t who he is, and what he is, of course I
cannot tell."

"Then, my son, we have come to the determination, in this instance not
to advise. You must act now upon your own responsibility and your own
judgment. In what way soever you may decide, we shall not blame you.
Our prayers shall be, that Heaven may still have you in its holy
keeping."

"My decision, holy Father is to obey the summons."

"Be it so, my son; something may occur which may assist to work out the
mystery,--a mystery which I acknowledge to be beyond my comprehension,
and of too painful a nature for me to dwell upon."

Philip said no more, for he perceived that the priest was not at all
inclined to converse. Father Mathias took this opportunity of thanking
Philip for his hospitality and kindness, and stated his intention of
returning to Lisbon by the first opportunity that might offer.

In a few days Amine and Philip took leave of the priests and quitted for
Amsterdam--Father Seysen taking charge of the cottage until Amine's
return. On his arrival, Philip called upon, the Directors of the
Company, who promised him a ship on his return from the voyage he was
about to enter upon, making a condition that he should become part owner
of the vessel. To this Philip consented, and then went down to visit
the Vrow Katerina, the ship to which he had been appointed as first
mate. She was still unrigged, and the fleet was not expected to sail
for two months. Only part of the crew were on board, and the captain,
who lived in Dort, had not yet arrived.

So far as Philip could judge, the Vrow Katerina was a very inferior
vessel; she was larger than many of the others, but old, and badly
constructed; nevertheless, as she had been several voyages to the
Indies, and had returned in safety, it was to be presumed that she could
not have been taken up by the Company if they had not been satisfied as
to her seaworthiness. Having given a few directions to the men who were
on board, Philip returned to the hostelrie where he had secured
apartments for himself and Amine.

The next day, as Philip was superintending the fitting of the rigging,
the captain of the Vrow Katerina arrived, and stepping on board of her
by the plank which communicated with the quay, the first thing that he
did was to run to the mainmast and embrace it with both arms, although
there was no small portion of tallow on it to smear the cloth of his
coat. "Oh! my dear Vrow, my Katerina!" cried he,