could see those whom they sentence after they have enduredtheir punishment they would pause before passing fresh sentences uponwrongdoers, however guilty. 

I could see that Van Luck attributed to me all his misfortunes, for hewatched me closely, but when I spoke to him he shifted his gazeuneasily, as though afraid to look me in the face. I can honestly say Ifelt nothing but pity for him, and I made allowance for his animositytoward me when I remembered his cruel punishment. 

"Of a truth, Peter, " said Hartog to me one evening when we sat togetherin the cabin, "I had better have shot Van Luck than let him live tobecome what he is. Never again will I send a man adrift upon such avoyage, though by all the rules of the sea the mutinous dog deservedwhat he got for his treachery. It was not his fault that you and I werenot marooned instead of him. "

I did not answer, but had I then known the malice in Van, Luck towardme, of which I shall hereafter tell, the compassion which I felt forhim would have been lessened. 

CHAPTER XV

THE SEAWEED SEA

Of all the adventures through which we had passed, perhaps there wasnone so dangerous as that which now befell us. We had shaped our courseto the east, on the look-out for a new group of islands, among whichHartog expected to find the Island of Gems, when, one morning, weobserved the horizon to have assumed a black look as though a storm wasbrewing, but on nearing this phenomenon, we found it to consist of animmense growth of seaweed floating upon the ocean, and extending as faras the eye could reach. 

The course we were steering would have carried us into the midst of theweed, so we hauled our wind, and coasted along it to the south, hopingeither to find an opening through which we might pass, or to come tothe end of the floating mass, but the farther we proceeded the thickerthe weed became, while other masses now appeared to larboard, so thatwe feared we might be enmeshed in such a manner that we would find itimpossible to extricate ourselves. I had read of a sea covered by aweed which held ships entangled as in a net, and I feared that this wasthe danger into which fate had now led us. Portions of the kelpdetached from the main mass, which floated alongside the ship, provedit to be a growth of extraordinary strength, the weed extending twentyfeet and more below the surface of the water, and being so tough thattwo of our men between them were unable to break a specimen we drew onboard, so that if we should become entangled in the kelp, we knew thatdeath by slow starvation, when our provisions were exhausted, wouldawait us. 

During the day upon which we first sighted this phenomenon we attemptedevery manoeuvre of navigation to keep the ship clear of the weed, butin spite of all we could do, and the ceaseless watch Hartog and Ibetween us kept on deck, the dawn of the next day found the ship asstationary as though we had run ashore. 

"Nothing but a gale from the right quarter can save us, Peter, " saidHartog when we held a consultation together in the cabin, "and even agale will not help us unless it comes soon and before the weedgathers. "

I knew what he said was plain truth, yet I advised we should keep abrave face before the men, as nothing would be gained by provoking ascare. 

Notwithstanding our assumed cheerfulness, however, we could see thecrew were becoming alarmed, and as each day added to the accumulationof the weed which collected between us and the open sea, anxious lookswere turned to the horizon in the hope of detecting the long-expectedbreeze. 

So as to give the men occupation, and prevent their brooding, Hartoggave directions to man the boats in order that an attempt might be madeto tow the ship through the weed, but after two days' fruitless effortthe attempt was abandoned. It was dreadful to contemplate our impotencein the face of this danger, which hourly grew upon us. The seaweed, initself so harmless that it becomes the sport of children when washedashore upon the beaches at home, here, in its original and monstrousgrowth became more terrifying than all the Leviathans of the deep. There was something irresistible in this brown mantle which drew itsfolds so silently and yet so surely around us that even Dirk Hartog'sindomitable spirit quailed at the thought of what might be before us. "What demon led us hither, Peter?" he said to me when a week hadpassed, and we still rode motionless in the grip of the seaweed. "Ofall the perils which mariners must face, whoever heard of a ship'scompany being brought to their doom by floating kelp?"

I told him of the sea of which I had read, and which I believed we hadcome to. He listened to me with patience, and then relapsed into areverie, from which I found it impossible to arouse him. 

On coming on deck I detected Van Luck at his old game of sowing discordamong the men. They did not, however, appear to pay much attention towhat he said. He had now no authority over them, and none but Janstinsand Bantum, who were with us on this second voyage, remembered him asthe first officer of the "Endraght". The ingratitude of the man, however, after the consideration we had shown him, angered me, and Ispoke to him roughly, and ordered him to quit the deck. 

"Take heed, " I warned him, "that I do not have you put in irons, orsent adrift upon a second voyage. "

Van Luck obeyed me with a scowl, and slunk below, but I could see anevil light in his eyes which I attributed to madness, though I wassubsequently to learn there was much method in it. I did not like toadd to Hartog's anxieties by telling him of Van Luck's conduct, and, indeed, when I considered our present predicament, it seemed unlikelythat Van Luck, or anybody else, could do us much harm or good. 

And now another event occurred to add to our perplexities. The kelparound the vessel suddenly became alive with a small species of blackcrab. These creatures must have scented the food from our vessel, andthey came in millions to besiege us in order to devour it. The deck wassoon black with them, and they swarmed below in ever-increasingnumbers. Nothing escaped them, and most of our provisions were quicklydemolished. We killed them in thousands, and the stench from theircrushed bodies almost drove us out of our minds, but other thousandsquickly filled their places, and the crustaceans continued to pour downthe hatches like black streams of evil-smelling water. 

But this visitation, dreadful though it was, eventually proved oursalvation. The weed, now alive with marine life, lost its density, andwhen, at length, the breeze came, we could feel we were making headway. But had we not been able to force our passage into the open I verilybelieve we would all have been devoured alive by black crabs, whichswarmed upon us. As it was, many of the men suffered severely from thebites of these creatures, and weeks elapsed before the ship was clearof them and the stench which they had brought aboard. But when thebreeze freshened from the right quarter, and we felt our vessel movingtoward the open sea, we were too thankful for our escape from ahorrible death to think of the lesser evils from which we suffered, though the destruction of such a considerable quantity of our storeswas a serious loss, and set Hartog thinking as to whether our immediatereturn to Amsterdam was not imperative. 

"I had made up my mind for another year in these latitudes, Peter, " hesaid, "and I am loath to go back without setting foot upon the Islandof Gems, but man is but a straw in the hands of Destiny, and who am Ito set myself against the decrees of Fate?" So with mixed feelings ofdisappointment and pleasure we once more found ourselves homewardbound. 

I had hoped that from this voyage I might return a rich man, able tomake honourable proposals to Count Holstein for his daughter's hand, but it seemed now that fortune was not to be won so easily. My share ofthe treasure found on Cortes' island might enrich me sufficiently tobuy a small interest in my master's business, but this was all I couldhope for, and the bright dreams which Hartog and I had formed of theIsland of Gems seemed about to dissolve, as is the way with phantoms, into thin air. 

But who can trace the course of Destiny, or fathom the mysteries ofFate?

CHAPTER XVI

THE ISLAND OF GEMS

For some weeks after getting free from the kelp we experienced fineweather, with favourable winds and a smooth sea, when, almost withoutwarning, a storm broke upon us with hurricane force. All hands wereordered to shorten sail, no easy task in the fury of a gale. As chiefofficer I took command in the fore part of the vessel, while Hartogissued his orders aft. The sea ran so high, often breaking over thebows and swamping the decks, that I ordered the men to attachthemselves by lifelines to the foremast, and I also secured myself inthe same way. As sometimes happens at sea in the heart of a storm, asuccession of rollers followed each other, making it impossible to domore than hang on until they pass, and during one of these intervals Iobserved Van Luck, whose presence I had forgotten in the hurry of themoment, standing by the foremast with a knife in his hand. I waspowerless to reach him from where I stood, and a moment later thelifeline which held me to the foremast was severed, when, despite adesperate effort which I made to retain my hold, I was swept into thesea. 

For a time, which seemed to me an eternity, I was under water, but whenI rose to the surface I could see the ship at some distance from me, fighting her way through the storm. I was almost suffocated by thespray which continually blew over me, and the heavy sea boots which Iwore, filling with water, threatened to drag me down. I had givenmyself up for lost, when I noticed a spar floating near, which musthave been washed overboard with me, and, making an effort, I succeededin laying hold of it, so that I managed to keep afloat. Thus holding tothe spar and swimming, sometimes with one hand and sometimes with theother, I kept my head above water until my feet touched ground, when Iwaded upon the shore of an island, where I fell down exhausted, and forthe time lost consciousness. 

When I came to myself it was almost dark. I had fortunately beencarried by a current upon the leeside of the island, so that I wasprotected from the wind and sea, but my limbs felt numb and cold, whilethe blood coursed feebly in my veins. I felt too weary to move, andpresently I fell asleep, from which I awoke, as I judged, aboutmidnight, much refreshed. 

I was now once more haunted by the thought of being marooned in astrange country, so that I remained awake, bemoaning my fate andblaming myself for not having taken better precautions against such amishap. These reflections led me so far that I began to form a projectagainst my life, but the dawn dissipated my gloomy ideas, when I madeup my mind to trust to Providence, which had protected me through somany perils. 

I then mounted the high land to scan the horizon, but no sign of theship could I see, so I knew myself to be again a castaway. The islandappeared to be one of considerable size, very fertile and well watered. The verdure inland was unusually luxuriant, even for the tropics. Fromthe centre of the island rose a mountain, with a smoke-cloud bangingupon it, which proved it to be an active volcano. 

The storm had passed, and the weather was pleasant, the beat notexcessive, being tempered with a land breeze. I descended after a whileinto a valley, where I noticed a number of fresh-water ponds, at one ofwhich I knelt down to drink, when I perceived a prodigious quantity ofbivalve shells of one single species, which formed a kind of beach, inbreadth about fifteen feet. The water in the pond was clear, andalthough it was deep, the sand and shells at the bottom of it wereeasily seen. 

Whilst I was admiring their beauties I was startled by the approach ofa party of natives, the leader of whom, a tall, muscular savage, marched in front of the others, who followed him with some degree oforder. From the crown of his head to his waist he was plastered with ared pigment, his frizzled-out hair being ornamented with the plumes ofthe bird of Paradise. His dress, composed of tapa cloth, shells, andfeathers, was more elaborate than any I had seen in the islands. In hishand he carried a spear tipped with white quartz. His followers weredecked in similar fashion. Raising his right arm in token offriendship, an overture to which I responded, the chief then addressedme in the same dialect to that used at Cortes' island, which I hadlittle difficulty in understanding, although some of the words puzzledme. 

"Whence come you?" said he. "From the sun or the sea?"

"From the sea, O chief, whither I will return when my friends, thewhite spirits, come for me, " I answered. 

This reply did not seem to surprise my interrogator, who now desired meto follow him. After proceeding for some distance through a luxuriantforest we came to what appeared to be the gates of a town. Two largeperpendicular stones rose to the height of fourteen feet above theground. These pillars must have been twelve feet through at the base, and five feet on top, while a still larger stone, some sixteen feetlong and four feet thick, was mortised into the perpendicular columns. It was difficult to understand how such huge stones could be quarriedand transported inland by a people possessing so few mechanicalappliances as these savages, but to my inquiry regarding this curiousgateway I was answered that the stones had been there as long as anycould remember, having been placed in position by supernatural agency. 

At the gate of the city crouched some miserable specimens of humanity:old men and women, haggard, shrivelled, and naked. These unfortunates, I afterwards learned, were the aged and infirm, too feeble to performtheir share of the work of the tribe and condemned to remain at thegateway, dependent for food upon such charity as might be given them. On entering the town we passed a number of warriors, all fine, athleticmen, dressed in the same style as those who accompanied us, and paintedwith stripes of red, yellow, and white pigment. 

I was now received by a commanding figure, whom I took to be the king. He was even more gorgeously dressed than the others, with strings ofbright stones round his neck and Paradise plumes in his hair, whileupon his head was a circlet composed of human teeth, set in clay, inthe centre of which glowed an opal of extraordinary fire. His face wassullen and cruel, and his hazel eyes, with their dark lashes andyellow-tinged whites, gave to his countenance an expression scarcelyhuman. Near to him stood a group of young men, their bodies plasteredwith a bright red pigment, who appeared to be his personal attendants, or slaves. 

This savage now addressed me, asking the same questions as the otherchief, to which I returned similar answers. I was then led to a housewith a beehive-shaped roof, where food was brought to me, consisting ofcoconuts and bananas, with a luscious kind of fruit I had never beforetasted, but which I found very palatable. After my meal I was takenbefore the queen. 

CHAPTER XVII

QUEEN MELANNIE

The queen was white--indeed very pale--with large dark eyes, and brownhair that hung down in its natural beauty, untouched by the pigmentswith which the savages convert their own hair into mops. She wasdressed in a robe of white tapa cloth with strings of bright shells andgold ornaments upon her neck and arms. Upon her head was a diadem ofwhite clay encrusted with uncut gems. The throne upon which she satwas of polished marble. Her left hand rested upon the woolly head of ablack boy, who showed his white teeth as we entered. In her right handshe carried a human skull. The queen, though very beautiful, lookedsad. She could not have been more than eighteen years old, and it wasevident she came from European descent, and was in no way related tothe savages by whom she was surrounded. 

And now I bethought me if I would gain favour I must make a present tothe queen, and remembering a small mirror I had with me, set in asilver frame, which Anna had given me as a parting gift, I took it frommy pocket and presented it to Queen Melannie, the name by which herpeople addressed her. It cost me a pang to part with it, but Ireflected that if these savages killed me, as seemed likely unless Icould ingratiate myself with them, the mirror would, with equalcertainty, pass into their hands as if I voluntarily surrendered it. 

The queen uttered an exclamation of surprise when she caught sight ofher face in the looking glass, nor could some of her attendants whostood near resist the temptation to look over her shoulder in order tosee the reflection of their own faces also. Nothing that I could havegiven the queen would have pleased her more. My present at once broughtme into favour, for all appeared to regard such a prodigy as the workof immortals. 

Queen Melannie, having appropriated Anna's mirror, and finding Iunderstood what she said to me, then dismissed her attendants andinvited me to a private audience. I asked her how she, a white lady, came to be among savages, but she could tell me nothing except that sheremembered standing upon the beach as a child, alone, when it was verycold, and that she cried very much, until the natives had brought herinto this house, where she had been reared and cared for ever since. 

"They tell me I was born of the sea, " she said, "but I do not believethat, for I seem to remember other faces, like yours, before I camehere. "

It was then plain to me that this poor girl had been shipwrecked as achild, and cast upon this island. It was sad to think that one sobeautiful should be condemned to live among savages, but I reflectedthat my own case was no better, for it seemed unlikely I would returnto civilization. Melannie appeared to place full confidence in me fromour first meeting. 

"I am not really queen, " she said. "Ackbau is king, and I must do as hetells me. He makes me speak his words, but sometimes I would rather notsay what he bids me. "

I sympathized with her, for I could readily understand why this Ackbau, who was the chief before whom I had been taken, chose her to be hismouthpiece. She had become a goddess to the tribe, and it was thoughtshe could speak nothing wrong. So that by using her as his mediumAckbau gained his ends without accepting responsibility. 

Whilst I was talking to the queen I could not help admiring the jewelsin her diadem, and seeing I was pleased with them she invited me toaccompany her to a rock cavern near to her dwelling, where I saw suchan accumulation of wealth that I began to picture myself among therichest of men. The floor of this cave was carpeted with gold dust, andnuggets of the same precious metal were piled high against its walls. But what caused me to rub my eyes in wonder was a slab of opal, whichseemed ablaze with the fire it contained. Upon this priceless tablewere strewn a collection of gems, which, from the knowledge I hadacquired in De Decker's office at Amsterdam, I knew to be of greatvalue, but which did not appear to be so regarded by the queen, forwhen she had presented me with a double handful she still seemed toconsider herself in my debt for the mirror and some other trifles I hadgiven her. I now knew that I had come to the Island of Gems of whichHartog had spoken. But, alas! of what use was all this wealth, since Icould not spend it in this place, and it seemed improbable I would evergo back to my own country?

Melannie now returned to her dwelling, which I subsequently found sheseldom left, except at night, which accounted for the fairness of herskin. All festivals were held at night, by moonlight, and what struckme as peculiar was the absence of fire. Fish and shellfish were eatenraw, but many subsisted entirely upon coconuts and fruit, which grewupon the island in great profusion. 

The native city in which I now found myself consisted of a number ofdwellings of beehive shape, thatched with grass, and usually abouttwelve feet high. The queen's house was about three times as large asthe others, and was placed in the centre of the town, with an avenue oftrees, and a clear space before it for tribal dances or meetings. Ackbau also lived in a large house. On the reserve around the queen'spalace, the older men spent most of the day in gossiping, or playingupon reed pipes, which furnished their sole musical instrument. Theyounger men made nets, mended weapons, or shaped stones for theirslings. The natives in this island did not appear to understand theuse of the bow and arrow, their only weapons being clubs, slings, andspears. The spears were made of hard wood, polished and inlaid withpearl shell and beaten gold. The slings were of plaited fibre, thestones being rounded like an egg. The clubs were of various shapes, some with rounded heads, and others bent and pointed like a pick. 

CHAPTER XVIII

A QUEEN'S FAVOURITE

Three days after my coming to the Island of Gems I discovered, to myembarrassment, that Queen Melannie regarded me with more than royalfavour. It had been her custom to seclude herself from her peopleexcept upon occasions, but now she preferred to walk with me daily uponthe cliffs, or among the rich foliage, which made a natural garden inthe valleys. None molested us, for those to whom the queen showedfavour were taboo to the rest of the tribe, so that as long as Iretained her goodwill I was safe. But who would be dependent upon awoman's whim?

"You do not love me, Peter, " she said, for I had told her my name, "notas I love you. Your blood is cold. It does not run warm as mine doeswhen I hold you to me. "

I tried to pacify her, but she would not be satisfied. 

"You do not love me! You cannot love me!" she repeated. "They want meto give you to the snake god. Why should I keep you if you do not loveme?"

This was the first time she had threatened me, and I began to realizethat the love she professed was tempered by a degree of venom which atany moment might consign me to some cruel death. 

Surely no man was placed in such a dilemma as that in which I now foundmyself. In all my adventures I had never felt so helpless as I did whendealing with this wilful queen. I dared not tell her of my love forAnna Holstein, for I knew that such a confession would quickly seal mydoom. Yet I could not return her love, for Anna was never out of mythoughts. Meanwhile Ackbau watched us closely, content to bide histime. 

The people upon this island were unlike any I had previously met with. I conjectured that in ages past some tribe of Indians had migrated toit, for that Indian blood flowed in the veins of its presentinhabitants seemed beyond doubt. Their intelligence exceeded that ofaborigines, and their language contained words of Hindu origin. As forthe queen, I set her down for a Portuguese maiden, whose mother musthave accompanied the captain of some trading vessel, probably in searchof the Island of Gems, when, by a stroke of fate, the ship, with allhands, had foundered, leaving Melannie the sole survivor. 

Ackbau seldom spoke to me, and when he did his tone was unfriendly. "The white man will make good sport at the coming of the snake god, " hesaid to me once when I had angered him by walking out with the queen, and those with him had laughed, and had looked at me in a manner thatmade me speculate upon what cruel fate it was to which they, in theirown minds, had already consigned me. 

Of the tortures practised by the islanders upon those who offendedthem, I was not left long in doubt. There had lately been a war, soMelannie told me, between this people and those of an adjacent islandin which some captives had been taken who, according to custom, wouldbe offered in sacrifice to propitiate one of the many evil spirits whomthese benighted people worship. On the day of the sacrifice I wasbidden to be present, and not daring to refuse, I accompanied the queento a barren spot at the foot of the mountain where some gaunt treesrose out of a bed of lava. Here we found Ackbau haranguing the victims, and describing to them the tortures they would shortly be called uponto suffer. One of the captives had been prepared for the sacrifice, and, but for the gravity of his position, his appearance might haveexcited mirth. His body was encased in a kind of basket from which hishead, arms, and legs protruded, giving him the appearance of a giganticinsect. To the top of the basket, or tamgky, to give it its nativename, was attached a rope of flax, the end of which had been thrownover a branch of one of the trees to the height of about forty feetfrom the ground. By command of Ackbau, a file of warriors now began topull upon this rope, when the victim was drawn up to the branch overhis head, where Melannie told me he would be allowed to remain until, in the course of time, the rope rotted away, when the skeleton wouldfall to the ground. The object of enclosing the vital parts of thevictim in a basket was that death might come as slowly as possible. Some would live, so the queen assured me, for many days, during whichtime of agony their faces and the exposed parts of their bodies wouldbe devoured by ants and other venomous insects. Yet Melannie satunmoved by the sight of these tortures, and even smiled when the poorwretch had been drawn up to his awful doom, and cried out in his agony. For that smile I felt that I could kill her. 

Unable to control myself in the presence of such barbarities, Iabruptly left the place of execution and began to ascend the mountain, at the foot of which the sacrifices were made, which I could see wasthe cause of a commotion among the natives. As none offered to stay me, however, I continued my way up the steep sides, which I found to becomposed of rocks and scoria, with occasional patches of coarse grass. Among the slag of metals between the crevices of the rocks I uneartheda number of gems, though none so large as those which Melannie hadgiven me, which I added to the collection I carried in a belt I hadmade for the purpose. I knew it was unlikely these bits of colouredcrystal would ever be of value to me, but I carried them in the hopethat some day I might be rescued, when I would return home possessed ofthe wealth I had coveted, and which I had risked my life to obtain. 

As I explored the mountain I could hear the rumbling of the volcanicfire within, while as I proceeded a rain of fine dust descended, makingfurther progress disagreeable. Earth tremors also warned me that thecrust here was thin, and therefore dangerous. The mountain seemed onthe verge of eruption, and I wondered that no alarm for the safety ofthe town built at the foot of it had been shown by Melannie and herpeople. But I remembered that volcanoes, like all great works ofNature, measure time by the lapse of ages, and that a thousand yearswill often pass between the convulsions of the internal fires whichfind an outlet through the earth's craters. The smoke and heat of themountain, however, reminded me of my tinder-box, and I gathered someflints, of which there were a number lying round, before returning tomy dwelling in the native town. I had kept my ability to make fire, sofar, secret, but if my life was threatened I resolved to kindle aconflagration that would sweep the island. 

When the queen and her followers returned from the place of executionMelannie sent for me. 

"Have a care, Peter, " she said. "We are ruled here by customs which maynot be changed. Already Ackbau is jealous of the favour I have shownyou. To go upon the mountain, which is forbidden country, may be madean argument in favour of thy death, from which even I cannot save you. "

I pleaded an excuse for infringing the taboo, but Melannie shook herhead. Then she embraced me and begged me to forgive her ill-humour. 

"You will not leave me, Peter, " she pleaded. "You are strong--strongerthan Ackbau, and will protect me from him. "

"But you are queen, are you not?" I answered. 

"Yes, I am queen, " replied Melannie, "but I do not love my people as Ishould do. I wish they would make Ackbau king, so that I might be freeas others are. "

She tried to embrace me, but I disengaged myself from her. I could nottake her to my heart, coming, as she did, a willing spectator from theplace of sacrifice. 

CHAPTER XIX

I BECOME CHIEF COOK

I now resolved to introduce the cooking of food upon the island. Fromthe fish and clams which the natives offered me in their raw state Iturned in disgust, but I reflected that, cooked, they would makeexcellent eating. I was tired of fruit, and craved a more substantialdiet. How long I might be compelled to remain upon this island I knewnot. Perhaps I was destined to spend the rest of my life upon it. Why, then, should I be deprived of the luxury of cooking my food, when, withmy flint and steel, I possessed the means of making a fire?

When I spoke of my intention to Melannie she failed to grasp mymeaning. She had no notion of fire except in connexion with the smokeon the mountain, and when I told her I could make fire like that andconvert it to my use, she became incredulous. 

"If you can make fire, Peter, " she said, "you are greater than all thegods upon the island. Whoever heard of making fire?"

In order to convince her, and to test the effect which my fire mighthave upon these islanders, I invited her to accompany me to a remotepart of the island, seldom visited, where I had already constructed afire-place and collected a quantity of fuel, of which there was anabundance lying round. She came with me fearlessly, for she trusted meentirely, and her intelligence, which was superior to the islanders', made her less superstitious than the savages over whom she nominallyreigned. When she saw the dried wood and leaves I had collected in myfire-place she appeared to think I had become suddenly demented, assometimes happened to the people on the island, when they were thoughtto be possessed by evil spirits. 

When I took up my flint and steel, however, and began to strike sparkson to the prepared tinder, she drew back alarmed, although her woman'scuriosity conquered her desire to run away. But when the sparkslighted the dried leaves, causing the wood to crackle and burn, shewould have fled if I had not detained her. 

"There is no magic in fire-making, Melannie, " I said, trying to allayher fears; "all white men make fires. It is as necessary to them as airand water. "

But it was hard to convince the queen of this. She looked at my fire, which now burned brightly, with wonder and alarm. "Of a truth, Peter, "she said, "thy magic is beyond me. I know now thou art indeed come fromthe sun. No man born of men could work such marvel. "

I had brought with me a fine fish, caught that morning from the rocks, which I had sealed and cleaned with my dagger-knife, and I now toastedit over the hot coals, after which I enjoyed the most satisfying meal Ihad tasted since I had been cast upon the island. I induced Melannie toeat some of the fish, which she found so much to her liking that herfear of the fire changed to admiration for what it could do. 

"When my people eat of this delicious food, " she said, "they willworship you. "

I had no desire to be worshipped. All I asked was permission to eat mygrilled fish in peace. But Melannie was so delighted with her meal thatshe made me promise to prepare a fish each day for our mutualenjoyment. For some days we continued to dine by stealth. Fish wereplentiful, and we also found the bivalves I had noticed on my firstlanding round the fresh water pools very palatable. 

At length our daily absence from the village, always at the same hour, excited suspicion, and spies were set upon us, who reported we weremaking another smoke mountain, which led to a surprise visit fromAckbau, who came upon us one day when our meal was preparing. I hadmade some rude vessels of clay, hardened by fire, in which to boil theshell-fish, and with these simmering in the pot, and a fine rock codgrilling upon the hot coals, we were awaiting our dinner withpleasurable anticipation, when Ackbau appeared. 

He was too astonished at what he saw to find fault, and when, later, hehad eaten of grilled cod and boiled clams, seasoned with salt andcut-up bananas, a recipe which Melannie, with her woman's instinct, hadinvented for the preparation of this delicacy, he was so pleased withhis food that he forgot to be ill-tempered. 

After this surprise visit from Ackbau our privacy was at an end. Nextday the whole council came to dinner. They brought with them a quantityof fish and clams, which they wanted cooked, and it became necessary tomake fresh fires, and to instruct them in the art of cooking. This wassoon done, for the natives, when shown our simple methods, very quicklybegan to understand what was required of them, and they became sointerested in the cookery that for the time being all other business onthe island was suspended. Soon the whole tribe took part in thecooking, and fires burned all along the shore at which fish and clamsprepared as Melannie directed were converted into luscious banquets forthe astonished islanders. Nothing else was thought of but cooking andeating, and the natives often gorged themselves to such an extent thatthey were unable for hours to stir from the spot. 

This soon gave rise to disagreements and led to quarrels, until atlength Ackbau, who in his own way was a born organizer, called thecouncil together and enacted laws for the regulation of the cookery. 

