“You can go,” I said, “but Wegelhoe and another man must stay behind as surety, for you know well I cannot yet trust you!”
I saw a sly smile steal over Berghen’s face, which he instantly repressed.
“You can keep any two of us you like, Captain. We have promised to obey orders and behave ourselves. Have we not done so?”
“I have no fault to find,” I returned; “but for what purpose do you want to recover the wood and iron?”
“There are many things which will be useful in the settlement. I have worked at several trades, and can work in iron.”
I believed him so far, but did not credit that it was for the benefit of the settlement they desired to go north. However, it mattered little now. If they intended to try and escape, Batavia was the only port they could make for, and by this time, or long before, Hoogstraaten would have arrived there, and their reception would be anything but friendly. To make matters certain, however, I assured Berghen that, in case of any treachery, the two hostages would straightway be executed.
Wegelhoe, who was of an indolent disposition like many big men, made no objection to remaining as hostage, and the party, led by Paul, departed in two of the largest boats we had taken from the Mongols. By Zolca’s permission some of the male relations of Paul accompanied him.
My fears apparently were unfounded. Zolca and I visited the place several times in one of the boats and always found them steadily at work. Berghen was evidently a man who, if he had been possessed of good principles, would have made his way in the world, for he was decidedly a born organizer. They had formed a camp on shore, and worked a certain time each day, and I could see that Zolca was much struck by the order and method that prevailed.
“If we come to a fight, Diedrich,” he said, “we must kill that man first.”
Instinctively he recognized the master-spirit for evil amongst the men.