To this I could only reply that it was not. That during the whole time they had been friendly guests of ours they had been plotting our destruction. How was it possible to trust them?
“I have a fair offer to make,” he went on, ignoring my accusation, which, of course, he could not answer. “You do not want or care for the gold. Let us build a vessel, we have ample timber left for it, and after getting as much gold as we can, let us go in peace.”
“To return with a crew of ruffians and cannon, and massacre us all!”
“We may return, I admit, but not with that purpose. Did I behave harshly or cruelly when I had it in my power?”
Truth to tell he had not, but he had harboured a purpose in so doing. Before he died Paul confessed to me the whole of the plot. Berghen intended to keep us prisoners for a few days, until, by kind treatment and large promises, he had persuaded more of the natives to join him and disarmed the remainder. His intention then was to repeat the massacre of the Batavia, and all of us, men, women, and children, would have been ruthlessly put to the sword.
Of course I knew nothing of this at the time, or I would have held no parley with the ruffian.
“And if I accept your terms will you give up Paul and all your weapons?”
“As for the arms, that is no matter, but as for giving up Paul, that is another question, for I suppose you mean to give him a short shrift!”
“He is the traitor who has brought all this trouble on us! But for him the Selwaert would have passed on without knowing of our existence.”
“At least he is not responsible for this last attempt, I planned this unaided, and it was only after strong persuasion, and a few threats, that he joined us.”