pproach me, I will consent to its remaining on board."

"I will keep it out of your way as much as I can; but as for chaining up
the poor animal, it will howl all day and night and you will have no
sleep, Mynheer Von Stroom," replied Kloots.

The supercargo, who perceived that the captain was positive and that his
threats were disregarded, did all that a man could do who could not help
himself. He vowed vengeance in his own mind, and then, with an air of
condescension, observed--"Upon those conditions, Mynheer Kloots, your
animal may remain on board."

Mynheer Kloots and Philip then left the cabin; the former, who was in no
very good humour, muttering as he walked away--"If the Company send
their _monkeys_ on board, I think I may well have my _bear_." And
pleased with his joke, Mynheer Kloots recovered his good humour.

CHAPTER NINE.

We must allow the Indian fleet to pursue its way to the Cape with every
variety of wind and weather. Some had parted company; but the
rendezvous was Table Bay, from which they were again to start together.

Philip Vanderdecken was soon able to render some service on board. He
studied his duty diligently, for employment prevented him from dwelling
too much upon the cause of his embarkation, and he worked hard at the
duties of the ship, for the exercise procured for him that sleep which
otherwise would have been denied.

He was soon a favourite of the captain, and intimate with Hillebrant,
the first mate; the second mate, Struys, was a morose young man, with
whom he had little intercourse. As for the supercargo, Mynheer Jacob
Janz Von Stroom, he seldom ventured out of his cabin. The bear,
Johannes, was not confined, and therefore Mynheer Von Stroom confined
himself; hardly a day passed that he did not look over a letter which he
had framed upon the subject, all ready to forward to the Company; and
each time that he perused it he made some alteration, which he
considered would give additional force to his complaint, and would prove
still more injurious to the interests of Captain Kloots.

In the mean time, in happy ignorance of all that was passing in the
poop-cabin, Mynheer Kloots smoked his pipe, drank his schnapps, and
played with Johannes. The animal had also contracted a great affection
for Philip, and used to walk the watch with him.

There was another party in the ship whom we must not lose sight of--the
one-eyed pilot, Schriften, who appeared to have imbibed a grea