Snarleyyow by Captain Frederick MarryatOr, the Dog Fiend (page 8)

shall learn something now, depend upon it.”

The Frau Vandersloosh made her appearance, sailing in the room like a Dutch man-of-war of that period, under full sail, high pooped and broad sterned. Never having stood in the presence of great men, she was not a little confused, so she fanned herself most furiously.

“You wish to speak with me,” said Lord Albemarle.

“Yes, your honour’s honour, I’ve come to expose a snivelling traitor to his Majesty’s crown. Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken, we shall see now,” continued the widow, talking to herself, and fanning away.

“We are all attentive, madam.”

Mistress Vandersloosh then began, out of breath, and continued out of breath till she had told the whole of her story, which, as the reader must be aware, only corroborated all Vanslyperken had already stated, with the exception that he had denounced the widow. Lord Albemarle allowed her to proceed without interruption, he had a great insight into character, and the story of the widow confirmed him in his opinion of Vanslyperken.

“But my good woman,” said Lord Albemarle, “are you aware that Mr Vanslyperken has already been here?”

“Yes, your honour, I met him going back, and he turned his nose up at me, and I then said, ‘Well, well, Mr Vanslyperken, we shall see; wait a little, Mr Vanslyperken.'”

“And,” continued Lord Albemarle, “that he has denounced you as being a party to all these treasonable practices.”

“Me–denounced me–he–O Lord, O Lord, only let me meet him face to face–let him say it then if he dares, the snivelling–cowardly–murdering wretch.”

Thereupon Mrs Vandersloosh commenced the history of Vanslyperken’s wooing, of his cur Snarleyyow, of her fancy for the corporal, of his finding her with the corporal the day before, of her beating him off with the brooms, and of her threats to expose his treason. “And so, now, when he finds that he was to be exposed, he comes up first himself; that’s now the truth of it, or my name’s not Vandersloosh, your honour,” and the widow walked up and down with the march of an elephant, fanning herself violently, her bosom heaving with agitation, and her face as red as a boiled lobster.

“Mistress Vandersloosh,” said Lord Albemarle, “let the affair rest as it is for the present, but I shall not forget what you have told me. I think now that you had better go home.”

At this dismissal the widow turned round.

“Thank your worship kindly,” said she, “I’m ready to come whenever I’m wanted. Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken,” resumed the widow, as she walked to the door, quite forgetting the respect due to the two noblemen, “we shall see; yes, yes, we shall see.”

“Well, my lord, what think you of this?” said Lord Albemarle to the duke, as the widow closed the door.

“Upon my soul I think she is honest; she is too fat for a traitor.”

“I am of your opinion. The episode of the corporal was delightful, and has thrown much light upon the lieutenant’s conduct, who is a traitor in my opinion, if ever there was one; but he must be allowed to fulfil his task, and then we will soon find out the traitor; but if I mistake not, that man was born to be hung.”

We must now return to Mr Vanslyperken, who received the note from Ramsay, just as he was going down to the boat. As he did not know what steps were to be taken by government, he determined to go up to Ramsay, and inform him of his order for immediately sailing.

He might gain further information from his letters, and also remove the suspicion of his having betrayed him. Ramsay received Mr Vanslyperken with an air of confidence.

“Sit down, Mr Vanslyperken, I wish to know whether there is any chance of your sailing.”

“I was about to come up to you to state that I have orders to sail this evening.”

“That is fortunate, as I intended to take a passage with you, and what is more, Mr Vanslyperken, I have a large sum in specie, which we must contrive to get on board. Cannot we contrive it, I cannot go without it.”

“A large sum in specie?” Vanslyperken reflected. “Yes, he would secure Ramsay as a prisoner, and possess himself of the specie if he could. His entrapping Ramsay on board would be another proof of his fidelity and dexterity. But then Vanslyperken thought of the defection of the corporal, but that was of no great consequence. The crew of the cutter dare not disobey him, when they were ordered to seize a traitor.”

While Vanslyperken was meditating this, Ramsay fixed his eyes upon him waiting for his reply.

“It will be difficult,” observed Vanslyperken, “to get the specie on board without being seen.”

“I’m afraid so too, but I have a proposition to make. Suppose you get under way, and–heave to a mile outside, I will then come off in the syndic’s barge. I can have the use of it. Then nothing will be discovered.”

Vanslyperken appeared to reflect again.

“I shall still run a great risk, Mr Ramsay.”

“You will run some little perhaps, but you will be well paid for it, I promise you.”

“Well, sir, I consent,” replied Vanslyperken. “At what hour do you propose to embark?”

“About eleven or a little earlier. You will have a light over the stern; hail the boat when you see it coming, and I shall answer, ‘King’s messenger, with despatches;’ that will be a blind to your crew–they supposed me a king’s messenger before.”

“Yes, that will be prudent,” replied Vanslyperken, who then took his leave with great apparent cordiality.

“Villain,” muttered Ramsay, as Vanslyperken shut the door, “I know your thoughts.”

We must pass over the remainder of this eventful day. Wilhelmina had procured the dress of a boy, in which disguise she proposed to elope with Ramsay, and all her preparations were made long before the time. Mynheer Krause was also occupied in getting his specie ready for embarkation, and Ramsay in writing letters. The despatches from the Hague came down about nine o’clock, and Vanslyperken received them on board. About ten, he weighed and made sail, and hove-to about a mile outside, with a light shown as agreed. About the time arranged, a large boat appeared pulling up to the cutter. “Boat, ahoy!” “King’s messenger with despatches,” was the reply. “All’s right,” said Vanslyperken, “get a rope there from forward.”

The boat darted alongside of the cutter. She pulled ten oars, but, as soon as she was alongside, a number of armed men sprang from her on the decks, and beat the crew below, while Ramsay, with pistols in his belt, and his sword in his hand, went aft to Vanslyperken.

“What is all this?” exclaimed the terrified lieutenant.

“Nothing, sir, but common prudence on my part,” replied Ramsay. “I have an account to settle with you.”

Vanslyperken perceived that his treachery was discovered, and he fell upon his knees. Ramsay turned away to give orders, and Vanslyperken darted down the hatchway, and gained the lower deck.

“Never mind,” said Ramsay, “he’ll not escape me; come, my lads, hand up the boxes as fast as you can.”

Ramsay then went to the boat, and brought up Wilhelmina, who had remained there, and conducted her down into the cabin. The boxes were also handed down, the boat made fast, and the conspirators remained in possession of the deck. The helm was taken by one of them; sail again made on the cutter, and the boat with a boat-keeper towed astern.

Chapter XLVII

Which is rather interesting.

Mr Vanslyperken’s retreat was not known to the crew, they thought him still on deck, and he hastened forward to secrete himself, even from his own crew, who were not a little astonished at this unexpected attack which they could not account for. The major part of the arms on board were always kept in Mr Vanslyperken’s cabin, and that was not only in possession of the assailants, but there was a strong guard in the passage outside which led to the lower deck.

“Well, this beats my comprehension entirely,” said Bill Spurey.

“Yes,” replied Short.

