“Should I go home,” said he to Philip, who argued with him, “I have nothing in this world to return for.  I have no wife—­no children—­I had but one dear object, my Vrow Katerina, who was my wife, my child, my everything—­she is gone, and I never shall find another vessel like her; and if I could, I should not love it as I did her.  No, my affections are buried with her; are entombed in the deep sea.  How beautifully she burnt! she went out of the world like a phoenix, as she was.  No! no!  I will be faithful to her—­I will send for what little money I have, and live as near to her tomb as I can—­I never shall forget her as long as I live.  I shall mourn over her, and ’Vrow Katerina,’ when I die, will be found engraven on my heart.”

Philip could not help wishing that his affections had been fixed upon a more deserving object, as then, probably, the tragical loss had not taken place; but he changed the subject, feeling that, being no sailor, Captain Barentz was much better on shore, than in the command of a vessel.  They shook hands and parted—­Philip promising to execute Barentz’s commission, which was to turn his money into articles most useful to a settler, and have them sent out by the first fleet which should sail from the Zuyder Zee.  But this commission it was not Philip’s good fortune to execute.  The brig, named the Wilhelmina, sailed, and soon arrived at St Helena.  After watering she proceeded on her voyage.  They had made the Western Isles, and Philip was consoling himself with the anticipation of soon joining his Amine, when to the northward of the Islands, they met with a furious gale, before which they were obliged to scud for many days, with the vessel’s head to the south-east; and as the wind abated and they were able to haul to it, they fell in with a Dutch fleet, of five vessels, commanded by an Admiral, which had left Amsterdam more than two months, and had been buffeted about, by contrary gales, for the major part of that period.  Cold, fatigue, and bad provisions had brought on the scurvy, and the ships were so weakly manned that they could hardly navigate them.  When the captain of the Wilhelmina reported to the Admiral that he had part of the crew of the Vrow Katerina on board, he was ordered to send them immediately to assist in navigating his crippled fleet—­remonstrance was useless—­Philip had but time to write to Amine, acquainting her with his misfortunes and disappointment; and, confiding the letter to his wife, as well as his narrative of the loss of the Vrow Katerina for the directors, to the charge of the captain of the Wilhelmina, he hastened to pack up his effects, and repaired on board of the Admiral’s ship, with Krantz and the crew.  To them were added six of the men belonging to the Wilhelmina, which the Admiral insisted on retaining; and the brig, having received the Admiral’s despatches, was then permitted to continue her voyage.