By these laws cooks were appointed, of whom I was made chief, and itbecame an offence, punishable by death, for any except those dulyqualified to indulge in cooking. Regulations were also made for thedistribution of food, and each day, at stated hours, the tribeassembled round the fires, when they were served with their portions, which they greedily devoured. There were no birds upon the island, or Imight have added game to our bill of fare, but turtles were plentiful, and, when captured, were cooked under my directions in a manner whichconvinced the savages that I was of divine origin. The method offire-making I kept to myself, rightly conceiving that so long as Ipreserved this secret my life would be spared. 

But notwithstanding the improvement in their mode of living which I hadbrought to these people by the introduction of the use of fire amongstthem, I could see that Ackbau still regarded me with disfavour. Hiscruel nature, moreover, began to suggest to him another use to whichfire might be applied. One of his slaves inadvertently picked up aburning brand, which burnt his fingers, and the pain which it causedsuggested to Ackbau that fire might be employed in torture. He ruled byfear, and the fear of fire had now become universal among theislanders. Ackbau spoke to me privately with regard to the making ofthis new element, and even offered to give me a seat on the council ifI would surrender to him my flint and steel, but I told him that to mealone was committed the power of making fire, and that any otherattempting it would bring upon himself inevitable disaster. Ackbau'sambition to become a fire-maker was checked for the moment, but I couldsee it was not satisfied. 

CHAPTER XX

THE SNAKE GOD

I was now to meet with a surprise. The chief deity worshipped by thepeople of the Island of Gems was a snake god, a monster who at regular, intervals visited a coral cave rising out of a pool of water said to befathomless, from which I conjectured it was connected with the sea. Thewater in this pool was of a deep blue colour, salt to the taste, whichfurther convinced me of its link with the ocean. On the first night ofeach full moon a human sacrifice was offered, with which the monsterretreated into the coral cave, where it remained feasting upon itsvictim three days. During this period the natives continued withoutsleep, and fasting. At the end of three days the snake god disappeared, nor was it seen again until its next periodical visit. 

There ran, a legend among the people of the Island of Gems that if ahuman sacrifice was not made to the snake god at the time of itscoming, the island would be destroyed and its people exterminated, sothat great care was taken to provide the monster with its accustomedtribute. Prisoners of war, and all strangers found upon the island, were, in the first place, offered to the snake god, and, failing these, a victim was chosen among the tribe. 

It now appeared, so far as I could gather from Ackbau, who made nosecret of his intentions regarding me, that had it not been, for thearrival of another stranger upon the island, I myself would have beenoffered as a sacrifice to the snake god at his next coming, and it wasfor this reason I had been received with apparent friendship. But afresh captive being taken soon after I had been washed ashore hadcaused a change of plan very much to my advantage. Queen Melannie alsohad interested herself in my favour, and had refused to speak words atthe secret council which would have decreed my death. But I mightassure myself, said Ackbau, that my fate was only delayed, and at thecoming of the snake god, next after the one immediately expected, mydeath had been decided upon. I appealed to Melannie, but she could onlyconfirm what Ackbau had told me. 

"I cannot save you, Peter, " she said, "unless you will become myhusband, when, if you are strong, we may overcome Ackbau, and rule asking and queen upon this island. But if that cannot be, let us escapeby a means that I know of. "

I put aside the question of marriage, but I eagerly embraced theproposal to escape. 

Melannie then led me, secretly, by a path known only to Ackbau, thecouncil, and herself, to a rock cavern close to the water's edge, inwhich was kept a ship's boat, which the queen told me had been washedashore at the same time when, she was found crying upon the beach. Itwas a well-built, serviceable cutter, with spare oars, and a sailstowed under the thwarts, just as they had been placed in her when shehad put to sea, but there was neither food nor water in the boat, although I discovered a water-tank forward, which could readily befilled from one of the many streams on the island. I became so excitedat the prospect of escape that Melannie looked grave. 

"You are glad to go, Peter, " she said. "Go, then; take the boat, andleave me to my fate. "

"Not so, Melannie, " I answered. "I will take you with me, and restoreyou to your own people. It is not meet that a white girl, such as thou, should abide with savages. "

At these words Melannie recovered her gaiety. 

"Let me go with thee, Peter, " she said, clapping her hands withpleasure. "It is all I ask. But if we would not be followed by warcanoes, which could easily overtake us, we must use much cunning in themanner of our going. "

We then took counsel together, when Melannie advised that our bestchance to escape would be at the time of the coming of the snake god. When the monster appeared, and for three days afterward, while itremained in the coral cave, the savages would be held to the spot bytheir traditions from which nothing would induce them to depart. Wemight then slip away unobserved, and be out of sight of land before theceremonies in connexion with the sacrifice were over. This appearing tobe our opportunity, we at once set about making preparations. From astream near the cave I filled the boat's water-tank, and we collected aquantity of coconuts, bananas, and other fruits, which we stowed onboard; nor did I forget to take some of the largest gems from thetreasure cave, which I stuffed into my belt with the others. The gold Idid not touch. It was heavy to carry, and its transport might havecaused suspicion. We also launched the boat, with some difficulty, intoa natural boat harbour formed by a coral reef, so that no time might belost in getting away. All being ready, we waited impatiently for theday upon which we had planned to set out upon our voyage. 

During this time I observed a change upon the mountain in the centre ofthe island. The smoke cloud, which always hovered over it, hadincreased until it hung like a funeral pall over the top of thevolcano. Loud rumblings also were heard like distant thunder, whileearth tremors were constantly felt. I mentioned these matters toMelannie, but she did not appear to attach any importance to them. 

"The mountain was always like that, " she said. "Perhaps the evilspirits who live there are angry. " But I knew from my reading andexperience that these signs and portents were such as heralded aneruption. In the excitement of leaving the island, however, I forgot myanxieties with regard to the volcano. 

I now questioned Melannie with regard to the white stranger whosecoming had saved me from being offered as a sacrifice to the snake god. At first she refused to tell me anything concerning him, but when Ipressed her she conducted me to a cavern in which the captive wasconfined. The door of this dungeon was a swinging rock, which Melanniecaused to open by some means of which she knew the secret, when thewretched man who was reserved for the sacrifice was seen crouching indarkness at the farther end of the cave. He came toward us bent double. There was a scared look upon his face. The light dazzled him. I knewhim at once, and held my breath. It was Van Luck. When he saw me hethrew himself upon his knees and implored me to save him, but I toldhim I had no power to avert his death even if I would. In answer to myquestion as to how he came upon the island, he answered, that almost atthe same time as I had been washed overboard he himself had beenprecipitated by a wave into the sea. 

"Well, Van Luck, " I said to him. "It seemeth to me that the hand ofProvidence is in this business. But for your conduct we had both nowbeen on board the 'Arms of Amsterdam, ' yet no sooner was I cast intothe sea by your treachery than you were made to follow me, to bebrought to this island, where, but for your coming, I would have beensubject to the cruel fate which now awaits you. "

"Mercy!" he cried. "I do not fear death. But the death that I am tosuffer is not for a human to contemplate. If you cannot save me, atleast kill me, so that I may escape the torture of being devouredalive. "

But I was powerless to aid him, and at a sign from Melannie, who wasfearful lest our visit might be discovered, I stepped back, as the rockat the mouth of the cave returned to its place, and consigned themiserable captive to a darkness from which he would not emerge untilthe time for the sacrifice. 

CHAPTER XXI

A PLAN OF ESCAPE

I was now of two minds, whether to make terms with Ackbau or toendeavour to escape with Melannie from the Island of Gems in the boatwe had made ready for sea. On the one hand was immediate safety, andthe prospect of some ship calling at the island in which I might returnto civilization. On the other was a hazardous journey alone with ayoung girl, who could not be expected to realize the dangers which laybefore her. Was I justified, I asked myself, in exposing the queen tothe tragedy which might await us upon the ocean? If captured I had nodoubt that both of us would be condemned by Ackbau to a cruel death, and if we succeeded in getting away how should we exist until somechance vessel came to our rescue? I mentioned my fears to Melannie, butshe would not hear of abandoning the project we had formed. 

"Let us go, Peter, " she urged. "Nothing but death, or worse, awaits ushere. As for you, at the next coming of the snake god after the onethat is about to take place you will assuredly be offered as asacrifice, for I may tell you that a solemn vow has been made by thecouncil to that effect. While I, at the same time, am to be given inmarriage to Ackbau, a fate from which I shrink more than from death. Why, then, should we exchange the chance of reaching the country youspeak of for the tortures which must certainly await us here? Let ustrust ourselves to the sea rather than cling to this land of sorrow. Ifwe perish, we perish. "

I could not but agree that her argument contained much good sense, andI admired the courage with which she was ready to face the worst thatFate might have in store for us. 

"Let it be so then, Melannie, " I answered. "May heaven deal with me asI deal with thee in protecting us both from evil. "

After arriving at this decision we agreed there must be no turningback, and it only now remained to await the night upon which theunfortunate Van Luck would be offered to the snake god in order to makegood our escape. Meanwhile we were allowed to wander about the islandtogether as before. Ackbau having obtained the decree of the councilfor my death, and his own marriage with the queen, could afford towait, nor did he appear anxious to deprive Melannie of the pleasurewhich she found in my company, until I was removed from his path. Melannie, although arrived at woman's estate, was but a child at heart, and, as a child, he knew she would be content to let things drift untilthe moment for my execution was at hand, when it would be too late evenfor the queen to prevent it. 

I had now become much attached to Melannie, feeling for her as for adear sister. Her love for me I could not return, since all my love wasgiven to my betrothed, but next to Anna I loved Melannie more thananyone in the world. 

So far as the islanders were concerned, I was now left to my owndevices. My fire-making had lost its novelty, and since it wasdiscovered that one fire could be lighted from another my flint andsteel had depreciated in value. In order to conciliate Ackbau I offeredto explain to him the secret of my fire-making, but he answered coldlythat he himself knew how to make fire by taking a burning brand fromone fire and thrusting it among dried wood and leaves, of which therewere great quantities on the island, as fire had never been alightthere before. 

"But if your fire should go out you would not know how to light itagain, " I argued. 

"I will take care that it does not go out, " answered Ackbau. 

The cooking also which I had taught them was easily performed bycertain members of the tribe told off for that purpose, and I noticedthat much secrecy was observed in the preparation of food. This secretwas revealed to me in a startling manner when I unexpectedly came uponAckbau and some members of the council seated together enjoying a stewof what I could see was human flesh. For, indeed, what else could itbe, seeing there were no animals upon the island? I mastered my horroras well as I could, for I was now in great dread of these savages, who, since they had acquired the taste for meat, appeared to have become farmore ferocious and cruel than before resorting to the dreadful practiceof cannibalism. My discovery, however, made me more than everdetermined to rescue Melannie from the companionship of these wretcheswho called her their queen. It was better, I argued, for her to die inher youth and innocence upon the sea, if Providence so willed, than tobecome the wife of such a man as Ackbau. 

I did not confide to Melannie my dreadful discovery, but she was notslow in noticing a change in the demeanour of the men with whom sheformerly had daily intercourse. Those who had become eaters of humanflesh avoided her, and even Ackbau seemed ashamed to intrude himselfupon her. 

"What is it, Peter?" she asked me, and I read the questioning fear inher eyes. 

I did my best to pacify her, but I could see that the repugnance withwhich she regarded Ackbau now almost amounted to a mania. 

"I feel inclined to run from Ackbau when I see him, " she said. "If he touched me I am sure that I would scream. "

"You will soon be beyond his power, " I answered. "Do not think of him, and you will not fear him. "

"Oh, Peter, take me away, I am frightened!" she sobbed. "Do not letAckbau and the others come near me. They have done something. I don'tknow what it is. But they are not as they were before they made thefire. Perhaps a curse is upon them for having stolen the secret fromthe smoke mountain. "

I tried to comfort her, but I could see that the poor child was greatlyalarmed, and I determined to speak to Ackbau regarding the abominablepractice in which he was engaged. 

"Had I known that my fire-making would have made a cannibal of thee, Ackbau, " I said, "I would never have kindled the element upon thisisland. Fire is a useful and necessary article in the life of a goodman, but it becomes a curse if put to evil purposes. "

"It is a curse then that will fall most heavily upon thee, " answeredAckbau. "As for me, this is my country, and I am king of its customs. "But although he pretended to resent my interference, I could see thatAckbau was ashamed of what he had done, and henceforth he avoidedMelannie, and seldom entered the queen's presence, so that I gainedwhat I had in view by remonstrating with him. 

The thought of the fire, however, and the effect which the making of ithad upon these savages, set me pondering whether this element wasreally the primary cause of cannibalism. 

No savages whom I ever met devour raw flesh, whether human or animal, so that the eating of meat by men would seem to be an acquired habit. Fruit and water appear to be the natural food and drink of man, allelse being artificial and vicious. 

CHAPTER XXII

THE NIGHT OF THE SACRIFICE

At last the night came when the snake god was to appear. The moon shonewith wonderful brilliancy, sending a path of dancing light from theisland across the sea to the horizon. The air was heavy as thoughpresaging a storm. On the mountain the black pall was conspicuousagainst the star-spangled sky. A red glow from the crater illumined thedark smoke-cloud hanging over it. The silence was broken by thecontinued playing of reed pipes, making wonderful music. Melannie satupon a throne, close to the pool in front of the coral cave, in whichthe stars were reflected as in a mirror. Ackbau and other chiefs stoodnear her. The queen was pale, but her dark eyes were resolute. Shesmiled when I looked at her, to give me encouragement. Her subjectswere assembled round the pool in a triple line. Presently the beatingof a war-drum announced the arrival of a procession, which advancedslowly to the pool, bearing a litter upon which, bound hand and foot, was stretched the unfortunate Van Luck. When they had come to the edgeof the pool they set the litter down and withdrew. 

I had no cause to love Van Luck, yet there was something in hishelpless misery which appealed to me, and made it impossible for me toabandon him to his fate without an effort to save him. Besides, he wasof my race, a white man. I could not leave him to be butchered bysavages. 

And now the waters of the pool began to be agitated by the rising ofthe leviathan from its depths, and suddenly a monstrous head, mountedupon a neck full twenty feet long, rose out of the water. The body ofthe creature resembled that of a turtle, only ten times larger than. The biggest turtle I had ever beheld. Thrice the monster circled thepool. Then it began slowly to approach the litter upon which Van Lucklay, more dead than alive with the terror that had come upon him. Icould bear no more, and, throwing prudence to the winds, I ran to helphim. I was just in time to drag him beyond reach of the monster, whomade a rush to the edge of the pool when he saw his prey being takenfrom him. 

A great shout arose from the savages, who seemed amazed at the act ofsacrilege I had committed. The reed pipes stopped playing. Melannierose from her throne pale and trembling. Ackbau advanced towards mewith a threatening gesture. 

"This must not be, Ackbau, " I said, pointing to where Van Luck lay atmy feet gazing at the monster in mute terror. "I will prevent it. "Ackbau gave some directions, when a number of savages advanced, evidently with the intention of taking me alive, so that I might begiven to the monster, which continued to swim round the pool lashingthe water into foam, and stretching its neck from side to side in angerat having been robbed of its prey. 

But now a new diversion arose which caused a panic among the savages. We had all been so engrossed by what was taking place at the pool thatno heed had been given to the mountain. With a mighty roar which shookthe island to its foundations the volcano broke into eruption. Thecrust had given way, and the internal fires, held in check, belchedfrom the crater. Huge rocks and stones glowing red hot were thrown toincredible heights. The earth rocked and opened, so that many wereengulfed. 

Streams of lava began to descend. The pool sank, leaving a deep pitinto which the monster disappeared. The prophecy was about to befulfilled. The snake god had been robbed of its tribute, and the islandwith all upon it was to be destroyed. In, their terror the savagesraced for the seashore. Nothing was remembered but self-preservation. 

I now released Van Luck from his bonds, and bidding him and Melanniefollow me, I led the way along the secret path to where the boat lay, ready to put to sea. I was rewarded for my rescue of Van Luck by hisability to help me. Not a breath of wind stirred, so that we could notuse the sail, and it became necessary to sweep the boat with the oarsaway from the burning island. Alone I could not have accomplished this, and I doubt if Melannie could have helped me, ignorant as she was ofthe use of the heavy oar. But Van Luck and I had no difficulty insweeping the boat out to sea. Thus does Providence recompense amerciful action. 

When we had gained a safe distance from the island we rested awhile inorder to look back on the strangest and most terrific sight I had everbeheld. The island seemed to be blown to atoms. Flames and masses ofrock shot up from the quickly-widening crater until the island, whichhad lately risen like a beauty-spot in the ocean, became a mass offire. The lava, now pouring in red-hot streams into the sea, causedsteam-clouds to rise, so that the island disappeared behind a luminousveil. None of the savages escaped, for we saw no canoes making from theshore. Thus vanished the Island of Gems, with its treasure of jewelsand gold, the dross of the world, in the pursuit of which so many risktheir lives. 

A light breeze now coming from the south-east, we hoisted the sails, and taking the helm, I placed Van Luck in charge of the foresail, whilst Melannie and I sat together in the stern. The queen did notappear to regret the loss of her country. 

"I am queen no longer, " she said, clapping her hands at the thought ofher freedom. "Ackbau cannot frighten me any more, nor shall I see againthose dreadful sights I was compelled to witness. "

"You will be happy, " I whispered, "among your own people. You will berich also, for half my jewels will make you wealthy in the land towhich you are going. "

"Nay, Peter, " she answered. "I need not take your jewels. I have jewelsof my own. When I saw that you valued the bright stones, I knew theywould be of value to me also. I have a bagful of jewels, larger thanyours, and brighter. " And, laughing to see the surprise she had givenme, Melannie drew out a handful of gems from a bag which she carried ather girdle, which glowed with a wonderful lustre under the light of themoon. 

It was then that I saw Van Luck watching us from the bow of the boat. His countenance wore a cunning, greedy look, and his eyes were fastenedupon the jewels in Melannie's hand. 

"Put them away, " I whispered. "Such toys are often the cause of muchtrouble. "

Melannie replaced the jewels, but seemed disappointed at my words. 

"I thought you would be glad I had brought away the bright stones, " shesaid. "But if they are unlucky I will cast them into the sea. "

"Nay, Melannie, " I answered. "Keep them, for they will make you therichest among the women of your own country. But do not show them toanyone or let it be known that you have them with you, should we fallin with a passing ship, or they may cause our ruin, perhaps our death. "Melannie seemed to understand me, but her pleasure in the bright stoneshad received a check since her display of them had brought a rebukefrom my lips. 

CHAPTER XXIII

AT THE MERCY OF THE SEA

When morning broke on the day after our escape from the burning islandwe shaped a course with the wind, for I had no fixed purpose, and ouronly hope of returning to civilization lay in a chance meeting withsome passing vessel. Yet I knew how remote that chance would be. Thesea in these latitudes was not in the course of trade between any ofthe countries of the known world, and voyages of discovery such asthose undertaken by Dirk Hartog and other navigators of the time werefew and far between. Still I conceived it to be my duty to make thebest use of the means which Providence had placed in my hands ofreturning to home and friends, and as the cutter danced over the waves, and the salt spray moistened our faces, I felt my spirits rise. 

Melannie, in her new-found freedom, was like a happy child. 

"Let us sail on for ever, Peter, " she said. "I never want to put myfoot on land again. "

I tried to tell her that we could not live long upon the ocean; thatour food and water would fail us; and that unless we fell in with aship, or landed upon some friendly island, our doom was sealed. ButMelannie refused to look upon the graver side of our situation, andseemed so happy and contented that I did not like to spoil herenjoyment with my dismal forebodings. Time enough, I thought, to meettrouble when it comes. Meanwhile we continued our voyage as a pleasuretrip, eating the fruit we had brought with us when we felt hungry, andquenching our thirst from the boat's water-tank, with no care for thefuture. 

During this time Van Luck resumed his former air of abstraction, whichI had noticed in him on board the "Arms of Amsterdam". For hours at atime he would remain silent, looking across the sea with his handshading his eyes in the watchful attitude which had become habitual tohim during his solitary vigils at the island upon which we had foundhim. If spoken to when this fit was upon him, he would not answer, nordid he, at such times, appear to realize where he was. I could see thathis mind was deranged, and I dreaded some violent outbreak, such asthat which had come over him when, by his treachery, I was cast intothe sea. But Melannie showed no fear of him; in, her delight at beingwith me upon the ocean away from the savages, among whom she had beenreared, she seemed to have forgotten his presence. 

For the next week after leaving what had been once the Island of Gems, we experienced a spell of fine weather, with bright sun and coolbreeze. The elements seemed kind to the exiled queen without a throne, who had trusted herself to the wind and the sea, and but for theanxiety which I felt for the future, the voyage would have been apleasant one. 

In order to protect Melannie from the heat of midday, and to ensure hersome measure of privacy, I constructed a temporary cabin for her, withsome spare canvas which I found on board the boat, but at night shepreferred to sleep in the open so that she might watch the stars, whichshone with extraordinary brilliancy. It was then that I lowered thesails when our boat drifted upon the moonlit sea. Melannie would atsuch times creep into my arms, and with her head pillowed upon, mybreast would listen to the wonders I had to tell of the world of whitepeople to which I hoped I was taking her. 

"Something warns me I shall never see that country, Peter, " she said tome one night with a sigh, "but I like to hear you speak of it. It mustbe a happy land where there are no black men to frighten a poor girland make her weep. But I shall not see it. The white spirits would notwelcome me to their country if they knew of the sights I had seen andthe pain I had caused to be inflicted on those whom Ackbau hated. "

"It was not your will, but Ackbau's, Melannie, which caused suchsuffering, " I answered. "None could blame you for being the mouthpieceof his villainy. "

But Melannie shook her head. 

"The white man's country is not for me, Peter, " she declaredsorrowfully. "I am too steeped in blood to take the white girls' handsin friendship. "

Then she clung to me weeping, with her head upon my breast, and so shewould sob herself to sleep like a child disappointed in play. 

But, knowing her history, I could not find it in my heart to blame herfor what had been done at the dictation of others. I pictured her aqueen, among the whites, by reason of her wealth from the sale of herjewels, who would doubtless have many noble suitors at her feet. Herbeauty was such as I had never seen equalled, and her imperious andsometimes wilful ways only added to her indescribable charms. It was now forced upon me that unless help came soon we must starve. Our stock of fruit was almost exhausted, and scarce three quarts ofwater remained in the tank. I had not been able to impress uponMelannie the necessity for economy in our eating and drinking. She hadalways been used to an abundance of simple fare, and, like a child, lived for the hour, with no thought of the future. Van Luck had alsobeen in the habit of helping himself to what he wanted from our stock, nor had I liked to interfere with him lest I might cause trouble. Butnow I resolved to take a firmer stand with both my passengers. 

To add to my anxieties I could see that Van Luck had been attracted bythe bag of jewels which Melannie had so imprudently displayed on thenight of our escape from the burning island. He was continuallywatching it when his eyes were not employed in gazing across the sea, and once I caught him creeping toward Melannie when she slept as ifwith the intention of robbing her of the treasure. I spoke to himroughly, and ordered him back to the fore part of the boat. He obeyed, but his looks were so threatening that I momentarily expected him toattack me. 

I now determined to keep awake while Melannie slept in order that Imight watch Van Luck, and I impressed upon the queen that she mustnever sleep when I slept. Thus we continued for some nights, keepingwatch and watch about. But I soon found I could not trust Melannie, forwhen I awoke I discovered her to be asleep. But in this, as in allelse, Melannie was such a child that I could not find it in my heart toscold her. 

CHAPTER XXIV

HOW MY SECOND VOYAGE ENDED

I now resolved to place Van Luck under restraint, for it was plain tome he was not responsible for his actions, and with this object in viewI went forward one morning with a rope in my hand, intending to securehim in some way from harming himself and others. As I approached himVan Luck, who seemed to divine my purpose, drew back with a savage, animal-like growl. I tried to pacify him by speaking kindly, but hesuddenly sprang at me with a knife in his hand. I caught his arm beforehe could strike, and we fell together upon the thwarts of the boat, locked in a deadly embrace. Van Luck was a powerful man, and hismadness seemed to give him double strength. I called to Melannie tokeep away from us, but afraid for my safety, and fearless of her own, she hurried to my assistance. "Get my knife, " I whispered, for I wasunable to draw it myself from its sheath by my side. The brave girlstooped to do my bidding, when the madman, at the same moment, wrenchedhis arm free and struck her. Melannie fell with a low moan upon thethwart beside me, and Van Luck, snatching the bag of gems from where ithung at her girdle, retreated with his prize to the stern. 

I was soon upon my feet, and lifting Melannie into a more easyposition, I turned my attention to Van Luck. He was sitting in thestern, handling the gems and mumbling over them, and when he saw me heclutched the bag, and, springing up, made as though to run from me, unmindful of the fact that we were tossing in mid-ocean. Withoutturning his head from looking back at me, he stumbled blindly into thesea, where he soon became lost amid the grey waves that rose on everyside. 

When I returned to Melannie I could see that she was sinking fast. Idid my best to staunch the blood which flowed from her breast. But herwhitened face, upon which the dews of death were gathering, warned meshe had not many moments to live. 

"Kiss me, Peter, " she whispered. "It is better that I should go. You donot love me; you cannot love me as I love you. There is some one elsewhom you love. I know it; I have felt it. Go to her, Peter, but do notquite forget me. "

These were her last words, and, when I kissed her, Melannie, Queen ofthe Island of Gems, had crossed the waters of the Great Divide. Nextday I consigned her body to the deep wrapped in her robe of white tapacloth which formed her shroud. 

I was now alone upon the waste of waters, with barely three days'provisions between me and a slow and painful death. To add to myanxieties I could see that the weather, which had been calm and finesince my leaving the island, was about to change. Storm clouds gatheredon the horizon. The sun was obscured. Rain fell, and the wind roseuntil it blew with the force of a tempest. I managed, with difficulty, to unship the sail, and devoted myself to baling the boat, whichthreatened at any moment to be swamped by the green water which cameaboard of her. All that day, and the next, I was driven by the stormwhither I knew not. The fruit which remained from our store was nowrendered uneatable by reason of the salt water, in which it washed fromside to side as the boat tossed and buffeted upon her way. A wasfamished and numb with cold. Yet, even in my extremity, I clung tolife, and my last act of consciousness was to secure myself by a ropeto the thwart upon which I lay. 

I was brought back to life by a flask of spirits held to my lips, andupon opening my eyes I became conscious of a bronzed, kindly facelooking down at me in the water-logged boat. 

"Hold up, lad, " said my preserver in English, a language with which Iwas well acquainted. "We'll have you aboard the 'Seagull' in a jiff, and to-morrow you'll be as fit as a buck rat. "

I then saw that a ship's boat was alongside the cutter, manned by fourmen. The weather had by this time moderated, but the sea ran high. Itwas therefore no easy matter to shift me from the cutter into the boat, for I was helpless and weak as a child from exposure to wind and sea. But willing hands at length effected the transfer, when we made for the"Seagull", which lay hove to half a mile distant. 