“And mine too,” added Obadiah Coble, “being as we are, as you know, at peace with all nations, to be boarded and carried in this way.”

“Why, what, and who can they be?”

“I’ve a notion that Vanslyperken’s at the bottom of it,” replied Spurey.

“Yes,” said Short.

“But it’s a bottom that I can’t fathom,” continued Spurey.

“My dipsey line arn’t long enough either,” replied Coble.

“Gott for dam, what it can be!” exclaimed Jansen. “It must be the treason.”

“Mein Gott! yes,” replied Corporal Van Spitter. “It is all treason, and the traitor be Vanslyperken.” But although the corporal had some confused ideas, yet he could not yet arrange them.

“Well, I’ve no notion of being boxed up here,” observed Coble, “they can’t be so many as we are, even if they were stowed away in the boat, like pilchards in a cask. Can’t we get at the arms, corporal, and make a rush for it.”

“Mein Gott! de arms are all in the cabin, all but three pair pistols and the bayonets.”

“Well, but we’ve handspikes,” observed Spurey.

“Got for dam, gif me de handspike,” cried Jansen.

“We had better wait till daylight, at all events,” observed Coble, “we shall see our work better.”

“Yes,” replied Short.

“And, in the meantime, get everything to hand that we can.”

“Yes,” replied Short.

“Well, I can’t understand the manoeuvre. It beats my comprehension, what they have done with Vanslyperken.”

“I don’t know, but they’ve kicked the cur out of the cabin.”

“Then they’ve kicked him out too, depend upon it.”

Thus did the crew continue to surmise during the whole night, but, as Bill Spurey said, the manoeuvre beat their comprehension.

One thing was agreed upon, that they should make an attempt to recover the vessel as soon as they could.

In the meantime, Ramsay with Wilhelmina, and the Jesuits, had taken possession of the cabin, and had opened all the despatches which acquainted them with the directions in detail, given for the taking of the conspirators at Portsmouth, and in the cave. Had it not been to save his friends, Ramsay would, at once, have taken the cutter to Cherbourg, and have there landed Wilhelmina and the treasure; but his anxiety for his friends, determined him to run at once for the cave, and send overland to Portsmouth. The wind was fair and the water smooth, and, before morning, the cutter was on her way.

In the meantime, the crew of the cutter had not been idle; the ladders had been taken up and hatches closed. The only chance of success was an attack upon the guard, who was stationed outside of the cabin.

They had six pistols, about two hundred pounds of ammunition, but with the exception of half-a-dozen bayonets, no other weapons. But they were resolute men, and as soon as they had made their arrangements, which consisted of piling up their hammocks, so as to make a barricade to fire over, they then commenced operations, the first signal of which, was a pistol-shot discharged at the men who were on guard in the passage, and which wounded one of them. Ramsay darted out of the cabin, at the report of the pistol, another and another was discharged, and Ramsay then gave the order to fire in return. This was done, but without injury to the seamen of the cutter, who were protected by the hammocks, and Ramsay having already three of his men wounded, found that the post below was no longer tenable. A consultation took place, and it was determined that the passage on the lower deck and the cabin should be abandoned, as the upper deck it would be easy to retain.

The cabin’s skylight was taken off, and the boxes of gold handed up, while the party outside the cabin door maintained the conflict with the crew of the _Yungfrau_. When all the boxes were up, Wilhelmina was lifted on deck, the skylight was shipped on again, and, as soon as the after hatches were ready to put on, Ramsay’s men retreated to the ladder, which they drew up after them, and then put on the hatches.

Had not the barricade of hammocks prevented them, the crew of the _Yungfrau_ might have made a rush, and followed the others on deck; but, before they could beat down the barricades, which they did as soon as they perceived their opponents’ retreat, the ladder was up, and the hatches placed over the hatchways.

The _Yungfraus_ had gained the whole of the lower deck, but they could do no more; and Ramsay perceived that if he could maintain possession of the upper deck, it was as much as he could expect with such determined assailants. This warfare had been continued during the whole morning, and it was twelve o’clock before the cabin and lower deck had been abandoned by Ramsay’s associates. During the whole day the skirmishes continued, the crew of the _Yungfrau_ climbing on the table of the cabin, and firing through the skylight, but in so doing, they exposed themselves to the fire of the other party who sat like cats watching for their appearance, and discharging their pieces the moment that a head presented itself. In the meantime, the cutter darted on before a strong favourable breeze, and thus passed the first day. Many attempts were made during the night by the seamen of the cutter to force their way on deck, but they were all prevented by the vigilance of Ramsay; and the next morning the Isle of Wight was in sight. Wilhelmina had passed the night on the forecastle, covered up with a sail; none of his people had had anything to eat during the time that they were on board, and Ramsay was most anxious to arrive at his destination.

About noon, the cutter was abreast of the Black Gang Chine: Ramsay had calculated upon retaining possession of the cutter, and taking the whole of the occupants of the cave over to Cherbourg, but this was now impossible. He had five of his men wounded, and he could not row the boat to the cave without leaving so few men on board, that they would be overpowered, for his ammunition was expended, with the exception of one or two charges, which were retained for an emergency. All that he could do now, was, therefore, to put his treasure in the boat, and with Wilhelmina and his whole party make for the cave, when he could send notice to Portsmouth for the others to join them, and they must be content to await the meditated attack upon the cave, and defend it till they could make their escape to France. The wind being foul for the cutter’s return to Portsmouth, would enable him to give notice at Portsmouth, over land, before she could arrive.

There was a great oversight committed when the lower deck was abandoned, the despatches had been left on Mr Vanslyperken’s bed. Had they been taken away or destroyed, there would have been ample time for the whole of his party to have made their escape from England, before duplicates could arrive. As it was, he could do no more than what we have already mentioned.

The boat was hauled up, the boxes of specie put in, the wounded men laid at the bottom of the boat, and having, at the suggestion of one of the men, cut the lower riggings, halyards, &c., of the cutter to retard its progress to Portsmouth, Ramsay and his associates stepped into the boat, and pulled for the cave.

Their departure was soon ascertained by the crew of the _Yungfrau_ who now forced the skylight, and gained the deck, but not before the boat had entered the cave.

“What’s to be done now?” said Coble. “Smash my timbers, but they’ve played old Harry with the rigging. We must knot and splice.”

“Yes,” replied Short.

“What the devil have they done with Vanslyperken?” cried Bill Spurey.

“Either shoved him overboard, or taken him with them, I suppose,” cried Coble.

“Well, it’s a nice job altogether,” observed Spurey.

“Mein Gott! yes,” replied the corporal; “we will have a pretty story to tell de admiral.”

“Well, they’ve rid us of him at all events; I only hope they’ll hang him.”

“Mein Gott! yes.”

“He’ll have his desarts,” replied Coble.

“Got for tam! I like to see him swing.”

“Now he’s gone, let’s send his dog after him. Hurrah, my lads! get a rope up on the yard, and let us hang Snarleyyow.”

“Mein Gott! I’ll go fetch him,” cried the corporal.

“You will–will you?” roared a voice.

The corporal turned round, so did the others, and there, with his drawn sword, stood Mr Vanslyperken.

