"No, no, certainly not; I don"t wonder at it: the honour of one"s family is a serious affair," replied the commandant.--"Poor young man, what with his sister"s conduct, and the falsehood of his own intended, I don"t wonder at his being so grave and silent. Is he of good family, signor?"
"One of the n.o.blest in all Holland," replied Krantz;--"he is heir to a large property, and independent by the fortune of his mother; but these two unfortunate events induced him to quit the States secretly, and he embarked for these countries that he might forget his grief."
"One of the n.o.blest families?" replied the commandant;--"then he is under an a.s.sumed name--Jacob Vancheat is not his true name, of course."
"Oh, no," replied Krantz;--"that it is not, I a.s.sure you; but my lips are sealed on that point."
"Of course, except to a friend who can keep a secret. I will not ask it now. So he is really n.o.ble?"
"One of the highest families in the country, possessing great wealth and influence--allied to the Spanish n.o.bility by marriage."
"Indeed!" rejoined the commandant, musing--"I dare say he knows many of the Portuguese as well."
"No doubt of it, they are all more or less connected."
"He must prove to you a most valuable friend, Signor Richter."
"I consider myself provided for for life as soon as we return home. He is of a very grateful, generous disposition, as he would prove to you, should you ever fall in with him."
"I have no doubt of it; and I can a.s.sure you that I am heartily tired of staying in this country. Here I shall remain probably for two years more before I am relieved, and then shall have to join my regiment at Goa, and not be able to obtain leave to return home without resigning my commission. But he is coming this way."
After this conversation with Krantz, the alteration in the manner of the Portuguese commandant, who had the highest respect for n.o.bility, was most marked. He treated Philip with a respect which was observable to all in the fort; and which was, until Krantz had explained the cause, a source of astonishment to Philip himself. The commandant often introduced the subject to Krantz, and sounded him as to whether his conduct towards Philip had been such as to have made a favourable impression; for the little man now hoped, that through such an influential channel, he might reap some benefit.
Some days after this conversation, as they were all three seated at table, a corporal entered, and saluting the commandant, informed him that a Dutch sailor had arrived at fort, and wished to know whether he should be admitted. Both Philip and Krantz turned pale at this communication--they had a presentiment of evil but they said nothing.
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."
"Captain Philip Vanderdecken!" roared the commandant, as he sprung from his chair.
"Yes, that is my captain, Mynheer Philip Vanderdecken and that is my first mate, Mynheer Krantz; both of the good ship Utrecht: we were wrecked together, were we not. Mynheer? He! he!"
"Sangue de--Vanderdecken! the husband! Corpo del diavolo--is it possible!" cried the commandant, panting for breath, as he seized his long sword with both hands and clenched it with fury.--"What, then, I have been deceived, cajoled, laughed at!" Then, after a pause--the veins of his forehead distending so as almost to burst--he continued, with a suppressed voice, "Most n.o.ble sir, I thank you; but now it is my turn.--What, ho! there! Corporal--men, here, instantly--quick!"
Philip and Krantz felt convinced that all denial was useless. Philip folded his arms and made no reply. Krantz merely observed, "A little reflection will prove to you, sir, that this indignation is not warranted."
"Not warranted!" rejoined the commandant with a sneer, "you have deceived me; but you are caught in your own trap. I have the paper signed, which I shall not fail to make use of. _You_ are dead, you know, Captain; I have your own hand to it, and your wife will be glad to believe it."
"She has deceived you, commandant, to get out of your power, nothing more," said Vanderdecken. "She would spurn a contemptible withered wretch like yourself, were she as free as the wind."
"Go on, go on; it will be my turn soon. Corporal, throw these two men into the dungeon: a sentry at the door till further orders. Away with them! Most n.o.ble sir, perhaps your influential friends in Holland and Spain will enable you to get out again."
Philip and Krantz were led away by the soldiers, who were very much surprised at this change of treatment. 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.
There was an eye, however, which met theirs with an intelligent glance, as they descended the stairs to the dungeon. It was that of the soldier Pedro. It told them that there was one friend upon whom they could rely, and who would spare no endeavour to a.s.sist them in their new difficulty. It was a consolation to them both; a ray of hope which cheered them as they once more descended the narrow steps, and heard the heavy key turned which again secured them in their dungeon.
CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.
"Thus are all our hopes wrecked," said Philip, mournfully; "what chance have we now of escaping from this little tyrant?"
"Chances turn up," replied Krantz; "at present, the prospect is not very cheering. Let us hope for the best. I have an idea in my head which may probably be turned to some account," continued Krantz, "as soon as the little man"s fury is over."
"Which is?"
"That, much as he likes your wife, there is something which he likes quite as well--money. Now, as we know where all the treasure is concealed, I think he may be tempted to offer us our liberty, if we were to promise to put it into his possession."
"That is not impossible. Confound that little malignant wretch Schriften; he certainly is not, as you say, of this world. He has been my persecutor through life, and appears to act from an impulse not his own."
"Then must he be part and portion of your destiny. I"m thinking whether our n.o.ble commandant intends to leave us without anything to eat or drink."
"I should not be surprised; that he will attempt my life I am convinced, but not that he can take it; he may, however, add to its sufferings."
As soon as the commandant had recovered from his fury, he ordered Schriften in, to be examined more particularly; but, after every search made for him, Schriften was nowhere to be found. The sentry at the gate declared that he had not pa.s.sed: and a new search was ordered, but in vain. Even the dungeons and galleries below were examined, but without success.
"Can he be locked up with the other prisoners?" thought the commandant: "impossible--but I will go and see."
He descended and opened the door of the dungeon, looked in, and was about to return without speaking, when Krantz said, "Well, signor, this is kind treatment, after having lived so long and so amicably together; to throw us into prison merely because a fellow declares that we are not what we represented ourselves to be; perhaps you will allow us a little water to drink?"
The commandant, confused by the extraordinary disappearance of Schriften hardly knew how to reply. He at last said in a milder tone than was to be antic.i.p.ated, "I will order them to bring some, signor."
He then closed the door of the dungeon and disappeared.
"Strange," observed Philip, "he appears more pacified already." In a few minutes the door was again opened, and Pedro came in with a chatty of water.
"He has disappeared like magic, signors, and is nowhere to be found. We have searched everywhere, but in vain."
"Who?--the little old seaman?"
"Yes, he whom you kicked as you were led to prison. The people all say, that it must have been a ghost. The sentry declares that he never left the fort, nor came near him; so how he has got away is a riddle, which I perceive has frightened our commandant not a little."
Krantz gave a long whistle as he looked at Philip.
"Are you to have charge of us, Pedro?"
"I hope so."
"Well, tell the commandant that when he is ready to listen to me, I have something of importance to communicate."
Pedro went out.
"Now, Philip, I can frighten this little man into allowing us to go free, if you will consent to say that you are not the husband of Amine."
"That I cannot do, Krantz. I will not utter such a falsehood."
"I was afraid so, and yet it appears to me that we may avail ourselves of duplicity to meet cruelty and injustice. Unless you do as I propose, I hardly know how I can manage it; however, I will try what I can do."