On coming aboard this vessel I was taken below and treated with greatkindness, when, after my wet clothes had been set to dry, I was putinto a warm bunk, a bowl of hot soup being brought to me, which, when Ihad taken it, sent me into a sound sleep. I awoke much refreshed, andon resuming my clothes I was glad to find that the belt in which Icarried my jewels had not been interfered with. I thought it moreprudent not to make mention of these gems, for I well knew that if theywere found upon me I should not be allowed to keep them. The captain, having heard so much of my story as I chose to tell, promised me apassage to England, whither his ship was bound. 

I found the crew of the brig "Seagull" to be a rough lot, of mixednationalities, but Captain Bland, who was in command, was an Englishmanreturning home after a voyage of two years in these latitudes. Uponlearning my rating on the "Arms of Amsterdam" he made me his secondmate, in place of one who had died shortly before my coming on boardthe brig. 

It may be imagined with what a thankful heart I welcomed a change fromthe companionship of savages to that of civilized men, and when Iremembered the projects I had formed against my life I realized howunwise it is to become the arbiter of one's own fate. 

I voyaged in the English ship without mishap so long as we sailed uponuncharted seas, but when we entered home waters we kept a sharplook-out for pirates and free-booters, who at this time took toll fromall whom they encountered. Off the coast of Africa we exchanged signalswith passing vessels, from whom we learnt that pirates had been sightedin close proximity, and one morning we noticed two schooners bearingdown upon us. As the wind was in favour of the pirates, for such wejudged them to be, we could not hope to outrun them, our ship beingfoul after her long voyage, so the men were mustered and made ready foraction. 

While these preparations were on foot I could not help admiring thecool and fearless manner in which the English sailors set about theirwork. There was no hurry or confusion in their methods. Each man knewhis duty, and was ready to do it. 

With shouts and yells from the pirates on board of her, one of theschooners now ranged alongside, and the grappling irons were hoveathwart our bulwarks. I sent a shower of grape from the gun, of which Ihad charge, upon the deck of the schooner, killing four of the piratesand wounding others, but this failed to stop the boarding party, whonow swarmed upon us. The fight became general, and, led by CaptainBland, we engaged the robbers with such goodwill that we had almostsucceeded in driving them over the side when the second schooner cameup, and a fresh horde of ruffians joined in the attack. Retreating aft, we again made a stand, though it was evident that, in the end, we mustbe overpowered, outnumbered, as we were, three to one. 

Still we continued to fight on with no thought of surrender, for weknew that capture would mean death by walking the plank. Four of theEnglish on our side were killed, besides seven or eight of those ofother nationalities, whilst many were wounded. The decks were slipperywith blood, and a gathering mist made it impossible to ascertain theextent of our losses. Captain Bland now placed himself beside me, andtogether we held the pirates at bay. 

"This can't last, Van Bu, " he said, "and I am resolved that my shipshall not fall into the hands of these scoundrels. "

"What can you do?" I answered, without pausing in my defence. 

"I'll fire the magazine sooner than let them take her, " replied Bland. "Keep them in check for a while and we'll sink together. "

With these words he sprang to the hatchway while I continued to fighton, expecting every moment to be blown with all hands into eternity. 

I had given up hope, and the suspense of awaiting the expectedcatastrophe was so acute that I had almost made up my mind to throwmyself overboard and take my chance with the sharks, when two squaresails emerged out of the smoke, and the hull of a man-o'-war, with awide spread of canvas, ranged alongside, while a number of Englishman-o'-war's men, led by an officer, sprang upon our decks. At the sightof the King's men the pirates flung themselves headlong aboard theirschooners, and endeavoured to make off, but they were soon captured andbrought back, to be afterwards tried and hanged at the yard-arm. 

When the man-o'-war's men boarded us, I ran down the companion stairsin search of the captain, whom I found lying senseless at the foot ofthe ladder. Fortunately for him, and for all of us, he had been stunnedby a blow from one of the pirates as he descended, and was thusprevented from carrying out his desperate resolve to fire the magazine. 

This was my last adventure upon the voyage, and some weeks later, without further mishap, we sighted a Dutch vessel bound for Amsterdam, to which, at my request, I was transferred. 

CHAPTER XXV

I ARRIVE AT AMSTERDAM

My first care after arriving at Amsterdam was to interview thegoldsmiths with a view to disposing of the jewels I had brought fromthe Island of Gems, which proved to be of such value that I realized aconsiderable sum by the sale of a small portion, for I wished to keepsome of the best as a wedding present for Anna. 

I lost no time in sending my compliments to the Count of Holstein, witha request that I might be allowed to call upon him. He consented toreceive me, and I hastened to the Count's palace, where I found the oldnobleman prostrated with grief at the continued and unexplained illnessof his only child; but when Anna had seen me, and satisfied herself ofmy return, she recovered so rapidly that her father, on hearing from memy improved condition, and the sentiments which I entertained for hisdaughter, gladly gave his consent to our union. 

From Anna I learnt of the persecution to which she had been subjectfrom Count Hendrick Luitken, which had mainly been the cause of herillness. Convinced that she would never accept him willingly, CountHendrick, unknown to her father, had attempted to abduct her to hiscountry estate. With the aid of one of her attendants Anna had made herescape, and believing me dead, while fearing further persecution, shehad determined, should she be restored to health, to seek the cloisteras her only safe refuge. As her tale proceeded I found it hard torestrain myself from starting off at once in pursuit of the villain whohad treated my loved one so shamefully, and I promised myself to bringhim to account when the opportunity should arise. 

I next sought Hartog at the tavern which I knew he frequented. When hesaw me he cried out, "Is it you or your ghost, Peter? I had neverlooked to see thee again, lad. I'd sooner have thee back than salvageall the gold in the Orient. "

I thanked him for his welcome, which I knew to be genuine, and taking aseat at his right hand, I began to tell him of my adventures since welast met. When he heard it was owing to the treachery of Van Luck I hadbeen cast into the sea to be washed ashore on the Island of Gems, andof the subsequent fate of the island and of Van Luck, he became sointerested that he promised to meet me later, when I could give him amore detailed account of all that had befallen me. I offered to sharewith him my jewels, but to this he would not consent. 

"Nay, Peter, " he said, "I take no treasure that I had no hand ingetting. I am no pirate to rob a friend to whom chance and opportunityhave proved kind, but if it would pleasure thee to give me a keepsake, I will wear one of thy jewels set as a brooch, as a reminder of thygoodwill. I am, moreover, in no need of money, for the gold we took atCortes' island proved of greater value than I expected, and of thisyour share, together with the wages due to you, I will see to it ishonestly paid by the merchants at Amsterdam. Besides, who knows we maysail together again?" But at this I shook my head. 

"No more voyages for me, Hartog, " I said, "I have had my share of therough side of life, and will now be content with the smooth. "

"And you not thirty!" laughed Hartog. "Nay, Peter, I'll never believeit of you, that having tasted of adventure, you will be satisfied witha humdrum life ashore. "

I was now rich by the sale of my jewels, and able to choose for myselfmy future mode of life. Count Holstein advised me in the disposal of mywealth, and a fine estate being for sale not far from his own, Ipurchased it. 

I urged my parents, who still resided upon the Island of Urk, where myfather followed the occupation of a fisherman, to give up this mode ofearning a livelihood and retire into private life, when I promised tomake them a handsome allowance. But they would not consent to abandontheir independence. 

"I am not an old man, Peter, " said my father, when I spoke to him onthe subject, "and I have, I hope, still many useful years' work in me. I have always been a fisherman. My father was a fisherman, and so washis father before him. Fishing is the only work I understand. It ishonest work. Why then should I live in idleness upon thy bounty, when Ican still play my part in the world?"

I could not but see the force of his argument, so I contented myselfwith making my parents comfortable in the old home by adding manyimprovements which my mother desired but could not afford, while Ipresented my father with a new fishing-boat fitted with all the latestimprovements. 

It is wonderful, the power of money. It brought a new happiness intothe lives of my parents, and it made my mother look ten years younger. My father also, and my two brothers, who were all fishermen, had nowcome to regard me as the flower of the flock. Yet they had not scrupledto knock me about, with little ceremony, in the days of my boyhood; nordo I think they would have been behindhand in finding fault with me formy folly, had I returned from my second voyage as poor and needy asfrom the first. But such is life, and a man must take what comes, andmake the best of it and not the worst; so I accepted my new role as thepatron saint of my family with philosophy and content. 

Anna approved my parents' decision not to give up their independence. She came with me to see my mother, and I soon found that, as truewomen, there was no inequality between them. Anna had lost her ownmother when she was too young to remember, and she clung to her newmother that was to be with an affection born of her loving nature. 

In a word, my jewels had brought me the only true happiness whichwealth can give--the power of making others happy. 

CHAPTER XXVI

HAPPILY MARRIED

I now resolved to bring Count Hendrick Luitken to account for histreatment of Anna, though I did not desire that Anna's name shouldappear in the matter, so that gossip might be avoided. I thereforebided my time, and waited an opportunity which soon came. 

The Count of Holstein had resigned the governorship of Urk, and nowkept a fine establishment at Amsterdam, to which he frequently invitedcompany, and at one of his banquets I met, as I expected, CountHendrick Luitken. 

As a merchant's clerk, and afterwards as a seaman, the Count had takenno notice of me, but now that I was rich and betrothed to Anna, hecould do no less than treat me with consideration when he met me at herfather's house. 

The banquet was sumptuous, and no effort was spared to make it worthyof the late Governor's hospitality. Only men were invited, no womenbeing present, so that free scope was given for the gluttony anddrunkenness which usually prevailed at such entertainments. Greatjoints of beef and venison vanished like melting snow before thekeen-set appetites of the diners, and goblets of wine disappeared downthirsty throats until all present were more or less under the influenceof liquor. Toward the end of the entertainment, some horse-play wasindulged in by the younger guests, among whom Count Hendrick Luitkenwas conspicuous. I could see he was the worse for liquor, and as oftenhappens to those under the influence of strong drink, his veneer gaveplace to a quarrelsome arrogance in which his true disposition wasdisplayed. Accompanied by some of his friends as boisterous as himself, he came over to where I was sitting, and, planting himself in a vacantchair on the other side of the table in front of me, he asked rudelyhow the fishing trade prospered at Urk. 

I felt the blood mount to my face as I answered that for all I knew tothe contrary it prospered well enough, although I had for some yearspast been away from Urk, and could therefore not answer the question asfully as I might otherwise have done. 

"You've been a pirate since you gave up the fishing, " sneered theCount, "and to some purpose if report speaks true. "

For answer I threw the wine which stood in a half-emptied goblet at myelbow in his face. 

The Count sprang to his feet, the red wine dripping from his handsomedoublet, while his face worked with passion. 

"Insolent!" he cried, when he had mastered himself sufficiently toarticulate. "My rank will not let me fight you, but I have influenceenough to punish you as you deserve. "

"No difference in rank exists between us, my lord, " I answered, "and Iclaim the right to cross swords in an affair of honour with all savethose of royal blood. Grant me the satisfaction I demand, or I willbrand you as a braggart and a coward throughout every town of theNetherlands. "

I could see that the Count changed colour at my words. As the son of afisherman he could have pleaded his nobility as an excuse for notmeeting me, and had me punished by the law, but he had forgotten thatmy betrothal to Anna carried with it a dignity equal to his own, or Idoubt he had been so ready with his tongue. 

A hasty consultation was held among those who were with him, from whichit appeared I was judged to be in the right, for presently the countturned and said to me, with a surly frown, "At dawn, then, in thecourtyard, " and quitted the hall. 

Such scenes were not uncommon at this time, and beyond a question ortwo in our immediate vicinity, but little notice was taken of what hadoccurred. But Hugh Bergin, a friend who offered to second me in myaffair with the count, advised some rest before the hour of meeting, which was now almost at hand, for it was said the count was a skilfulswordsman, who had never yet failed to kill or maim his adversary in aduel. 

Hugh Bergin and I were first in the courtyard at break of day, and herewe were presently joined by the count and his seconds. 

Count Hendrick Luitken and I now stepped forward, and, the rapiersliving been handed to us, we fell to the task of I trying to kill oneanother according to the rules of the duello. 

At first I parried the count's attack, in order that I might learn theextent of his boasted skill, but I soon found myself to be his equal, if not his superior, in sword play, for I had spent much of my sparetime in the gymnasium at Amsterdam, where I had become the favouritepupil of the instructor. 

The count, I thought, seemed surprised at my cunning in fence, and lostthe confident smile with which he had first, regarded me. Presently Ifelt the point of my rapier touch his tunic upon the breast, and, in mysensitive grasp, I knew that my blade had encountered steel. The lookwhich I gave him must have conveyed to him the knowledge that I haddiscovered his treachery, for he set his lips and attacked me with evengreater fury than before, but my blood was up, and I beat his guarddown with such force that I was presently enabled, by a trick I hadlearnt, known as binding the blade, to wrest the weapon from his hand. The seconds would now have interfered, but my temper was not to berestrained, and, to the astonishment of those present, I seized thecount by the throat, and, tearing open his tunic, laid bare abreastplate which he wore next his skin. No blow that I could havestruck this cowardly noble would have hurt him so much as thisexposure. With shamefaced looks his seconds led him away. This was thelast I saw of him, for he soon after left Holland, and took servicewith the Spaniards, with whom he had long been in league. Some yearslater he was condemned as a heretic, and suffered death by torture atthe hands of the Inquisition. 

Nothing now stood between me and my marriage with Anna, which was dulycelebrated with much pomp at the Count of Holstein's town palace, afterwhich Anna and I retired to my country estate, there to live, as Ithought, the rest of our days in peace. 

Dirk Hartog, to whom I bade good-bye after the wedding, for hisrestless spirit was away again upon a fresh voyage, predicted I wouldone day become weary of inaction. 

"If ever the roving spirit comes over thee, Peter, " he said as he wrungmy hand at parting, "there's always a place for thee aboard my ship. Travel once tasted is a lodestone that draws the spirit from thecosiest corner to fresh adventure. "

But at this I shook my head. "Here is my lodestone, " I said, and Ipressed Anna to my heart. 

But who can foretell the future, or predict the decrees of Fate?

CHAPTER XXVII

ONCE MORE TO THE SOUTH

Five years of wedded happiness followed my return to Amsterdam from mysecond voyage with Dirk Hartog into the Southern Seas. 

I had now come to regard myself as being past the age of adventure. Myincome was large, my estate substantial; and the wealth I had broughtback with me from the Island of Gems, shrewdly invested by myfather-in-law, the Count of Holstein, enabled me to maintain a positioncompatible with the dignity of the noble family into which, through mymarriage with Anna Holstein, I was admitted a member. Nothing, therefore, was farther from my thoughts and inclinations than a returnto the life of peril through which, in my younger days, I had passed, when suddenly the blow fell which changed all my plans. 

During the year 1630 an epidemic known as the "Black Death" ragedthrough the Netherlands, and, as one of the victims to the felldisease, Anna, my wife, was taken from me. I followed her to the grave, and returned to my desolate hearth determined to die also. To this endI shut myself in the room which Anna had lately occupied, where I wouldpermit nothing to be disturbed, nor would allow any to enter. Such foodas I required was brought, by my orders, into an adjoining apartment, where I ate, when my appetite craved, in moody silence. Dust gathered. The air in the room became oppressive. I regarded this mournful chamberas my tomb. 

My servants, and those who had called themselves my friends, avoidedme. I heard whispers at my barred and bolted door, saying that I wasmad. 

A madhouse I knew to be worse than a prison. I therefore resolved toleave my home before I was prevented from doing so. 

How long I had remained in the state of misery and dejection to which Ihad abandoned myself I cannot say. It must have been some considerabletime, for when, at last, I came out into the light, the sun dazzled me. None offered to stop me when I left the house. Many of my one-timeservants had been discharged by my father-in-law, who had taken uponhimself the management of my estates. The gatekeeper looked at mecuriously when I passed his lodge, and that was all the noticevouchsafed me by my former dependents. 

I knew that Dirk Hartog had returned from the voyage upon which he hadembarked soon after my marriage, and to him I determined to carry mybroken heart. Only upon that mirror of mystery known as the ocean couldI look for peace. 

I found my old commander in the cabin of the "Santa Isabel", an ancientSpanish vessel, reported to have voyaged to the south in 1595, whenMendana, a Spaniard, was sent out with instructions to establish acolony at the island of San Christobal, in the Solomon Group, and fromthence to make an attempt to discover the Great Southern Continent. Mendana's fleet consisted of three large vessels and a frigate, and, since it was intended to settle a colony, many took their wives withthem, among the emigrants being Mariana, the wife of Lope de Vega, whocommanded the "Santa Isabel". The total number of men in the fleet was378, of whom 280 were soldiers. The "Santa Isabel" became detached fromthe rest of the fleet, and reached the Great South Land, where shespent five years in a harbour said to be of great beauty andextent--the finest harbour in the world. 

All this we learnt, from the log of the "Santa Isabel", though whatbecame of the expedition, or of those who composed it, the record didnot disclose. But the reading which interested Hartog most, keentreasure-hunter that he continued to be, was a paper describing somecurious drawings he had found in one of the lockers of the vessel, ofhands, some with six fingers, some with four, and others with only two. Under these drawings was the following inscription, translated intoSpanish from some ancient language: "These hands are not carved uponthe rocks, but are painted with a pigment that withstands the elements, and yieldeth not to time. They mark the measures of gold obtained. "Then followed a rude chart giving the latitude and longitude of theplace which Hartog professed his ability to find. 

"Join me, Peter, " he said, "and let us ship together. There's treasureto be won, dangers to be passed, and forgetfulness to be had in theSouth. You are still a young man--in your prime. Is it fair that youshould set yourself against that which plainly hath been decreed byFate?"

These words of Hartog moved me, as well they might, and I placed myselfunreservedly in his hands. My father-in-law, when he was madeacquainted with my desire to embark upon another voyage, offered noopposition. He was, I imagine, glad to be rid of me, perceiving that mymoods ashore might interfere with the plans he had formed for themanagement of my estates. So, all being settled to our mutualsatisfaction, Hartog and I went to work to equip our vessel, in whichoccupation I found relief from my sorrow, and became more reconciled tosubmit myself to the will of heaven. 

In three weeks our preparations were completed. A new ship waspurchased, and commissioned without regard to cost. So much money wasspent upon her that Hartog called her the "Golden Seahorse". Shecarried six guns, and a brass bow-chaser, with which Hartog declared wemight make war upon the whole South Pacific in the event of our beingforced to hostilities. A great quantity of arms and ammunition was putaboard, together with a supply of beads, knives, and bright-colouredcloths to barter with the natives. Berths were also found for Bantumand Janstins in the officers' quarters, and although Hartog and I werejoint owners of the "Golden Seahorse", and shared equally in the profitor loss of the expedition, Hartog was given the supreme command. 

It was not until we had lost sight of land, and when I felt the call ofthe sea, that I ceased to mourn my lost Anna, and realized myobligation to live what remained to me of life in such manner as anall-wise Providence might determine. 

CHAPTER XXVIII

THE MOLUCCA ISLANDS

On this voyage to the place of the painted hands Dirk Hartog resolvedupon a different route from that taken by former navigators to theGreat South Land, and within three months of leaving Amsterdam the"Golden Seahorse" came to anchor among a group of islands to the northof New Holland known as the Molucca Islands, first visited by SirFrancis Drake in the "Pelican" during the year 1579. 

The competition between England and Holland for sea supremacy was atthis time very keen, and the ships of both nations sometimes carried abroom at the masthead to signify the sweeping of the ocean. We found, however, no English or other vessels to dispute with us our landing atthe Moluccas, where the King received us with some ceremony. 

Providing ourselves with presents, Hartog and I, attended by the ship'sofficers, went ashore to pay our respects to the King, who accepted ourtribute graciously, and, looking up to heaven, said:

"I know that nothing happens to men which has not, long since, beendecreed by Fate. So bring your ship into the harbour and let yourcompanions land in safety, in order that, after so much tossing abouton the sea, and so many dangers, you may securely enjoy the comforts oflife on shore and recruit your strength. "

Having thus spoken, the King laid aside his diadem, and embraced eachof us in turn. He then directed such refreshments as the countryproduced to be set before us. 

The people of the Moluccas cannot be classed as savages. They possessan intelligence and form of government which lifts them aboveaboriginal natives. Each island has its king, who is, nevertheless, subservient to the chief Thedori, by whom we were received. Thismonarch is a man of small stature, but reputed wise beyond the wisdomof most men. 

Certain it is he made wise laws for the good government of his kingdom, one of which might, with advantage, be followed by law-makers in morecivilized nations. This is the law which makes for peace. So long asthe king upon each island maintains peace, his people show him almostdivine honours; but, if he is anxious for war, they never rest till heis slain by the enemy in battle, and to this end they set him in thefront rank, where he has to stand the whole brunt of the combat. Hisarmies, moreover, do not exert themselves vigorously until they knowthat the king has fallen. Then they begin to fight for liberty andtheir new king. Since this law was enacted no king has entered upon awar without being slain in battle. Hence peace reigns, where formerlycontinued hostilities prevailed. 

The city of Porne, in which King Thedori reigns as paramount chief, consists of twenty thousand houses, all of which are low-built cabins. Some of the men who inhabit these dwellings have such long ears thatthey reach down to their shoulders, and when we expressed surprise atthis, we were assured that on an island, not far off, there were menwho had such large ears, that with one ear they could, when they liked, cover the whole of their heads. But Hartog disbelieved this story, norwould he visit the island when this prodigy was offered to be shown tohim. We were not in, search of monsters, he said, but of treasure. 

We had been informed by one of the merchants at Amsterdam that when weshould come to the island of Solo, one of the group of the MoluccaIslands, we would find pearls as large as clove's eggs, but Thedori didnot encourage us when we hinted to him our desire to possess some ofthese marvels. They were only to be found, he said, in very deep water, and this was not the season to obtain them. We decided not to press thematter, since we desired to leave a favourable impression, but Hartogpromised himself a return visit, when, should friendly overtures proveof no avail, an appeal, might be made to the King's better judgmentwith the aid of our six guns and brass bowchaser. It is certain thatpearls of great size do exist on these islands. The King wore one inhis crown the size of a hen's egg. 

On our first night in harbour at the Molucca Islands we witnessed themost remarkable display I have ever beheld. The islands are wellwooded, and amongst the trees by night, through the whole island, didshow themselves an infinite swarm of fiery worms flying in the air, whose bodies, being no larger than common house-flies, made such a showand light as if every twig or tree had been a burning candle. In thedark recesses of the woods, also, appeared wonderful black bats, withred eyes, of which the inhabitants of this country stand inconsiderable dread. The bats are thought to be the spirits of departedkings, and none are allowed to molest them. 

From the security of our vessel, which lay close to the shore, we wereable to view these marvels without danger, but the natives remained intheir huts, afraid to venture forth, so that nocturnal dances, ormeetings at camp fires, were here conspicuous by their absence. 

We now met with an adventure that was destined to influence our futurein a manner we did not, at the time, foresee, or it is doubtful but wewould have hesitated before granting an asylum to the miserablefugitive from King Thedori's tyranny, who now came aboard. Pedro deCastro, the name of this refugee, a Spaniard, informed us that for sometime past he had been held as hostage by Thedori. Three years beforeour visit to the Moluccas, so ran his tale, a Spanish vessel, of whichde Castro was first officer, had called at the islands. The captain andcrew had been well received by the King, who had pretended the samefriendliness towards them as he had shown to us. But so soon as afavourable opportunity offered, Thedori had looted the ship, and takenPedro prisoner, declaring he would hold him to ransom, until hisfriends returned to Spain, from where they must send cotton, and othergoods, not procurable at the Moluccas, in order to ensure his release. It was by this means that Thedori obtained many useful commodities ofEuropean workmanship, the presence of which we had noticed, withsurprise, among his people. De Castro had contrived to escape hisgaolers, and having swum aboard our vessel, he now besought us to savehim from the miserable condition to which he had been reduced since hisship had sailed, leaving him dependent upon a vague promise of releasefrom captivity, which he knew might never be fulfilled. 

"And mark you, " he said, when we had assembled the officers in thecabin to hear his story, "Thedori will serve you as he served us, whenthe time is ripe for his treachery, for he possesses many guns, hiddenaway, together with a great store of ammunition, so that he could sendan army against you that you would find it impossible to resist. "

We thanked Pedro for his warning, and since we determined to profit byit, we could do no less than offer him a berth among our officers. ButI had no love for Spaniards or their ways, and I lived to learn that mydistrust of them was not misplaced. That night we made preparations fordeparture, and, with the first breath of dawn, we hove our anchoraboard, and set a course for the open sea. 

When it was seen that we were leaving the island the utmost excitementprevailed on shore. The natives crowded upon the beach which borderedthe harbour, while some put off in their canoes, making an effort toovertake us. But the "Golden Seahorse" was a ship very finely built, which caused her to slip through the water, needing but little wind todrive her at a rapid pace, so that we soon outdistanced our pursuers, and an hour later the Molucca Islands had disappeared beyond thehorizon. 

CHAPTER XXIX

THE VOYAGE CONTINUED

We had been compelled, by reason of the treachery of Thedori, to leavethe Moluccas without having obtained a supply of fresh water. This madeit necessary to keep a sharp look-out for some island from which toreplenish our tanks. On most of the islands in the Pacific water isreadily obtainable. It is only upon the Southern Continent that greatstretches of waterless country prevail. 

At length we sighted an island, the coast of which was rocky andbarren. Through stress of weather we were compelled to keep off theshore, steering northward until, on the third day, the weather havingmoderated, we hove to as near to the coast as we dared approach, andendeavoured to land a boat's crew. In spite of breakers and a heavysea, six of the sailors leaped overboard opposite a sandy beach, andwith great difficulty reached the shore. Whilst searching for water thesailors saw four natives, who fled at their approach. They were wild, black, and entirely naked. Not finding water, the seamen regained theboat, bruised and half-drowned. Again we set sail, and next day we wereoff an island of considerable size, with two dangerous reefs stretchingout into the sea. At length we managed to effect a landing, and freshwater being found, the ship was brought to anchor between the reefs, where some shelter was to be had, although the position of the vesselwas by no means secure. 

Upon this island we fell in with a race of savages totally unlike anywe had previously met with. These people have no houses or garments ofany kind, and, setting aside their human shape, they differ but littlefrom brutes. They have large heads, round foreheads, and great brows. Their eyelids are always half-closed to keep the flies out of theireyes, these insects being so troublesome that no fanning will keep themaway; so from their infancy being so tormented, they do never opentheir eyes as other people do, nor can they see far unless they hold uptheir heads as if they were looking at something over them. They havegreat bottle noses, full lips, and wide mouths. 

They appeared to be quite indifferent to our landing upon their island, nor did they exhibit any fear or surprise at seeing us. We endeavouredto make them help us carry some water barrels to the boats. But thoughthe barrels contained only six gallons each, and we put them on theirshoulders, all the signs we could make to get them to carry them wereuseless. They stood like statues, without motion, grinning like so manymonkeys. Having watered our vessel we once more put to sea. 

