“True, signor, we will have two vessels; your advice is good.”

Everything was thus satisfactorily arranged, with the exception of their wish that Pedro should, accompany them on their expedition.  They were debating how this should be brought on the tapis, when the soldier came to them, and stated that the Commandant had ordered him to be of the party, and that he was to offer his services to the two strangers.

On the ensuing day everything was prepared.  Ten soldiers and a corporal had been selected by the Commandant; and it required but little time to put into the vessels the provisions and other articles which were required.  At daylight they embarked—­the Commandant and Philip in one boat; Krantz, with the corporal and Pedro, in the other.  The men, who had been kept in ignorance of the object of the expedition, were now made acquainted with it by Pedro, and a long whispering took place between them, much to the satisfaction of Krantz, who was aware that the mutiny would soon be excited, when it was understood that those who composed the expedition were to be sacrificed to the avarice of the Commandant.  The weather being fine, they sailed on during the night:  passed the island of Ternate at ten leagues’ distance; and before morning were among the cluster of isles, the southernmost of which was the one on which the treasure had been buried.  On the second night the vessels were beached upon a small island; and then, for the first time, a communication took place between the soldiers who had been in the boat with Pedro and Krantz, and those who had been embarked with the Commandant.  Philip and Krantz had also an opportunity of communicating apart for a short time.

When they made sail the next morning, Pedro spoke openly; he told Krantz that the soldiers in the boat had made up their minds, and that he had no doubt that the others would do so before night; although they had not decidedly agreed upon joining them in the morning when they had re-embarked.  That they would despatch the Commandant, and then proceed to Batavia, and from thence obtain a passage home to Europe.

“Cannot you accomplish your end without murder?”

“Yes, we could; but not our revenge.  You do not know the treatment which we have received from his hands; and sweet as the money will be to us, his death will be even sweeter.  Besides, has he not determined to murder us all in some way or another?  It is but justice.  No, no; if there was no other knife ready—­mine is.”

“And so are all ours!” cried the other soldiers, putting their hands to their weapons.

One more day’s sail brought them within twenty miles of the island; for Philip knew his landmarks well.  Again they landed, and all retired to rest, the Commandant dreaming of wealth and revenge; while it was arranging that the digging up of the treasure which he coveted should be the signal for his death.