Chapter I: Preface

In the following romance I have endeavoured to associate the tradition of De Gonneville’s visit to Australia with the historical fact of the wreck of the _Batavia_, and the marooning of two of the mutineers. The wreck of the _Batavia_ is perhaps one of the most murderous tragedies that ever happened in any part of the world. One of the ruffians confessed, before being hanged, to having killed and assisted to kill, twenty-five defenceless people. A full account of the wreck and the massacre will be found in _Pinkerton’s Early Voyages_.

I have taken a liberty with history in introducing Captain Sharpe, the buccaneer, as in reality he never visited the Australian coast, although some of his crew did. I must also confess to having taken some freedom with chronology as, under the name of Hoogstraaten, I have introduced Abel Janz Tasman many years before his actual advent on the western coast of Australia; and De Witt’s voyage of discovery really took place before the wreck of the _Batavia_. I trust, however, that in a romance these inaccuracies will be pardoned.

In the appendix the reader will find an account of the setting up of the great Cross by De Gonneville, and the record of Sir George Grey regarding the head carved on the Rock.

ERNEST FAVENC.

CONTENTS

Chap. Page

I. THE WRECK OF THE _BATAVIA_, 11

II. WE START FOR THE NORTH, 22

III. A STRANGE PEOPLE, 31

IV. THE FRENCHMAN’S CROSS, 41

V. THE FIGHT IN THE BAY, 52

VI. PAUL DISCOVERS GOLD, 65

VII. ANOTHER PIRATE JUNK, 77

VIII. PAUL’S TREACHERY, 89

IX. I FIGHT A DUEL, 101

X. A STORM, 113

XI. THE REBELLION, 125

XII. AZOLTA’S STRATAGEM, 138

XIII. THE PIRATE FLAG, 150

XIV. WE ENTERTAIN THE PIRATE CAPTAIN, 163

XV. WE DESTROY THE MONGOL JUNK, 176

XVI. A STRANGE DISCOVERY, 188

XVII. THE GREAT CATASTROPHE, 196

XVIII. RESCUE BY DUTCH SHIPS, 205

APPENDIX, 219

ILLUSTRATIONS

Page

PAUL AND DIEDRICH ARE MAROONED IN A GREAT UNKNOWN LAND _Frontis._ 22

CHART SHOWING THE ROUTE TAKEN BY DIEDRICH AND PAUL 10

PAUL DREW HIS SHORT SWORD AND STOOD ON THE DEFENSIVE 72

DIEDRICH RALLIES THE QUADRUCOS AND RECAPTURES THE TOWN 143

CHART SHOWING THE ROUTE TAKEN BY DIEDRICH AND PAUL. ]

MAROONED ON AUSTRALIA