“Rapidly did we approach—­they saw us from on board, and brought the vessel to the wind.  We were alongside—­the gangway was clearing away—­for though no boat could have boarded, our shell was safe.  I looked up.  I saw my father, Amine!  Yes, saw him, and heard him as he gave his orders.  I pulled the relic from my bosom, and held it out to him.  He smiled, as he stood on the gunnel, holding on by the main shrouds.  I was just rising to mount on board, for they had handed to me the man-ropes, when there was a loud yell, and a man jumped from the gangway into the shell.  You shrieked, slipped from the side, and disappeared under the wave, and in a moment the shell, guided by the man who had taken your place, flew away from the vessel with the rapidity of thought.  I felt a deadly chill pervade my frame.  I turned round to look at my new companion—­it was the Pilot Schriften!—­the one-eyed wretch who was drowned when we were wrecked in Table Bay!

“‘No! no! not yet!’ cried he.

“In an agony of despair and rage I hurled him off his seat on the shell, and he floated on the wild waters.

“‘Philip Vanderdecken,’ said he, as he swam, ‘we shall meet again!’

“I turned away my head in disgust, when a wave filled my bark, and down it sank.  I was struggling under the water, sinking still deeper and deeper, but without pain, when I awoke.

“Now, Amine,” said Philip, after a pause, “what think you of my dream?”

“Does it not point out that I am your friend, Philip, and that the Pilot Schriften is your enemy?”

“I grant it; but he is dead.”

“Is that so certain?”

“He hardly could have escaped without my knowledge.”

“That is true, but the dream would imply otherwise.  Philip, it is my opinion that the only way in which this dream is to be expounded is—­that you remain on shore for the present.  The advice is that of the priests.  In either case you require some further intimation.  In your dream, I was your safe guide—­be guided now by me again.”

“Be it so, Amine.  If your strange art be in opposition to our holy faith, you expound the dream in conformity with the advice of its ministers.”

“I do.  And now, Philip, let us dismiss the subject from our thoughts.  Should the time come, your Amine will not persuade you from your duty; but recollect, you have promised to grant one favour when I ask it.”

“I have:  say, then, Amine, what may be your wish?”

“O! nothing at present.  I have no wish on earth but what is gratified.  Have I not you, dear Philip?” replied Amine, fondly throwing herself on her husband’s shoulder.

Chapter XV