he sport in
which the seamen were engaged appeared to afford him more irritation
than amusement.

I often wondered that Hartog did not note the surly demeanour of his
chief officer. But he did not appear to do so, and it was no part of my
duty to make mischief between the captain and his first mate.

When the fishing and salting were over, a breeze sprang up which
freshened to half a gale--before which we scudded under furled mizzen
and foresails. The men had now plenty to do, and there was no time for
brooding or lamenting over lost hopes. It is mostly during a calm, when
the ship rides motionless upon a painted sea, that mutinous and
rebellious thoughts arise among seamen. When the vessel is ploughing
her way through storm and stress, each man seems a part of the ship and
to have an interest in her voyage. It is then, too, that the word of
command carries weight and meaning, and the knowledge of common
dependence upon the captain makes for obedience and discipline, so that
while the gale lasted we had no fear of mutiny.

At the end of a week, during which time we covered many leagues of sea,
the weather moderated, when we found ourselves once more among the
islands of the South Seas, and the thoughts of being again on shore,
and the adventures that might be in store for us, put to flight less
wholesome and healthy thoughts.

By the time we came in sight of the islands Janstins had recovered his
spirits, and Hartog his good humour. Janstins, who was of a sanguine
disposition, began to speculate upon our chances of finding treasure,
and Hartog predicted that fortune stood upon the shores of one of these
pleasant islands to welcome us, and send us home rich men.

"It is not in nature, Peter," he said to me, "that precious stones and
metals exist only in the Old World. They are as much the elements of
the earth as rocks and water. It only needs a patient search to
discover a mine of wealth, as yet untouched by civilized man."

I did not like to discourage him, but, young as I was, I knew how
fickle a jade is fortune, giving to one with both hands, and from
another withholding that which he most deserves.

Besides, who could tell, among these countless islands or the Pacific,
upon, which one Nature had lavished her wealth?

As we approached the land I noticed that Van Luck appeared to have lost
the influence he had acquired over the crew, many of whom seemed now as
anxious to avoid him as before they had been incl