ut a glimpse
of the "Golden Seahorse", they would make ready to attack her with all
the force at their command, but the "Speedwell" was unknown to them,
and there were many harbours among the Moluccas where our ship might
remain unnoticed while our plans were matured. The plan we had formed
was a simple one, and was therefore the more likely to succeed. It was,
shortly, as follows. On reaching the Moluccas we would choose a
convenient harbour as the base of our enterprise, when the "Speedwell"
would set out alone for the island ruled over by Thedori, where we had
no doubt the captain and crew would be well received, as is the habit
of this crafty king when dealing with strangers, in order that he may
eventually pillage them. Thedori was to be invited by Captain Smuts to
go aboard his vessel to inspect the cargo of furs and other goods in
which he proposed to trade. Once on board the "Speedwell", the King of
the Moluccas would be kidnapped, and brought away to where the "Golden
Seahorse" was at anchor, when Hartog undertook to deal with him.

Captain Smuts, whom we found waiting us at the Moluccas, was very ready
to fall in with this plan when we told him of the large pearls that
were to be found at the island, some of which we intended to demand as
the King's ransom for being allowed to return to his people.

The island we had chosen as the base for our operations happened to be
the one of which we had been told on our former visit that the men
possessed such large ears that with one ear they could, when they
liked, cover the whole of their heads; for when we landed, and met the
natives, we observed in them this remarkable peculiarity. Their heads
were the smallest and their ears the largest that I have ever seen in
human beings. The intelligence of these savages was as small as their
heads. They showed no interest in us, and seemed to be indifferent to
our appearance among them. This stupidity on their part, however, so
far from giving us any anxiety, rather commended itself to us, since it
appeared unlikely they would attempt to interfere with our plans.

When we had rested and refreshed ourselves for three days at this
island, the "Speedwell" set out upon her voyage to the main island,
leaving the "Golden Seahorse" to await her return. In order that I
might advise and consult with Captain Smuts with regard to our project,
I became his passenger on the "Speedwell", it being understood that I
was to keep out of sight