We were now, by our reckoning, somewhere in the vicinity of NewHolland, and at six o'clock in the evening we shortened sail. We werethen in twenty fathoms of water, when suddenly we again found ourselvesin deep water, and believed all danger at an end. But in less than anhour, without warning, our ship struck on a rock, and remainedimmovable. Not being near to any shore we were well aware of thegravity of our position. We feared we had struck a submerged coralreef, and all sails were immediately taken in, and the boats lowered. We had struck just before dark, and at daylight I observed land someeight miles distant. High tide was expected at about eleven o'clock, when it was hoped the vessel would float off, though we feared shewould sink in deep water. 

At twenty minutes past ten the ship floated, but the leak she hadsprung gained on the pumps, and there was now three feet nine inches ofwater in the hold. The men were wearied to death. Each could only pumpa few minutes at a time, and then sink exhausted upon the deck. Atfirst we despaired of saving the ship, but eventually we got a saildrawn over the leak, and anchored seven leagues from the shore. Nextday we found a safe place where the vessel could be moored near thebeach, where, on examining the ship's bottom, we found that a largepiece of rock had broken away from the reef and remained stuck in thehole it made. Had it not been for this singular fact the "GoldenSeahorse" must have foundered. 

During the week which followed this adventure, which had almost proveddisastrous to our voyage, we lightened the ship as much as possible, and made our camp ashore. We judged we had now come to the coast of NewHolland, and since I had been the first to observe it on the morningafter we had struck upon the reef, Hartog named that part of the coastPeter's land. 

The ship being safely careened, the carpenters set to work to repairthe damage done to the hull by the sharp rocks, and, as this wouldoccupy some time, we decided to overhaul our stores, of which we madean inventory. At this work we found the services of Pedro de Castro ofgreat value. De Castro was a man well versed in figures, and able toenumerate with surprising facility. Indeed, I think he spent most ofhis spare time in mental arithmetic, calculating the riches andtreasure which he hoped some day to obtain. 

One evening, when Hartog and I were seated together in front of ourtent, de Castro brought us a paper which he said had been given him bya relative at Lisbon, who informed him that it was an extract from anancient Portuguese manuscript, supposed to have been written bynavigator Van Nuyts in 1467. The translation of this curious paper ranas follows:

"Land of Gold. While some fishermen of Lamakera, in the island of Solo, were engaged in their fishing, there arose so great a tempest that theywere unable to return to the shore. Thus they yielded to the force ofthe storm, which was such that, in five days, it took them to the Landof Gold, which is properly called the Southern Coast. When thefishermen reached the Land of Gold, not having eaten during those daysof tempest, they set about seeking for provisions, and such happy andsuccessful fortune had they after searching the country for yams andbatatas, that they alighted on much gold in a cavern, enough to loadtheir boats until they could carry no more, but, when they were readyto start loading, there came upon them so great a trepidation that theydid not dare take any of the gold away with them. "

This further account of gold upon the Southern Continent strengthenedour belief that treasure would be found at the place of the paintedhands, to visit which our present voyage had been undertaken. But whatcould have caused the fishermen of Lamakera so great a trepidation wewere at a loss to understand. Well, perhaps we would soon learn, forHartog reckoned we were not many leagues north of the place marked uponthe chart, which had encouraged us to embark upon this voyage. 

CHAPTER XXX

A SPANISH SETTLEMENT

The "Golden Seahorse" being now repaired and revictualled, we once moreput to sea, and stood to the south at a safe distance from the coastfor fear of again meeting shoal water. On the morning of the first dayout we passed the shoal upon which we had so nearly lost our ship, itbeing but a spot of land appearing above the surface, with severalrocks about it ten feet high, to be seen at low tide. It is oftriangular form, each side one league and a half long. 

We now approached some formidable cliffs, which rose, like a gateway, shutting out the land beyond. It was here that Hartog reckoned weshould find the place of the painted hands, if, indeed, such a localityhad any real existence. 

The weather was now calm and fine, the wind fair, with a cloudless skyoverhead, so that barely an hour passed from the time we observed thecliffs before we rounded them, when a sight appeared so unlooked for asmade us wonder if our eyes had played us false. 

The coast along which we had sailed since first sighting the GreatSouth Land had been so barren and desolate as to make the novel andattractive scene which now greeted us the more remarkable. Clusteredtogether in a pleasant valley, surrounded by green hills, and facing awhite sandy beach, were some two hundred houses, built of stone, androofed with what appeared to be clay, of such extraordinary whitenessthat it glistened, like snow, in the sun's rays. The herbs and grassaround the town were green and inviting, while tall, straight trees, not torn by the wind, bore evidence of shelter from tempest which thehills provided. To add to the beauty of the scene, flocks of parakeetsand bright-coloured parrots flew among the branches of the trees, whilesweet scents, from many kinds of flowers, were wafted to us from theshore. On the beach we perceived a number of white people, dressed inthe fashion of some thirty years before. Many of them wore ruffs andcloaks, which were now no longer the mode, and, to set our doubts atrest as to their nationality, the Spanish ensign floated from aflagstaff in front of the town. It was plain we had chanced upon aSpanish colony, probably of some of the people of Mendana's fleet, whohad succeeded in forming a settlement in New Holland. 

Anxious to make a favourable impression upon our first landing, Hartogand I now donned our best, and the cutter, being manned, we were pulledtoward the beach, where we could see that a number of Spaniards hadassembled to receive us. 

On landing we stepped forward as the leaders of our expedition, when wewere greeted with the most extravagant demonstrations of delight at ourarrival, and were presently conducted by some of those whom we took tobe in authority to one of the flat-roofed stone houses, somewhat largerthan the others, where Donna Isabel Barreto, the ruler of thesettlement, graciously welcomed us. From her we learnt the followingstrange story. 

The voyage of Mendana, as previously stated, had been undertaken with aview to colonization as well as discovery. After reaching the Solomongroup the fleet dispersed. The "Santa Isabel", as her log informed us, spent five years in a fine harbour on the Southern Continent, fromwhence she had returned without establishing a settlement. Another ofthe ships and the frigate remained for a time at the islands, where thecrews left many evidences of their visit. But it was reserved for us toascertain what had befallen the "Concordia", the third of the vesselsof Mendana's fleet. This ship, under the command of Captain Barreto, had reached New Holland, where the present settlement had been formed, and the town built. There were turbulent elements, however, among thecrew, who had been allowed a license at the islands which their captainwas not disposed to continue. He ordered the execution of some, beforethe rest were brought to submission. But there was sullen discontentremaining. To make matters worse, sickness broke out. It carried off alarge number of the Spaniards, and Barreto himself died, as did hisfirst officer. The pilot then claimed to take command, but to thisDonna Isabel objected. As the captain's wife, she declared it to be herright to rule the settlement, and, marrying a young Spanish officer, Fernando de Castro, she assumed the title of queen, with Fernando asprince consort. To complicate matters still further, the pilot andthose who were attached to him sailed away in the "Concordia", takingthe infant son of Fernando and Isabel with them, and leaving theadherents of the queen marooned in this pleasant and fertile valley. Fernando, soon after the sailing of the "Concordia", died, since whenDonna Isabel, who had resumed the name of Barreto, had reigned alone. This was, in brief, the story the Queen had to tell; and on hearing itPedro de Castro threw himself at her feet, and claimed to be her son. 

Donna Isabel was now past middle age, being near forty years old, butshe bore herself with a degree of uprightness and vigour which defiedthe advance of time. She was readily convinced of the truth of Pedro'sstatement, and when she had bidden him to rise she embraced him, andacknowledged him to be her son. 

"You have been led back to me, " she said, "by the will of heaven, andby the courage of these brave men who shall henceforth be to me mybrothers. "

Fair words, but lacking the ring of sincerity, as we were subsequentlyto find. 

Queen Barreto then begged us to consider her dominions at our disposalto the extent of all they contained. Houses were allotted us, andservants were instructed to place before us the best the countryproduced. We fared sumptuously, for the natural growth in thissheltered valley is surprising. The bread given us was made from threekinds of roots, of which there is a great abundance, and they growwithout labour, receiving no more help than being dug up and cooked. These roots are pleasant to the taste, very nourishing, and keep for along while. They are a yard long, and half a yard thick. The fruits, too, were numerous and good, consisting of oranges and lemons, whichthe Spaniards had planted, together with many earth-nuts, almonds, andother fruit, as well as sweet canes. Of live stock the settlerspossessed goats, pigs, and a few cows. Round the houses were many fruittrees, with entwined palisades, by reason of the great quantity ofpigs; the town was well arranged, the houses and yards being veryclean. 

Queen Barreto kept Pedro with her in her own house, while Hartog and I, together with the officers and crew of the "Golden Seahorse", weresuitably accommodated and made free of the settlement, where we enjoyeda run ashore after so much storm and stress at sea. 

We had not yet ascertained whether the settlers had been successful infinding gold in this place. Pearls and silver they possessed asevidence of their wealth, but we saw no gold among them. Pedro, whocame to consult with us regarding this, informed us that his mother, the queen, had heard nothing of the place of the painted hands, or ofgold being found there, but had told him that some years previously anexpedition, sent to punish a tribe of natives who had proved hostile tothe settlers, had reported the discovery of caves, very deep andmysterious, into which the natives could not be induced to enter, where, it was reported, gold was to be found by washing the sand fromthe bed of a subterranean stream which took its course through thecaves from none knew where, and emptied itself into the sea. 

To these caves, therefore, now being rested and refreshed, wedetermined to direct our steps. 

CHAPTER XXXI

THE PLACE OF THE PAINTED HANDS

Upon leaving the Spanish settlement, Queen Barreto provided us with anescort to guide us to the caves in which it was reported gold was to befound. The country outside the settlement was of the same rocky, barrennature as everywhere along the coast, while the natives we encounteredwere hostile and warlike. Armed with spears and slings, they attackedus, and were only driven off after many had been slain. 

Pedro de Castro did not accompany us. He had pleaded a disinclinationto leave his mother so soon after their long separation. At the time wethought his conduct strange, but in return for the assistance thatQueen Barreto had given us, we promised him a share of any goldobtained. 

At length, after a day's journey, we came to the entrance to the caves, a gloomy portal to a tunnel which ran into a high rocky cliff fromwhich issued a sluggish stream over a bed of water-worn pebbles. At theentrance to this dark recess, upon the face of a flat rock, appearedpainted hands, some with six fingers, some with four, and others withonly two. They were painted with a dark brown pigment, and were easilydiscernible. It was the sight of these hands, and the assertion thatthey had reference to the measures of gold obtained, as set forth onthe paper found by Hartog in the locker of the "Santa Isabel", thatdecided us to explore farther into the heart of the caves, and, havingprocured torches, Hartog and I, accompanied by Janstins and a lad namedBruno, a Mulatto, entered the tunnel, and made our way along the leftbank of the stream. 

As we advanced the caves increased in size, until at length we stood ina great apartment, formed of colossal fluted pillars, and roofed highabove our heads with depending stalactites which glistened in the lightof our torches. Everywhere in this huge cavern the same mineralformation was to be seen, so that we seemed to be standing in a palacecomposed of glittering gems. 

The stream here was wide, moving sluggishly over a bed of black sand. Presently a cry from Janstins brought us to where he was standingbeside a heap of what, at first sight, looked like yellow clay, butwhich, upon closer inspection, proved to be a quantity of gold dust, interspersed with small nuggets. Here, then, was the treasure collectedby the fishermen from Lamakera, and abandoned by them in 1467, almosttwo hundred years before the date of our coming. But the cause of thegreat trepidation which had come upon them, so that they had beenunable to carry the gold away, we had yet to learn. 

We had become so intent upon our gold discovery that we had failed tonotice a peculiar humming sound, which became louder as it drew nearer, and suddenly we observed descending upon us, from the vaulted roof, what appeared to be white feathery clouds, which, however, speedilyresolved themselves into a prodigious number of flying hornets. Brunowas the first to be attacked by these venomous insects. In a moment hewas covered with them, and ran screaming into the water of theslowly-moving stream. His cries were pitiful, but we could do nothingto relieve him. In less than a minute he was stung to death. 

It now became imperative, if we would save ourselves, to make the bestof our way out of the caves without attempting to carry off any of thegold we had found. The fate of the boy Bruno had caused a diversionamong the hornets to which we probably owed our lives. In the hope ofdistracting them still further, we fired off our muskets, which awokeechoes in that silent place the like of which had never been heardbefore. Had we exploded a barrel of gunpowder, the sound of it wouldnot have been louder nor the concussion greater, than was caused by thedischarge of our firearms. Huge masses of stalactites fell from theroof, while the air space around us became filled with bats, and flyingcreatures with heads like foxes, disturbed from their slumbers by thedischarge of our guns. The flapping of their wings drove off thehornets, and greatly aided us in our escape from a horrible death. 

On reaching the entrance to the caves, where we arrived more dead thanalive from our adventure, we were met by those of our crew whom we hadbrought with us, but were informed that our guides had returned to thesettlement. For this conduct the guides had offered no explanation. They had said they were acting in accordance with directions given themby Queen Barreto, and that, having brought us to the mouth of thecaves, their mission ended. We did not at the time attach muchimportance to this desertion of us, being now well acquainted with thepath over the cliffs into the valley, opposite to which our ship lay atanchor, so we did not anticipate any difficulty in returning. As weadvanced, however, our journey was continually impeded by attacks madeupon us by hostile natives, so it was not until toward the evening ofthe second day after leaving the caves that we succeeded in climbingthe cliffs above the settlement. Judge then of our dismay when, uponlooking seaward, we perceived our ship standing out from the bay underfull sail, while at her mizzen floated the flag of Spain. 

CHAPTER XXXII

MAROONED

As we stood upon the cliffs overlooking the Spanish settlement, watching, with blank faces, the "Golden Seahorse" sailing seaward undera foreign flag, it was borne in upon us that we owed our loss to thetreachery of Queen Barreto, who, taking advantage of our absence, hadpirated our vessel. On descending to the town our suspicions wereconfirmed. Here we found the settlement abandoned by the Spaniards, who, before leaving, had imprisoned our crew, bound and gagged, in theQueen's house. Having released them, we heard from Bantum, our secondofficer, the particulars of what had occurred. 

"No sooner had you left the town, " said he, "than Queen Barreto, withPedro de Castro and a swarm of Spaniards, came aboard of us. De Castroknew where the arms were kept, and, before I could guess what theyintended, they had hoisted their flag at the mizzen, and heldpossession of the ship. We put up a fight, but what could we do, outnumbered as we were--ten to one? We were quickly overpowered andbrought ashore, where they trussed us up and left us as you found us. Had you not come in time we would certainly have died of thirst andstarvation. "

When we had listened to Bantum's account of what had taken place wecould not blame him for the loss of the ship, but Hartog swore a greatoath that, if ever he should meet de Castro again he would reckon withhim in such manner as his base betrayal of us gave warrant. Theingratitude of this man will be apparent when it is remembered that wehad rescued him from slavery, had admitted him to an equality with ourofficers, and had loaded him with favours, for which he repaid us bystealing our vessel. 

It now became necessary to review our situation. Of food and freshwater we had an abundant supply, and there were dwellings at ourdisposal more than enough, for the Spaniards had numbered over twohundred, while we mustered but thirty. We possessed, however, no armsor ammunition beyond what we had taken with us upon our expedition tothe caves. The thought of this caused us grave anxiety when wereflected upon the small force at our disposal should hostile natives, having discovered our weakness, be tempted to attack us. Repining, however, would avail us nothing, so, at Hartog's request, I set aboutorganizing our camp. Hartog himself was so cast down by the loss of ourship that he seemed incapable of diverting his thoughts from thecatastrophe which had overtaken us. I thus found our former positionsreversed, Hartog being on the brink of the same hopeless despair whichhad obsessed me when Anna was taken from me, while upon me devolved thetask of heartening him. 

And now a new danger threatened us. We had not been a month at thesettlement after the piracy of the "Golden Seahorse" before it becameevident to me that our crew had ceased to regard their officers withthe same respect as they had formerly shown them on board ship. Sailors, ashore, are accustomed to a license they do not look for atsea. Hence it was but natural that, since their ship no longer claimedtheir duty, they should regard themselves as freed from discipline. This revolt against authority, however, I knew to be a menace to ourcommon safety, and I determined to put an end to it. I spoke first toHartog, who spent most of his time in the Queen's house, brooding overour misfortune, and thus setting a very bad example. 

"It is not because you are no longer captain of the 'Golden Seahorse', "I said to him, "that you should regard your responsibilities at an end. If you can regain your authority over the men, we may yet win through. If not, then let us at once abandon ourselves to the mercy of thesavages, whom, I may tell you, I have observed watching us from thecliffs above, and who are only waiting to assure themselves of ourweakness before they attack us. "

For a time Hartog remained silent. Then he rose, and stretched himself;drawing himself up to his full height, he stood before me, the finestspecimen of a man I have ever met. 

"You are right, Peter, " he said. "I deserve the scolding you have givenme. Show me the man who will not obey me, and I will talk to him. "

Now there was one, Hoft Hugens, a Swede, who had made himself a leaderamong the mutinous and lazy crew. I had intended dealing with this manmyself, but it now occurred to me that his schooling would serve torouse Hartog from his apathy. 

"If you must know, then, " I answered, "it is Hoft Hugens to whom themen look as leader. "

The next minute Hartog was striding through the town, a native club inhis hand, which he had taken from the Queen's house. Although pastnoon, there were none to be seen outside the huts. All were asleepafter their mid-day meal, upon which they had gorged themselves torepletion. At the sight of this defiance of discipline a deep flushoverspread Hartog's face, as though he felt shame for having allowedhis authority to pass from him. Then he began to beat with his clubupon the doors of the houses until the men came out, some in sleepyremonstrance, and others with curses in their mouths at having beendisturbed from their siesta. 

"Well, what have you to say?" demanded Hartog. "Is it not enough thatour condition is such that if only fifty determined savages cameagainst us they could kill us and destroy the settlement, but you mustwaste your time in gluttony and sleep? Where is the watch, whose dutyit is to keep a look-out as though I stood upon my quarterdeck?"

"Nay, Hartog, " answered Hugens, whom the others now pushed forward tobe their spokesman, "there must be an end to such talk. We shall neverget away from this valley. What need then for so much rule when deathis certain?"

"Certain it is for thee, " cried Hartog, placing his hand on Hugen'sshoulder, and tightening his grip so that the man winced with pain. "Ask pardon before I tear thine arm from its socket!"

At this, those who had begun to advance to their leader's assistancedrew back. It was known that the punishment which Hartog threatened hadactually been carried out by one of the buccaneer captains upon amutinous seaman, and none doubted but Hartog had the strength to fulfilhis threat. Hugen's face blanched as the grip tightened upon his arm. He tried to free himself. Tears started to his eyes. A sob broke fromhis heaving chest. Then he screamed with the intolerable agony hesuffered, but none dare interfere, and I verily believe that Hartogwould have performed his promise and torn the limb from its socket hadnot one of the men, who had been looking seaward, cried, "A sail!sail!"

CHAPTER XXXIII

CAPTAIN MONTBAR

The report of a sail having been sighted dispelled every other thought. Hartog released Hugens, and, hurrying to the Queen's house, shortlyafterwards returned with his spyglass, with which he anxiously scannedthe horizon. 

"God be thanked, Peter, " he said presently, "our ship is coming back tous, convoyed by a frigate. "

So great was my joy at hearing these words that at first I could hardlycredit the truth of them, but as the ships drew nearer we could all seethat the smaller of the two was the "Golden Seahorse". The vesselssailed into the bay which formed the port of the settlement, anddropped anchor close to the shore, when a boat put off from thefrigate, and was rowed toward the beach. The crew were smart, and theboat was fresh painted, while, seated at the stern, was a striking, yetcurious, figure. His dress was that of a French exquisite, very rich, and trimmed with much gold braid. On his head was a curled wig of thelatest mode, and a flashing diamond brooch adorned his lace cravat. Onnearing the beach upon which we were assembled one of the sailorsstepped into the water and waded ashore, carrying this gallant upon hisback, who, being deposited upon a dry spot, so that his buckled shoemight escape damage from the salt water, gravely saluted us. Hartogthen, stepped forward, when the Frenchman, for such we took him to be, addressed him as follows:--

"I have come, sir, " said he, "to restore to you your vessel, which Iunderstand was stolen by Spanish treachery. "

"You are welcome, " answered Hartog. "I thank Providence that my shiphas fallen into honest hands. I have yet to learn to whom I owe itsrecovery. May I hope that you will favour me with your name?"

"Montbar, " replied the stranger, and at the mention of his name bothHartog and I started. 

"You honour us by your visit, sir, " said Hartog, with a bow as gracefulas that with which Captain Montbar acknowledged it. "Your reputation isknown to all seamen as that of a brave man and a princely gentleman. "

Hartog then led the way to the Queen's house, where we proposed toconfer together as to the circumstances which had occasioned CaptainMontbar's arrival. 

Captain Montbar was known to us, and to most navigators at this time, as a French gentleman of fortune who, having heard of the crueltiespractised by the Spaniards, had conceived an aversion against themwhich amounted almost to frenzy. He had heard of the buccaneers, whowere known to be the most inveterate enemies of Spain, and, in order tojoin them, he fitted out a frigate which he placed at their disposal, together with his own services. The achievements of this frigate wereso pronounced, and the Spaniards suffered so much from Montbar'sexploits, that he acquired the name of 'Exterminator. ' His intrepiditywould never let him suffer the least signs of cowardice among those whoassociated with him. In the heat of an engagement he went about hisship, observing his men, and immediately killing those who shrank atthe report of pistol, gun, or cannon. This extraordinary discipline hadmade him the terror of the coward and the idol of the brave. In otherrespects he readily shared with such of his men as showed spirit thegreat booty that was acquired by his fearless disposition. When he wentupon these buccaneering expeditions he sailed in his frigate, his ownproperty, nor would he take a lion's share of the treasure obtainedfrom captured Spanish merchantmen, but divided it equally with thosewho formed his ship's company. 

Such was the remarkable man to whom we owed the restoration of the"Golden Seahorse". 

From Captain Montbar we learned the particulars connected with therecovery of our ship from the Spaniards. 

"I had been driven out of my course, " he said, "by contrary winds, whenwe sighted a vessel flying the Spanish flag, which I am bound, by asolemn oath, whenever an opportunity offers, to destroy. I was about tosink her when I noticed an unusual number of people upon her decks, among whom were several women and children, and, since I war only withmen, I sent a boat to demand the surrender of the vessel. This was atonce agreed to. Her colours were struck, and my own hoisted at themizzen. I then went on board to hold an enquiry, and decide what was tobe done, when I found that the ship had been stolen from a party ofDutch navigators on a visit to this country. The object of stealing theship was for the purpose of conveying the settlers, who had beenmarooned here for some years, to their homes. It was not difficult, inthe crowded state of the vessel, to find many who were prepared todisclose the whole truth. Donna Isabel Barreto, who appeared to be aqueen among these people, then offered to make terms with me, promising, if I would suffer her to continue the voyage, she wouldsend, as ransom, a large sum of money, of which she professed to havecommand at Madrid; but, having some experience of Spanish promises, Ideclined this offer, preferring to retain possession of the ship I hadcaptured, which appeared to be of good build and well found. Iundertook, however, to disembark Donna Isabel and her followers uponthe first land we sighted, which happened to be a desolate-lookingisland by no means comparable with this fertile valley. Isabelthen threw herself on her knees, and implored me not to abandon her, and her people, to death by slow starvation, which the landing of sogreat a company on such an uninviting shore would mean. But I wasobdurate. 'Be thankful, ' said I, 'that your lives are spared you. It isnot for me to interfere with the decrees of Fate. This punishment forhaving stolen their vessel from those who trusted you, and to whom youwere bound by the laws of hospitality, has clearly been ordained byProvidence. Land, then, and, by your submission in face of adversity, seek to atone for your treacherous conduct. '

"The party being landed and left to shift for themselves, I resolved tocontinue my voyage to this place, of which I had been given thebearings, in order that I might restore to you your ship, for I take nobooty except from Spain. "

We again thanked our generous visitor, nor could we do less than placeourselves and our ship at his disposal. 

"Come back with me, then, " said Montbar, "and join our band. I havevoyaged far into these southern latitudes in search of treasure, and Imay tell you that the islands of the south are by no means comparablewith those in the west. "

But at this we asked time to consider. Although we had no cause to lovethe Spaniards, we had no reason to hate them with the same inveteratehatred displayed by Montbar. Besides, in spite of the glamour thatsurrounded them, we knew the buccaneers to be no better than pirates. Still it seemed a poor return to make Captain Montbar for the servicehe had rendered us to refuse his request. While we hesitated betweentwo minds what we should do, I bethought me of the gold dust at theplace of the painted hands. We had never intended to abandon thistreasure by reason of a swarm of insects, however numerous and venomousthey might be. The fishermen from Lamakera had excuse for doing so, since they lacked the equipment to combat the pests which infested thecaves, but, with the resources of a ship at our disposal, it would bestrange if we could not devise some means to carry off the gold, shareit with Montbar, and thus repay the obligation we owed him. 

I mentioned this project to Hartog, who at once fell in with my plan. 

"You are a wizard, Peter, " he said, "for finding a way out of adilemma. If we can get this treasure, and either share it with Montbar, or give it all to him should it not prove considerable, our debt willbe paid, so that we may continue our voyage whithersoever our fancyleads us, but, with the price of the ship on my conscience, I couldnever regard myself as a free man. Montbar knows this. 

"It is the rule of the sea that captured vessels are spoils to thevictor. For all his fine speeches, I feel convinced that Montbar looksupon the ship as his own, and has only come to obtain her crew also tobe henceforth under his command. But, should ransom be paid, Montbarwould consider us freed from all obligation. "

That evening, therefore, Hartog stated plainly our conditions toCaptain Montbar, which, shortly, were that if the treasure proved to beof great value, we would divide it equally among the companies of thefrigate and our ship; if not of great value, then the whole of thetreasure was to go to the frigate as salvage for our vessel; and if wedid not succeed in bringing the treasure away, then our ship and hercompany were to be at Montbar's disposal, to do with as he thought fit. 

These proposals were received by Montbar with a gravity and shrewdnesswhich clearly proved his professed generosity in returning us ourvessel was only preliminary to demanding a ransom. 

"Let it be as you say, then, " he said. "Within a week we shall haveascertained the value of this treasure, when the matter may be adjustedin the manner you propose. Meanwhile, the resources of my vessel are atyour disposal. "

We thanked him and withdrew, but we determined only to employ our ownmen on our second visit to the eaves. A fair remuneration for thesalvage of our ship was all that Captain Montbar looked for orexpected, and we saw no reason why we should disclose our secret to anybeyond those chosen from our own company, nor did Montbar seek to pryinto our business, contenting himself with our promise, at the end ofthe week either to pay him salvage or surrender our ship and ourselves, to be disposed of in such manner as might please him best. 

CHAPTER XXXIV

WE AGAIN EXPLORE THE CAVES

During the two days which followed the making of our compact withCaptain Montbar we were busy with our preparations for a second visitto the place of the painted hands, where we knew that gold was to beobtained for those who had the courage to carry it away. This time wesailed round, so that we were saved the journey over the cliffs. We hadcaused to be made for Hartog, Janstins, and me dresses of sail-cloth, with masks like those worn by Inquisitors, the eye-holes being filledwith glass. The sleeves of the jacket were made long, so as to coverour hands. Our sea boots and breeches we knew to be impervious tohornet stings, and, thus equipped, we hoped to succeed in carrying awaythe treasure which the Lamakera fishermen had abandoned. 

