Adventures in Southern Seas A Tale of the Sixteenth Century

e treasure which had been the object of the voyage, the spirit of discontent in the forecastle which had previously shown itself, became so marked as

that if Hartog had not kept a check upon his temper, a ser

nts often prove disappointing, and they will each receive a good round sum in back pay when the crew is disbanded after the voyage. What, then, would they gain by mutiny? Without a navigator they would either lose the ship, or, if t

suspicions regarding Van Luck, and of how I had seen him looking

hear. To this end, I made frequent excuses for spending my time in the forecastle among the men, pretending I found the companionship in the cabin irksome. I had not been long among them before I discovered a plot that was hatching to take the ship. Hartog and I, together with those who w

lot, the ship's carpenter, and three of the crew we knew we could depend upon, and they were instructed where to find arms and ammunition, and told to rally to us aft at the first signs

and picking him up as easily as if he had been a child, he flung him from the poop on to the deck below. At the same moment the mutineers made a rush aft, but those who were loyal to us were before them, and we presented such a formidable front that the rebels fell back, taking Van Luck with them. Hartog now turned the brass cannon, which had already been loaded upon the mutineers where they crowded together in the fore part of the vessel, swearing he would fire upon

he expenses of the voyage, including what may be found to be due to each man as wages when the when the ship is paid off. As for you, Van Luck, who have ac

lowers, for rebels are ever prone to aban

purpose. Besides, an example must be made, and in the rough life we led the administration of justice was the prerogative of the captain alone.

pe a course in any direction. He appeared to have abandoned hope, and to have made up his mind to let the wind and the waves carr

mood changed, and we resumed our friendly chats together in the cabin. He never referred to Van Luck, whom he seemed to have wiped from the slate of his recollection, nor did he again allude to the mutiny. Once, when I touched upon it, he had cut me short, and I could see from his mann

where we arrived, without mishap, towards the end of the year 1620, after an absence of