“I shall avail myself of your permission, with thanks.  How long shall we stay here?”

“Not long, as we are ordered to run back.  Our cargo is all ready for us, and will be on board soon after we have discharged.”

Philip took the advice of his captain; he had no difficulty in finding himself received by a hospitable merchant, who had a house at some distance from the town, and in a healthy situation.  There he remained two months, during which he re-established his health, and then re-embarked a few days previous to the ship being ready for sea.  The return voyage was fortunate, and in four months from the date of their quitting Batavia, they found themselves abreast of St Helena; for vessels, at that period, generally made what is called the eastern passage, running down the coast of Africa, instead of keeping towards the American shores.  Again they had passed the Cape without meeting with the Phantom Ship; and Philip was not only in excellent health, but in good spirits.  As they lay becalmed, with the island in sight, they observed a boat pulling towards them, and in the course of three hours she arrived on board.  The crew were much exhausted from having been two days in the boat, during which time they had never ceased pulling to gain the island.  They stated themselves to be the crew of a small Dutch Indiaman, which had foundered at sea two days before; she had started one of her planks, and filled so rapidly that the men had hardly time to save themselves.  They consisted of the captain, mates, and twenty men belonging to the ship, and an old Portuguese Catholic priest, who had been sent home by the Dutch governor, for having opposed the Dutch interests in the Island of Japan.  He had lived with the natives, and been secreted by them for some time, as the Japanese government was equally desirous of capturing him, with the intention of taking away his life.  Eventually he found himself obliged to throw himself into the arms of the Dutch, as being the less cruel of his enemies.

The Dutch government decided that he should be sent away from the country; and he had, in consequence, been put on board of the Indiaman for a passage home.  By the report of the captain and crew, one person only had been lost; but he was a person of consequence, having for many years held the situation of president in the Dutch factory at Japan.  He was returning to Holland with the riches which he had amassed.  By the evidence of the captain and crew, he had insisted, after he was put into the boat, upon going back to the ship to secure a casket of immense value, containing diamonds and other precious stones, which he had forgotten; they added, that while they were waiting for him the ship suddenly plunged her bowsprit under, and went down head foremost, and that it was with difficulty they had themselves escaped.  They had waited for some time to ascertain if he would rise again to the surface, but he appeared no more.