g voyage, which I had before thought profitless. I
regret your decision not to accompany me to the West Indies, but since
you have paid your ransom you are free to go whithersoever your fancy
may lead you, without let or hindrance."

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

CHAPTER XXXV

I AM KIDNAPPED

We were now of two minds, whether to continue the exploration of New
Holland, or to shape a course for the islands of the South Seas; but
Hartog finally decided for the islands, where there is always adventure
and profit to be had. Besides, we were anxious to prove the truth, or
otherwise, of the existence of the Islands of Engano, mentioned by
Marco Polo in the account of his voyage round the world in the year
1272, as the Male and Female Islands.

The first group of islands we touched at after leaving the abandoned
Spanish settlement at New Holland, appeared to be well wooded and
fertile, and approaching one of the largest we cast anchor near the
shore. On the following day we endeavoured to work to windward of this
dangerous coast, but in spite of skilful seamanship it soon, became
certain we were being drawn, probably by some strong current, closer to
the land. The ship was so near to the rocks that escape appeared
impossible. At three in the afternoon, however, the ship doubled the
reefs, it may be said, almost by a miracle.

This adventure set us thinking upon a record among the manuscripts we
had brought with us of a remarkable phenomenon existing somewhere in
these regions. In describing one of the larger islands the record says:
"By the coast of this country, toward the north, is the sea called the
Dead Sea, the water whereof runneth into the earth, and if anyone
falleth into that water he is never found more. And if shipmen go but a
little way into it they are carried rapidly downward, and never return
again. And none knoweth whither they are carried, and many have thus
passed away, and it hath never been known what became of them."

We had hitherto given little credence to this report, but our recent
experience proved the currents running between these islands to be
strong and treacherous, and warned us to be on guard against them. The
great distance we were from home, and the absence of any assistance to
be looked for