“You d—-d mutinous scoundrel,” cried Vanslyperken, “touch my dog, if you dare.”

The corporal put his hand up to the salute, and Vanslyperken shook his head with a diabolical expression of countenance.

“Now where the devil could he come from?” whispered Spurey.

Coble shrugged up his shoulders, and Short gave a long whistle expending more breath than usual.

However, there was no more to be said; and as soon as the rigging was knotted and spliced, sail was made in the cutter; but the wind being dead in their teeth, they did not arrive until late the next evening, and the admiral did not see despatches till the next morning, for the best of all possible reasons, that Vanslyperken did not take them on shore. He had a long story to tell, and he thought it prudent not to disturb the admiral after dinner, as great men are apt to be very choleric during the progress of digestion.

The consequence was, that when, the next morning, Mr Vanslyperken called upon the admiral, the intelligence had been received from the cave, and all the parties had absconded. Mr Vanslyperken told his own tale, how he had been hailed by a boat purporting to have a messenger on board, how they had boarded him and beat down himself and his crew, how he and his crew had fought under hatches and beat them on deck, and how they had been forced to abandon the cutter. All this was very plausible, and then Vanslyperken gave the despatches opened by Ramsay.

The admiral read them in haste, gave immediate orders for surrounding and breaking into the house of the Jew Lazarus, in which the military found nobody but an old tom-cat, and then desired Mr Vanslyperken to hold the cutter in readiness to embark troops and sail that afternoon; but troops do not move so fast as people think, and before one hundred men had been told off by the sergeant with their accoutrements, knapsacks, and sixty pounds of ammunition, it was too late to embark them that night, so they waited until the next morning. Moreover, Mr Vanslyperken had orders to draw from the dock-yard three large boats for the debarkation of the said troops; but the boats were not quite ready, one required a new gunnel, another three planks in the bottom, and the third having her stern out, it required all the carpenters in the yard to finish it by the next morning. Mr Vanslyperken’s orders were to proceed to the cave, and land the troops, to march up to the cave, and to cover the advance of the troops, rendering them all the assistance in his power in co-operating with the major commanding the detachment; but where the cave was, no one knew, except that it was thereabouts.

The next morning, at eight o’clock, the detachment, consisting of one hundred men, were embarked on board of the cutter, but the major commandant finding that the decks were excessively crowded, and that he could hardly breathe, ordered section first, section second, and section third, of twenty-five men each, to go into the boats and be towed. After which there was more room, and the cutter stood out for St Helen’s.

Chapter XLVIII

In which there is a great deal of correspondence, and the widow is called up very early in the morning.

We must now return to Mynheer Krause, who, after he had delivered over his gold, locked up his counting-house and went up to the saloon, determining to meet his fate with all the dignity of a Roman senator. He sent for his daughter, who sent word back that she was packing up her wardrobe, and this answer appeared but reasonable to the syndic, who, therefore, continued in his chair, reflecting upon his approaching incarceration, conning speeches, and anticipating a glorious acquittal, until the bell of the cathedral chimed the half-hour after ten. He then sent another message to his daughter, and the reply was that she was not in the room, upon which he despatched old Koop to Ramsay, requesting his attendance. The reply to this second message was a letter presented to the syndic, who broke the seal and read as follows:

“MY DEAR AND HONOURED SIR,

“I have sought a proper asylum for your daughter during the impending troubles, and could not find one which pleased, and in consequence I have taken the bold step, aware that I might not have received your sanction if applied for, of taking her on board the cutter with me; she will there be safe, and as her character might be, to a certain degree, impeached by being in company with a man of my age, I intend, as soon as we arrive in port, to unite myself to her, for which act, I trust, you will grant me your pardon. As for yourself, be under no apprehension, I have saved you. Treat the accusation with scorn, and if you are admitted into the presence of his Majesty, accuse him of the ingratitude which he has been guilty of; I trust that we shall soon meet again, that I may return to you the securities and specie of which I have charge, as well as your daughter, who is anxious once more to receive your blessing.

“Yours ever, till death,

“EDWARD RAMSAY.”

Mynheer Krause read this letter over and over again, it was very mystifying. Much depends in this world upon the humour people are in at the time; Mynheer Krause was, at that time, full of Cato-like devotion and Roman virtue, and he took the contents of the letter in true Catonic style.

“Excellent young man–to preserve my honour he has taken her away with him! and, to preserve her reputation he intends to marry her! Now, I can go to prison without a sigh. He tells me that he has saved me–saved me!–why, he has saved everything; me, my daughter, and my property! Well, they shall see how I behave! They shall witness the calmness of a stoic; I shall express no emotion or surprise at the arrest, as they will naturally expect, because I know it is to take place–no fear–no agitation when in prison, because I know that I am to be saved. I shall desire them to bear in mind that I am the syndic of this town, and must receive that respect which is due to my exalted situation,” and Mynheer Van Krause lifted his pipe and ordered Koop to bring him a stone jug of beer, and thus doubly-armed like Cato, he awaited the arrival of the officer with all the stoicism of beer and tobacco.

About the same hour of night that the letter was put into the hands of Mynheer Krause, a packet was brought up to Lord Albemarle, who was playing a game of put with his Grace the Duke of Portland; at that time put was a most fashionable game; but games are like garments, as they become old they are cast off, and handed down to the servants. The outside of the despatch was marked “To Lord Albemarle’s own hands. Immediate and most important.” It appeared, however, as if the two noble lords considered the game of put as more important and immediate, for they finished it without looking at the packet in question, and it was midnight before they threw up the cards. After which, Lord Albemarle went to a side table, apart from the rest of the company, and broke the seals. It was a letter with enclosures, and ran as follows:

“MY LORD ALBEMARLE,

“Although your political enemy, I do justice to your merits, and to prove my opinion of you, address to you this letter, the object of which is to save your government from the disgrace of injuring a worthy man, and a staunch supporter, to expose the villany of a coward and a scoundrel. When I state that my name is Ramsay, you may at once be satisfied that, before this comes to your hands, I am out of your reach. I came here in the king’s cutter, commanded by Mr Vanslyperken, with letters of recommendation to Mynheer Krause, which represented me as a staunch adherent of William of Orange and a Protestant, and, with that impression, I was well received, and took up my abode in his house. My object you may imagine, but fortune favoured me still more, in having in my power Lieutenant Vanslyperken. I opened the government despatches in his presence, and supplied him with false seals to enable him to do the same, and give me the extracts which were of importance, for which I hardly need say he was most liberally rewarded; this has been carried on for some time, but it appears, that in showing him how to obtain your secrets, I also showed him how to possess himself of ours, and the consequence has been that he has turned double traitor, and I have now narrowly escaped.

“The information possessed by Mynheer Krause was given by me, to win his favour for one simple reason, that I fell in love with his daughter, who has now quitted the country with me. He never was undeceived as to my real position, nor is he even now. Let me do an honest man justice. I enclose you the extracts from your duplicates made by Mr Vanslyperken, written in his own hand, which I trust will satisfy you as to his perfidy, and induce you to believe in the innocence of the worthy syndic from the assurance of a man, who, although a Catholic, a Jacobite, and if you please an attainted traitor, is incapable of telling you a falsehood. I am, my lord, with every respect for your noble character.

