inued to fight
on, expecting every moment to be blown with all hands into eternity.

I had given up hope, and the suspense of awaiting the expected
catastrophe was so acute that I had almost made up my mind to throw
myself overboard and take my chance with the sharks, when two square
sails emerged out of the smoke, and the hull of a man-o'-war, with a
wide spread of canvas, ranged alongside, while a number of English
man-o'-war's men, led by an officer, sprang upon our decks. At the sight
of the King's men the pirates flung themselves headlong aboard their
schooners, and endeavoured to make off, but they were soon captured and
brought 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 stairs
in search of the captain, whom I found lying senseless at the foot of
the ladder. Fortunately for him, and for all of us, he had been stunned
by a blow from one of the pirates as he descended, and was thus
prevented 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 the
goldsmiths with a view to disposing of the jewels I had brought from
the Island of Gems, which proved to be of such value that I realized a
considerable sum by the sale of a small portion, for I wished to keep
some of the best as a wedding present for Anna.

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

From Anna I learnt of the persecution to which she had been subject
from Count Hendrick Luitken, which had mainly been the cause of her
illness. Convinced that she would never accept him willingly, Count
Hendrick, unknown to her father, had attempted to abduct her to his
country estate. With the aid of one of h