“And engaged you to serve in their fleet, in the attack of this fort?”
“They forced us,” replied Krantz; “for, as there was no war between our nations, we objected to this service: notwithstanding which, they put us on board, to make the common people believe that they were assisted by Europeans.”
“How am I to know the truth of this?”
“You have our word in the first place, and our escape from them in the second.”
“You belonged to a Dutch East-Indiaman. Are you officers or common seamen?”
Krantz, who considered that they were less likely to be detained if they concealed their rank on board, gave Philip a slight touch with his finger as he replied, “We are inferior officers. I was third mate, and this man was pilot.”
“And your captain, where is he?”
“I—I cannot say whether he is alive or dead.”
“Had you no woman on board?”
“Yes! the captain had his wife.”