CAPTAIN MONTBAR
The report of a sail having been sighted dispelled every other thought.
Hartog released Hugens, and, hurrying to the Queen's house, shortly
afterwards returned with his spyglass, with which he anxiously scanned
the horizon.
"God be thanked, Peter," he said presently, "our ship is coming back to
us, convoyed by a frigate."
So great was my joy at hearing these words that at first I could hardly
credit the truth of them, but as the ships drew nearer we could all see
that the smaller of the two was the "Golden Seahorse". The vessels
sailed into the bay which formed the port of the settlement, and
dropped anchor close to the shore, when a boat put off from the
frigate, and was rowed toward the beach. The crew were smart, and the
boat was fresh painted, while, seated at the stern, was a striking, yet
curious, figure. His dress was that of a French exquisite, very rich,
and trimmed with much gold braid. On his head was a curled wig of the
latest mode, and a flashing diamond brooch adorned his lace cravat. On
nearing the beach upon which we were assembled one of the sailors
stepped into the water and waded ashore, carrying this gallant upon his
back, who, being deposited upon a dry spot, so that his buckled shoe
might escape damage from the salt water, gravely saluted us. Hartog
then, stepped forward, when the Frenchman, for such we took him to be,
addressed him as follows:--
"I have come, sir," said he, "to restore to you your vessel, which I
understand was stolen by Spanish treachery."
"You are welcome," answered Hartog. "I thank Providence that my ship
has fallen into honest hands. I have yet to learn to whom I owe its
recovery. May I hope that you will favour me with your name?"
"Montbar," replied the stranger, and at the mention of his name both
Hartog and I started.
"You honour us by your visit, sir," said Hartog, with a bow as graceful
as that with which Captain Montbar acknowledged it. "Your reputation is
known to all seamen as that of a brave man and a princely gentleman."
Hartog then led the way to the Queen's house, where we proposed to
confer together as to the circumstances which had occasioned Captain
Montbar's arrival.
Captain Montbar was known to us, and to most navigators at this time,
as a French gentleman of fortune who, having heard of the cruelties
practised by the Spaniards, had conceived an aversion against them
which amounted almost to frenzy. He had heard of the buccaneers, who
were known to be the most inveterate enemies of Spain, and, in order to
join them, he fitted out a frigate which he placed at their disposal,
together with his own services. The achievements of this frigate were
so pronounced, and the Spaniards suffered so much from Montbar's
exploits, that he acquired the name of 'Exterminator.' His intrepidity
would never let him suffer the least signs of cowardice among those who
associated with him. In the heat of an engagement he went about his
ship, observing his men, and immediately killing those who shrank at
the report of pistol, gun, or cannon. This extraordinary discipline had
made him the terror of the coward and the idol of the brave. In other
respects he readily shared with such of his men as showed spirit the
great booty that was acquired by his fearless disposition. When he went
upon these buccaneering expeditions he sailed in his frigate, his own
property, nor would he take a lion's share of the treasure obtained
from captured Spanish merchantmen, but divided it equally with those
who formed his ship's company.
Such was the remarkable man to whom we owed the restoration of the
"Golden Seahorse".
From Captain Montbar we learned the particulars connected with the
recovery of our ship from the Spaniards.
