e pledged my word
against the ship's calling there. His disappointment, however, was
modified when I told him that nothing of any commercial value was to be
found upon either of the Engano Islands; nothing, in fact, being worthy
of notice but the wonderful contentment of the inhabitants, a commodity
which could not be carried away.

"Let us up stick and home, then," answered Hartog merrily. So, having
presented Sylvia and her accompanying Amazons with gifts, in return for
which they showed us where excellent water was to be obtained with
which we might replenish our tanks, we bade farewell to the Great
Barren Island, and shaped a course for Holland.

On our arrival at Amsterdam Hartog arranged for the disposal and
division of our treasure. He and I, as joint promoters of the
expedition, each took to the value of twenty thousand English pounds,
giving the remainder to be divided among our officers and crew, who had
never in their lives before looked to possess so much money. The ship
was put out of commission, though, for the present, we determined not
to sell her. Hartog promised himself a spell ashore, and I also looked
forward to a life of ease and recreation. I was now a rich man, with
more wealth to my credit than would satisfy my simple needs for the
remainder of my life. Why then, I asked myself, should I seek further
peril and adventure in unknown lands to gain money of which I already
possessed more than I knew what to do with?

I did not return to my estate, which had become distasteful to me,
recalling, as it did, the brief span of nuptial happiness which I had
enjoyed with Anna, and when, later, my father-in-law, the Count of
Holstein, offered to buy it from me, I was glad to sell it to him. With
a portion of my capital I now secured a full share in the business of
De Decker, my old master, and, having purchased a fine house at
Amsterdam, I resolved to settle down to the lucrative business of a
merchant.

Before taking possession of my new home I paid a visit to my family at
Urk, where I found that my father had retired from the active
management of his fishing business, which was now carried on by my
eldest brother, who was married, and blessed with three sturdy boys. My
two younger brothers were also married, and both had begun to rear
families.

"Only you, Peter," said my mother, "my favourite son, the flower of the
flock, are alone and childless."

I had not, since Anna's death, given a thought to