ther you like it or not; so up
with the helm, my hearty, and Mynheer Vanderdecken will trim the sails."

"Why! what is this?" cried Captain Barentz. "A mutiny on board of the
Vrow Katerina? impossible! The Vrow Katerina! the best ship, the
fastest in the whole fleet!"

"The dullest old rotten tub," cried one of the seamen.

"What!" cried the captain, "what do I hear? Mynheer Vanderdecken,
confine that lying rascal for mutiny."

"Pooh! nonsense! he's mad," replied the old seaman. "Never mind him;
come, Mynheer Vanderdecken, we will obey you; but the helm must be up
immediately."

The captain stormed, but Philip, by acknowledging the superiority of his
vessel, at the same time that he blamed the seamen for their panic,
pointed out to him the necessity of compliance, and Mynheer Barentz at
last consented. The helm was put up, the sails trimmed, and the Vrow
Katerina rolled heavily before the gale. Towards the evening the
weather moderated, and the sky cleared up; both sea and wind subsided
fast; the leaking decreased, and Philip was in hopes that in a day or
two they would arrive safely in the Bay.

As they steered their course, so did the wind gradually decrease, until
at last it fell calm; nothing remained of the tempest but a long heavy
swell which set to the westward, and before which the Vrow Katerina was
gradually drifting. This was respite to the worn-out seamen, and also
to the troops and passengers, who had been cooped below or drenched on
the main-deck.

The upper deck was crowded; mothers basked in the warm sun with their
children in their arms; the rigging was filled with the wet clothes,
which were hung up to dry on every part of the shrouds; and the seamen
were busily employed in repairing the injuries of the gale. By their
reckoning, they were not more than fifty miles from Table Bay, and each
moment they expected to see the land to the southward of it. All was
again mirth, and every one on board, except Philip, considered that
danger was no more to be apprehended.

The second mate, whose name was Krantz, was an active, good seaman, and
a great favourite with Philip, who knew that he could trust to him, and
it was on the afternoon of this day that he and Philip were walking
together on the deck.

"What think you, Vanderdecken, of that strange vessel we saw?"

"I have seen her before, Krantz; and--"

"And what?"

"Whatever vessel I have been in when I have seen her, that vessel has
ne