"I had been driven out of my course," he said, "by contrary winds, when
we sighted a vessel flying the Spanish flag, which I am bound, by a
solemn oath, whenever an opportunity offers, to destroy. I was about to
sink her when I noticed an unusual number of people upon her decks,
among whom were several women and children, and, since I war only with
men, I sent a boat to demand the surrender of the vessel. This was at
once agreed to. Her colours were struck, and my own hoisted at the
mizzen. I then went on board to hold an enquiry, and decide what was to
be done, when I found that the ship had been stolen from a party of
Dutch navigators on a visit to this country. The object of stealing the
ship was for the purpose of conveying the settlers, who had been
marooned here for some years, to their homes. It was not difficult, in
the crowded state of the vessel, to find many who were prepared to
disclose the whole truth. Donna Isabel Barreto, who appeared to be a
queen among these people, then offered to make terms with me,
promising, if I would suffer her to continue the voyage, she would
send, as ransom, a large sum of money, of which she professed to have
command at Madrid; but, having some experience of Spanish promises, I
declined this offer, preferring to retain possession of the ship I had
captured, which appeared to be of good build and well found. I
undertook, however, to disembark Donna Isabel and her followers upon
the first land we sighted, which happened to be a desolate-looking
island by no means comparable with this fertile valley. Isabel
then threw herself on her knees, and implored me not to abandon her,
and her people, to death by slow starvation, which the landing of so
great a company on such an uninviting shore would mean. But I was
obdurate. 'Be thankful,' said I, 'that your lives are spared you. It is
not for me to interfere with the decrees of Fate. This punishment for
having stolen their vessel from those who trusted you, and to whom you
were bound by the laws of hospitality, has clearly been ordained by
Providence. Land, then, and, by your submission in face of adversity,
seek to atone for your treacherous conduct.'
"The party being landed and left to shift for themselves, I resolved to
continue my voyage to this place, of which I had been given the
bearings, in order that I might restore to you your ship, for I take no
booty except from Spain."
We again thanked our generous visitor, nor could we do less than place
ourselves and our ship at his disposal.
"Come back with me, then," said Montbar, "and join our band. I have
voyaged far into these southern latitudes in search of treasure, and I
may tell you that the islands of the south are by no means comparable
with those in the west."
But at this we asked time to consider. Although we had no cause to love
the Spaniards, we had no reason to hate them with the same inveterate
hatred displayed by Montbar. Besides, in spite of the glamour that
surrounded them, we knew the buccaneers to be no better than pirates.
Still it seemed a poor return to make Captain Montbar for the service
he had rendered us to refuse his request. While we hesitated between
two minds what we should do, I bethought me of the gold dust at the
place of the painted hands. We had never intended to abandon this
treasure by reason of a swarm of insects, however numerous and venomous
they might be. The fishermen from Lamakera had excuse for doing so,
since they lacked the equipment to combat the pests which infested the
caves, but, with the resources of a ship at our disposal, it would be
strange if we could not devise some means to carry off the gold, share
it with Montbar, and thus repay the obligation we owed him.
I mentioned this project to Hartog, who at once fell in with my plan.
"You are a wizard, Peter," he said, "for finding a way out of a
dilemma. If we can get this treasure, and either share it with Montbar,
or give it all to him should it not prove considerable, our debt will
be paid, so that we may continue our voyage whithersoever our fancy
leads us, but, with the price of the ship on my conscience, I could
never regard myself as a free man. Montbar knows this.
"It is the rule of the sea that captured vessels are spoils to the
victor. For all his fine speeches, I feel convinced that Montbar looks
upon the ship as his own, and has only come to obtain her crew also to
be henceforth under his command. But, should ransom be paid, Montbar
would consider us freed from all obligation."
That evening, therefore, Hartog stated plainly our conditions to
Captain Montbar, which, shortly, were that if the treasure proved to be
of great value, we would divide it equally among the companies of the
frigate and our ship; if not of great value, then the whole of the
treasure was to go to the frigate as salvage for our vessel; and if we
did not succeed in bringing the treasure away, then our ship and her
company were to be at Montbar's disposal, to do with as he thought fit.
These proposals were received by Montbar with a gravity and shrewdness
which clearly proved his professed generosity in returning us our
vessel was only preliminary to demanding a ransom.
"Let it be as you say, then," he said. "Within a week we shall have
ascertained the value of this treasure, when the matter may be adjusted
in the manner you propose. Meanwhile, the resources of my vessel are at
your disposal."
We thanked him and withdrew, but we determined only to employ our own
men on our second visit to the eaves. A fair remuneration for the
salvage of our ship was all that Captain Montbar looked for or
expected, and we saw no reason why we should disclose our secret to any
beyond those chosen from our own company, nor did Montbar seek to pry
into our business, contenting himself with our promise, at the end of
the week either to pay him salvage or surrender our ship and ourselves,
to be disposed of in such manner as might please him best.