We took the smallest of our ship's boats, in which we rowed ashore, and, leaving the crew at the entrance to the caves, we three, assilently as possible, propelled the boat along the stream into theinterior. As we progressed we met with evidences of our former visit. Lumps of stalactites lay where they had fallen when shaken from thevaulted roof by the discharge of our firearms. The body of the ladBruno was also to be seen, half submerged, in the water of the stream. Close to the body was the heap of gold dust, and this we began to loadinto our boat, making as little noise as possible lest we shoulddisturb the hornets from their nests. 

We worked rapidly, and in less than an hour we had filled the boat withas much as she could carry of the heavy sand, nearly all of which wasgold dust, when a humming warned us of the approach of the hornets. Wehad brought with us but a single torch, so as to avoid the light whichwe knew would attract the swarm of venomous insects, as also the batsand flying creatures which had made their home in these wonderfulcaverns; but the solitary gleam, in so much darkness, seemed to burnwith the brightness of a conflagration. The smoke, also, from ourtorch, ascending into the vaulted roof of the cavern, was beginning todisturb the weird dwellers from their gloomy abode, and alreadyghostly, bat-like forms began to fill the air space above our heads. Itwas time to leave, and, reluctantly, we began to push the boat towardthe mouth of the cave, promising ourselves to return next day for moreof the precious stuff; of which there appeared to be an inexhaustiblesupply. As we neared the entrance to the cave, however, we werestartled to observe a peril which had hitherto escaped our notice. Poised over the arch of the narrow passage was a mass of rock so finelybalanced that it seemed to be held in its place by the weight of anumber of bat-like creatures clustering at one of its angles. As weapproached, these bats, startled by the light of our torch, began, oneor two at a time, to rise from their resting place, causing the rock totopple toward us. Thus we stood in danger of being crushed by the massshould it fall as we passed the entrance, or, worse still, if it fellbefore we escaped into the cave beyond, we might find ourselvesentombed alive in this dreadful place, to become a prey to the horrorsof which we had had previous experience. 

"Forward!" roared Hartog, and, putting forth his great strength, hebegan to propel the boat, heavily laden as she was, at a rapid pacetoward the entrance of the cavern. With our hearts in our throats, Janstins and I came to his assistance, and, pushing franticallytogether, we drove the boat through the entrance just as the bats, in abody, rose from the balancing rock, which, relieved of their weight, fell with a crash, effectually blocking the path into the cave. Fortunately we were on the right side of the obstacle, and our way wasopen to the sea, but a moment's hesitation would have consigned us to alingering death, which, I am not ashamed to say, I shuddered tocontemplate. 

We now took off the canvas jackets and masks we had worn as aprotection against stings from the hornets, and, without furthermishap, conveyed the sand we had brought away with us on board ourship, from which we washed six buckets full of gold dust. Eachbucketful we reckoned, by weight, to be worth twenty thousand Englishpounds, so that we had ransom to pay Montbar for salvaging our vessel, besides retaining enough to make us all rich men. 

Our crew, who had now become obedient to Hartog's authority, weredesirous to continue the search of the cavern, in the hope of obtainingmore of the precious metal, but on being taken to the entrance to thecaves, it was found that an impassable barrier of rock stood betweenthem and their desire for boundless wealth. They were, therefore, compelled to be satisfied with a share in the gold we had already won. 

And here it may be observed how wise are the ways of Providence and howwatchful appeared to be the good genius who followed our destiny. Hadlimitless wealth been suddenly showered upon us, what evil consequencesmight have followed? Man is, after all, but an avaricious creature, whorequires the discipline of necessity to restrain his covetous nature. The prospect of gold-getting would probably have undermined Hartog'sauthority, and would most likely have ended in disaster for us all. Asit was, we had enough, but not more than enough, and the discipline ofour ship, so necessary to our common safety, was maintained. 

We paid Montbar, according to our agreement, gold to the value of sixtythousand English pounds, that being half the value of the goldobtained, with which he expressed himself well satisfied. 

"Honesty is, after all, the best policy, " he said. "Had I not restoredto you your ship I would have missed this treasure, that will wellrepay me for my long voyage, which I had before thought profitless. Iregret your decision not to accompany me to the West Indies, but sinceyou have paid your ransom you are free to go whithersoever your fancymay lead you, without let or hindrance. "

We thanked Montbar, although I could not help smiling at the tributewhich he paid to honesty when I remembered that the lockers in hiscabins were crammed with the loot which he had taken as a freebooterupon the seas. 

CHAPTER XXXV

I AM KIDNAPPED

We were now of two minds, whether to continue the exploration of NewHolland, or to shape a course for the islands of the South Seas; butHartog finally decided for the islands, where there is always adventureand profit to be had. Besides, we were anxious to prove the truth, orotherwise, of the existence of the Islands of Engano, mentioned byMarco Polo in the account of his voyage round the world in the year1272, as the Male and Female Islands. 

The first group of islands we touched at after leaving the abandonedSpanish settlement at New Holland, appeared to be well wooded andfertile, and approaching one of the largest we cast anchor near theshore. On the following day we endeavoured to work to windward of thisdangerous coast, but in spite of skilful seamanship it soon, becamecertain we were being drawn, probably by some strong current, closer tothe land. The ship was so near to the rocks that escape appearedimpossible. At three in the afternoon, however, the ship doubled thereefs, it may be said, almost by a miracle. 

This adventure set us thinking upon a record among the manuscripts wehad brought with us of a remarkable phenomenon existing somewhere inthese regions. In describing one of the larger islands the record says:"By the coast of this country, toward the north, is the sea called theDead Sea, the water whereof runneth into the earth, and if anyonefalleth into that water he is never found more. And if shipmen go but alittle way into it they are carried rapidly downward, and never returnagain. And none knoweth whither they are carried, and many have thuspassed away, and it hath never been known what became of them. "

We had hitherto given little credence to this report, but our recentexperience proved the currents running between these islands to bestrong and treacherous, and warned us to be on guard against them. Thegreat distance we were from home, and the absence of any assistance tobe looked for from men of our own race made it doubly necessary toconsider every aspect of our voyage in order to escape the many perilswhich everywhere beset us. 

We now approached a coast running east and west to the horizon, so thatwe could not say whether we had come to an island or to anothersouthern continent. The anxieties through which we had passed, particularly our narrow escape from shipwreck upon the reefs, made itdesirable we should seek some haven in which to recruit our strengthand re-victual our ship before setting out upon our homeward voyage, for Hartog was anxious to deposit the gold we had obtained from theplace of the painted hands in safe keeping at Amsterdam. The carryingabout of so much treasure on board the vessel was a risk he thought itimprudent to run, as the presence of gold on the ship would prove aconstant temptation to the men to mutiny. Besides which, there wasalways the chance of capture by pirates or freebooters who, at thistime, roamed the seas. General satisfaction was, therefore, expressedwhen Hartog announced his intention of returning to Amsterdam. 

On the morning of the next day after sighting the land along which wenow coasted the look-out reported a sheltered bay, which promised usthe haven we desired, and an hour later we cast anchor under the lee ofa bold headland, near to a beach, which bordered what appeared to be afertile and well-wooded country. 

We had barely found our moorings when five natives came in a canoe, themiddle one vigorously baling the water out of the craft. As they drewnearer we observed that they were all women, one standing up at theprow, whose red hair came down to her waist. She was white as regardscolour, beautifully shaped, the face aquiline and handsome, ratherfreckled and rosy, the eyes black and gracious, the forehead andeyebrows good, the nose, mouth, and lips well-proportioned, with theteeth well-ordered and white. Being rich in so many parts and gracesshe would be judged to be a very beautiful woman, and at first sightshe stole away my heart. On arriving alongside she climbed aboard withamazing agility, and without the least sign of fear, from which Iconjectured that Europeans were not unknown to her. As her eyes sweptus her glance halted when it rested upon me, and, withoutembarrassment, she made signs for me to approach her. 

"Whence come ye?" she said, speaking in Spanish, though with an accentthat sounded unfamiliar. 

"From the white man's country, " I answered, "to seek adventure in thisland. "

"Ye come far to seek little, " she replied. "This land is desolate. Nonemay live upon it. It is waterless. "

"Then we must look farther, " I answered. "We are in search of water. "

"I can show you where water is, " she continued, "if you will come withme. "

I hesitated, and Hartog, when he caught the drift of her invitation, bade me on no account trust myself alone with these savages. 

"Our boats will be lowered directly, " I answered. "Then you may show uswhere to find fresh water, and we shall be grateful. "

"I cannot wait for your boats, " she replied. "Come with me now if youare not afraid. Your boats can follow. "

It would have shamed me to confess fear to go with these women, and, not dreaming of treachery, I descended to the canoe, while Hartog andthe others made ready to follow in the ship's boats. But I had nosooner set foot in the canoe than the four girls, who possessed thestrength of young men, began to paddle vigorously toward a point whichjutted out on the western side of the bay in which the "GoldenSeahorse" lay at anchor. We soon rounded the point, when we lost sightof the ship. Thinking that all this was intended for a jest, Iremonstrated with my beautiful captor, and called upon her to bid thegirls cease rowing until my companions should come up with us; but atthis she only laughed, and at a word from her the girls redoubled theirexertions until the canoe seemed to fly over the surface of the water. We now approached a precipice, which rose sheer out of the sea, and, aswe drew nearer, I observed a tunnel into which the water rushed withthe force of a mill-race. It then came to my mind that this was thecurrent I had read of which ran into the earth, and along which shipmenhad been carried, never to be heard of again. 

I glanced at the woman who had kidnapped me in this strange fashionseemingly with the object of enticing me to my doom. Her face was setand stern; with both hands she grasped a steering paddle, with whichshe guided the canoe into the rushing stream. The girls had ceasedrowing, and were crouched together in the frail craft, which now, caught by the hand of Nature, was carried with incredible speed intothe darkness of the unknown. 

How long we were in the tunnel I cannot say. It seemed an eternity, butit could not actually have been very long. The speed at which wetravelled was so great as to make the drawing of the breath difficult, and a strange humming sound--very loud-made it impossible to speak oreven to cry out. I had abandoned hope and resigned myself to death whensuddenly we emerged from the tunnel into a blinding sunshine, whichdazzled the eyes after the darkness. Once more we had come to the opensea. 

The girls resumed their paddles, and now began to urge the canoe towardone of two islands visible on the horizon about thirty miles apart. 

CHAPTER XXXVI

THE MALE AND FEMALE ISLANDS

I was now able to demand an explanation for the cause of my abduction, which I did with some warmth. 

"In what way have I offended, " I asked of the woman who had enticed meon board the canoe, "that you should repay the trust I placed in youwith treachery? We came among you as friends, desiring nothing so muchas your goodwill. But you have treated me as an enemy, carried me awayfrom my ship, and separated me from my friends Take, heed, I am a man, and have some strength. You are but women. Why, then, should I notoverpower you and return the way I came?"

"That is impossible, " answered my captor. "None could make their wayback through the tunnel against the stream. "

"At least, tell me then, " I continued, "your name, for what purpose Iam brought here, and whither you are taking me. "

"My name is Sylvia Cervantes, " replied my captor, proudly. "As to whyyou are brought here, ask the wise-ones whom you shall presently see. Yonder islands are the Islands of Engano. "

In the surprise which her words occasioned I almost forgot the angerwhich had begun to burn within me when I thought of how basely I hadbeen betrayed. Before me were the wonderful Male and Female Islands, fabled by Marco Polo. I had come upon this voyage with Dirk Hartog inquest of adventure. Well, here was an adventure awaiting me that waslikely to prove the most remarkable I had yet encountered. 

As we drew near, to one of the islands, I was impressed by the extremebeauty of the scene. The cliffs rose to great heights, forming a dark, clear-cut line against the sky, while between the lofty walls, verdantvalleys stretched down to the white, sandy beaches, upon which thewaves broke in glistening spume. Toward a beach, somewhere about thecentre of the island, our course was laid, and upon coming to theshallows, the girls shipped their paddles and sprang into the water, when, with others helping them, they ran the canoe on to the beach, making no more of my weight than if I had been a child. 

I now observed among the woods of the, very ancient stone buildings, which, at one time, must have been occupied by a people possessing ahigh state of civilization. They were in ruins, and overgrown byflowering shrubs and creepers, but were apparently still used ashabitations for it was to one of these houses I was presentlyconducted. Here I was invited to rest and refresh myself with somedelicious fruit that was set before me, the like of which I do notremember having tasted before. 

Sylvia Cervantes now joined me, and in the witchery of her presence Iforgot my perilous plight, and gave myself up to the luxury andenjoyment of the moment. 

From Sylvia I learnt the history of my capture, and why she had come toentice me away with her. 

Having inquired my name, which I gave her, Sylvia continued asfollows:--

"You must know, then, Peter, " she said, "that we are ruled here bycustom which may not be changed. The wise-ones who live on the mountaintops tell us what to do, and we do it without question. The wise-onesare not as others are. They see what others cannot see, and they knowmany things that others cannot even guess at, so when the wise-onestold me your ship was on the other side of the Great Barren Island, andthat I was to take my canoe and bring you here, I could not help butobey. "

"How is it possible, " I asked, "that mortal eyes can see so far?"

"The eyes of the wise-ones are not as mortal eyes, " replied Sylvia, gravely. "Rest now, and to-morrow you shall hear what is required ofyou. "

I was so affected by the calamity which had overtaken me that I lackedthe disposition to question Sylvia more closely on the matter. It wasplain I was a captive, and helpless to avert my fate, whatever it mightbe. As well then accept the inevitable, and make the most of thepassing hour. I did not value life, since Anna's death, at a pin'sransom. If, therefore, the end of all things for me in this world wasat hand, let it come. I would welcome it without regret. 

Sylvia now told me as much as she knew about the island to which I hadbeen brought, and of its people. 

In ages gone by, she said, when the stone houses were new, and aflourishing city stood in the valley, a disagreement had arisenbetween the king and queen, who held equal sway over the two islands, of such a nature that the breach became impossible to be healed. Instead of going to war with each other, and thus sacrificing the livesof many of their respective followers in battle, who had no part intheir quarrel, an agreement was come to whereby the king withdrewhimself to the western island, leaving the queen in undisputedpossession in the east. The king took to him all the men in bothislands, giving up to the queen the women, to become her subjects. Sincethen the Male and Female Islands had been managed as separatecommunities. There was no king or queen now, the people of both islandsbeing ruled by the wise-ones, who lived on the mountain tops in theFemale Island. But the inhabitants of the two islands still continued tolive apart, the males on one island and the females on the other. On theMale Island the males dwelt alone, without their wives, or any otherwomen. Every year, in the month of March, the men came to the FemaleIsland, and tarried there three months, to wit, March, April, and May, dwelling with their wives for that space. At the end of those threemonths they returned to their own island, and pursued their avocationthere, selling ambergris to the traders from Sumatra. As for thechildren whom their wives bore them, if they were girls they stayed withtheir mothers; but if they were boys their mothers brought them up untilthey were fourteen years old, and then sent them to their fathers. Thosewomen who were married did nothing but nurse and rear their children. Their husbands provided them with all necessaries. Those who wereunmarried, and until marriage, became Amazons, doing all the work on theisland that would, in the ordinary course, be done by men. They werevery strictly reared, and were as hardy as boys. If necessary they couldfight in defence of their country with a courage equal to that displayedby the bravest warriors. Such were the strange customs of the people onthese two islands as related to me by Sylvia Cervantes. 

CHAPTER XXXVII

A TASK IS SET ME

On the day after I was made captive to the people on the Female Islandin the Engano group, I was given an opportunity to observe the customswhich prevail among these Amazons. They appeared to be a happy, healthypeople, nor could I fail to notice the absence of ill-temper anddiscord, which may be observed in all communities in which men andwomen live together, and where jealousy between the sexes is too oftenthe cause of lifelong feuds. Here the matrons seemed content to devotethemselves to the rearing of their offspring, who, in return, renderedheart-whole affection to their mothers. I never witnessed such docilityand loving obedience as was displayed by the children of this island tothose who had the care of them, and while I remained at Engano I neverheard a child cry or saw a woman in tears. 

As the girls reach maturity, which they do in these latitudes at theage of about twelve years, they are instructed by their mothers how toperform the necessary work, and become very skilful at throwing thelance, harpoon, or any manner of dart, being bred to it from theirinfancy. These girls, from this training, possess wonderful eyesight, and will descry a sail at sea farther than any sailor could see it. 

The dress adopted by the dwellers on the Female Island, though scantyto civilized eyes, is nevertheless suited to their manner of life. Itconsists of tapa cloth cut in a deep fringe depending from waist toknee. Their hair, which is long, hangs down their backs. Those who, like Sylvia, have red hair, are mostly freckled and rosy, which, so farfrom detracting from their beauty, rather adds to their charms. Thedark-haired ones are burnt brown by the sun. 

I was now taken by Sylvia to be presented to the wise-ones, at whoseinstigation I had been brought to the island. These I found to be men, if indeed they could be called such, but they were so wizened inappearance as more to resemble monkeys. Their manner of life is soaustere as to make it a matter for marvel that body and soul couldcling together. They will not kill an animal for food, or for any otherpurpose, not even a fly or a flea, or anything in fact that has life;for they say they have all souls, and it would be a sin to kill them. They eat no vegetables in a green state, only such as are dry, for theybelieve that even green leaves have life. And they sleep on the bareground, naked, without anything to cover them, or to soften themountain rocks which form their bed. They fast every day, and drinknothing but water. Yet, in spite of the rigour of their discipline, they attain to extreme old age; not one of the wise men, so Sylviainformed me, being less than one hundred years old, while some wereaccredited with upwards of two centuries of life. By reason of theirabstinence, they are supposed to be gifted with mysterious occultpowers, notably second sight, by which they are able to locatestrangers at a great distance from their own country, and to foretelltheir advent. Not long since they had foretold the coming to the islandof a Spanish fleet, when the whole Amazon population had taken refugein subterranean caves until the Spaniards had left, which they didunder the belief that the island was deserted. It was by means of thissecond sight that the "Golden Seahorse" had been located, and that Ihad been selected from among the crew to carry out a project which thewise men had in view, and the particulars of which I was about tolearn. 

The chief of the wise-ones, who acted as spokesman, now informed me ofthe reason I had been brought to the island. 

"You must know, Signor, " said he, addressing me as though I was aSpaniard; an appellation which I felt inclined to resent, "that we aretroubled by a demon we have found it impossible to slay. Many of ourgirls have fallen victims to the monster, while the men from the MaleIsland have repeatedly attacked it during the months of their residencehere, without being able to overcome it. In length the creature isthirty feet, and of great bulk. It has two forelegs near the head, armed with claws. The head is very big, and the eyes stand out from iton knob-like excrescences. The mouth is big enough to swallow a manwhole, and is armed with pointed teeth. In short, the monster is sofierce that all stand in fear at the sight of it. Now it is known thatthe men of your race are brave, and possess weapons of which we have noknowledge, so, when it was revealed to us that your ship was close byon the other side of the Great Barren Island, we resolved to bring youhere; who seemed, in our eyes, to be a brave man, so that you may ridus of the demon which threatens our peace, if not our very existence. "

"Alas! oh, wise-one, " I answered. "How much better to have brought theship also! On board of her, it is true, we possess weapons againstwhich even such a monster as you tell me of could not prevail. Butthese weapons I have not with me. How then can I, single-handed, hopeto overcome so terrible a creature as you describe? Rather send me backto my ship, when I promise to bring her here, so that a party of us, well armed, may attack the demon, when no doubt we shall be able todestroy it. " But at this the wise-one shook his head. 

"To bring the ship here, " said he, "would be easy. But how do we knowwe could be rid of her without injury to our people?"

"I would pass you my word as to that, " I answered. 

"So you say now, " replied the wise-one. "But how shall we know that youwould keep your word?"

An angry retort sprang to my lips, but I restrained myself on receivinga warning glance from Sylvia, which reminded me that I stood at themercy of these monkey men. 

"Give me three days, then, " I answered, "to devise some means fordestroying the monster. If I succeed, I demand to be sent back to myship. Without this promise I will do nothing for you, let theconsequences to me be what they may. "

The wise-one seemed to ponder my words carefully. 

"Be it so, then, " he answered. "If in three days you rid us of thisdemon I will see that you are restored to your friends. But if youshould fail, and survive, you must nevertheless be put to death. Wehave no room on the Islands of Engano for strangers. "

CHAPTER XXXVIII

THE SLAYING OF THE GREAT CROCODILE

I now bethought me of how I might best set about the task ofvanquishing the monster which held the Female Island in terror, andwhich, from the description given me by the wise-ones, I judged to be acrocodile. Nor in this was I mistaken, for, being taken by Sylvia to aplace of safety from which I could see the demon, I was confirmed inthe opinion I had formed by what I saw, although I had never seen acrocodile of such amazing proportions before. It lived in a cave closeto a fertile plain, where goats belonging to the islanders werepastured. Not far off was a stream at which it went to drink, and adeep furrow in the sand marked the road it made to the water. Duringthe day it remained in its cave, but toward evening it would issueforth and attack the goats, three or four of which it would kill, andcarry off to its lair. Those in charge of the goats dared notinterfere, lest the monster, deprived of its accustomed food, mightseek its dinner among the ruined stone houses in which the islanderslived. 

Now I noticed that the road along which the crocodile travelled to thewater was very deeply furrowed, thus proving how the great lizard hadrepeatedly dragged its heavy bulk over the same spot on its way todrink at the stream, and I bethought me of a plan to deal with thereptile. The only weapon I had upon me when kidnapped from my ship wasa short sabre or manchette, which I wore as a sidearm. But this I hopedwould prove a formidable weapon when put to the use for which I nowintended it. 

During the morning of the next day, when we knew that the crocodilewould be asleep in his cave, Sylvia and I went together to the roadwhich the reptile had made, by the weight of his body, to his usualwatering-place. 

Here, with such rude implements as the islanders possessed, we dug atrench the width of the road, and for some distance along it. At thebottom of the trench we laid a stout log, in which was firmly fixed mymanchette, its sharp point upward. We then filled up the trench withsoft sand, and retired to the place of vantage which I had occupied theprevious day, and from which we could see the crocodile make hisevening raid. Towards sundown he came forth with a rush among theterrified goats, four of which he slew with a stroke from his powerfultail, after which he proceeded to drag their mangled carcases into hislair. We waited an hour, when, just before sundown, the reptile cameforth again on his way to the water. We watched him with bated breath, and Sylvia, who now, for the first time, began to understand the trap Ihad set, could hardly contain her excitement. When the crocodile cameto the sand-pit we had dug on the road he sank down, when the sharpblade of the manchette entered his breast, and as he dashed forward, rove him to the navel, so that he died on the spot in the greatestagony. 

Sylvia now summoned the islanders to see my work. They came from allparts, and raised so great a shout when they saw their enemy dead thatthe sound of it reached the wise-ones on the mountain-tops, who peereddown at the beast where he lay in a morass of blood which deluged thesand so that it ran into the stream, dyeing the water a deep red. 

The death of the reptile, and the craft and cunning I had displayed inthe killing of it, so impressed the Amazons that they came to me in abody, with Sylvia as their mouthpiece, asking me to stay and be theirking, nor did the wise-ones raise any objection to this proposal. Butalthough I admired Sylvia, I had no desire to spend the rest of my daysat Engano, not even as King of the Amazons. I therefore answered thatmy comrades were no doubt looking for me, nor would they continue theirvoyage home until all hope of my rescue had been abandoned, and Ireminded the wise-ones of the promise they had made me of safe conductback to my vessel, in case I should succeed in ridding the island oftheir enemy. The justice of my claim was not to be denied, and with thedawn of the morrow the wise-ones undertook to ascertain the directionin which the ship lay and to send me aboard her. 

That evening a feast was held in my honour; some of the men from theMale Island came over, by special permission of the wise-ones, in orderto be present, and to see the man who had slain the monster againstwhich they had been unable to prevail. 

The men from the Male Island I found to be as free from ill-will towardone another as were the women on the Female Island. Since they hadneither wife nor child, they associated in pairs, and mutually renderedeach other all the services a master could reasonably expect from aservant, being together in so perfect a community that the survivoralways succeeded his dead partner to any property he may have had. They behave to each other with the greatest justness and openness ofheart. It is a crime to keep anything hidden. On the other hand, theleast pilfering is unpardonable, and punished by death. And indeedthere can be no great temptation to steal when it is reckoned a pointof honour never to refuse a neighbour what he wants; and when there isso little property of value it is impossible there should be manydisputes over it. If any happened, the wise-ones interposed, and soonput an end to the difference. 

In all my travels I never met with happier or more gently disposedpersons than the people of the Male and Female Islands of Engano. 

CHAPTER XXXIX

I BECOME A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC INFELICITY

Next morning the wise-ones, according to promise, informed me, by meansof their power of second sight, that my ship was in the place where Ihad left her, which seemed probable, as it would no doubt be on landthat Hartog and my friends would be looking for me. 

I passed my word to the wise-ones that Hartog's vessel would not visitthe Engano Islands, since strangers were not welcome; and, having bidgood-bye to the Amazons, I once more embarked with Sylvia in her canoe, and was paddled round the east end of the Great Barren Island, where, in the distance, was the "Golden Seahorse" still at anchor in the baywhere I had last seen her. 

When I came aboard Hartog was overjoyed at my return. "I shall have tokeep thee tied up, Peter, " he said to me, in jest at my frequentmishaps. "You are for ever either falling overboard or running away. "But when I told him of my adventure on Amazon Island he listened withgreat interest, expressing regret that I should have pledged my wordagainst the ship's calling there. His disappointment, however, wasmodified when I told him that nothing of any commercial value was to befound upon either of the Engano Islands; nothing, in fact, being worthyof notice but the wonderful contentment of the inhabitants, a commoditywhich could not be carried away. 

"Let us up stick and home, then, " answered Hartog merrily. So, havingpresented Sylvia and her accompanying Amazons with gifts, in return forwhich they showed us where excellent water was to be obtained withwhich we might replenish our tanks, we bade farewell to the GreatBarren Island, and shaped a course for Holland. 

On our arrival at Amsterdam Hartog arranged for the disposal anddivision of our treasure. He and I, as joint promoters of theexpedition, each took to the value of twenty thousand English pounds, giving the remainder to be divided among our officers and crew, who hadnever in their lives before looked to possess so much money. The shipwas put out of commission, though, for the present, we determined notto sell her. Hartog promised himself a spell ashore, and I also lookedforward to a life of ease and recreation. I was now a rich man, withmore wealth to my credit than would satisfy my simple needs for theremainder of my life. Why then, I asked myself, should I seek furtherperil and adventure in unknown lands to gain money of which I alreadypossessed more than I knew what to do with?

I did not return to my estate, which had become distasteful to me, recalling, as it did, the brief span of nuptial happiness which I hadenjoyed with Anna, and when, later, my father-in-law, the Count ofHolstein, offered to buy it from me, I was glad to sell it to him. Witha portion of my capital I now secured a full share in the business ofDe Decker, my old master, and, having purchased a fine house atAmsterdam, I resolved to settle down to the lucrative business of amerchant. 

