having allowed
his authority to pass from him. Then he began to beat with his club
upon the doors of the houses until the men came out, some in sleepy
remonstrance, and others with curses in their mouths at having been
disturbed from their siesta.

"Well, what have you to say?" demanded Hartog. "Is it not enough that
our condition is such that if only fifty determined savages came
against us they could kill us and destroy the settlement, but you must
waste your time in gluttony and sleep? Where is the watch, whose duty
it is to keep a look-out as though I stood upon my quarterdeck?"

"Nay, Hartog," answered Hugens, whom the others now pushed forward to
be their spokesman, "there must be an end to such talk. We shall never
get away from this valley. What need then for so much rule when death
is certain?"

"Certain it is for thee," cried Hartog, placing his hand on Hugen's
shoulder, and tightening his grip so that the man winced with pain.
"Ask pardon before I tear thine arm from its socket!"

At this, those who had begun to advance to their leader's assistance
drew back. It was known that the punishment which Hartog threatened had
actually been carried out by one of the buccaneer captains upon a
mutinous seaman, and none doubted but Hartog had the strength to fulfil
his threat. Hugen's face blanched as the grip tightened upon his arm.
He tried to free himself. Tears started to his eyes. A sob broke from
his heaving chest. Then he screamed with the intolerable agony he
suffered, but none dare interfere, and I verily believe that Hartog
would have performed his promise and torn the limb from its socket had
not one of the men, who had been looking seaward, cried, "A sail!
sail!"

CHAPTER XXXIII

CAPTAIN MONTBAR

The report of a sail having been sighted dispelled every other thought.
Hartog released Hugens, and, hurrying to the Queen's house, shortly
afterwards returned with his spyglass, with which he anxiously scanned
the horizon.

"God be thanked, Peter," he said presently, "our ship is coming back to
us, convoyed by a frigate."

So great was my joy at hearing these words that at first I could hardly
credit the truth of them, but as the ships drew nearer we could all see
that the smaller of the two was the "Golden Seahorse". The vessels
sailed into the bay which formed the port of the settlement, and
dropped anchor close to the shore, when a boat put off from the
frigate, and was rowed toward the beac