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.
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