Before taking possession of my new home I paid a visit to my family atUrk, where I found that my father had retired from the activemanagement of his fishing business, which was now carried on by myeldest brother, who was married, and blessed with three sturdy boys. Mytwo younger brothers were also married, and both had begun to rearfamilies. 

"Only you, Peter, " said my mother, "my favourite son, the flower of theflock, are alone and childless. "

I had not, since Anna's death, given a thought to marrying again, butmy mother's words appealed to me with some force when I reflected thatI owed it to my country not to lead a life of selfish celibacy. I wouldnever love with the strength of my first love which I had given toAnna; but there seemed to be no reason why I should not become the headof a house, and the father of a family, so that I might live again inmy children. 

Now, it so fell out that Pauline Rutter, a niece of De Decker, came atthis time to stay with her uncle at Amsterdam, and as I was a frequentvisitor at De Decker's house, I often met her. Pauline was proud, dark, and self-willed--the very opposite of what Anna Holstein had been whenI married her, and for this reason, perhaps, I liked her the more, since it put an end to all comparison between her and Anna, to whom Ihad given my first love. 

Pauline was flattered by the attention I paid her, and when at length Iasked her to become my wife she made no secret of her satisfaction atthe prospect of becoming Madam Van Bu. 

"I have always thought, sir, " she said, "that you would marry again. Itis a duty which you owe to your wealth and position. That your choiceshould have fallen upon me is an honour of which I am very sensible. "

It will thus be seen that in the alliance which Pauline and I proposedthere was to be no love-making. The bargain was one that might havebeen made in the course of De Decker's business. I was to give Paulinemy wealth and name, in return for which she promised to become my wife, and to undertake the management of my household. It was a shamefulbargain, and I was well served for my part in it. 

We had not been married a month before each of us began to observe inthe other an incompatibility of temper which made any kind of agreementbetween us, even on the most trivial matters, impossible. Paulinedeclared that I brought the manners of the forecastle into herdrawing-room, while the social inanities to which she devoted most ofher time angered me into upbraiding her with her frivolity and lack ofcommon sense. These mutual recriminations soon led us into a conditionof life which destroyed all prospect of peace and contentment in ourhome. Neither would give way one jot. The more Pauline stormed at mefor my boorishness and want of consideration for her the more obstinatedid I become in ascribing to her frivolous nature the true cause of ourunhappiness. I admired Pauline, and I looked to her to become themother of my children; but we could neither of us endure the other'spresence for any length of time without a squabble, so that ourdomestic infelicity became a jest and a byword even among our servants. In these circumstances I felt it would be better that we should part. It is said that absence makes the heart grow fonder, and I wasconvinced that I would regard Pauline with more kindly feelings if seasbetween us rolled than were possible if we remained together in thesame house, and I have no doubt that Pauline thoroughly reciprocated mysentiments. 

In this mood I sought my old comrade Dirk Hartog. I found him, as Iexpected, at a tavern which he frequented. He was seated at a tablewith Bantum and Janstins, poring over a chart in which all threeappeared to be deeply interested. 

CHAPTER XL

THE YELLOW PARCHMENT

"Welcome, Peter!" cried Hartog, when he saw me. "I'd have wagered you'dbe with us, and here you are in the nick of time. "

"What's in the wind now?" I asked, as I drew a chair to the table atwhich the three were seated. 

"The greatest and best chance that was ever offered to seafarers, "answered Hartog. "Read that, and say whether any man with the blood ofa rover in him could sit tamely at home when such a country as this iswaiting to be explored. "

With these words he pushed toward me a parchment yellow with age, butvery clearly written, so it was easy to decipher. The paper, atranslation in Spanish from some ancient tongue, read as follows:

"The Ruby Mountains. Among these mountains there are certain great anddeep valleys to the bottom of which there is no access. These valleysare full of rubies. Wherefore the men who go in search of them takewith them a piece of flesh as lean as they can get, and this they eastinto the bottom of the valley. Now there are a number of white eaglesthat haunt these mountains and feed upon the serpents in which thevalley abounds. When the eagles see the meat thrown down, they pounceupon it, and carry it up to some rocky hill-top, where they begin torend it. But there are men on the watch, and as soon as they see thatthe eagles have, settled they raise a loud shouting to drive them off. And when the eagles are thus scared away, the men recover the pieces ofmeat, and find them full of rubies, which have stuck to the meat downin the bottom of the valley. The abundance of rubies in these depths isastonishing, but none can get down, and if any could they would bedevoured by the serpents which abound there. This country is inhabitedby pygmies and giants. The giants, who are by far the largest men to beseen in this strait, are ruled by the pygmies. "

"And who is the author of this fairy tale?" I asked. 

"One to whom I take my hat off, " answered Hartog. "Marco Polo, thefirst and greatest navigator in the world's history. Where he could gowe can follow. "

"And where does he place the Ruby Mountains?" I inquired. 

"That is what troubles me, " replied Hartog. "Marco Polo knew the GreatSouth Land, but not so thoroughly as we are beginning to know it now. From this chart I place the Ruby Mountains on the north-west coast ofthe continent of New Holland. "

"Whose chart is it?" I inquired. 

"Marco Polo's own, " said Hartog. "It was given to me by a man I oncebefriended, together with the parchment you have just read. How he cameby it I need not say. The man is dead, and I trust his sins areforgiven him. But I know he would not lie to me, not willingly. "

"It seems a wild goose chase, " I said, although my doubts were rapidlydissolving under the witchery of Hartog's sanguine temperament. 

"So did our last voyage, " answered Hartog. "Yet every word that waswritten upon the paper that guided us was true. And why should wepresume that men would give so much labour to preparing these chartsand manuscripts in order to perpetuate lies?"

I could not but admit this. The ability to make these drawings, and toinscribe these manuscripts, I knew was confined to a very few, who weremostly men of truth and honour. Such accounts as were available of thewonderful voyages of Marco Polo I had read with avidity, and I saw noreason to doubt the assertions of this brave and learned man. 

"What do you propose, then?" I asked Hartog, although in my own mind, Iknew the old sea-dog was impatient to be off on a new treasure-hunt. 

"What else can I do, Peter?" replied Hartog, "than take ship for thisplace? I could never rest content, nor would you either, with thethought of these Ruby Mountains still unexplored. "

"You have settled the matter, then, so far as I am concerned, " I said, with a laugh. 

"And why not, partner?" answered Hartog. "We own a fine ship that wassurely never intended only to make a maiden voyage. We could visit thisplace, and be back in twelve months--two years at most. What is to keepus, then, from our pleasure trip?"

Before Hartog had done speaking, I knew my mind was made up to go withhim. My life at home with Pauline had become intolerable, nor did Itake any active part in De Decker's business, finding the drudgery ofthe counting-house irksome after my more exciting experiences on seaand land, so, without further ado, I expressed to Hartog my willingnessto join him in a fresh adventure to the South. 

Hartog was overjoyed at my decision. 

"I made no doubt you would come with me, Peter, " he said. "We have beenshipmates too long to sail our separate ways alone. With Bantum andJanstins, who are willing to sign on, and a picked crew; we can explorethe Ruby Mountains and be back within the year. "

CHAPTER XLI

THE RUBY MOUNTAINS

On our second voyage to the South in the "Golden Seahorse" we followedthe route we had originally taken with the "Endraght", avoiding as faras possible the calms and currents which had then impeded our progress, as also those islands where we had met with a hostile reception. Itbecame necessary, however, to call at some of the groups we passed, andit surprised us to find how diversified are the manners and customs ofthe natives who inhabit the numerous islands of the South Seas. Notonly are the people of each group governed by different laws, butfrequently each island is distinct from the others in the languagespoken and the manner of life followed upon it. Hence it would requirea bulky volume to describe in detail the many and varied tribes we metwith on our journey. 

We made the coast of New Holland within five months after leavingAmsterdam (a record voyage), somewhere about the same place where I hadaffixed the metal plate at the time of our first visit. But we did notland here, as the weather was unfavourable, a strong breeze blowing anda high sea running at the time, making it necessary to keep a goodoffing from the shore. As we coasted toward the south, however, theweather moderated, so that we were able to bring our ship with safetynearer land. 

From an observation we took when the weather was favourable, weascertained that we were three hundred miles to the north, with anunbroken coastline extending before us; so we concluded we had roundeda promontory, and were now upon the west coast of New Holland. Thisencouraged us in the belief that we were following the right course tothe Ruby Mountains, for Marco Polo's parchment informed us that thegiants whom he saw were by far the largest men to be seen "in thisstrait, " from which it seemed the intrepid Venetian navigator hadsailed through this strait as early as the year 1272, when he made hisfamous voyage round the world. 

As we proceeded along the coast, the weather being now clear and fine, we observed great stretches of country, flat and uninviting, upon whichthere appeared to be no sign of life. Indeed, the whole of thissouthern continent seems to be sparsely populated when compared withthe islands, upon most of which the native inhabitants are verynumerous. In this may be seen the hand of an all-wise Providence. Inthe ages to come a white population will, no doubt, emigrate to NewHolland, and if this great continent was found to be densely populatedby a black people, it would be a work of great difficulty to overcomethem. Whereas, the aboriginal population being scant by reason of thebarren nature of the country, the task of colonization by the whiteswould be easy. We often sailed for more than a week at a time alongthis coast without seeing any sign of human habitation, and thosenatives whom we did see were of so poor a description and appeared tobe so frightened of us and of our vessel as hardly to deserve the nameof humans. 

And now we approached some cliffs, beyond which appeared a lofty range, which, from our present position, and the bearings given on MarcoPolo's chart, Hartog declared to be the Ruby Mountains. 

As we approached the cliffs, a bold headland, which stood between usand a view of the coast beyond, assumed the appearance of a lion'shead. The resemblance was so striking that it appeared as if the mightyhand of Nature had hewn a colossus from the living rock in the shape ofa lion to guard the entrance into this land. 

Upon rounding this remarkable promontory, we found ourselves opposite abeach bordered by a broad line of surf, which indicated that the waterhere was very shallow for some distance from the shore. Both the surfand the beach seemed to be alive with black children, so diminutivewere the forms who disported themselves in the breakers, or ran up anddown upon the sand with the eagerness and agility generally displayedby boys at the seaside. As to the real ages of these people, however, we were not left long in doubt. Four canoes put off from the shore andcame alongside. They were manned by twenty-five blacks, who, notwithstanding their small stature, we could see at a glance werefull-grown men. We made signs to them to come aboard, but they wereevidently in doubt whether or not to accept our invitation. We thenthrew out to them some small pieces of iron and strings of beads, atwhich they showed great satisfaction. These little men appeared to bean intelligent race. Their bodies were small, but their heads, inproportion, were large. They wore no beards, but their hair was curlylike the Kafirs, some of them wearing it tied to the neck in a knot, and others letting it fall loose down to the waist. All of them hadholes through their noses to carry fish bones, polished white. Somewore strings of human teeth round their necks. 

At length, five, bolder than the rest, ventured aboard. They did notappear to be afraid, and what astonished us most was that they seemedready to take charge of us. They made signs that we should go ashore, and one of them, who appeared to be a chief, attempted to driveJanstins into the sea by hitting him with a kind of hammer with awooden handle, and at one end a black conch shell. Janstins laughinglydisarmed his small antagonist, which seemed to surprise him as well asthe others, and brought them together in consultation. 

Ten of the pygmies now came aboard, to whom we gave nutmegs and cloves, thinking to please them. They took what we gave them, although theyappeared surprised that we should offer them anything. The littlechief, not more than three feet high, who had so amusingly attempted todrive Janstins into the sea, again made signs to us to go ashore. SoHartog ordered the pinnace to be manned, and armed against treachery. But we had not come within musket shot of the beach when the waterbecame so shallow that we could not take the boat any farther, whereupon a number of us stepped out into the shallows, up to ourwaists in mud and kelp, and with some difficulty made our way to thebeach, where the pygmies mustered in great force. 

On the beach we noticed fresh human footprints that must have been madeby men of great stature. They were twice as long as the footprints wemade, and none of us were noted for small feet. On going a shortdistance into the woods we saw a vast number of huts made of driedgrass, so cramped that a man of ordinary size could not creep into themon all fours, yet many of them contained families of pygmies. Weafterwards tried to penetrate somewhat farther into the wood, in orderto ascertain the nature and situation of the country, when, on comingto an open place, a number of tall savages, none of them less thaneight feet high; came out from the brushwood as though to attack us. Onthe neck of each giant sat one of the pygmies, who directed him in thesame way that a man would guide a charger. The pygmies then began tolet fly their arrows at us with great fury, by which Janstins waswounded, and one of the men hit in the leg. We were all hard pressed, so I ordered a volley to be fired, which killed one of the giants, sothat the others dragged the dead man into the wood, from which allquickly disappeared. Being so far from the beach, and having a verydifficult path to travel, we determined to return to the ship andreport to Hartog what had occurred. 

Hartog, upon learning what had befallen us, resolved to make no furtherovertures of peace to these treacherous natives, who appeared to bemore like wild beasts than men, and who, by their conduct, had placedthemselves beyond all claim to consideration. It seemed that thepygmies possessed a greater intelligence than the giants, whom theyused as ordinary men would use horses or beasts of burden. It was forthis reason that the little chief had attempted to drive Janstins intothe sea with his conch-shell hammer, regarding him as some smallerspecies of giant whom he could easily frighten into obeying him. 

During the afternoon some canoes came off in which were a number ofpygmies, but they made no attempt to come aboard of us, remaining, asthey thought, at a safe distance from the ship. In order to convincethem of the error of this, however, and to punish them for theirtreachery of the morning, Hartog ordered our brass bow-chaser to beloaded with grape, and fired amongst them, which caused greatconsternation, and sent them back to their woods howling in terror, taking their dead and wounded with them. 

Hartog was determined to explore the range of mountains which we couldsee not far distant from the coast, in order to ascertain the truth, orotherwise, of the existence of rubies in the valleys as set forth inMarco Polo's account of this country. Although we had carefully lookedfor these gems among the ornaments worn by the pygmies, we had not seenany, from which we concluded that the men spoken of by Polo as havingprocured the rubies must have been of a different race, or possibly hisown sailors. Toward evening we observed a large bird in the sky, whichHartog, with the aid of his spy-glass, pronounced to be a white eagle. 

CHAPTER XLII

THE VALLEY OF SERPENTS

We now equipped an expedition to explore the Ruby Mountains, of which Iwas appointed leader. Hartog wished to come with us, but I persuadedhim that his place was on board our ship, which, remembering how theSpaniards had, on a former occasion, pirated the vessel, he could notdeny. 

"You are right, Peter, " he said, when we had argued the matter. "Wecannot both go, and, since I am captain of the 'Golden Seahorse', Iclearly perceive my duty is to stand by her through fair and foul. "

The matter being thus concluded, I took command of the party for theshore. In the forenoon we rowed for the beach in two pinnaces, wellmanned and armed. In all the places where we had landed we had treatedthe blacks with kindness, offering them pieces of iron, strings ofbeads, and pieces of cloth, hoping by these means to win theirfriendship, and to be allowed to explore the country; but, in spite ofour friendly overtures, the blacks received us everywhere as enemies, and nowhere more so than in this land of pygmies and giants. Wetherefore determined to waste no more time in making useless effortsfor peace, but to meet force with force. Twelve men, well armed, weconsidered to be a match for all the savages we were likely toencounter during a day's march inland. 

We had brought with us some coils of stout rope in order to assist usin descending from the mountain heights into the valleys below, for Idid not place much reliance upon the fable of the eagles and the piecesof fresh meat as a means to procure the rubies which it was said werewashed down by torrential rains at certain seasons. If rubies were tobe obtained, I argued, it must be by a more practical method than thatemployed by Marco Polo's men. Besides, we had no fresh meat with whichto give Polo's experiment a trial. 

After our recent brush with the natives these wild men gave us a wideberth, and we saw no sign of them on our way to the mountains, to whichwe came after two hours of walking. The sides of these mountains arerocky, with no verdure of any kind upon them except a species ofstubble which grows in patches. When we came to the top of one of thesehills, we looked down a sheer cliff into the valley. I never before sawany place so inaccessible to man. Nothing without wings, it appeared, could descend into those depths. After exploring the mountains for thebest part of an hour, however, we came to a position where it waspossible, with caution, to descend for some distance, and by aid of ourrope, one end of which we fastened to rocks or stubble as opportunityoffered, we succeeded in reaching a cliff from which there was a dropof not more than two hundred feet. This I calculated to be the entirelength of the rope we had brought with us, by which I resolved to belowered. Bantum tried to dissuade me from my project, urging that therisk was too great; but I was determined that, having come so far, Iwould not go back without being able to make some report of the valleywe had undertaken to explore, and a descent by means of the rope seemedto be the only method, nor could Bantum suggest any other. 

I now knotted at one end of the rope a cradle in which I could sit. While being lowered, and so long as the rope held, of which thereappeared to be no reason to doubt, for my weight was well within itscompass, I did not anticipate danger. 

All being made ready, and every possible precaution taken againstaccident, I was let down from the top of the cliff to what looked likethe dried-up course of a stream composed of pebbles and wash-dirt. Thewhole valley presented the most dreary and desolate appearance. Thehigh cliffs by which it was surrounded rose like perpendicular walls, casting deep shadows, so that the sun's rays never penetrated to thefloor, for which reason it was destitute of verdure, barren to the eye, and depressing to the senses. As I descended it seemed to me as thoughI was being lowered into some forgotten tomb. 

At length my feet touched ground, and, extricating myself from mycradle, I began to explore the course of the stream. The light in thesedepths, although it was noonday, was not greater than twilight, and Ifound some difficulty in ascertaining of what the bed of the stream wascomposed, but by crawling on all fours I was able to form some idea ofits composition, and among the wash-dirt I found a number of darkstones, which, from the experience I had gained at Amsterdam, I knew tobe rubies of a size and weight that promised great value. 

I now became so absorbed in my hunt for rubies that the dismal natureof my surroundings was forgotten. The greed of gain obsessed me, and asI gathered the precious stones into my pocket I would not haveexchanged this desolate valley for the most beautiful spot on earth. 

But I was soon to learn how the wealth of the world is for everencompassed by dangers that we wot not of. A shout drew my attention, and on looking up a sight met my gaze which drove all thoughts ofruby-hunting from my mind, and made self-preservation my only concern. The rope by which I had descended, relieved of my weight, swayed likea serpent endowed with life, and for this reason, perhaps, it was beingfiercely attacked, about midway from the top, by a flock of whiteeagles which tore at the hemp with beak and claws. I ran to the cradle;but I had barely come to it when the rope parted, a hundred feet ormore of it falling down to where I stood scarcely able, as yet, torealize the extent of the disaster which had overtaken me. A return tothe ship for a fresh rope would occupy, I knew, six hours at the least, provided my companions were not molested on their way by hostilesavages, and I shuddered to think what my sufferings must be duringsuch a period of enforced solitude in this dreadful place. I shouted tomy comrades on top of the cliff, who answered me, but it was impossibleto understand what was said. I noticed, however, that some had alreadyset off on a return to the ship, as I conjectured, for a fresh rope;while others continued to watch me. Thus I did not feel so deserted asI would otherwise have done, though I dreaded the weary hours beforeme, particularly when it should become dark, as would happen soonerhere than above. 

And now, to add to my terrors, I became aware of a low, hissing soundwhich seemed to come from all around me, first from one quarter andthen from another. The air seemed to menace me with the hisses thatwere borne upon it. Then, in spite of the gloom, by straining my eyes Icould see the cause of this hissing. A number of serpents were crawlingout of the crevices of the rocks around, and making toward me. Ishouted in the hope of frightening them away, but, although theypaused, irresolute, at the sound of my voice, they came on again, drawing closer every minute. They were of all sizes, some of greatlength, black and venomous-looking. One monstrous reptile of theconstrictor species continued to watch me from an adjacent rock uponwhich it lay, its forked tongue darting in and out of its mouth. I feltthat my reason was leaving me. Endurance has its limits--I could bearno more. Death or madness awaited me. 

Then a miracle happened. The white eagles, the cause of my mishap, nowproved my salvation. They descended upon the serpents like bolts fromabove, carrying them off in their talons to the mountain tops, there tobe devoured at their leisure. The dark valley became alive withflapping white wings and squirming serpents, in the midst of whichpandemonium I mercifully lost consciousness. 

When I came to myself Hartog was beside me. It was pitch dark, but hecarried a ship's lantern in his hand. 

CHAPTER XLIII

WE AGAIN LEAVE NEW HOLLAND

"Courage, comrade, " said Hartog, who held a flask of spirits to mylips, and at the sound of his familiar voice life returned to me. I wasso weak, however, and the shock to my nervous system had been so great, that I could not speak. I pressed his hand to let him know how thankfulI was that he had come himself to my assistance. None, I firmlybelieve, but Hartog could have saved me at that moment from madness ordeath. With the tenderness of his great heart, which could be gentle asa woman's upon occasions, he lifted me in his arms, and bore me to thecradle at the end of the rope by which he had descended. I was soondrawn to the top of the cliff, where my companions awaited me, andpresently Hartog himself joined us. We did not fear the pygmies andgiants at night-time, for the dread of evil spirits in the dark isuniversal among the aborigines of New Holland, making it unlikely theywould attack us, but it was a melancholy procession which made its waythrough the woods to the beach where our boats lay, with me carried ona stretcher by willing hands, since I was incapable of making anyexertion. 

Next day, after a night of delirium, during which I raved, so Hartogtold me, of eagles and serpents, I awoke refreshed, though still veryweak. I could not bear to be left alone, not even for a moment, andHartog nursed me with a tenderness that my mother would have given mehad she been at my bedside. At length I pulled through, and was able tocome on deck; but it was a shadow of my former self who crept up thecompanion ladder to where a couch had been prepared for me. As I laythus, recovering my strength in the sun, I was able to give Hartog someaccount of my adventure. At first, when I spoke of rubies, he evidentlyregarded what I said as a flight of fancy inseparable from the dreadfulordeal through which I had passed. But when I insisted that I had toldhim nothing but truth, he brought me the clothes I had worn on mydescent into the valley, the pockets of which we found to be full ofthe rubies I had collected. But, after consultation, we determined tosay nothing about these rubies to any member of the crew. The wealth ofthe Indies would not have tempted me to descend into the valley again, and Hartog considered the risk too great for him to run, upon whom thesafety of us all depended. To have asked others to undertake a dangerfrom which we shrank would have been to undermine our authority and sowthe seeds of mutiny. Thus we kept our secret, and after a furtherweek's rest, during which I fully regained my strength, we made sailfor the open sea. 

The land which we had up to now skirted and touched at was not onlybarren and inhabited by savages, but also the sea in these parts seemedto yield nothing but sharks, swordfish, and the like unnaturalmonsters, while the birds also were as wild and shy as the men. Whatpleasure the wretched inhabitants of this country can find in theirlives it is hard to understand. 

We were now once more in need of water, and having sighted an island, we made for it, but could find no means to get near the land, owing tothe heavy surf. We found the coast very precipitous, without anyforeland or inlets. In short, it seemed to us a barren, accursed place, without leaf or grass. The coast here was steep, consisting of redrocks of the same height almost everywhere, and impossible to touch atowing to the breakers. 

During the whole of the next day the current carried us northwardagainst our will, since we were running with small sail, and had butlittle control over the rudder. In the afternoon we saw smoke rising upfrom the shore, when I took charge of a boat's crew, in order to effecta landing, with our spirits somewhat revived, for I concluded if therewere men on the island there must be water also. 

Coming near to the shore, we found it to be a steeply-rising coast, full of rocks and stones, with a violent surf running. Nevertheless, two of our men swam ashore, and succeeded in drawing the pinnace closeto the reef, upon which we landed. 

We now began our search for water, without, however, finding any, whenwe observed coming toward us, from the direction in which we had seenthe smoke, three men creeping on all fours. Their appearance was sowretched that we began to doubt if they were humans. They made nosound, apparently being incapable of speech, but they signed to us withbeckoning fingers to approach them. Then they raised themselves upontheir knees, and stretched out their hands to us in mute appeal. Theywere white men--some of the Spaniards marooned by Captain Montbar as apunishment for having stolen our vessel. And, with a shock, Irecognized among them Pedro de Castro, the traitor to whom we owed thepiracy of our ship. 

When we came close to the unfortunate Spaniards whom Montbar had leftto shift for themselves on this desolate shore I bent over to examinethem. But that they moved I would not have thought them to be alive. The pupils of their eyes were strangely dilated, and there were blackcircles under their eyes. Their hollow cheeks were deeply wrinkled. Their lips glued to their yellow teeth. They exhaled an infectiousodour, and might well have been taken for dead men come forth from thetombs. 

We had some salt junk and biscuits on the boat, kept in one of thelockers against, as sometimes happened, the boat being unable to returnto the ship in time for meals, and I sent one of the crew to fetch aportion, which he set before the famished men. 

When the Spaniards saw the food their limbs were affected with ashivering, and tears came into their eyes. Then they fell upon it, anddevoured it with sobs of joy. In astonishment and pity we watched themat their wolfish meal. When they had finished I asked de Castro forsome account of what had befallen them. 

The devil Montbar, he said, had abandoned them upon this desolateisland, telling them to make shift for themselves, and to learn fromthe hardship of their lot repentance for the act of piracy they hadcommitted in stealing our ship. On searching the island they found itto contain no water except a brackish liquid, to be had by digging, Theonly food obtainable was shell-fish, and occasionally the rank flesh ofsea birds. They had neither the tools nor materials to buildhabitations, and were forced to shelter themselves from the scorchingsun in summer and from the bitter cold in winter with a few bushes. When de Castro spoke of Montbar he became livid, and a very evil lightshone in his eyes. For two years they had endured upon this islanduntold suffering. All the women and children were long since dead, except Donna Isabel Barreto, who clung to life with the tenacity bornof a desire for revenge. Of the two hundred and forty Spaniardsmarooned by Captain Montbar but thirty now survived, the rest havingperished miserably from starvation and exposure, when their bodies hadbeen cast from the cliffs into the sea. 

When Pedro and his companions had somewhat recovered they led us towhere their wretched settlement had been made among a clump of gaunt, wind-swept trees, and, in pity for their forlorn condition, I orderedall the provisions we had in the boat to be brought for theirrefreshment. Donna Isabel threw herself at my feet, clasping my knees, and covering my hands with kisses. She had lost all trace of the proudbeauty she had formerly possessed. Her skin had been burnt almost blackby the sun, and a mane of tangled white hair surrounded what had oncebeen a noble countenance. Only her eyes retained their brightness, andat thought of rescue, and possible revenge upon her enemy Montbar, theyseemed to glow with unnatural fire. 

I knew that Hartog would not have wished me to leave these wretchedoutcasts to their fate, however little deserving they may have been ofour sympathy, so I invited them to accompany us back to the ship. Theycame protesting they would henceforth be our slaves, ready, in allthings, to obey our slightest behest. But I had little faith in theirpromises when their necessities should be relieved. 

Hartog, as may well be imagined, was considerably surprised when wereturned on board with the remnant of the Spanish settlement in suchsorry plight, but he approved of what I had done in bringing them offthe island. They were sent forward, where they received everyattention. Donna Isabel was the only one allowed to berth in the cabin. We had no women's dress on board, but we found her warm clothing, inwhich she appeared as a man. After a while she recovered her goodlooks, and we found her companionship agreeable. 

