her island to
seek for water, and having discovered some after a search of
twenty days, he made the preconcerted signal by lighting three
fires, but in vain, for they were not noticed by the people of
Cornelis' company, the conspirators having during that time
murdered those who were not of their party. Of these they killed
thirty or forty. Some few saved themselves upon pieces of wood,
which they joined together, and going in search of Weybehays,
informed him of the horrible massacre that had taken place. Having
with him forty-five men, he resolved to keep upon his guard, and
to defend himself from these assassins if they should make an
attack upon his company, which in effect they designed to do, and
to treat the other party in the same manner; for they feared lest
their company, or that which remained upon the third island,
should inform the commander upon his arrival, and thus prevent the
execution of their design. They succeeded easily with the party
last mentioned, which was the weakest, killing the whole of them,
excepting seven children and some women. They hoped to succeed as
easily with Weybehays' company, and in the meanwhile broke open
the chests of merchandise which had been saved from the vessel.
Jerome Cornelis caused clothing to be made [Sidenote: 1629]
for his company out of the rich stuffs which he found therein,
choosing to himself a bodyguard, each of whom he clothed in scarlet,
embroidered with gold and silver. Regarding the women as part of
the spoil, he took one for himself, and gave one of the daughters
of the minister to a principal member of his party, abandoning
the other three for public use. He drew up also certain rules for
the future conduct of his men.

[Illustration: A DUTCH MAN-OF-WAR OF THE END OF THE 17th CENTURY. From a
print after Vandervelde.]

"After these horrible proceedings he caused himself to be elected
captain-general by a document which he compelled all his
companions to sign. He afterwards sent twenty-two men in two
shallops to destroy the company of Weybehays, but they met with a
repulse. Taking with him thirty-seven men, he went himself against
Weybehays, who received him at the water's edge as he disembarked,
and forced him to retire, although the lieutenant and his men had
no weapons but clubs, the ends of which were