“Yours most obediently,

“EDWARD RAMSAY.”

“This is corroborative of my suspicions,” said Lord Albemarle, putting down the papers before the Duke of Portland.

The duke read the letter and examined the enclosures.

“Shall we see the king to-night?”

“No, he is retired, and it is of no use, they are in prison by this time; we will wait the report to-morrow morning–ascertain how many have been secured–and then lay these documents before his Majesty.”

Leaving the two noble lords to go to bed, we shall now return to Amsterdam at twelve o’clock at night precisely; as the bell tolled, a loud knock was heard at the syndic’s house. Koop, who had been ordered by his master to remain up, immediately opened the door, and a _posse comitatus_ of civil power filled the yard.

“Where is Mynheer Krause?” inquired the chief in authority.

“Mynheer, the syndic, is upstairs in the saloon.”

Without sending up his name, the officer went up, followed by three or four others, and found Mynheer Krause smoking his pipe.

“Ah, my very particular friend, Mynheer Engelback, what brings you here at this late hour with all your people? Is there a fire in the town?”

“No, Mynheer Syndic. It is an order I am very sorry to say to arrest you, and conduct you to prison.”

“Arrest and conduct me to prison–me the syndic of the town–that is strange–will you allow me to see your warrant–yes, it is all true and countersigned by his Majesty; I have no more to say, Mynheer Engelback. As syndic of this town, and administrator of the laws, it is my duty to set the example of obedience to them, at the same time protesting my entire innocence. Koop, get me my mantle. Mynheer Engelback, I claim to be treated with the respect due to me, as syndic of this town.”

The officers were not a little staggered at the coolness and _sang froid_ of Mynheer Krause, he had never appeared to so much advantage; they bowed respectfully as he finished his speech.

“I believe, Mynheer Krause, that you have some friends staying with you?”

“I have no friend in the house except my very particular friend, Mynheer Engelback,” replied the syndic.

“You must excuse us, but we must search the house.”

“You have his Majesty’s warrant so to do, and no excuse is necessary.”

After a diligent search of half an hour, nobody was found in the house, and the officers began to suspect that the government had been imposed upon. Mynheer Krause, with every mark of attention and respect, was then walked off to the Hotel de Ville, where he remained in custody, for it was not considered right by the authorities, that the syndic should be thrown into the common prison upon suspicion only. When he arrived there, Mynheer Krause surprised them all by the philosophy with which he smoked his pipe.

But, although there was nobody to be found, except the syndic in the syndic’s house, and not a soul at the house inhabited by the Jesuit, there was one more person included in the warrant, which was the widow Vandersloosh; for Lord Albemarle, although convinced in his own mind of her innocence, could not take upon himself to interfere with the decisions of the council; so, about one o’clock, there was a loud knocking at the widow’s door, which was repeated again and again before it awoke the widow, who was fatigued with her long and hot journey to the Hague. As for Babette, she made a rule never to wake at anything, but the magical No. 6, sounded by the church clock, or by her mistress’s voice.

“Babette,” cried the widow Vandersloosh, “Babette.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“There’s a knock at the door, Babette.”

“Only some drunken sailors, ma’am–they go away when they find they cannot get in.”

Here the peals were redoubled.

“Babette, get up, Babette–and threaten them with the watch.”

“Yes, ma’am,” replied Babette, with a terrible yawn.

Knocking and thumping with strokes louder than before.

“Babette, Babette!”

“I must put something on, ma’am,” replied Babette, rather crossly.

“Speak to them out of the window, Babette.”

Here poor Babette came down to the first floor, and opening the window at the landing-place on the stairs, put her head out and cried,

“If you don’t go away, you drunken fellows, my mistress will send for the watch.”

“If you don’t come down and open the door, we shall break it open,” replied the officer sent to the duty.

“Tell them it’s no inn, Babette, we won’t let people in after hours,” cried the widow, turning in her bed and anxious to resume her sound sleep.

Babette gave the message and shut down the window.

“Break open the door,” cried the officer to his attendants. In a minute or two the door was burst open, and the party ascended the staircase.

“Mercy on me! Babette, if they arn’t come in,” cried the widow, who jumped out of her bed, and nearly shutting her door, which had been left open for ventilation, she peeped out to see who were the bold intruders; she perceived a man in black with a white staff.

“What do you want?” screamed the widow, terrified.

“We want Mistress Vandersloosh. Are you that person?” said the officer.

“To be be sure I am. But what do you want here?”

“I must request you to dress and come along with me directly to the Stadt House,” replied the officer, very civilly.

“Gott in himmel! what’s the matter?”

“It’s on a charge of treasonable practices, madam.”

“Oh, ho! I see: Mr Vanslyperken. Very well, good sir; I’ll put on my clothes directly. I’ll get up any hour in the night, with pleasure, to bring that villain–. Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken, we shall see. Babette, take the gentleman down in the parlour, and give them some bottled beer. You’ll find it very good, sirs; it’s of my own brewing. And Babette, you must come up and help me.”

The officer did not think it necessary to undeceive the widow, who imagined that she was to give evidence against Vanslyperken, not that she was a prisoner herself. Still, the widow Vandersloosh did not like being called up at such an unseasonable hour, and thus expressed herself to Babette as she was dressing herself.

“Well, we shall see the ending of this, Babette.–My under petticoat is on the chair.–I told the lords the whole truth, every word of it; and I am convinced that they believed me, too.–Don’t pull tight all at once, Babette; how often do I tell you that. I do believe you missed a hole.–The cunning villain goes there and says that I–yes, Babette–that I was a traitor myself; and I said to the lords, ‘Do I look like a traitor?’–My petticoats, Babette; how stupid you are, why, your eyes are half shut now; you know I always wear the blue first, then the green, and the red last, and yet you will give me the first which comes.–He’s a handsome lord, that Duke of Portland; he was one of the _bon_–before King William went over and conquered England, and he was made a lord for his valour.–My ruff, Babette. The Dutch are a brave nation.–My bustle now.–How much beer did you give the officers? Mind you take care of everything while I am gone. I shall be home by nine, I dare say. I suppose they are going to try him now, that he may be hanged at sunrise. I knew how it would be. Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken, every dog has his day; and there’s an end of you, and of your cur also, I’ve a notion.”

The widow being now duly equipped, walked down stairs to them, and proceeded with the officers to the Stadt House. She was brought into the presence of Mynheer Engelback, who held the office of provost.

“Here is the widow Vandersloosh, mynheer.”

“Very well,” replied Engelback, who was in a very bad humour at the unsuccessful search after the conspirators, “away with her.”

“Away! where?” exclaimed the widow.

Engelback did not condescend to make a reply. The officers were mute; but one stout man on either side seized her arm and led her away, notwithstanding expostulation, and some resistance on her part.

“Where am I going? what is all this?” exclaimed the, widow, terrified; but there was no answer.

