sent for, and the Dort still
carried on under a heavy press of sail. Just then, the negro slave went
up to Philip, and told him that he had seen the pilot with his knife in
the chains, and that he thought he must have cut the lead-line so far
through, as to occasion its being carried away, and told Philip not to
trust him. The helm was immediately put down; but as the ship
went round she touched on the bank, dragged, and was again
clear.--"Scoundrel!" cried Philip. "So you cut the lead-line? The
negro saw you, and has saved us."

The Spaniard leaped down from off the gun, and, before he could be
prevented, had buried his knife in the heart of the negro. "Maldetto!
take that for your pains," cried he in a fury, grinding his teeth and
flourishing his knife.

The negro fell dead. The pilot was seized and disarmed by the crew of
the Dort, who were partial to the negro, as it was from his information
that they had become rich.

"Let them do with him as they please," said Krantz to Philip.

"Yes," replied Philip, "summary justice."

The crew debated a few minutes, and then lashed the pilot to the negro,
and carried him off to the taffrail. There was a heavy plunge, and he
disappeared under the eddying waters in the wake of the vessel.

Philip now determined to shape his course for Batavia. He was within a
few days' sail of Lima, and had every reason to believe that vessels had
been sent out to intercept him. With a favourable wind he now stood
away from the coast, and for three days made a rapid passage. On the
fourth, at daylight, two vessels appeared to windward, bearing down upon
him. That they were large armed vessels was evident; and the display of
Spanish ensigns and pennants, as they rounded to, about a mile to
windward, soon showed that they were enemies. They proved to be a
frigate of a larger size than the Dort and a corvette of twenty-two
guns.

The crew of the Dort showed no alarm at this disparity of force; they
clinked their doubloons in their pockets, vowed not to return them to
their lawful owners, if they could help it, and flew with alacrity to
their guns. The Dutch ensign was displayed in defiance, and the two
Spanish vessels again putting their heads towards the Dort, that they
might lessen their distance, received some raking shot, which somewhat
discomposed them, but they rounded to at a cable's length, and commenced
the action with great spirit, the frigate lying on the beam, and th