They were now so near to the breakers that they felt the swell in which the vessel lay becalmed turned over here and there on its long line, but the breeze freshened, and the vessel was stationary! the men were all in the boats, with the exception of Mynheer Kloots, the mates, and Mynheer Von Stroom.

“She goes through the water now,” said Philip.

“Yes, I think we shall save her,” replied the captain:  “steady as you go, Hillebrant,” continued he to the first mate, who was at the helm.  “We leave the breakers now—­only let the breeze hold ten minutes.”

The breeze was steady, the Ter Schilling stood off from the land, again it fell calm, and again she was swept towards the breakers; at last the breeze came off strong, and the vessel cleaved through the water.  The men were called out of the boats; Mynheer Von Stroom was picked up along with his hat and wig, carried into the cabin, and in less than an hour the Ter Schilling was out of danger.

“Now we will hoist up the boats,” said Mynheer Kloots, “and let us all, before we lie down to sleep, thank God for our deliverance.”

During that night the Ter Schilling made an offing of twenty miles, and then stood to the southward; towards the morning the wind again fell, and it was nearly calm.

Mynheer Kloots had been on deck about an hour, and had been talking with Hillebrant upon the danger of the evening, and the selfishness and pusillanimity of Mynheer Von Stroom, when a loud noise was heard in the poop-cabin.

“What can that be?” said the captain; “has the good man lost his senses from the fright?  Why, he is knocking the cabin to pieces.”

At this moment the servant of the supercargo ran out of the cabin.

“Mynheer Kloots, hasten in—­help my master—­he will be killed—­the bear!—­the bear!”

“The bear! what; Johannes?” cried Mynheer Kloots.  “Why, the animal is as tame as a dog.  I will go and see.”

But before Mynheer Kloots could walk into the cabin, out flew in his shirt the affrighted supercargo.  “My God! my God! am I to be murdered?—­eaten alive?” cried he, running forward, and attempting to climb the fore-rigging.

Mynheer Kloots followed the motions of Mynheer Von Stroom with surprise, and when he found him attempting to mount the rigging, he turned aft and walked into the cabin, when he found to his surprise that Johannes was indeed doing mischief.

The panelling of the state cabin of the supercargo had been beaten down, the wig boxes lay in fragments on the floor, the two spare wigs were lying by them, and upon them were strewed fragments of broken pots and masses of honey, which Johannes was licking up with peculiar gusto.