, looks were exchanged, and all were ready.

The commandant turned round to call to and hasten the movements of the
men who had been sent for the sacks, when three or four knives
simultaneously pierced him through the back; he fell, and was
expostulating, when they were again buried in his bosom, and he lay a
corpse. Philip and Krantz remained silent spectators--the knives were
drawn out, wiped, and replaced in their sheaths.

"He has met his reward," said Krantz.

"Yes," exclaimed the Portuguese soldiers--"justice, nothing but
justice."

"Signors, you shall have your share," observed Pedro; "shall they not,
my men?"

"Yes! yes!"

"Not one dollar, my good friends," replied Philip; "take all the money,
and may you be happy; all we ask, is your assistance to proceed on our
way to where we are about to go. And now, before you divide your money,
oblige me by burying the body of that unfortunate man."

The soldiers obeyed. Resuming their shovels, they soon scooped out a
shallow grave: the commandant's body was thrown in, and covered up from
sight.

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE.

Scarcely had the soldiers performed their task, and thrown down their
shovels, when they commenced an altercation. It appeared that this
money was to be again the cause of slaughter and bloodshed. Philip and
Krantz determined to sail immediately in one of the peroquas, and leave
them to settle their disputes as they pleased. He asked permission of
the soldiers to take from the provisions and water, of which there was
ample supply, a larger proportion than was their share; stating, that he
and Krantz had a long voyage and would require it, and pointing out to
them that there were plenty of cocoa-nuts for their support. The
soldiers, who thought of nothing but their newly-acquired wealth allowed
him to do as he pleased; and, having hastily collected as many
cocoa-nuts as they could, to add to their stock of provisions, before
noon, Philip and Krantz had embarked and made sail in the peroqua,
leaving the soldiers with their knives again drawn, and so busy in their
angry altercation as to be heedless of their departure.

"There will be the same scene over again, I expect," observed Krantz, as
the vessel parted swiftly from the shore.

"I have little doubt of it; observe, even now they are at blows and
stabs."

"If I were to name that spot, it should be the `_Accursed Isle_.'"

"Would not any other be the same, with so much to inflame t