sary
repairs to our ship. These were the best terms I could make, and they
seem to me fair enough."

I had no desire to haggle over terms, for I was already rich enough to
make me careless of what became of the gold we had taken from the
Island of Armenio, but I realized how great was the influence Donna
Isabel had acquired over Hartog in order to induce him to lay aside his
claim to a part of the treasure.

During the day a boat came from the frigate into which the gold was
loaded and transferred to the warship, together with the Spaniards we
had aboard of us, whom I was glad to be rid of on any terms, and that
evening was the first upon which I had felt at home in our cabin since
Donna Isabel and her people had joined us.

It was a beautiful evening, with a gentle breeze off the shore--the
very night, as I remarked to Hartog, to put to sea.

"I wish we could up anchor and be off," answered Hartog. "But we have
work to do ashore in attending to the ship's repairs before we may hope
to leave this place where, I make no doubt, we shall be imposed upon
and robbed by the sweepings of Europe who inhabit this island. It is
fortunate we have the word of the Spanish captain that he himself will
be responsible for all we need."

I did not answer, for I did not share in Hartog's sanguine expectations
regarding the Spaniards. I had experienced too many acts of treachery
to trust them, and there existed, as I knew, at this time, a natural
antipathy between the Netherlands and Spain, which made any binding
compact between the people of these rival nations impossible. I did
not, however, voice my suspicions lest my opposition might be
attributed to jealousy.

As sometimes happens, I was unable to sleep that night, my thoughts
taking wing among the many scenes of adventure through which I had
passed, and refusing to compose themselves to rest. With the dawn I was
up and on deck. As I stepped upon the poop and looked around upon the
quiet harbour where the ships rode at anchor, I became aware of a
certain emptiness in the bay. I rubbed my eyes and looked again. The
Spanish frigate was gone.

CHAPTER XLVI

MAHOMET ACHMET

When Hartog was told of the treachery of Donna Isabel Barreto, in
stealing our portion of the gold obtained from the island of Armenio,
and leaving us, for all she knew or cared, without the means to repair
our vessel, he did not show so much anger as I expected. He seemed more
to regret the loss of