er attendants Anna had made her
escape, and believing me dead, while fearing further persecution, she
had determined, should she be restored to health, to seek the cloister
as her only safe refuge. As her tale proceeded I found it hard to
restrain myself from starting off at once in pursuit of the villain who
had treated my loved one so shamefully, and I promised myself to bring
him to account when the opportunity should arise.

I next sought Hartog at the tavern which I knew he frequented. When he
saw me he cried out, "Is it you or your ghost, Peter? I had never
looked to see thee again, lad. I'd sooner have thee back than salvage
all the gold in the Orient."

I thanked him for his welcome, which I knew to be genuine, and taking a
seat at his right hand, I began to tell him of my adventures since we
last met. When he heard it was owing to the treachery of Van Luck I had
been cast into the sea to be washed ashore on the Island of Gems, and
of the subsequent fate of the island and of Van Luck, he became so
interested that he promised to meet me later, when I could give him a
more detailed account of all that had befallen me. I offered to share
with him my jewels, but to this he would not consent.

"Nay, Peter," he said, "I take no treasure that I had no hand in
getting. I am no pirate to rob a friend to whom chance and opportunity
have 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 thy
goodwill. I am, moreover, in no need of money, for the gold we took at
Cortes' island proved of greater value than I expected, and of this
your share, together with the wages due to you, I will see to it is
honestly paid by the merchants at Amsterdam. Besides, who knows we may
sail together again?" But at this I shook my head.

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

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

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

I urged my parents, who still resided upon the Island of Urk, where my
father followed the occupation of a fish