hall avail myself of your permission, with thanks. How long shall
we stay here?"

"Not long, as we are ordered to run back. Our cargo is all ready for,
us, and will be on board soon after we have discharged."

Philip took the advice of his captain; he had no difficulty in finding
himself received by a hospitable merchant, who had a house at some
distance from the town, and in a healthy situation. There he remained
two months, during which he re-established his health, and then
re-embarked a few days previous to the ship being ready for sea. The
return voyage was fortunate, and in four months from the date of their
quitting Batavia, they found themselves abreast of St. Helena; for
vessels, at that period, generally made what is called the eastern
passage, running down the coast of Africa, instead of keeping towards
the American shores. Again they had passed the Cape without meeting
with the Phantom Ship; and Philip was not only in excellent health, but
in good spirits. As they lay becalmed, with the island in sight, they
observed a boat pulling towards them, and in the course of three hours
she arrived on board. The crew were much exhausted from having been two
days in the boat, during which time they had never ceased pulling to
gain the island. They stated themselves to be the crew of a small Dutch
Indiaman, which had foundered, at sea two days before; she had started
one of her planks, and filled so rapidly that the men had hardly time to
save themselves. They consisted of the captain, mates, and twenty men
belonging to the ship and an old Portuguese Catholic priest, who had
been sent home by the Dutch governor, for having opposed the Dutch
interests in the Island of Japan. He had lived with the natives, and
been secreted by them for some time, as the Japanese government was
equally desirous of capturing him with the intention of taking away his
life. Eventually he found himself obliged to throw himself into the
arms of the Dutch, as being the less cruel of his enemies.

The Dutch government decided that he should be sent away from the
country; and he had, in consequence, been put on board of the Indiaman
for a passage home. By the report of the captain and crew, one person
only had been lost; but he was a person of consequence, having for many
years held the situation of President in the Dutch factory in Japan. He
was returning to Holland with the riches which he had amassed. By the
evidence of the cap