At last they came to a door, held open already by another man with a bunch of keys. The terrified woman perceived that it was a paved stone cell, with a brick arch over it; in short, a dungeon. The truth flashed upon her, for the first time. It was she who had been arrested for treason. But before she could shriek she was shoved in, and the door closed and locked upon her; and the widow sank down into a sitting posture on the ground, overcome with astonishment and indignation. “Was it possible? Had the villain prevailed?” was the question, which she asked herself over and over again, changing alternately from sorrow to indignation: at one time wringing her hands, and at others exclaiming, “Well, well, Mr Vanslyperken, we shall see.”

Chapter XLIX

In which is related much appertaining to the “pomp and glorious circumstance” of war.

The arrival of Ramsay and his party was so unexpected, that, at first, Lady Barclay imagined they had been betrayed, and that the boat was filled with armed men from the king’s cutter, who had come on shore with a view of forcing an entrance into the cave. In a minute every preparation was made for defence; for it had long been arranged, that, in case of an unexpected attack, the women should make all the resistance in their power, and which the nature of the place enabled them to do.

But, as many observed, the party, although coming from the cutter, and not badly armed, did not appear to advance in a hostile manner. After waiting some time near the boat, they advanced, each with a box on his shoulder; but what those boxes might be was a puzzle; they might be hand-grenades for throwing into the cave. However, they were soon down to the rock at which the ladder was let down, and then Smallbones stood up with a musket in his hands, with his straddling legs and short petticoat, and bawled out, “Who comes there?”

Ramsay, who was assisting Wilhelmina, looked up surprised at this singular addition to the occupants of the cave. And Wilhelmina also looked at him, and said, “Can that be a woman, Ramsay?”

“At all events, I’ve not the honour of her acquaintance. But she is pointing her musket,–we are friends,” cried Ramsay. “Tell Mistress Alice it is Ramsay.”

Smallbones turned round and reported the answer; and then, in obedience to his orders from Mistress Alice, he cried out, in imitation of the sentinels, “Pass, Ramsay, and all’s well!” presented his arms, and made a flying leap off the rock where he stood, down on the platform, that he might lower the ladder as soon as Ramsay was up, who desired everybody might be sent down to secure the boxes of specie as fast as they could, lest the cutter’s people, releasing themselves, should attempt an attack. Now, there was no more concealment necessary, and the women as well as the men went down the precipitous path and brought up the treasure, while Ramsay introduced Wilhelmina to Lady Barclay, and, in a brief, but clear narrative, told her all that had passed, and what they had now to expect. There was not a moment for delay; the cutter’s people might send the despatches over land if they thought of it, and be there as soon, if not sooner than themselves. Nancy Corbett was summoned immediately, and her instructions given. The whole of the confederates at Portsmouth were to come over to the cave with what they could collect and carry about their persons; and, in case of the cutter sending over land, with the precaution of being in disguise. Of arms and ammunition there was sufficient in the cave, which Ramsay now felt was to be defended to the last, until they could make a retreat over to the other side of the channel. In half an hour, Nancy was gone, and that very night had arrived at Portsmouth, and given notice to the whole of the confederates. Upon consultation, it was considered that the best disguise would be that of females; and, in consequence, they were all so attired, and before morning had all passed over, two or three in a boat, and landed at Ryde, where they were collected by Moggy Salisbury, who alone, of the party, knew the way to the retreat. They walked across the island by two and three, one party just keeping sight of the next ahead of them, and arrived without suspicion or interruption, conducted by Moggy Salisbury, Lazarus the Jew, and sixteen stout and desperate men, who had remained secreted in the Jew’s house, ready to obey any order, however desperate the risk might be, of their employers.

When they were all assembled at the brow of the precipice, with the exception of Lazarus, who looked like a little old woman, a more gigantic race of females was never seen; for, determined upon a desperate resistance if discovered, they had their buff jerkins under their female garments. They were soon in the cave, and very busy, under Ramsay’s directions, preparing against the expected attack. Sir Robert Barclay, with his boat, had been over two days before, and it was not known when he would return. That his presence was most anxiously looked for may be readily conceived, as his boat’s crew would double their force if obliged to remain there; and his boat would enable them, with the one brought by Ramsay, to make their escape without leaving one behind, before the attack could be made.

Nancy Corbett, as the reader may have observed, did not return to the cave with the conspirators. As she was not suspected, she determined to remain at Portsmouth till the last, and watch the motions of the authorities.

The cutter did not arrive till the evening of the second day, and the despatches were not delivered to the admiral till the third morning, when all was bustle and preparation. Nancy Corbett was everywhere, she found out what troops were ordered to embark on the expedition, and she was acquainted with some of the officers, as well as the sergeants and corporals; an idea struck her which she thought she could turn to advantage. She slipped into the barrack-yard, and to where the men were being selected, and was soon close to a sergeant whom she was acquainted with.

“So, you’ve an expedition on hand, Sergeant Tanner.”

“Yes, Mistress Corbett, and I’m one of the party.”

“I wish you joy,” replied Nancy, sarcastically.

“Oh, it’s nothing, Mistress Corbett, nothing at all, only some smugglers in a cave; we’ll soon rout them out.”

“I’ve heard a different account from the admiral’s clerk.”

“Why, what have you heard?”

“First, tell me how many men are ordered out.”

“A hundred rank and file–eight non-commissioned officers–two lieutenants–one captain–and one major.”

“Bravo, sergeant, you’ll carry all before you.”

“Why, I hope so, Mistress Corbett, especially as we are to have the assistance of the cutter’s crew.”

“Better and better still,” replied Nancy, ironically. “I wish you joy of your laurels, sergeant, ha, ha, ha.”

“Why do you laugh, Mistress Corbett, and what is that you have heard at the admiral’s office?”

“What you may hear yourself, and what I know to be true; there is not a single smuggler in the cave.”

“No!” exclaimed the sergeant. “What, nobody there?”

“Yes, there is somebody there, the cave has been chosen by the smugglers to land their goods in.”

“But some of them must be there in charge of the goods.”

“Yes, so there are, but they are all women, the smugglers’ wives, who live there; what an expedition! Let me see:–one gallant major, one gallant captain, two gallant lieutenants, eight gallant non-commissioned officers, and a hundred gallant soldiers of the Buffs, all going to attack, and rout, and defeat a score of old women.”

“But you’re joking, Mistress Nancy.”

“Upon my life I’m not, sergeant, you’ll find it true; the admiral’s ashamed of the whole affair, and the cutter’s crew swear they won’t fire a single shot.”

“By the god of war!” exclaimed the sergeant, “but this is cursed bad news you bring, Mistress Corbett.”

“Not at all; your regiment will become quite the fancy, you’ll go by the name of the lady-killers, ha, ha, ha. I wish you joy, sergeant, ha, ha, ha.”

Nancy Corbett knew well the power of ridicule, she left the sergeant, and was accosted by one of the lieutenants; she rallied him in the same way.

“But are you really in earnest, Nancy?” said Lieutenant Dillon, at last.

