He then tried to clinch
with me, but I had waited for this, and when he seized me in his
powerful grip I held myself as I had been taught to do by my friend the
smuggler, so that when he tried to throw me, he himself, by his own
weight and a dexterous twist I gave him, was hurled over my head some
distance along the sand, where he fell upon the broad of his back the
breath being knocked clean out of his body. For some time he lay to all
appearance dead, and it being evident he would not be able to continue
the fight, Hartog awarded me the victory, and, later, when Van Luck
regained consciousness, he ordered him to shake hands with me, which he
did with an ill grace, though of a surety I bore him no malice.
"Peter," said Hartog to me when we were alone together in his cabin
after the fight, "henceforth I look upon you as my comrade as well as
my secretary; but do not, on that account, believe I shall be less
strict to enforce discipline upon you equally with all under my
command. At the great distance we are from home it behoves some one to
be in authority, if we are ever to see the Netherlands again. Promise
me then to set a curb upon your temper, and when Van Luck is able to
resume his duties after the drubbing you have given him, let there be
no bad blood between you.
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