rantz had
finished speaking, he had resolved to go himself.

"Well, signors," replied he; "I am always ready to accede to your
wishes; and since you consider my presence necessary and as I do not
think there is any chance of another attack from the Ternate people just
now, I will take upon myself the responsibility of leaving the fort for
a few days under the charge of my lieutenant, while we do this service
to holy Mother Church. I have already sent for one of the native
vessels, which are large and commodious, and will, with your permission,
embark to-morrow."

"Two vessels will be better," observed Krantz; "in the first place, in
case of an accident; and next, because we can embark all the treasure in
one with ourselves, and put a portion of the soldiers in the other; so
that we may be in greater force, in case of the sight of so much wealth
stimulating them to insubordination."

"True, signor," we will have two vessels; "your advice is good."

Everything was thus satisfactorily arranged, with the exception of their
wish that Pedro should accompany them on their expedition. They were
debating how this should be brought on the tapis, when the soldier came
to them, and stated that the commandant had ordered him to be of the
party, and that he was to offer his services to the two strangers.

On the ensuing day everything was prepared. Ten soldiers and a corporal
had been selected by the commandant; and it required but little time to
put into the vessels the provisions and other articles which were
required. At daylight they embarked--the Commandant and Philip in one
boat; Krantz, with the corporal and Pedro, in the other. The men, who
had been kept in ignorance of the object of the expedition, were now
made acquainted with it by Pedro, and a long whispering took place
between them, much to the satisfaction of Krantz, who was aware that the
mutiny would soon be excited, when it was understood that those who
composed the expedition were to be sacrificed to the avarice of the
commandant. The weather being fine they sailed on during the night;
passed the island of Ternate at ten leagues' distance; and before
morning were among the cluster of isles, the southernmost of which was
the one on which the treasure had been buried. On the second night the
vessels were beached upon a small island; and then, for the first time,
a communication took place between the soldiers who had been in the boat
with Pedro and Krantz,