had done speaking, I knew my mind was made up to go with
him. My life at home with Pauline had become intolerable, nor did I
take any active part in De Decker's business, finding the drudgery of
the counting-house irksome after my more exciting experiences on sea
and land, so, without further ado, I expressed to Hartog my willingness
to 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 been
shipmates too long to sail our separate ways alone. With Bantum and
Janstins, who are willing to sign on, and a picked crew; we can explore
the 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 followed
the route we had originally taken with the "Endraght", avoiding as far
as possible the calms and currents which had then impeded our progress,
as also those islands where we had met with a hostile reception. It
became necessary, however, to call at some of the groups we passed, and
it surprised us to find how diversified are the manners and customs of
the natives who inhabit the numerous islands of the South Seas. Not
only are the people of each group governed by different laws, but
frequently each island is distinct from the others in the language
spoken and the manner of life followed upon it. Hence it would require
a bulky volume to describe in detail the many and varied tribes we met
with on our journey.

We made the coast of New Holland within five months after leaving
Amsterdam (a record voyage), somewhere about the same place where I had
affixed the metal plate at the time of our first visit. But we did not
land here, as the weather was unfavourable, a strong breeze blowing and
a high sea running at the time, making it necessary to keep a good
offing from the shore. As we coasted toward the south, however, the
weather moderated, so that we were able to bring our ship with safety
nearer land.

From an observation we took when the weather was favourable, we
ascertained that we were three hundred miles to the north, with an
unbroken coastline extending before us; so we concluded we had rounded
a promontory, and were now upon the west coast of New Holland. This
encouraged us in the belief that we were following the right course to
the Ruby Mountains, for Marco Polo's parchment informed us that the
giants whom he saw were by far