A week later we came to an island which promised more favourableconditions than the one we had just left, and where we obtained asupply of good water for our tanks. 

CHAPTER XLIV

THE ISLANDS OF ARMENIO

It was now brought home to me that Donna Isabel Barreto was henceforthto play no unimportant part in the prosecution of our voyage. She hadrecovered her good looks, and although she was older than any of us onboard the "Golden Seahorse", and probably ten years older than Hartog, she nevertheless exerted an influence over the captain which I couldsee he found it impossible to resist. Donna Isabel had once moreresumed her feminine attire, having stitched together for herself awardrobe from the ship's stores of cloth and calico, and Hartog beggedfrom me three of the rubies which I had found in the Valley ofSerpents, which he presented to her, and which she wore sewn on to ablack velvet cap. 

Donna Isabel openly expressed her desire to amass treasure in order tofollow up Montbar and take her revenge upon him for having marooned herand her people upon a desert island. This desire for revenge obsessedher. Her Spanish blood burned to repay the insults and indignitieswhich Montbar had heaped upon her, and she looked forward with pleasureto the tortures which she promised herself she would inflict uponMontbar when once she held him in her power. 

In order to obtain means to make war upon her enemy, Donna Isabelpersuaded Hartog to embark upon a fresh adventure, which promised toprovide the necessary funds to equip a frigate equal to that owned byMontbar, so that she might engage him upon equal terms. 

The story that Donna Isabel had to tell was one confided to her by herlate husband, Captain Barreto, which she had kept locked in her memoryever since, waiting for some such opportunity as the present, when theinformation she possessed might be turned to account. The story was, briefly, as follows:

A long time ago a Spanish vessel sailed from Manila for Mexico, andeast of Japan had by a violent storm been driven toward a small buthigh-rising island. 

When the crew went ashore, the island proved to be a country, strangeand unknown to anyone; the people being of handsome stature, whiteskinned, and of good proportions, very affable, and amiably disposed. On their arrival in Mexico, the sailors related many marvels about thewealth of this island, giving their hearers to understand that, so tosay, gold and silver were almost to be picked up at discretion on theshore, while the kettles and other cooking utensils of the natives weremade of these metals. These islands were named the Islands of Armenio, after an Armenian merchant who was on board the ship. Donna Isabelprofessed to have received from her late husband the true bearings ofthese islands, which she confided to Hartog, and a course was setaccordingly. 

Pedro de Castro, Donna Isabel's son, had now been forgiven histreachery toward us in stealing our vessel, since Hartog considered hispunishment in having been marooned upon a desert island commensuratewith his offence. He was, therefore, permitted to join us in the cabin, and was given employment as ship's purser, for which he was wellsuited. He expressed great contrition for what he had done, and Ihonestly believe at the time he intended to serve us faithfully. Buttreachery once practised is oft-times repeated, so I made up my mind tokeep a watchful eye on Pedro de Castro lest we again be caughttripping. 

We now proceeded northward, coasting with great care a succession ofsmall rocky islands that appeared to be uninhabited. As we proceeded, the weather became rough and tempestuous, the sea running so high thatit sometimes threatened to engulf us. During the whole of our voyage wehad not met with such a mountainous sea. 

At last we perceived a land to the north, trending to the north-east, of which the coast seemed to be one continuous rock, remarkably levelat the top, and of a reddish colour, against which the sea broke withsuch fury as to make a landing impossible, but Donna Isabel declaredthis rock to be one of the islands of Armenio we had come in search of. As there were no other islands to be seen, we concluded that during theages which had passed since the white-skinned people inhabited them, the continuous beating of the waves had gradually demolished theislands until nothing remained but the plateau of red rock to which wehad come, and over which the sea sometimes swept in a mass of foam. But, having come to the island of her dreams, Donna Isabel would notleave it until we had ascertained, beyond doubt, that a landing wasimpracticable. It was not handsome, white-skinned natives whom we hadcome in search of, she said, but solid gold, which neither tempests norseas can destroy. In order to satisfy her, we remained several days inthe vicinity of this mass of rocks, hoping that the weather wouldmoderate, so as to make possible a landing upon it, and at last we wererewarded for our patience by a lull in the heavy breakers, so that thepinnace, of which I took charge, was able to approach close to thesteep and jagged shore. Thereupon six of the Spaniards leapedoverboard, trusting to their skill as swimmers to make the land, whichthey did, remaining on shore for upward of an hour. When they returnedthey reported the rock to be a mass of auriferous quartz, in which wasembedded more gold than they had ever thought to see in one place, butso tightly wedged was it between the crevices that they had been unableto bring any of it away except a few small specimens which they showedus. With picks and crowbars, however, they declared it would be easy toobtain an unlimited supply of gold. 

When we reported the finding of the gold to Donna Isabel, she vowed shewould never consent to abandon the treasure. "The sea cannot always berough, " she said. "A calm must follow. Let us, therefore, wait inpatience until it comes, so that we may land and enrich ourselves. "

Hartog, also, was in no mood to leave the gold until every effort hadbeen made to obtain it, so we continued to beat about in the vicinityof the island awaiting a calm. 

After three weeks tossing on the ocean, during which time of stress wesuffered much hardship by reason of our decks being continuallydrenched by the seas which swept us fore and aft, a calm suddenly fell, as it does in the tropics, without the least warning. Fortunately wewere not far from the island when the calm fell, so that we lay withineasy reach of it. 

Without loss of time we manned the two pinnaces, I taking command ofone and Janstins of the other, and made for the shore. Donna Isabelinsisted upon coming in my boat. She had discarded her feminineapparel, and now appeared in the sailor's clothes we had given her whenshe first came aboard. Hartog, as captain, remained in charge of theship. 

When we came to the island we found no difficulty in landing, and weresoon engaged with the picks and crow-bars we had brought with us, inthe work of gold-getting. We found the report given by the Spanishsailors, who had been the first to land, to be somewhat exaggerated. Still, there was an abundance of gold between the crevices of the rock, and, what was more remarkable, we came upon what had evidently beenvessels of beaten gold, thus proving beyond doubt that the island hadformerly been inhabited. 

During the course of the morning we obtained as much gold mixed withquartz as the boats could conveniently carry, when we returned to theship, intending, after our midday meal, to come back for a fresh supplyof the precious metal, but on getting aboard we found Hartog muchperturbed by the extraordinary behaviour of the compass, and thestrange appearance of the sky. 

"I don't like the look of it, Peter, " said Hartog, when we descendedtogether to the cabin to discuss the situation. "I never knew this tohappen before but once, and I am not anxious to repeat the experience. Unless I am greatly mistaken, there's something big coming. "

When we returned to the deck, a low moaning sound came to us across thesea, but, otherwise, there seemed to be nothing to cause anxiety. DonnaIsabel wished to return to the island for more gold, but Hartog wouldnot permit of any further expedition being made that day. He orderedthe boats to be hoisted, and the treasure carried below. Every stitchof canvas had already been taken off the ship by the captain's orders, and we now rode upon a glassy sea under bare poles. Then the moaningincreased, and presently there appeared upon the horizon a black lineover which lightning played, although no clouds were visible. Theatmosphere was at this time so oppressive that it was difficult tobreathe. 

Hartog then ordered the helm to be lashed, the hatches to be put on, and all hands below, he and I being the last to quit the deck just asthe storm broke upon us with hurricane force. 

For three days and nights we remained between, decks, with the hatchesbattened down, not knowing but that each moment might be our last. Thenoise was deafening, while the violent motion of the vessel made thegetting about from one part of the ship to another difficult anddangerous. Food and water we obtained with difficulty, not at regularintervals, but when opportunity offered, crawling from one to another, and helping those who, from exhaustion, were least able to helpthemselves. The air became so foul in the cabin as to cause the ship'slanterns to burn dimly, so that we feared they would soon beextinguished. Thus we lived amid the raging elements, shut up in astorm-tossed coffin which we knew might go to pieces at any moment. 

At length, on the third day, Hartog ventured to open one of thehatches, when a rush of cool air came to us as we lay gasping below, bringing with it new life and vigour. The hurricane had passed, andalthough the wind and sea still ran high, we were told we might come ondeck. But the happiness we felt at being released from our dreadfulimprisonment was checked when we saw the havoc which had been wroughtby the wind and the waves upon our ship. The decks were swept clean, the masts gone by the board, the larboard bulwarks stove in, while thecook's galley had disappeared. 

CHAPTER XLV

SUMATRA

All hands now set to work to cut away the wreckage of our masts andrigging, which, as the ship rolled in the trough of the sea, threatenedto stave in the hull as the spars dashed against it with each recoil. Had it not been that the "Golden Seahorse" was a new ship, upon whichno expense had been spared in the building, we must have foundered. Butit was amid such scenes of storm and stress that the indomitable spiritof Dirk Hartog asserted itself, and seemed to animate both officers andcrew with something of his own courage and determination. Forgettingthe hardships and privations through which we had passed, we set towork, under the magic of his influence, with such goodwill that, in thespace of some six hours, order had been evolved out of chaos, and ourvessel once more rode the sea in safety. The pumps were then manned, when it was found that although much water was in the hold, it waseasily gained upon, from which we concluded that no leak had sprung inour timbers, notwithstanding the battering they had received. Jury-mastswere then rigged, upon which sufficient sail was set to give the shipsteering way, when we hoped to make a harbour where we might refit, andeffect necessary repairs. 

We were now anxious to reach some port where new masts and riggingmight be obtained, as our progress under jury-masts, which carried onlya limited spread of canvas, was necessarily slow. Donna Isabel was infavour of abandoning the "Golden Seahorse" at the first port we came towhere another ship could be purchased to convey our treasure to Spain, but neither Hartog nor I would consent to this proposal, having nodesire to see the interior of a Spanish prison, or to taste of thehorrors of the Inquisition. It was astonishing how quickly Donna Isabeland her son, Pedro de Castro, appeared to have forgotten the obligationthey were under to us for having rescued them from the desert islandupon which they had been marooned. Both now spoke as if we wereindebted to them for having put us in the way of enriching ourselveswith the gold obtained from the Islands of Armenio, and Donna Isabeldeclared that the treasure really belonged to her, since she hadpossessed the secret which led to its discovery. I was so disgusted bythe ingratitude of these Spaniards that I could hardly bring myself tospeak of the matter with patience. 

Hartog now proposed that we should make for Sumatra, and as thisproposal appeared to promise a way out of, our difficulties, I hadnothing to say against it. 

Sumatra is one of the Sunda Islands, having Malacca on the north, Borneo on the east, Java on the south-east, and the Indian Ocean on thewest. It is eight hundred miles long and about one hundred and fiftybroad, and it possesses a fine harbour capable of containing any numberof the largest ships. Here we arrived without mishap, within threeweeks after setting our course for this port, and cast anchor in asheltered spot close to the shore. The harbour is commanded by a strongfortress, well fortified, and mounted with cannon. Three ships were atanchor, a Spanish frigate and two smaller vessels, one flying the flagof England, and the other displaying the colours of the Netherlands. We had barely found our moorings when a boat from the man-o'-war camealongside, steered by a young Spanish officer, who bore as mucharrogance in his demeanour as there was to be seen gold lace and brassbuttons upon his uniform. He haughtily demanded an interview with thecaptain, but upon Hartog stepping forward his manner became lessoffensive, and finally they descended together to the cabin, beingshortly afterward joined by Donna Isabel. 

Since I was not invited to this conference, I was forced to remain ondeck, feeling very jealous of the influence which Donna Isabel exertedover Hartog, to the destruction of the mutual trust and confidencewhich had formerly existed between us. I felt, also, there was troublein store for us. Hartog, although brave and resourceful upon the sea, was but a child when it came to dealing with business matters ashore, and I well knew that he would prove no match for the wily Spaniardswith whom he was now in consultation. 

Presently the party from the cabin came on deck, when I perceived thatPedro de Castro was one of those who had been present at theconference. The young Spanish officer was now all smiles andaffability, and Donna Isabel and her son, accompanying him to his boat, were rowed aboard the frigate. 

Hartog then came to me, and I could see he was worried, and ashamed athaving shut me out from what had taken place in the cabin. 

"Forgive me, comrade, " he said, "but Donna Isabel would have nonepresent at the interview with the Spaniard save only myself and her sonPedro. "

"Since when has Donna Isabel Barreto become captain of this ship?" Iasked. 

"Nay, Peter, I forgive thee that sneer, " answered Hartog, "though Iwould not take it from another. It has been decided to transfer thetreasure to the Spanish frigate, the captain of the warship undertakingto protect us while we remain in this port and to pay for all necessaryrepairs to our ship. These were the best terms I could make, and theyseem to me fair enough. "

I had no desire to haggle over terms, for I was already rich enough tomake me careless of what became of the gold we had taken from theIsland of Armenio, but I realized how great was the influence DonnaIsabel had acquired over Hartog in order to induce him to lay aside hisclaim to a part of the treasure. 

During the day a boat came from the frigate into which the gold wasloaded and transferred to the warship, together with the Spaniards wehad aboard of us, whom I was glad to be rid of on any terms, and thatevening was the first upon which I had felt at home in our cabin sinceDonna Isabel and her people had joined us. 

It was a beautiful evening, with a gentle breeze off the shore--thevery night, as I remarked to Hartog, to put to sea. 

"I wish we could up anchor and be off, " answered Hartog. "But we havework to do ashore in attending to the ship's repairs before we may hopeto leave this place where, I make no doubt, we shall be imposed uponand robbed by the sweepings of Europe who inhabit this island. It isfortunate we have the word of the Spanish captain that he himself willbe responsible for all we need. "

I did not answer, for I did not share in Hartog's sanguine expectationsregarding the Spaniards. I had experienced too many acts of treacheryto trust them, and there existed, as I knew, at this time, a naturalantipathy between the Netherlands and Spain, which made any bindingcompact between the people of these rival nations impossible. I didnot, however, voice my suspicions lest my opposition might beattributed to jealousy. 

As sometimes happens, I was unable to sleep that night, my thoughtstaking wing among the many scenes of adventure through which I hadpassed, and refusing to compose themselves to rest. With the dawn I wasup and on deck. As I stepped upon the poop and looked around upon thequiet harbour where the ships rode at anchor, I became aware of acertain emptiness in the bay. I rubbed my eyes and looked again. TheSpanish frigate was gone. 

CHAPTER XLVI

MAHOMET ACHMET

When Hartog was told of the treachery of Donna Isabel Barreto, instealing our portion of the gold obtained from the island of Armenio, and leaving us, for all she knew or cared, without the means to repairour vessel, he did not show so much anger as I expected. He seemed moreto regret the loss of Donna Isabel than the treasure with which she hadso heartlessly decamped. 

"She was a clever woman, Peter, " was all he said to me in reference tothe matter, "and I shall miss her. " Then he clapped me on the shoulder, and bade me not despond. "We still have the rubies, " he reminded me, "which, properly invested, will more than pay for all we need. "

I had forgotten the rubies, but I stipulated that the disposal of themshould be left in my hands. 

"Willingly, Peter, " replied Hartog, "for, between ourselves, I doubtnot I am more at home on the sea than in making a bargain withland-rogues ashore. Take you command of the ship until she is oncemore taut and trim. "

To this I agreed, although I had no intention of depriving Hartog ofhis authority, and, after breakfast, I landed with a boat's crew, inorder to interview the islanders, and, if possible, to makearrangements with some of them for the equipment of our vessel. 

Achin, the metropolis of Sumatra, is situated at the north-west end ofthe island. It stands on a plain, surrounded by woods and marshes, about five miles distant from the sea, near to a pleasant rivulet. Thecity consists of some eight thousand houses which take up more groundthan a city of this size would demand by reason of every personsurrounding his dwelling with a palisade that stands some yards distantfrom it. The inhabitants are, in general, small, and of very swarthycomplexion. They have black eyes, flat faces, and high check-bones. Their hair is long and black, and they take great pains to dye theirteeth black. They also besmear their bodies with oil, as do the nativesof other hot countries, to protect themselves from being stung byinsects, while they let their nails grow exceedingly long, scrapingthem until they are transparent, and dyeing them vermilion. The poorerclass go almost naked, having only a small piece of cloth round thewaist, and a piece of linen about the head, or a cap made of leavesresembling the crown of a hat. The richer sort wear white breeches toabove the knee, and a piece of calico, or silk, wrapped round theirloins and thrown over the left shoulder. Some wear sandals, but all arebare-legged and bare-bodied from the waist upward. The common languageamong them is the Malayan language, and, by speaking to some whom I meton landing, I found I was able to make myself understood, and tounderstand, though imperfectly, what was said to me. The Sumatrans area very indolent race of people, which accounted for the small interestthey took in the arrival of our ship, none thinking it worth while tocome aboard, or to make any inquiry concerning us. 

When I explained that my business was to obtain new masts and rigging Iwas directed to the house of an Arab named Mahomet Achmet, a carpenterand ship chandler, if such he could be called, who traded with vesselsvisiting the island, and dealt with them in the matter of repairs orrefitting. Mahomet, like all the inhabitants of Sumatra, spoke theMalayan language, but we occasionally helped each other with Spanish orDutch words, of which he had acquired the meaning by his intercoursewith crews of these nationalities. When I told him we required masts aswell as rigging, he seemed to consider my request unreasonable. Therewere masts on the island, he said, good ones too, made of beech, butthey belonged to the king, who set great store by them, since they hadcome to him as the result of a victory by the fort over a foreignvessel which had attempted to raid the island and take by force whatcould only honestly be obtained by trade. On my asking to see the kingMahomet turned up his eyes with an exclamation of astonishment at myaudacity. No foreigners were permitted to see the king, he said. It wasdeath to enter without permission the inner apartments of the palacewhere the king lived. But when I produced one of my rubies he becameless demonstrative in his protestations against my proposed visit. 

"It is for these toys that I would trade with the king, " I said to him, as I held up the red crystal to the light in order that he might see itbetter. 

"Such toys the king likes well, " answered Achmet. "Give it me, and Iwill send it to the king, and ask if he will receive you. "

"Nay, Achmet, " I answered, "I will not part with my jewels save only tothe king himself. Send, therefore, and tell him that a rich merchantfrom the East is here to trade for gems such as are only fit for kingsto handle. "

I could now see that Mahomet Achmet was on the horns of a dilemma. Hisnatural cupidity urged him to rob me of my jewels, but should this cometo the king's knowledge he would doubtless suffer for having taken thelaw into his own hands. Finally he consented to send a message to theking on my promising that not only would I pay him liberally for suchship-chandlery as he might supply us with, but that if all went well Iwould present him with a ruby of equal value to that which I had shownhim before I left the island. 

While the messenger was absent on his mission, Mahomet gave me someinteresting information regarding his Malayan Majesty. The king, hesaid, owned a large number of horses, as well as elephants, all havingmagnificent trappings. He was at no expense in time of war, for all hissubjects were obliged to march at their own expense, and to carry withthem provisions for three months. In peace time his Majesty's livingand that of his household cost him nothing, for his subjects suppliedhim with all kinds of provisions. He was, besides, heir to all those ofhis people who died without male issue, and to all foreigners who diedwithin his territories, while he succeeded to the property of all thosewho were put to death for offences against the law. 

From this it will be seen that the revenue of this prince is veryconsiderable, and that he is personally interested in the death offoreigners within his kingdom, whether from natural causes or in theexecution of the law, of which he is the sole arbiter. 

CHAPTER XLVII

KING TRINKITAT

The space of an hour had barely elapsed since the sending of themessenger to King Trinkitat of Sumatra, announcing my arrival in hisdominions, before an answer was brought me that his Majesty desired myattendance at the palace forthwith, so I made ready to accompany thosehe had sent for me, and who acted as my bodyguard. 

The king's palace stands in the middle of the town, its grounds beingoval in shape, and about a half-mile in circumference, surrounded by amoat twenty-five feet broad, and as many deep. All round the palacethere are cast up great heaps of earth instead of a wall, planted withreeds and canes that grow to a prodigious height and thickness. Thesereeds are continually green, so that there is no danger of fire. Thereis no ditch or drawbridge before the gates leading to the palace, but, on each side, a wall of stone, about ten feet high, that supports aterrace on which some guns are planted. A small stream runs through themiddle of the palace, which is lined with stone, and has steps down tothe bottom of it for the convenience of bathers. There were four gatesand as many courts to be passed before we came to the royal apartments, and in some of these outer courts are kept the king's magazines ofrifles and cannon. Here also are stalls for the king's elephants. Inthe king's magazines are to be found numerous cannon, and a quantity ofsmall arms, while his guards consist of a thousand men. But hisgreatest strength is in his elephants, which are trained to trampleupon fire, and to stand unmoved at the report of artillery. 

When we came to the inner courts, beyond which were the apartments ofthe king, our bodyguard halted, and Mahomet Achmet and I entered theking's presence unattended. 

We found his Majesty seated on a divan surrounded by his numerous wivesand slaves, to the number of several hundred, for the apartment inwhich the king received us was a very large one, more resembling acourtyard than a room, since the roof was open to the sky. The kingseemed to be a man of middle age, whom I judged to be about forty yearsold, but his attendants were all young, some of them scarcely more thanchildren. 

All were attired in the same manner, so that it was difficult to telltheir sex, with short white breeches to above the knee, silken scarvesof various colours wrapped round their waists, the end being thrownover the left shoulder, and white turbans upon their heads, into whichtheir long hair was gathered. Some were yellow-skinned, others brown, others again jet-black. All had been rubbed with oil so that theirskins glistened like polished marble, and they stood about thecourtyard or around the king in silent groups, like so many statues. 

Mahomet Achmet prostrated himself when he came into the king'spresence, as is the manner of the East; but I contented myself withbowing low as I approached the divan upon which his Majesty sat, verygorgeously dressed in red and blue silk robes embroidered with goldendragons, which I concluded he had obtained from China. Upon his head hewore a white turban with a jewelled aigrette of great value. Hiscountenance was intellectual, and his expression shrewd. 

King Trinkitat received me graciously, and ordered a stool to be placednear to the divan so that I might sit and converse with him upon thematter in hand. When I showed him some of my rubies he at once said, "These come from the South Land, " and upon my asking him how he hadarrived at this conclusion, he answered that some of his people visitedannually the South Land to trade with the natives, and had reported awhite ruler there among a tribe of savages who had in his possession agreat quantity of valuable jewels, which he would not part with formoney, but only in exchange for certain commodities, by the aid ofwhich he was making the tribe he governed the most powerful upon theSouthern Continent. 

"What is the name of this white chief, your Majesty?" I asked, deeplyinterested. 

"King Luck, " answered Trinkitat; "but I thought you came from him. "

"That is not so, O king, " I replied. "These rubies are magic rubiesthat are found only in a valley guarded by serpents. If they arehonestly acquired they bring great happiness to those who possess them, but if they are stolen, or dishonestly come by, they bring a curse uponthe robbers, and upon the land in which they dwell and all the peoplewho inhabit it. "

At this I thought the king appeared disappointed. I had reckoned on hisbeing superstitious, and indeed it is well known that certain jewels dopossess mysterious qualities that influence the lives of those who ownthem, although I had no authority, beyond my own perspicacity, forendowing my rubies with supernatural charm. 

"How many of these jewels have you?" asked the king, holding one of therubies up to the light. 

I mentioned the number as being thirty, that being half of all Ipossessed. 

"There is not enough money upon the island to pay a fair price forthese stones, " declared Trinkitat, "and how should it benefit me if Iacquire them for less than their fair value if, in that case, they areto bring upon me and my people a curse rather than a blessing?"

"Nay, O king, " I answered, "I ask no money for these gems, but ratheryour good offices in helping us repair our vessel, which, after muchstorm and stress, has found in your harbour a haven of rest. "

"That you shall have, and welcome, " replied the king, and after somefurther explanation as to what was required, and more bargaining, itwas finally agreed that I would allow the king to retain the six rubiesI had brought with me, and that the balance of the thirty, which Ioffered, was to be paid over when our vessel had been new masted andfresh rigged at the king's expense. Mahomet Achmet was given directionsto see that this work was promptly carried out, after which we bowedourselves from the king's presence, I being well satisfied with thebargain I had made. 

Next day the work of repairing the ship began. She was careened in theshallows of a safe and convenient harbour, and such an army of workersset to work upon her that in the course of a week the "Golden Seahorse"was once more ready for sea. 

While the repairs to our vessel were in progress we received welcomeassistance from the crews of the English and Dutch ships in theharbour, with whom we soon became acquainted. The Dutch vessel"Speedwell" belonged to the Dutch East India Company, a company which, at this time, was growing in wealth and importance. She was bound on avoyage to the North for a cargo of furs, and Captain Smuts, in commandof her, was anxious that we should join him in this expedition, for, said he, two ships will more readily succeed than one, since each mayhelp the other. But we not being equipped for northern travel decidedto continue our voyage south, though we arranged with Captain Smuts tomeet him later at the Molucca Islands, where we had resolved to callKing Thedori to account for his treacherous conduct toward us on ourformer visit. 

Before leaving the island of Sumatra I paid a second visit to Achin, where I was given a final audience with King Trinkitat, when I paid himover the balance of the rubies. I found the king well disposed towardme, and apparently satisfied with the payment made him in return forthe refitting of our vessel, which indeed was at a princely rate, whenthe value of the rubies was considered. He did not attempt to extortmore than was justly due to him according to promise, as is the habitwith these half-savage potentates, when dealing with foreigners, butthis I attributed to the superstition I had so happily aroused in himthat the rubies would bring misfortune if not honestly come by. Iquestioned his Majesty more closely with regard to King Luck, and, fromwhat he told me, I felt convinced that this man, now a chief among thesavages of New Holland, was none other than my old antagonist Van Luck, though how he came to be rescued from the sea I had no means, at thattime, of knowing. King Trinkitat possessed no chart of the place towhich his ships traded, as the captains of his vessels mostly steeredby the stars. But he promised me that, if ever I should again visit hisisland, he would send a pilot with me to conduct me to King Luck. 

Mahomet Achmet, with whom I parted the best of friends, expressed thehope that we would one day meet again. 

"I will not sell this jewel, Signor Peter, " he said to me when I paidhim for his work with some money we had aboard the ship, and presentedhim with a fine ruby, according to promise. "I will keep it in memoryof a shrewd man whose wit did more to save him than his money, for Imay tell you that neither you nor your ship's company would have beenallowed to leave this place had you not spoken to the king of theill-luck which these rubies bring to those who come not honestly bythem. "

I thanked Mahomet for his frankness, which I promised to remembershould I ever have occasion to revisit Sumatra. 

And now, all being ready, we put to sea, and by evening the island ofSumatra had disappeared beyond the horizon. 

CHAPTER XLVIII

STATEN LAND

Hartog believed, from an ancient Portuguese chart which we had with us, that an island continent lay to the south-east, and after a lengthenedperiod, during which we encountered bad weather and rough sea, wesighted a formidable coastline, which appeared to be a mainlandextending on either side as far as the eye could reach. We coastedalong this new-found country for several days in search of a landingplace, without being able to find one, the coast being a continuousline of precipitous rocks. Toward the end of the third day weencountered a canoe, the largest we had seen, containing upward of onehundred natives. We offered food and other articles, but, although thecanoe came quite close to us, none of her people could be induced tocome on board. 

