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"It is clearing up a little to windward." "We have had the worst of it, I believe," said Philip. "No! there is worse to come," said a low voice near to Philip. It was Schriften who spoke. "A vessel to windward scudding before the gale," cried Krantz. Philip looked to windward, and in the spot where the horizon was clearest, he saw a vessel under topsails and foresail, standing right down.
Much, too, as he regretted the loss of Mynheer Kloots and Hillebrant, as well as the deaths of the unfortunate crew, still there was some solace in the remembrance that he was for ever rid of the wretch Schriften, who had shared their fate; and besides, he almost blessed the wreck, so fatal to others, which enabled him so soon to return to the arms of his Amine.
"I have sent for you, Schriften, to know if there is anything that I can do to make you more comfortable. Is there anything that you want?" "Want?" replied Schriften, eyeing first Philip and then Amine. "He! he! I think I want filling out a little." "That you will, I trust, in good time; my steward has my orders to take care of you."
The sailor was ordered in, and in a few minutes, who should make his appearance but their tormentor, the one-eyed Schriften. On perceiving Philip and Krantz seated at the table, he immediately exclaimed, "Oh! Captain Philip Vanderdecken, and my good friend Mynheer Krantz, first mate of the good ship Utrecht, I am glad to meet you again."
Schriften followed them; and as they walked across the rampart to the stairs which led to their prison, Krantz, in his fury, burst from the soldiers, and bestowed a kick upon Schriften which sent him several feet forward on his face. "That was a good one he! he!" cried Schriften, smiling and looking at Krantz as he regained his legs.
Who then? and Father Mathias thought of her chamber at Terneuse, and shook his head. We must now again return to Philip and Krantz, who had a long conversation upon the strange reappearance of Schriften. All that they could agree upon was, that he should be carefully watched, and that they should dispense with his company as soon as possible.
I hardly know what I said," replied Philip, replacing the relic in his bosom. "I rather think you said more than you intended," replied Krantz, "but at the same time, something near the truth. I have often perceived you with that trinket in your hand, and I have not forgotten how anxious Schriften was to obtain it, and the consequences of his attempt upon it.
"Then my eyes must behold him before I believe it," replied Krantz. "Then believe your eyes," replied Philip, pointing to the form of Schriften, who was now walking towards them. "Mynheer Vanderdecken, glad to see you. Mynheer Krantz, I hope you are well. How lucky that we should all be saved. He! he!" "The ocean has then, indeed, given up its dead, as I requested," thought Philip.
He! he!" cried Schriften. Hardly had he said the words, when a tremendous explosion took place, and the air was filled with large stones, which flew and fell in every direction, killing and maiming hundreds. It was the factory which had blown up, for in its vaults there was a large quantity of gunpowder, to which the fire had communicated. "So ends that scheme, Mynheer Vanderdecken.
There was another party in the ship whom we must not lose sight of the one-eyed pilot, Schriften, who appeared to have imbibed a great animosity towards our hero, as well as to his dumb favourite the bear. As Philip held the rank of an officer, Schriften dared not openly affront, though he took every opportunity of annoying him, and was constantly inveighing against him before the ship's company.
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