he old gentleman, and raising the
little girl, we all three went in together to where we had found the old
gentleman on my first introduction to him.

"If you knew how delighted I am to see you, and be able to express my
thanks," said Mynheer Vanderwelt, "and poor Minnie too. How often have
we talked over that dreadful day, and wondered if ever we should see you
again. I assure you, on my honour, that now I no longer regret the
capture of the island."

Minnie stood by me during the time her father was speaking, her large
blue eyes beaming through the tears with which they brimmed; and as I
turned to her, our eyes met, and she smiled. I drew her towards me.
She appeared as if she only required some encouragement, for she
immediately kissed me several times on the cheek nearest to her, every
now and then saying a word or two in Dutch to her father, which I could
not understand.

I hardly need say, that after this, intimacy was soon brought about. If
I thought that at first I had been treated with ingratitude, ample
amends was made afterwards.

The old gentleman said during the evening, "Good heaven! if my
daughter's eyes had not been sharper than mine; if you had gone away,
thinking that I did not choose to recognise you--had I found it out
afterwards, it would have broken my heart, and poor Minnie's too. Oh!
I am grateful--very grateful to God that it was not so."

That I passed a very pleasant evening the reader may imagine. The
household who had been told who I was, appeared to almost worship me.
The old gentleman asked me a hundred questions as to my parentage,
etcetera, about Captain Delmar and the service, and begged of me to
remain with him altogether while the frigate was in port. I told him
that was impossible, but that I would come as often as I could obtain
leave. At nine o'clock I bade them good night, and was escorted to the
boat by six of the slaves carrying lanterns.

Captain Delmar, as well as all the other captains of the frigates, had
taken up his quarters on shore for the harbour was so narrow and
landlocked, that the heat on board was excessive. I found that the next
day old Mr Vanderwelt had paid his respects to Captain Delmar, giving
him an account of what had occurred on board of the pirate much more
flattering to me than what I had stated myself. The steward was present
at the time, and he had told Bob Cross, who communicated it to me.
Mynheer Vanderwelt had also begged as a favour