ou yourself proved, by taking
the same measure to save your own men. Do not, therefore, visit an
offence of so doubtful a nature with such cruelty. Let the Company
decide the point when you send him home, which you can do so soon as you
arrive in India. He is sufficiently punished by losing his command: to
do what you propose will be ascribed to feelings of revenge more than to
those of justice. What success can we deserve if we commit an act of
such cruelty; and how can we expect a merciful Providence to protect us
from the winds and waves, when we are thus barbarous towards each
other?"

Philip's arguments were of no avail. The admiral ordered him to return
on board his ship, and had he been able to find an excuse, he would have
deprived him of his command. This he could not well do; but Philip was
aware that the admiral was now his inveterate enemy. The commodore was
taken out of irons and brought into the cabin, and his sentence was made
known to him.

"Be it so, admiral," replied Avenhorn; "for to attempt to turn you from
your purpose, I know would be unavailing. I am not punished for
disobedience of orders, but for having, by my disobedience, pointed out
to you your duty--a duty which you were forced to perform afterwards by
necessity. Then be it so; let me perish on these black rocks, as I
shall, and my bones be whitened by the chilly blasts which howl over
their desolation. But mark me, cruel and vindictive man! I shall not
be the only one whose bones will bleach there. I prophesy that many
others will share my fate, and even you, admiral, _may_ be of the
number,--if I mistake not, we shall lie side by side."

The admiral made no reply, but gave a sign for the prisoner to be
removed. He then had a conference with the captains of the three
smaller vessels; and, as they had been all along retarded by the heavier
sailing of his own ship, and the Dort commanded by Philip, he decided
that they should part company, and proceed on as fast as they could to
the Indies--sending on board of the two larger vessels all the
provisions they could spare, as they already began to run short.

Philip had left the cabin with Krantz after the prisoner had been
removed. He then wrote a few lines upon a slip of paper--"Do not leave
the beach when you are put on shore, until the vessels are out of
sight;" and requesting Krantz to find an opportunity to deliver this to
the commodore, he returned on board of his own shi