"
"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.
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