So, every
precaution being taken in order to ensure success, we arrived at the
main island during the afternoon of the day we had set out, and cast
anchor in the bay from which, nearly six years before, in the "Golden
Seahorse", I had escaped with Hartog and our crew from the captivity
which Thedori had intended for us after capturing our vessel.
I had no pity for the man whom we had come to call to account, for, to
my mind, treachery is the worst of crimes. An open enemy may be fairly
encountered, but a snake in the grass can only be met by the same
serpent tricks as he plays upon others, and when I thought of the
welcome Thedori had given us at our first interview with him, when he
had exhorted us to land in safety so that we might enjoy the comforts
of life and recruit our strength, in order, as it subsequently
transpired, that he might betray us, I felt that no reprisals could be
too severe against one guilty of such roguish deception.
The city of Porne appeared unchanged from when I had last seen it.
There were a few new houses close to the beach, but otherwise the city
itself, with its low-built cabins and regular streets, was the same.
Pages:
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298