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.
CHAPTER XLVI
MAHOMET ACHMET
When Hartog was told of the treachery of Donna Isabel Barreto, in
stealing our portion of the gold obtained from the island of Armenio,
and leaving us, for all she knew or cared, without the means to repair
our vessel, he did not show so much anger as I expected. He seemed more
to regret the loss of Donna Isabel than the treasure with which she had
so heartlessly decamped.
"She was a clever woman, Peter," was all he said to me in reference to
the matter, "and I shall miss her." Then he clapped me on the shoulder,
and bade me not despond. "We still have the rubies," he reminded me,
"which, properly invested, will more than pay for all we need.
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