“Upon my soul I am; but, at the same time I hear, that they will fight hard, for they are well-armed and desperate, like their husbands, and they swear that they’ll all die to a woman, before they yield; so now we shall see who fights best, the women or the men. I’ll back my own sex for a gold Jacobus, lieutenant: will you take the bet?”

“Good God, how very annoying! I can’t, I won’t order the men to fire at women; I could not do so if they were devils incarnate; a woman is a woman still.”

“And never the worse for being brave, Lieutenant Dillon; as I said to Sergeant Tanner, your regiment, after this, will always go by the name of the lady-killers.”

“D–n!” exclaimed the lieutenant; “but now I recollect there must be more there; those who had possession of the cutter and who landed in her boat.”

“Yes, with forty boxes of gold they say; but do you think they would be such fools as to remain there and allow you to take their money–that boat started for France yesterday night with all the treasure, and are now safe at Cherbourg. I know it for a fact, for one of the men’s wives who lives here, showed me a letter to that effect, from her husband, in which he requests her to follow him. But I must go now, good-bye, Mr Lady-killer.”

The lieutenant repeated what Nancy had told him to the officers, and the major was so much annoyed, that he went up to the admiral and stated what the report was, and that there were only women to contend with.

“It is mentioned in the despatches, I believe,” observed the admiral, “that there are only women supposed to be in the cave; but the smugglers who were on board the cutter–“

“Have left with their specie yesternight, admiral; so that we shall gain neither honour nor profit.”

“At all events, you will have the merit of obeying your orders, Major Lincoln.”

The major made no reply, but went away very much dissatisfied. In the meantime, the sergeant had communicated with his non-commissioned officers and the privates ordered on the duty, and the discontent was universal. Most of the men swore that they would not pull a trigger against women, if they were shot for it, and the disaffection almost amounted to mutiny. Nancy, in the meantime, had not been idle, she had found means to speak with the boats’ crews of the _Yungfrau_, stated the departure of the smugglers with their gold, and the fact that they were to fight with nothing but women, that the soldiers had vowed that they would not fire a shot, and that Moggy Salisbury, who was with them, swore that she would hoist up her smock as a flag, and fight to the last. This was soon known on board of the _Yungfrau_, and gave great disgust to every one of the crew, who declared to a man, that they would not act against petticoats, much less fire a shot at Moggy Salisbury.

What a mountain of mischief can be heaped up by the insidious tongue of one woman!

After this explanation, it may be supposed that the zeal of the party despatched was not very great. The fact is, they were all sulky, from the major downwards, among the military, and from Vanslyperken downwards, among the naval portion of the detachment. Nancy Corbett, satisfied with having effected her object, had crossed over the night before, and joined her companions in the cave, and what was extremely fortunate, on the same night Sir Robert Barclay came over in the lugger, and finding how matters stood, immediately hoisted both the boats up on the rocks, and taking up all the men, prepared with his followers for a vigorous resistance, naturally to be expected from those whose lives depended upon the issue of the conflict.

Next morning the cutter was seen coming down with the boats in tow, hardly stemming the flood, from the lightness of the breeze, when Nancy Corbett requested to speak with Sir Robert Barclay. She stated to him what she had done, and the dissatisfaction among the troops and seamen in consequence, and submitted to him the propriety of all the smugglers being dressed as women, as it would operate more in their favour than if they had fifty more men to defend the cave. Sir Robert perceived the good sense of this suggestion, and consulted with Ramsay, who strongly urged the suggestion being acted upon. The men were summoned, and the affair explained to them, and the consequence was, that there was a scene of mirth and laughter, which ended with every man being fitted with woman’s attire. The only one who remained in the dress of a man was a woman, Wilhelmina Krause, but she was to remain in the cave with the other women, and take no part in the coming fray.

Chapter L

In which the officers, non-commissioned officers, and rank and file, are all sent to the right about.

About noon the _Yungfrau_ hove-to off the cave, and the troops were told off into the boats.

About half-past twelve the troops were in the boats all ready.

About one Mr Vanslyperken had hoisted out his own boats, and they were manned. Mr Vanslyperken, with his pistols in his belt, and his sword drawn, told Major Lincoln that he was all ready. Major Lincoln, with his spy-glass in his hand, stepped into the boat with Mr Vanslyperken, and the whole detachment pulled for the shore, and landed in the small cove, where they found the smugglers’ boats hoisted up on the rocks, at which the men appeared to be rejoiced, as they took it for granted that they would find some men to fight with instead of women. The major headed his men, and they commenced a scramble up the rocks and arrived at the foot of the high rock which formed the platform above at the mouth of the cave, when the major cried “Halt!”–a very judicious order, considering that it was impossible to go any further. The soldiers looked about everywhere, but could find no cave, and after an hour’s strict search, Major Lincoln and his officers, glad to be rid of the affair, held a consultation, and it was agreed that the troops should be re-embarked. The men were marched down again very hot from their exertions, and thus the expedition would have ended without bloodshed, had it not been for the incautious behaviour of a woman. That woman was Moggy Salisbury, who, having observed that the troops were re-embarking, took the opportunity, while Sir Robert and all the men were keeping close, to hoist up a certain under-garment to a pole, as if in derision, thus betraying the locality of the cave, and running the risk of sacrificing the whole party in it. This, as it was going up, caught the eye of one of the seamen in the boat, who cried out, “There goes the ensign up to the peak at last.”

“Where?” exclaimed the major, pulling out his telescope, “Yes, by heavens! there it is–and there then must be the cave.”

Neither Sir Robert nor any of the conspirators were aware of this manoeuvre of Moggy’s; for Smallbones, perceiving what she had done, hauled it down again in a minute afterwards. But it had been hoisted, and the major considered it his duty to return, so once more the troop ascended the precipitous path.

Moggy then went into the cave. “They have found us out, sir,” said she, “they point to us, and are coming up again. I will stand as sentry. The men won’t fire at me, and if they do I don’t care.”

Sir Robert and Ramsay were in close consultation. It appeared to them that by a bold manoeuvre they would be able to get out of their scrape. The wind had gone down altogether, the sea was as smooth as glass, and there was every appearance of a continued calm.

“If we could manage it–and I think we may–then the sooner the affair is brought to an issue the better.”

Moggy had now taken a musket on her shoulder, and was pacing up and down the edge of the flat in imitation of a sentry. She was soon pointed out, and a titter ran through the whole line: at last, as the major approached, she called out,

“I say, soger, what are you doing here? keep off, or I’ll put a bullet in your jacket.”

“My good woman,” replied the major, while his men laughed, “we do not want to hurt you, but you must surrender.”

“Surrender!” cried Moggy, “who talks of surrender?–hoist the colours there.”

Up went the chemise to the end of the pole, and Smallbones grinned as he hoisted it.

“My good woman, we must obey our orders.”

“And I must obey mine,” retorted Moggy. “Turn out the guard there.”

All the women now made their appearance, as had been arranged, with muskets on their shoulders, headed by little Lilly, with her drawn sword.

The sight of the child commanding the detachment was hailed with loud cheers and laughter.

“That will do, that will do,” cried Sir Robert, fearful for Lilly, “let them come in again.”

