I next sought Hartog at the tavern which I knew he frequented. When he
saw me he cried out, "Is it you or your ghost, Peter? I had never
looked to see thee again, lad. I'd sooner have thee back than salvage
all the gold in the Orient."
I thanked him for his welcome, which I knew to be genuine, and taking a
seat at his right hand, I began to tell him of my adventures since we
last met. When he heard it was owing to the treachery of Van Luck I had
been cast into the sea to be washed ashore on the Island of Gems, and
of the subsequent fate of the island and of Van Luck, he became so
interested that he promised to meet me later, when I could give him a
more detailed account of all that had befallen me. I offered to share
with him my jewels, but to this he would not consent.
"Nay, Peter," he said, "I take no treasure that I had no hand in
getting. I am no pirate to rob a friend to whom chance and opportunity
have proved kind, but if it would pleasure thee to give me a keepsake,
I will wear one of thy jewels set as a brooch, as a reminder of thy
goodwill. I am, moreover, in no need of money, for the gold we took at
Cortes' island proved of greater value than I expected, and of this
your share, together with the wages due to you, I will see to it is
honestly paid by the merchants at Amsterdam.
Pages:
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153