These natives appeared to be strong and fierce, nor did they show theleast fear of us, but rather an intention to begin hostilities when anopportunity should offer. In view of this we loaded our brass cannon, and made ready a supply of ammunition in case they should attack us. But after keeping company with us for some time the canoe made off, andHartog had no mind to follow it. 

Next morning we hove to off a pebbly beach, upon which I undertook toland a boat's crew and examine the country. Hartog sent two boats, onein my charge and the other in charge of Janstins. The sea was smooth, so that we had no difficulty in running the boats ashore, where, leaving a man aboard each, the rest of us followed the course of astream inland. Here we soon came to a valley so beautiful as almost todefy description. Colossal trees rose to a great height above ourheads, festooned with a flowering creeper which resembled a bridalveil, whilst emerald green ferns stretched their fronds into a streamwhich descended from the higher land beyond by a series of cascades. Akind of flax plant grew here, with leaves over nine feet long, andbearing a flower which looked like a bunch of feather plumes, whilstpalms and cabbage trees abounded everywhere in great profusion. 

My attention was diverted from the beauties which surrounded us by somestrange footprints which I noticed on the soft ground near the stream, and which appeared to have been made by a bird or two-legged animal ofprodigious size. The footprints measured fully three feet in length, and I fell to wondering what kind of a creature it could be who hadmade them, when I was startled by a cry from one of our men, whichcaused me to look in the direction whence it came. At a distance ofsome fifty yards from where I stood I then perceived a huge, winglessbird. Its head, armed with a formidable beak, reared full twenty feetfrom the ground; its body, big as an ox, and covered with blackbristles, supported upon legs thicker than the girth of a man. As yetthis prodigy had not observed us, for it was stalking quietly among thetrees, followed by a brood of chickens, each larger than the biggestostrich I had ever seen. 

I now noticed that one of these chickens had strayed from the others, and I saw Janstins, who had evidently not observed the mother-bird, aiming his matchlock at it as though about to fire. I shouted to him todesist, but too late to save the mad fellow from his folly. There was aflash, and a loud report, and the giant chicken lay on its back, itslegs kicking in the air. 

"To the boats!" I cried, and the scared sailors, when they saw themother-bird, needed no second warning. There was a rush for the boatsby all but Janstins, who seemed as one amazed, and incapable of actionat the sight of the monster. I could not leave him to the fate whichthreatened him, so, running to his assistance, I dragged him downbehind some fern trees, where we hid out of sight of the mother-bird, who seemed bewildered by the unaccustomed sound of firearms, andperplexed at the death of her chick, for which she could not account. But we both knew that her inaction was momentary, and that when shediscovered us we must expect the full force of her rage, which couldonly result in the loss of our lives. Whispering to Janstins, I badehim remember that in courage and caution alone lay our hope of escape, and he presently recovered his presence of mind sufficiently to followme when we ran, bent double, under cover of the luxuriant foliage, tothe beach, where we arrived only just in time to scramble into thesecond boat that was being shoved off by the terrified sailors, beforethe mother-bird, now joined by her mate of even larger proportion, camein pursuit of us, and so carried away were these monsters by rage atour escape that they advanced into the sea, stretching their necks atus while uttering a loud, drumming noise which we could hear repeatedwhen we were on board the ship, and even after we were out at sea. 

Next morning, at daybreak, we again made the coast, and toward eveningwe found ourselves opposite a sandy beach upon which a number ofnatives appeared to be engaged in some tribal ceremony. Fires werelighted along the sea shore, and, upon drawing nearer, we were able todistinguish groups of men, apparently captives, with their hands boundbehind them, standing together while their captors performed anextravagant dance round them. Armed warriors then rushed upon eachother in mimic warfare, and the sound of their bare feet, as theystamped in unison upon the hard sand, came to us with measured cadenceacross the sea. When the dance was ended, the captives were made to lieflat, one behind the other, till they formed a black patch upon thebeach. Then appeared a number of men pushing from above high-water marka war canoe, the prow of which, elaborately carved, and upstanding tothe height of thirty feet, was decorated with shells and bunches offeathers. On came the canoe, slowly at first, and then with increasingspeed, until it reached the row of victims, over whom it crunched, taking the water reddened with their blood amid an uproar of shrieksand groans most dreadful to listen to. 

Not wishing to engage these savages, Hartog stood out to sea, but sofearless were they that when they saw us they came in pursuit of us. Over twenty canoes crowded with natives put off from the shore, but wegreeted them with shots from our brass cannon, which sent them backquicker than they came, many being observed to fall after eachdischarge of grapeshot and canister amongst them. 

We left this country, which Hartog named Staten Land, in honour of theStates of Holland, with an unfavourable impression of its inhabitants, who appeared to be bloodthirsty savages, prone to hostility withoutprovocation. 

CHAPTER XLIX

THE CANNIBAL ISLANDS

After leaving Staten Land we sailed west to between the fifteenth andtwenty-first parallels of south latitude, when we fell in with a numberof islands, some of considerable extent, while others were mere isletsof sand and rock, uninhabited except by sea-fowl and turtle. A greatbarrier reef surrounds the group to the eastward, leaving the southernquarter open. This barrier is broken by numerous passages, betweenwhich navigation is possible, but dangerous, except in fine weather. Inaddition to the great barrier, every island has an encircling reef ofits own. The general appearance of these islands is bold and striking. They are perhaps the mountain tops of some sunken continent. The islandupon which we landed was one of the largest of the group, with abackground of wooded hills, and a fringe of palm trees to the beach, beyond which a native village stood among green foliage. 

We found the inhabitants of this island not nearly so friendly as othersavages we had met with. The men were larger, and bore a ferociousaspect. The chief wore a necklace of whales' teeth, his hair frizzledinto a mop, which stood out from his head, coloured to a reddish-brown. His skin was a light brown, with no tattoo marks upon it, but shiny, asif rubbed with oil. He carried a club and spear of elaborateworkmanship, and wore a cloth petticoat made from the bark of a tree, and painted with some skill in its design. His followers weresimilarly, but not so strikingly, clad, the women wearing feathers intheir hair, and a peculiar leaf from a tree, which looked like whitesatin. Altogether this race appeared to be possessed of a far higherstate of civilization than the people in Terra Australis. They were, however, openly addicted to cannibalism, and made no secret of thisabominable practice. 

These natives did not display any hostility at our landing, nor didthey express any surprise at the presents we made them of beads andbright cloth, although they accepted what we gave them with avidity. We stayed at this island for nearly two months, during which time welearnt something of the customs of the people, and I was able, after awhile, to understand some of their language. It seemed that thesesavages were continually at war with one another, and the boom of thegreat wooden war drums was always sounding somewhere in the group. Itwas from prisoners taken in battle that men were provided for cannibalfeasts, hence there was never lacking a cause for quarrel. Theprisoners were kept in a compound, where they were fattened for the potand killed when wanted. 

These islanders were industrious in their own way. They builtcomfortable houses, and made excellent pottery capable of withstandingthe heat of fire when used for cooking. Their boat-builders constructedsea-going canoes capable of travelling long distances. They also made adelicate cloth from the bark of the mulberry tree, upon which theyprinted from wooden blocks patterns of great elegance. Their spears andclubs also showed much taste in their construction and ornamentation. The women made fishing nets of coconut fibre, with which they capturedan abundance of fish. The tribes on the different islands kept up asystem of barter with one another, exchanging commodities, the makingof which was their hereditary occupation. A son followed the occupationof his father, and for him to have followed any other occupation wouldhave been regarded as an offence against ancestors. A son was expectedto do exactly as his father did before him, and to do it in the sameway. 

One day when I was fishing outside the reef, I was startled by a cry, and looking toward whence it came I perceived a young girl in evidentterror, swimming for the reef with the black fin of a shark close uponher. Going to her assistance I managed, at some risk, to drive off theshark, and, pulling the girl into my boat I took her on board our ship, where I delighted her with a present of printed calico with which toreign as a queen of fashion among her tribe. When I took her ashore sheshowed her gratitude by taking my hand in hers, and placing it upon herforehead, which meant the making of a compact between us that she wouldlay down her life for me if occasion should require. It was to thisthat we subsequently owed our escape from death. 

We had not found anything profitable to trade from these islands withthe exception of sandal wood and tortoiseshell, of which we obtained asupply, but I noticed that the chief did not appear to grudge anythingwe took from him. It became a joke among our crew that they could haveanything for the asking, and the ship was soon a museum of islandcuriosities. This aroused my suspicion, for I knew the cupidity ofsavages, and how they always try to take all and give nothing inreturn. 

Toward the end of our visit, I also observed that numbers of savagesfrom the adjacent islands began to arrive in canoes, and thatpreparations were being made for a feast. It was then that I noticedthe girl I had saved from the shark was often to be seen standing onthe beach opposite to the ship, gazing at the vessel long andearnestly. Thinking she wished to come on board again, I went in myboat to fetch her, but when I met her she showed great alarm lest weshould be seen speaking together, and, urging me to follow her, she ledme to a secluded spot of the island, in order that we might be freefrom observation. Here she confided to me the treachery of Vale Vulu, the chief whose guests we were. 

It appeared from this girl's account of the matter that Vale Vulu'sprofessed friendship for us was only a blind in order that he mightattack us unawares. To this end he had invited certain tribes from someof the adjacent islands, with whom he happened to be on friendly terms, to a feast, the principal food of which was to consist of the deadbodies of our crew. His own tribe, unaided, he did not consider strongenough for this enterprise, but with the assistance of the friendlycannibals, whom he invited to the banquet, he made no doubt that hewould easily be able to overcome us, particularly as we were to betaken unawares. The plan was to invite us to the feast, which we wouldbe told was to consist only of fish, coconuts, and bananas, but, whenwe were seated, at a given signal we would be massacred and eaten, after which Vale Vulu would take possession of our ship and all thatbelonged to us. 

The poor girl, when she had finished her story, confessed she would nodoubt suffer death by torture for having betrayed the plot. I tried toinduce her to come on board with me, but she refused, saying that ifshe did so an attack would be made upon us at once, where our ship lay, helpless, in the lagoon. I could not but see the force of her argument, and, as the matter was too urgent to admit of delay, I hurried on boardand informed Hartog of what I had heard. 

Our plans were soon made. All hands were told to be in readiness to manthe boats in order to tow the ship out of the lagoon during the night, when we would depend upon a breeze to escape from these bloodthirstysavages. Arms and ammunition were served to the crew, and our brasscannon was loaded to the muzzle with grape and canister. 

During the early part of the night we could see lights on the shore, whilst the beating of war drums and the sound of wooden horns continuedto a late hour. At last all was still, when we slipped our anchor, andbegan the arduous task of towing the ship out of the lagoon through theopening in the reef which marked a break in the line of white surf. During the night we laboured at the oars, and when morning broke we hadsucceeded in towing the ship into the open sea for some distance fromthe land. But our peril was by no means at an end. An absolute calmprevailed, and unless a breeze came in time we feared the savages wouldput off in their war canoes to attack us. Nor in this were we mistaken, for we presently heard a great beating of drums and blowing of horns, while we could see the savages crowding on to the reef, from which theywatched us lying becalmed. Ten canoes then came through the opening inthe reef, each containing some one hundred savages, and were paddledrapidly toward us. 

When the canoes came within range our brass cannon accounted for one ofthem, on board of which I hoped was the traitor Vale Vulu, but theothers came on, and there is little doubt that by force of numbers wemust have been overpowered had not the breeze, which we could now seeapproaching, come in time to save us. The canoes were all round us, andthe savages had already begun to swarm on to our decks, when the sailsfilled and the "Golden Seahorse" began to gather way. We were nowincensed against the cannibals for their treacherous conduct, and manyfell to the discharge of our muskets. With our cutlasses we soon drovethose who had ventured upon the ship into the sea, and a seconddischarge from our brass cannon disabled one of the largest remainingcanoes, when the others made off. As our ship bowed to the waves of theocean we were able once more to breathe freely, and, taking a last lookat the island, I fancied I saw a dark form hurl itself from one of thehighest cliffs upon the rocks below. Was it the brave girl, I wondered, who had saved us, and who had thus escaped torture by destroyingherself?

CHAPTER L

AGAIN AT THE MOLUCCAS

Hartog was anxious, before returning home, that we should call again atthe Molucca Islands, and demand an explanation, together with a ransomof pearls, from King Thedori, for having treated us so scurvily on ourformer visit. We knew that this treacherous chief depended for thesuccess of his piratical schemes on taking by surprise those for whomhe pretended friendship, and for that reason we had arranged to meetthe "Speedwell" so that we might, by strategy, pay Thedori back in hisown coin, capture him, and hold him to ransom. 

Now we knew that if Thedori, or any of the people, caught but a glimpseof the "Golden Seahorse", they would make ready to attack her with allthe force at their command, but the "Speedwell" was unknown to them, and there were many harbours among the Moluccas where our ship mightremain unnoticed while our plans were matured. The plan we had formedwas a simple one, and was therefore the more likely to succeed. It was, shortly, as follows. On reaching the Moluccas we would choose aconvenient harbour as the base of our enterprise, when the "Speedwell"would set out alone for the island ruled over by Thedori, where we hadno doubt the captain and crew would be well received, as is the habitof this crafty king when dealing with strangers, in order that he mayeventually pillage them. Thedori was to be invited by Captain Smuts togo aboard his vessel to inspect the cargo of furs and other goods inwhich he proposed to trade. Once on board the "Speedwell", the King ofthe Moluccas would be kidnapped, and brought away to where the "GoldenSeahorse" was at anchor, when Hartog undertook to deal with him. 

Captain Smuts, whom we found waiting us at the Moluccas, was very readyto fall in with this plan when we told him of the large pearls thatwere to be found at the island, some of which we intended to demand asthe King's ransom for being allowed to return to his people. 

The island we had chosen as the base for our operations happened to bethe one of which we had been told on our former visit that the menpossessed such large ears that with one ear they could, when theyliked, cover the whole of their heads; for when we landed, and met thenatives, we observed in them this remarkable peculiarity. Their headswere the smallest and their ears the largest that I have ever seen inhuman beings. The intelligence of these savages was as small as theirheads. They showed no interest in us, and seemed to be indifferent toour appearance among them. This stupidity on their part, however, sofar from giving us any anxiety, rather commended itself to us, since itappeared unlikely they would attempt to interfere with our plans. 

When we had rested and refreshed ourselves for three days at thisisland, the "Speedwell" set out upon her voyage to the main island, leaving the "Golden Seahorse" to await her return. In order that Imight advise and consult with Captain Smuts with regard to our project, I became his passenger on the "Speedwell", it being understood that Iwas to keep out of sight until Thedori was safely aboard. So, everyprecaution being taken in order to ensure success, we arrived at themain island during the afternoon of the day we had set out, and castanchor in the bay from which, nearly six years before, in the "GoldenSeahorse", I had escaped with Hartog and our crew from the captivitywhich Thedori had intended for us after capturing our vessel. 

I had no pity for the man whom we had come to call to account, for, tomy mind, treachery is the worst of crimes. An open enemy may be fairlyencountered, but a snake in the grass can only be met by the sameserpent tricks as he plays upon others, and when I thought of thewelcome Thedori had given us at our first interview with him, when hehad exhorted us to land in safety so that we might enjoy the comfortsof life and recruit our strength, in order, as it subsequentlytranspired, that he might betray us, I felt that no reprisals could betoo severe against one guilty of such roguish deception. 

The city of Porne appeared unchanged from when I had last seen it. There were a few new houses close to the beach, but otherwise the cityitself, with its low-built cabins and regular streets, was the same. 

I was greatly surprised, however, upon entering the harbour to see theSpanish frigate, upon which Donna Isabel Barreto had decamped with thegold taken front the island of Armenio, at anchor close to the shore. What could have brought the frigate here, and kept her here for so longa time since I had last seen her at Sumatra, I was at a loss tounderstand. The unexpected appearance of this vessel seemed likely tocomplicate our plans, and I determined to elucidate the mystery beforeproceeding with the matter in hand. 

It was late in the afternoon when we cast anchor in Porne Harbour, andthat night the same wonderful display of glow-worms showed itself amongthe woods on shore. It was then also that I knew that the black batswould be abroad, so as to make it unlikely our movements would beobserved, since the inhabitants of Porne would be shut up in theirhouses. 

So, when all was still, I took the smallest of the ship's boats, andwas rowed in the direction of the frigate. 

CHAPTER LI

GETTING BACK OUR OWN

We took no lantern with us in the boat upon our expedition to board theSpanish frigate, trusting to the light of the stars, and that given bythe glow-worms on shore, to guide us, and as we approached the frigatewe observed her also to be in darkness, with no sign of life on board. 

When we came alongside I climbed to the deck by the anchor-chain, whenI found the ship to be deserted, with hatches on, and the doors to thecabins securely locked. So, judging we had nothing to fear from theSpaniards, we returned to the "Speedwell" as silently as we had come. Idid not tell Captain Smuts of the treasure which I believed to be stillupon the frigate, as I desired, in the first place, to consult withHartog as to the course to be adopted regarding it. Captain Smuts, onreceiving my report that the Spanish ship was apparently out ofcommission, concluded that no change need be made in our original plan, the preparations for the carrying out of which were accordinglyproceeded with. 

Next morning, after breakfast, the captain of the "Speedwell" and hisofficers, in their best uniforms, and with a picked boat's crew, setout for the shore, taking with them presents for King Thedori and hischiefs, with a view to establishing friendly relations with them. Inthe course of an hour they returned, when, the captain repeated to methe greeting given him by the King of the Moluccas, which was almostword for word that extended to Hartog at the time of his visit in the"Golden Seahorse". Evidently King Thedori had a set speech wherewith towelcome his guests whom he afterwards intended to plunder. CaptainSmuts was so impressed by the amiable bearing and fair words of theKing that he found it hard to believe so much treachery could lurkbehind such a frank and open exterior. Thedori, he said, had promisedto come on board the "Speedwell" next day to inspect the furs, andarrange about the price to be paid for them. On my asking if anySpaniards had been met with ashore, Captain Smuts replied that he hadnot seen any, so we had no means of ascertaining what had become ofDonna Isabel and her people, as well as the captain and crew of thefrigate. 

Next morning King Thedori came on board the "Speedwell" in thecaptain's boat, which had been sent for him. He did not bring with himany of his guards or attendants, not having the least suspicion of thetrap we had laid. It was only when he came into the cabin that hissuspicions were aroused, and it was then too late for him to retreat. Iwas sitting at the table when Smuts brought him in, and was presentedto him as part owner of the furs. I saw him start when our eyes met, but otherwise he gave no sign that he knew me. There was wine and otherrefreshment upon the table, of which he was invited to partake, butdeclined, and then, after some further conversation between us, CaptainSmuts, according to arrangement, made excuse to go on deck, leavingThedori and I alone together. 

Thedori was the first to speak, and I could see that his small blackeyes glittered dangerously when he looked at me. 

"We have met before, senor, " he said, addressing me, as he had done atour first meeting, as though I was a Spaniard. 

"Yes, " I answered; "I was once the King's guest, welcomed with fairwords, and offered the hospitality of his kingdom. Yet, had not chanceintervened, I doubt I had been here to-day to welcome the King as aguest, in my turn, aboard this vessel. "

Thedori rose, and went to the cabin door. It was locked, but he showedno surprise at finding himself a prisoner. He had probably heard thecaptain turn the key on the other side of the door when he went out. 

"What is it you want of me?" he asked, coming back to the table andresuming his seat. He spoke with assumed carelessness, but I could seethat his face was livid. I pushed the wine-jar toward him. 

"Drink, " I said. "You will need it. The wine is not poisoned. "

With the ghost of a smile he filled a goblet which stood at his elbow, but his hand shook when he raised it to his lips. 

And now the noise of the anchor being hove aboard, and the usualcommotion on deck preparatory to setting sail, arrested his attention. 

"Come, " said he, "I would make terms with you. What is it you want. "

But at this I shook my head. 

"Promises and fair words once broken cannot be repeated, " I answered. "Besides, I am not alone in this business. There are others who must beconsulted. But you will soon learn the terms of your ransom. "

At this I thought he appeared relieved. He probably expected that weintended to murder him. 

I had given instructions for a prize crew to be put on board thefrigate, so that both vessels might leave the harbour together andpresently I felt, by the motion of the ship, that the "Speedwell" wasat sea. 

During our passage to the place where Hartog awaited us, King Thedoriand I continued to sit, one on each side of the cabin table, withoutspeaking, and when we had cast anchor, and Hartog joined us, Thedori, who had made up his mind to the inevitable, calmly awaited our terms, which, stated briefly, were that he should pay for his ransom, to eachship, one hundred pearls of the size of dove's eggs, and that the cargoof the frigate was to be transferred to the "Golden Seahorse". To thefirst part of our demand the King made some demur, but when wethreatened to take him away with us on our voyage home, he promised tosend some of the big-eared men for his ransom if we would give himspeech with their chief. To the latter part of our demand Thedorireadily agreed. 

"You will find nothing on board the frigate, " he said, "but some bagsof stone ballast in the hold. Everything else of value has long sincebeen taken on shore, and is being made use of by my people. "

While the messengers were away procuring the King's ransom, wequestioned Thedori as to how the Spanish frigate came to fall into hishands, when we learnt that some time since, during a calm, the frigate, caught by one of the strong currents which prevail among these islands, had drifted into the harbour of Porne, where an attack had been madeupon her, and she, being short of ammunition, has been taken as alawful prize. The Spaniards had been allowed to depart in their boats. So, for the second time, Donna Isabel and her people were probablycastaways upon some unknown shore. 

Thus does Providence reward treachery. 

When, in the course of three days, the messengers returned with theKing's ransom, we sent his Majesty ashore, to find his way back to hisown kingdom as best he could. A more splendid lot of pearls than thosepaid to us I had never seen, and these we divided equally between the"Golden Seahorse" and the "Speedwell", to be allotted among theofficers and crews of both vessels in such proportions as might bedecided upon on our return to Amsterdam. The stone ballast, which, aswe expected, turned out to be the gold-bearing quartz we had obtainedfrom the island of Armenio, we transferred to our own ship. 

And now, with a cargo which for richness had surely never beensurpassed, we once more set sail for home. 

CHAPTER LII

CONCLUSION

As we neared Amsterdam I began to think, with some trepidation, of myinevitable meeting with Pauline. It was now three years since I had setout upon my second voyage in the "Golden Seahorse", compelled to thiscourse by reason of the incompatibility of temper which existed betweenmy wife and me, making a happy union between us impossible. Yet when Itook myself to task I could not but blame myself for much that hadoccurred. Pauline was vain, but so are most women, and most men too forthat matter, for while a woman seeks admiration for her personal charmsa man is equally proud of his achievements, and he is never so happy aswhen he is being praised for what he has done. So, on reviewing thematter of our matrimonial squabbles calmly and dispassionately, I cameto the conclusion that there had been faults on both sides, and I madeup my mind to be more conciliatory and less exacting in my conducttoward Pauline in the future, hoping by these means to effect areconciliation so that I might live with some degree of comfort in myown house. To this end also I resolved to give Pauline my share of thepearls aid as ransom by King Thedori, in order that she might possess anecklace unequalled at Amsterdam. Besides which I had my rubies. 

Hartog also had become graver and more reserved than was his habitbefore we had set out upon this voyage. He seemed to regret thewell-deserved fate which had overtaken Donna Isabel Barreto, and hewould have asked nothing better than to set off on a voyage ofdiscovery in search of her. 

So it was with subdued and chastened spirits that Hartog and I arrivedat Amsterdam, where it was arranged that Hartog should dispose of ourrich cargo and apportion the profits of the venture. As a peaceoffering to Pauline I took with me twenty splendid pearls and sixsilver fox-skins, and, thus provided, I presented myself at my houseat Amsterdam, to which I was at first denied admittance by theman-servant, who opened the door to me, and who had no knowledge ofmy identity. 

While we were arguing the matter; however, Pauline appeared in thehall, into which I advanced to meet her. She was changed, I thought, and her face had wonderfully softened. I held out my arms to her, andshe came to me, nestling into my embrace as though she indeed belongedto me. Then she rested her head upon my shoulder, and gave way totears. I was touched by this kindly greeting, and had begun to mentallyupbraid myself for my former conduct, and to promise amendment in thefuture, when the cause of my wife's changed disposition was suddenly, in a flash, revealed to me by a series of yells from a room upstairs, accompanied by a low voice of pleading in remonstrance, and whatsounded like the, throwing about of some hard substance on the floor. 

I looked into my wife's eyes, and read in them the secret of the greathappiness which had come to me. 

"He is quarrelling with his nurse, " she said, smiling up at me throughher tears. "He is such a masterful baby. "

Next moment I was bounding up the stairs, and on entering the nursery Isaw my boy seated on the floor, his face red with passion, while withhis chubby little hands he was tearing the sails off a toy ship thathad been given him to play with. The clever lad, even in his infancy, must have noticed that the wretched apology for a ship which theyoffered him was not rigged in seaman-like fashion. Well, I promisedmyself that I would make him a model of the "Golden Seahorse", perfectin every detail, and big enough for him to sail in. When I came intothe nursery he stopped crying and looked at me, but the nurse kept onsaying, "Oh, Master Peter, Master Peter, you must not be naughty likethat, " as though she were repeating a formula. 

I ran to Master Peter and picked him up, when he tried to bite my hardhand with his little pearly teeth. Ah, what a lad of spirit he was! Hewas not a bit afraid of me or of anyone. A boy after my own heart. Thenhe looked at me, and the passion in his rosy face melted into a dimpledsmile. He knew me, I am certain of it, and putting his little armsround my neck, he seemed to ask pardon for his wilfulness. We werecomrades from that moment, he and I, and although not a word was spokenwe understood each other thoroughly. 

Pauline and the nurse watched us. Both women were weeping, as is theway with women when they seek to relieve their feelings. But the tearsthey shed were tears of joy. 

When we were more composed, Pauline and I and young Peter went togetherto look at the presents I had brought back with me. Pauline wasdelighted with the pearls and the fox-skins, but she at once decidedthat the skins would make a warm winter coat for baby, and a splendidrug for his little carriage. I believe she would have given MasterPeter the pearls to play with had he shown a fancy for them, butfortunately he did not notice them, so taken up was he in burying hisface in the thick fur of the silver fox-skins. 

What a home-coming this was for me after so much tossing upon theocean, and so many wanderings into unknown lands, and how I trembledwhen I thought on the dangers I had passed, and how easily I might havelost my life, and thus forfeited the happiness that I knew was in storefor me!

Well, my voyages were over now. Never again would I leave my wife andchild for the hazards of the sea. 

When I told Hartog of my great good fortune he was warm in hiscongratulations. I took my boy on board the "Golden Seahorse", andpresented him to Hartog. 

"We must make a sailor of him, " said Hartog, when he had sat MasterPeter upon the table between us in the cabin. "He is a sturdy lad, andhas the look in his eyes that seeks for space--the look of the sailor, whose natural home is the sea. "

Could it be? Who can tell? Little Peter had a steadfast, far-off lookin his eyes. I had not noticed it until Hartog directed my attention toit. Was it the call of the ocean? The call to the Dutch, and theEnglish--seeking for space?