d overtaken us. I thus found our former positions
reversed, Hartog being on the brink of the same hopeless despair which
had obsessed me when Anna was taken from me, while upon me devolved the
task of heartening him.

And now a new danger threatened us. We had not been a month at the
settlement after the piracy of the "Golden Seahorse" before it became
evident to me that our crew had ceased to regard their officers with
the same respect as they had formerly shown them on board ship.
Sailors, ashore, are accustomed to a license they do not look for at
sea. Hence it was but natural that, since their ship no longer claimed
their duty, they should regard themselves as freed from discipline.
This revolt against authority, however, I knew to be a menace to our
common safety, and I determined to put an end to it. I spoke first to
Hartog, who spent most of his time in the Queen's house, brooding over
our misfortune, and thus setting a very bad example.

"It is not because you are no longer captain of the 'Golden Seahorse',"
I said to him, "that you should regard your responsibilities at an end.
If you can regain your authority over the men, we may yet win through.
If not, then let us at once abandon ourselves to the mercy of the
savages, whom, I may tell you, I have observed watching us from the
cliffs above, and who are only waiting to assure themselves of our
weakness before they attack us."

For a time Hartog remained silent. Then he rose, and stretched himself;
drawing himself up to his full height, he stood before me, the finest
specimen of a man I have ever met.

"You are right, Peter," he said. "I deserve the scolding you have given
me. Show me the man who will not obey me, and I will talk to him."

Now there was one, Hoft Hugens, a Swede, who had made himself a leader
among the mutinous and lazy crew. I had intended dealing with this man
myself, but it now occurred to me that his schooling would serve to
rouse Hartog from his apathy.

"If you must know, then," I answered, "it is Hoft Hugens to whom the
men look as leader."

The next minute Hartog was striding through the town, a native club in
his hand, which he had taken from the Queen's house. Although past
noon, there were none to be seen outside the huts. All were asleep
after their mid-day meal, upon which they had gorged themselves to
repletion. At the sight of this defiance of discipline a deep flush
overspread Hartog's face, as though he felt shame for