"He must, then, have returned to Holland by some other means."

"I know not how. Our ships never go near the coast after they leave the
bay; it is too dangerous."

"Nevertheless, I saw him," replied Philip, musing.

"If you saw him, that is sufficient; perhaps some vessel had been blown
down to the eastern side, and picked him up; but the natives in that
part are not likely to have spared the life of a European. The Caffres
are a cruel people."

The information that Schriften had not been seen at the Cape was a
subject of meditation to Philip. He had always had an idea as the
reader knows, that there was something supernatural about the man; and
this opinion was corroborated by the report of the settler.

We must pass over the space of two months during which the wrecked
seamen were treated with kindness by the settlers, and at the expiration
of which a small brig arrived at the bay, and took in refreshments: she
was homeward bound, with a full cargo, and being chartered by the
Company, could not refuse to receive on board the crew of the Vrow
Katerina. Philip, Krantz, and the seamen embarked; but Captain Barentz
remained behind to settle at the Cape.

"Should I go home," said he to Philip, who argued with him, "I have
nothing in the world to return for. I have no wife--no children. I had
but one dear object, my Vrow Katerina, who was my wife, my child, my
everything;--she is gone, and I never shall find another vessel like
her; and if I could, I should not love it as I did her. No, my
affections are buried with her,--are entombed in the deep sea. How
beautifully she burnt!--she went out of the world like a phoenix, as she
was. No! no! I will be faithful to her--I will send for what little
money I have, and live as near to her tomb as I can--I never shall
forget her as long as I live. I shall mourn over her, and `Vrow
Katerina,' when I die, will be found engraven on my heart."

Philip could not help wishing that his affections had been fixed upon a
more deserving object, as then, probably, the tragical loss had not
taken place; but he changed the subject, feeling that, being no sailor,
Captain Barentz was much better on shore than in the command of a
vessel. They shook hands and parted--Philip promising to execute
Barentz's commission, which was to turn his money into articles most
useful to a settler, and have them sent out by the first fleet which
should sail from the Zuyder Zee. But this commiss