“They’ll not fire first at all events,” cried Moggy, “never fear, sir. Guard, turn in,” continued she; upon which, Lilly and her squadron then disappeared.

“Upon my honour this is too ridiculous,” said Lieutenant Dillon.

“Upon my soul I don’t know what is to be done,” rejoined the major.

“Moggy, we must commence hostilities somehow or another,” cried Sir Robert from within. Smallbones here came out with his musket to release Moggy, and Moggy retired into the cave.

The major, who imagined that there must be a path to the cave on the other side, now advanced with the determination of finding it out, and somehow or another putting an end to this unusual warfare.

“If you please you’ll keep back, or I’ll fire,” cried Smallbones, levelling his musket.

The major went on, heedless of the threat. Smallbones discharged his piece, and the major fell.

“Confound that she-devil!–Are you hurt, major?” cried Lieutenant Dillon.

“Yes, I am–I can’t move.”

Another shot was now fired, and the sergeant fell.

“Hell and flames! what must we do?”

But now the whole party of smugglers poured out of the cave as women with bonnets on, and commenced a murderous fire upon the troops who fell in all directions. The captain who had assumed the command, now attempted to find his way to the other side of the cave, where he had no doubt he should find the entrance, but in so doing the soldiers were exposed to a most galling fire, without being able to return it.

At first, the troops refused to fire again, for that they had to deal with the smugglers’ wives, they made certain of: even in the thickest of the smoke there was nothing masculine to be seen; and those troops who were at a greater distance, and who could return the fire, did not. They were rather amused at the character of the women, and not being aware that their comrades were falling so fast, remained inactive. But there is a limit to even gallantry, and as the wounded men were carried past them, their indignation was roused, and, at last, the fire was as warmly returned, but before that took place, one half of the detachment were _hors de combat_.

All the assistance which they might have received from the covering party of sailors on the beach, was neutralised; they did not know how much the soldiers had suffered, and although they fired in pursuance of orders, they would not take any aim.

For some time the soldiers were forced on to the eastern side of the rock, which, as the reader may recollect, was much more precipitous than the western side, where it was descended from by the ladder. Here they were at the mercy of the conspirators, who, concealed below the masses of the rock on the platform, took unerring aim. The captain had fallen, Lieutenant Dillon was badly wounded and led back to the boats, and the command had devolved upon a young man who had but just joined the regiment, and who was ignorant of anything like military tactics, even if they could have been brought into play upon the service.

“Do you call this fighting with women, Sergeant Tanner?” said one of the men. “I’ve seen service, but such a murderous fire I was never in. Why, we’ve lost two-thirds of our men.”

“And shall lose them all before we find out the mouth of this cursed cave. The regiment has lost its character for ever, and I don’t care how soon a bullet settles my business.”

Ramsay now detached a party of the men to fire at the covering party of seamen who were standing by the boats in the cove and who were unprotected, while his men were concealed behind the masses of rocks. Many fell, wounded or killed; and Vanslyperken, after shifting about from one position to another, ordered the wounded men to be put into his boat, and with two hands he pulled off as he said to procure more ammunition, leaving the remainder of his detachment on shore, to do as well as they could.

“I thought as how this work would be too warm for him,” observed Bill Spurey.

“Yes,” replied Short, who, at the moment received a bullet in his thigh, and fell down among the rocks.

The fire upon the seamen continued to be effective. Move from their post they did not, but one after another they sank wounded on the ground. The soldiers who were now without any one to command them, for those who had forced their way to the western side of the rock, finding that advance or retreat was alike impossible, crawled under the sides of the precipice to retreat from a murderous fire which they could not return. The others were scattered here and there, protecting themselves as well as they could below the masses of stone, and returning the fire of the conspirators surely and desperately. But of the hundred men sent on the expedition, there were not twenty who were not killed or wounded, and nearly the whole detachment of seamen had fallen where they stood.

It was then four o’clock, the few men who remained unhurt were suffering from the extreme heat and exertion, and devoured with thirst. The wounded cried for water. The sea was still, calm, and smooth as a mirror; not a breath of wind blew to cool the fevered brows of the wounded men, and the cutter, with her sails hanging listless, floated about on the glassy water, about a quarter of a mile from the beach.

“Now is our time, Sir Robert.”

“Yes, Ramsay–now for one bold dash–off with this woman’s gear, my men–buckle on your swords and put pistols in your belts.”

In a very short time this order was complied with, and, notwithstanding some of the men were wounded in this day’s affair, as well as in the struggle for the deck of the cutter, the three bands from Amsterdam, Portsmouth, and Cherbourg mustered forty resolute and powerful men.

The ladder was lowered down, and they descended. Sir Robert ordered Jemmy Ducks and Smallbones to remain and haul up the ladder again, and the whole body hastened down to the cove, headed by Sir Robert and Ramsay, seized the boats, and shoved off for the cutter.

Chapter LI

In which the Jacobite cause is triumphant by sea as well as by land.

The great difficulty which Sir Robert Barclay had to surmount, was to find the means of transport over the channel for their numerous friends, male and female, then collected in the cave: now that their retreat was known, it was certain that some effective measures would be taken by government, by which, if not otherwise reduced, they would be surrounded and starved into submission.

The two boats which they had were not sufficient for the transport of so numerous a body, consisting now of nearly one hundred and fifty individuals, and their means of subsistence were limited to a few days.

The arrival of the cutter with the detachments was no source of regret to Sir Robert, who hoped, by the defeat of the troops, to obtain their boats, and thus make his escape; but this would have been difficult, if not impossible, if the cutter had been under command, as she carried four guns, and could have prevented their escape, even if she did not destroy the boats; but when Sir Robert observed that it had fallen calm, it at once struck him, that if, after defeating the troops, they could board and carry the cutter, that all their difficulties were over: then they could embark the whole of their people, and run her over to Cherbourg.

This was the plan proposed by Sir Robert, and agreed to by Ramsay, and to accomplish this, now that the troops were put to the rout, they had made a rush for, and obtained the boats. As for the women left in the cave, they were perfectly secure for the time, as, without scaling-ladders, there was no possibility of the remaining troops, even if they were rallied, being able to effect anything.

That part of the crew of the _Yungfrau_ who had perceived them rush down to the beach, reported it to Mr Vanslyperken, who had gone down to his cabin, not choosing to take any further part in the affray, or to risk his valuable life. Vanslyperken came on deck, where he witnessed the manning of the boats, and their pushing out of the cove.

“They are coming to attack us, sir,” said Coble, who had been left in charge of the cutter when Mr Vanslyperken went on shore.

Mr Vanslyperken turned pale as a sheet; his eyes were fixed upon the form of Ramsay, standing up on the stern-sheets of the first boat, with his sabre raised in the air–he immediately recognised him, panted for breath, and could make no reply.

The crew of the cutter, weakened as they were by the loss of most of their best men, flew to their arms; Coble, Cornelius, and Jansen, and Corporal Van Spitter were to be seen in the advance, encouraging them.

“Gott for dam–let us have one slap for it,” cried Jansen.

“Mein Gott, yes,” shouted the corporal.

