SUMATRA
All hands now set to work to cut away the wreckage of our masts and
rigging, which, as the ship rolled in the trough of the sea, threatened
to stave in the hull as the spars dashed against it with each recoil.
Had it not been that the "Golden Seahorse" was a new ship, upon which
no expense had been spared in the building, we must have foundered. But
it was amid such scenes of storm and stress that the indomitable spirit
of Dirk Hartog asserted itself, and seemed to animate both officers and
crew with something of his own courage and determination. Forgetting
the hardships and privations through which we had passed, we set to
work, under the magic of his influence, with such goodwill that, in the
space of some six hours, order had been evolved out of chaos, and our
vessel once more rode the sea in safety. The pumps were then manned,
when it was found that although much water was in the hold, it was
easily gained upon, from which we concluded that no leak had sprung in
our timbers, notwithstanding the battering they had received. Jury-masts
were then rigged, upon which sufficient sail was set to give the ship
steering way, when we hoped to make a harbour where we might refit, and
effect necessary repairs.
We were now anxious to reach some port where new masts and rigging
might be obtained, as our progress under jury-masts, which carried only
a limited spread of canvas, was necessarily slow. Donna Isabel was in
favour of abandoning the "Golden Seahorse" at the first port we came to
where another ship could be purchased to convey our treasure to Spain,
but neither Hartog nor I would consent to this proposal, having no
desire to see the interior of a Spanish prison, or to taste of the
horrors of the Inquisition. It was astonishing how quickly Donna Isabel
and her son, Pedro de Castro, appeared to have forgotten the obligation
they were under to us for having rescued them from the desert island
upon which they had been marooned. Both now spoke as if we were
indebted to them for having put us in the way of enriching ourselves
with the gold obtained from the Islands of Armenio, and Donna Isabel
declared that the treasure really belonged to her, since she had
possessed the secret which led to its discovery. I was so disgusted by
the ingratitude of these Spaniards that I could hardly bring myself to
speak of the matter with patience.
Hartog now proposed that we should make for Sumatra, and as this
proposal appeared to promise a way out of, our difficulties, I had
nothing to say against it.
Sumatra is one of the Sunda Islands, having Malacca on the north,
Borneo on the east, Java on the south-east, and the Indian Ocean on the
west. It is eight hundred miles long and about one hundred and fifty
broad, and it possesses a fine harbour capable of containing any number
of the largest ships. Here we arrived without mishap, within three
weeks after setting our course for this port, and cast anchor in a
sheltered spot close to the shore. The harbour is commanded by a strong
fortress, well fortified, and mounted with cannon. Three ships were at
anchor, a Spanish frigate and two smaller vessels, one flying the flag
of England, and the other displaying the colours of the Netherlands.
We had barely found our moorings when a boat from the man-o'-war came
alongside, steered by a young Spanish officer, who bore as much
arrogance in his demeanour as there was to be seen gold lace and brass
buttons upon his uniform. He haughtily demanded an interview with the
captain, but upon Hartog stepping forward his manner became less
offensive, and finally they descended together to the cabin, being
shortly afterward joined by Donna Isabel.
Since I was not invited to this conference, I was forced to remain on
deck, feeling very jealous of the influence which Donna Isabel exerted
over Hartog, to the destruction of the mutual trust and confidence
which had formerly existed between us. I felt, also, there was trouble
in store for us. Hartog, although brave and resourceful upon the sea,
was but a child when it came to dealing with business matters ashore,
and I well knew that he would prove no match for the wily Spaniards
with whom he was now in consultation.
Presently the party from the cabin came on deck, when I perceived that
Pedro de Castro was one of those who had been present at the
conference. The young Spanish officer was now all smiles and
affability, and Donna Isabel and her son, accompanying him to his boat,
were rowed aboard the frigate.
Hartog then came to me, and I could see he was worried, and ashamed at
having shut me out from what had taken place in the cabin.
"Forgive me, comrade," he said, "but Donna Isabel would have none
present at the interview with the Spaniard save only myself and her son
Pedro."
"Since when has Donna Isabel Barreto become captain of this ship?" I
asked.
"Nay, Peter, I forgive thee that sneer," answered Hartog, "though I
would not take it from another. It has been decided to transfer the
treasure to the Spanish frigate, the captain of the warship undertaking
to protect us while we remain in this port and to pay for all necessary
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.