der a burning sun, without one drop of water
left to cool her parched tongue; at the mercy of the winds and waves;
drifting about--alone--all alone--separated from her husband, in whose
arms she would have died without regret; maddened with suspense and with
the thoughts of what I may be suffering, or what may have been my fate.
Pilot, you are right; there can be no more cruel death to a fond and
doting wife. Oh! my head reels! What has Philip Vanderdecken to live
for now?"

Krantz offered such consolation as his friendship could suggest, but in
vain. He then talked of revenge, and Philip raised his head. After a
few minutes' thought, he rose us. "Yes," replied he, "revenge!--revenge
upon these dastards and traitors! Tell me, Krantz how many can we
trust?"

"Half of the men, I should think, at least. It was a surprise." A spar
had been fitted as a rudder, and the raft had now gained nearer the
shore than it ever had done before. The men were in high spirits at the
prospect, and every man was sitting on his own store of dollars which in
their eyes, increased in value in proportion as did their prospect of
escape.

Philip discovered from Krantz, that it was the soldiers and the most
indifferent seamen who had mutinied on the night before, and cut away
the other raft; and that all the best men had remained neuter.

"And so they will be now, I imagine," continued Krantz; "the prospect of
gaining the shore has, in a manner, reconciled them to the treachery of
their companions."

"Probably," replied Philip, with a bitter laugh; "but I know what will
rouse them. Send them here to me."

Philip talked to the seamen whom Krantz had sent over to him. He
pointed out to them that the other men were traitors not to be relied
upon; that they would sacrifice everything and everybody for their own
gain; that they had already done so for money, and that they themselves
would have no security, either on the raft or on shore, with such
people; that they dare not sleep for fear of having their throats cut,
and that it were better at once to get rid of those who could not be
true to each other; that it would facilitate their escape, and that they
could divide between themselves the money which the others had secured,
and by which they would double their own shares. That it had been his
intention, although he had said nothing to enforce the restoration of
the money for the benefit of the Company, as soon as they had gained