early australian voyages-第4节
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reby preventing their intention of running away with his vessel。 But as this third company was by much the weakest； they began with them first； and cut them all off； except five women and seven children； not in the least doubting that they should be able to do as much by Weybhays and his company。 In the meantime； having broke open the merchant's chests； which had been saved out of the wreck； they converted them to their own use without ceremony。
The traitor； Jerom Cornelis； was so much elevated with the success that had hitherto attended his villainy； that he immediately began to fancy all difficulties were over； and gave a loose to his vicious inclinations in every respect。 He ordered clothes to be made of rich stuffs that had been saved； for himself and his troop； and having chosen out of them a company of guards； he ordered them to have scarlet coats； with a double lace of gold or silver。 There were two minister's daughters among the women； one of whom he took for his own mistress； gave the second to a favourite of his； and ordered that the other three women should be common to the whole troop。 He afterwards drew up a set of regulations； which were to be the laws of his new principality； taking to himself the style and title of Captain…General； and obliging his party to sign an act； or instrument； by which they acknowledged him as such。 These points once settled； he resolved to carry on the war。 He first of all embarked on board two shallops twenty…two men； well armed； with orders to destroy Mr。 Weybhays and his company； and on their miscarrying； he undertook a like expedition with thirty…seven men； in which； however； he had no better success； for Mr。 Weybhays； with his people； though armed only with staves with nails drove into their heads； advanced even into the water to meet them； and after a brisk engagement compelled these murderers to retire。
Cornelis then thought fit to enter into a negotiation； which was managed by the chaplain； who remained with Mr。 Weybhays； and after several comings and goings from one party to the other； a treaty was concluded upon the following termsviz。； That Mr。 Weybhays and his company should for the future remain undisturbed； provided they delivered up a little boat； in which one of the sailors had made his escape from the island in which Cornelis was with his gang； in order to take shelter on that where Weybhays was with his company。 It was also agreed that the latter should have a part of the stuffs and silks given them for clothes； of which they stood in great want。 But； while this affair was in agitation； Cornelis took the opportunity of the correspondence between them being restored； to write letters to some French soldiers that were in Weybhays's company； promising them six thousand livres apiece if they would comply with his demands； not doubting but by this artifice he should be able to accomplish his end。
His letters； however； had no effect； on the contrary； the soldiers to whom they were directed carried them immediately to Mr。 Weybhays。 Cornelis； not knowing that this piece of treachery was discovered； went over the next morning； with three or four of his people； to carry to Mr。 Weybhays the clothes that had been promised him。 As soon as they landed； Weybhays attacked them； killed two or three； and made Cornelis himself prisoner。 One Wonterloss； who was the only man that made his escape； went immediately back to the conspirators； put himself at their head； and came the next day to attack Weybhays； but met with the same fate as beforethat is to say； he and the villains that were with him were soundly beat。
Things were in this situation when Captain Pelsart arrived in the Sardam frigate。 He sailed up to the wreck； and saw with great joy a cloud of smoke ascending from one of the islands； by which he knew that all his people were not dead。 He came immediately to an anchor； and having ordered some wine and provisions to be put into the skiff； resolved to go in person with these refreshments to one of these islands。 He had hardly quitted the ship before he was boarded by a boat from the island to which he was going。 There were four men in the boat； of whom Weybhays was one； who immediately ran to the captain； told him what had happened； and begged him to return to his ship immediately； for that the conspirators intended to surprise her； that they had already murdered 125 persons； and that they had attacked him and his company that very morning with two shallops。
While they were talking the two shallops appeared； upon which the captain rowed to his ship as fast as he could； and was hardly got on board before they arrived at the ship's side。 The captain was surprised to see men in red coats laced with gold and silver； with arms in their hands。 He demanded what they meant by coming on board armed。 They told him he should know when they were on board the ship。 The captain replied that they should come on board； but that they must first throw their arms into the sea； which if they did not do immediately； he would sink them as they lay。 As they saw that disputes were to no purpose； and that they were entirely in the captain's power； they were obliged to obey。 They accordingly threw their arms overboard； and were then taken into the vessel； where they were instantly put in irons。 One of them； whose name was John Bremen； and who was first examined； owned that he had murdered with his own hands； or had assisted in murdering； no less than twenty… seven persons。 The same evening Weybhays brought his prisoner Cornelis on board； where he was put in irons and strictly guarded。
On the 18th of September； Captain Pelsart； with the master； went to take the rest of the conspirators in Cornelis's island。 They went in two boats。 The villains； as soon as they saw them land； lost all their courage； and fled from them。 They surrendered without a blow； and were put in irons with the rest。 The captain's first care was to recover the jewels which Cornelis had dispersed among his accomplices： they were； however； all of them soon found； except a gold chain and a diamond ring； the latter was also found at last； but the former could not be recovered。 They went next to examine the wreck； which they found staved into an hundred pieces； the keel lay on a bank of sand on one side； the fore part of the vessel stuck fast on a rock； and the rest of her lay here and there as the pieces had been driven by the waves； so that Captain Pelsart had very little hopes of saving any of the merchandise。 One of the people belonging to Weybhays's company told him that one fair day； which was the only one they had in a month； as he was fishing near the wreck； he had struck the pole in his hand against one of the chests of silver； which revived the captain a little； as it gave him reason to expect that something might still be saved。 They spent all the 19th in examining the rest of the prisoners； and in confronting them with those who escaped from the massacre。
On the 20th they sent several kinds of refreshments to Weybhays's company； and carried a good quantity of water from the isle。 There was something very singular in finding this water； the people who were on shore there had subsisted near three weeks on rainwater； and what lodged in the clefts of the rocks； without thinking that the water of two wells which were on the island could be of any use； because they saw them constantly rise and fall with the tide； from whence they fancied they had a communication within the sea； and consequently that the water must be brackish； but upon trial they found it to be very good； and so did the ship's company； who filled their casks with it。
On the 21st the tide was so low； and an east…south…east wind blew so hard； that during the whole day the boat could not get out。 On the 22nd they attempted to fish upon the wreck； but the weather was so bad that even those who could swim very well durst not approach it。 On the 25th the master and the pilot； the weather being fair； went off again to the wreck； and those who were left on shore； observing that they wanted hands to get anything out of her； sent off some to assist them。 The captain went also himself to encourage the men； who soon weighed one chest of silver； and some time after another。 As soon as these were safe ashore they returned to their work； but the weather grew so bad that they were quickly obliged to desist； though some of their divers from Guzarat assured them they had found six more； which might easily be weighed。 On the 26th； in the afternoon； the weather being fair； and the tide low； the master returned to the place where the chests lay； and weighed three of them； leaving an anchor with a gun tied to it； and a buoy； to mark the place where the fourth lay； which； notwithstanding their utmost efforts； they were not able to recover。
On the 27th； the south wind blew very cold。 On the 28th the same wind blew stronger than the day before； and as there was no possibility of fishing in the wreck for the present； Captain Pelsart held a council to consider what they should do with the prisoners： that is to say； whether it would be best to try them there upon the spot； or to carry them to Batavia； in order to their being tried by the Company's