Vanslyperken started up. “It’s no use, my men–it’s madness–useless sacrifice of life; they are two to one–we must surrender. Go down below, all of you–do you hear, obey my orders?”

“Yes, and report them, too, to the admiral,” replied Coble; “I never heard such an order given in my born days, and fifty odd years I have served in the king’s fleet.”

“Corporal Van Spitter, I order you below–all of you below,” cried Vanslyperken; “I command here–will you obey, sir?”

“Mein Gott, yes,” replied the corporal, walking away, and coolly descending the ladder.

The boats were now within ten yards of the cutter, and the men stood irresolute; the corporal obeying orders had disheartened them: some of them followed the corporal.

“It’s no use,” said Coble, “I sees now it’s of no use; it’s only being cut to pieces for nothing, my men; but I won’t leave the deck.” Coble threw away his cutlass, and walked aft; the other men did the same, all but Jansen, who still hesitated. Coble caught the cutlass out of his hand, and threw it overboard, just as the boats dashed alongside.

“Gott for dam,” muttered Jansen, folding his arms and facing the men who jumped on the cutter’s decks. Ramsay, who was first on board when he perceived that the men were standing on the decks without making any opposition, turned and threw up the points of the swords of some of his men who were rushing blindly on, and, in a minute all was quiet on the decks of the _Yungfrau_. Mr Vanslyperken was not to be seen. At the near approach of the boats he had hastened into his cabin and locked himself in; his only feeling being, that Ramsay’s wrath must cool, and his life be spared.

“My lads,” said Sir Robert to the crew of the cutter, “I am very glad that you made no resistance to a force which you could not resist, as I should have been sorry if one of you had lost his life; but you must now go down below and leave the cutter’s deck in our possession. Perhaps it would be better if some of you took one of your boats and went on shore to pick up your messmates who are wounded.”

“If you please, sir, we will,” said Coble, coming forward, “and the cutter is yours, as far as we are concerned. We will make no attempts to retake her, at all events, for your kindness in thinking of our poor fellows lying there on the beach. I think you will promise that, my lads,” continued Coble, turning to the men.

“Yes, we promise that,” said the men.

Coble then took the crew with him and pulled on shore to the cove, on the margin of which they found all their men lying either killed or wounded. Dick Short, Spurey, and nine others were taken on board: those that were quite dead were left upon the sand. Leaving only ten men on board the cutter, which, however, was sufficient to cope with the few of the _Yungfrau_ remaining on board, had they been inclined to forfeit their word, Sir Robert and Ramsay then returned with the rest of the party to-the boats, and pulled on shore, for the rest of their assailants were not subdued; about twenty of the soldiers still remained unhurt and were sitting down on the rocks.

Ramsay, as soon as he landed, showed a white handkerchief on a bayonet fixed to the muzzle of a musket.

“Sergeant Tanner,” said one of the men, “there’s a flag of truce.”

“Is there? I’m not sorry for it,–they are two to one even now. I’ll go forward to meet it.”

The sergeant advanced to meet Ramsay.

“We might, if we pleased, oblige you to surrender or cut you to pieces–that you must own; but we have no wish to hurt you–there are too many good men dead already.”

“That’s true,” replied the sergeant, “but it’s one comfort you have turned out at last to be men and not women.”

“We have; but to the terms. You were sent to take possession of the cave,–you shall have possession as soon as we are gone, if you will draw off your party higher up this cliff and allow us to embark without molestation. If you do not immediately accept these terms, we shall certainly attack you, or you may do better if you please–pile your muskets, collect your wounded men, bring them down to the beach all ready to put into the boats, which, as soon as we are safe, we will give you possession of–now is it a truce or not?–you must be immediate.”

“Yes, then, it is a truce, for I see no chance of better terms. I am commanding officer, and you have the faith of Sergeant Tanner.”

The sergeant then returned, and when half way, called to his men:

“Party fall in–pile arms.” The soldiers, worn out by the long conflict, and aware that they had no chance against such superior numbers, gladly obeyed, and were now divided in sections of three and four, collecting the wounded and carrying them down to the cove.

Sir Robert and his men hastened to the rock–the ladder was lowered, and all was on the alert for embarkation–Lady Barclay and Lilly flew into his arms, while Wilhelmina hung on Ramsay; but they allowed but a short time for endearment–time was too precious. The luggage had all been prepared and the chests of specie were lowered, the bundles thrown down, and, in a quarter of an hour, the cave was cleared of all that they could take away with them.

The women then descended, and all hands were employed carrying away the specie and luggage down to the boats. As soon as one boat was loaded with the boxes of money, Lady Ramsay, Lilly, and Wilhelmina were put in it, and one half of the men went with them on board of the cutter where Coble had already arrived with the wounded seamen. Ramsay remained with the other boat to embark the women and luggage; when all was in, he called the sergeant, pointed out to him the ladder, and told him that he might find something worth his trouble in the cave.

“Is there a drop of anything to drink, sir? for we who are whole are dying with thirst, and it’s cruel to hear the poor wounded fellows beg for water.”

“You will find both water and spirits in plenty there, sergeant, and you may tell your own story when you arrive at Portsmouth, we shall never contradict you.”

“The list of killed, wounded, and missing, will tell the story fast enough,” replied the sergeant; “but run up there, my lads, and get some water for these poor fellows. Good-bye, sir, and many thanks.”

“Good-bye to you, Sergeant Tanner,” said one of the women in the boat.

“Nancy Corbett, by all that’s wonderful!” cried the sergeant.

“I told you so, sergeant–you’ll never lose the name of lady-killer.”

“Pretty lady killing,” muttered the sergeant, turning away in a rage. Ramsay took the boats on board, and, as soon as they were cleared, they were towed on shore to the cove by some of the _Yungfrau’s_ men.

During this time the ladies, as well as the women, had remained aft on deck, Vanslyperken having locked himself up in his cabin; but Sir Robert now ordered his men to force the cabin door, and take Mr Vanslyperken forward on the lower deck. When the door was opened, Vanslyperken was found in his bed more dead than alive: he was pulled out and dragged forward. The ladies were then handed below, and, as soon as the specie had been put down, and the luggage cleared from the upper deck, the women were ordered to go down on the lower deck, and Mr Vanslyperken ordered to be brought up.

Chapter LII

In which a great deal of loyalty is shown to counterbalance the treason of Vanslyperken.

We must not, however, forget the syndic and the widow Vandersloosh, whom we left in confinement at Amsterdam. We left Mynheer Krause smoking his pipe, and showing to those about him how great a great man always proves himself when under adversity. The widow also, had she performed in public, would have been acknowledged to have been a great woman. She could not but lament the present, for she was on the floor of a dungeon, so she occasionally wrung her hands; but she looked forward to the future, and to better times, not abandoning herself to despair, but comforting herself with hope, as might have been clearly proved by her constant repetition of these words: “Well, well, Mr Vanslyperken, we shall see.”

That the night appeared long to both parties is not to be denied, but the longest night will have its end, so long as the world continues to turn round; the consequence was, that the morning came as usual to the syndic, although the widow from the peculiarity of her situation, had not the same advantage.

After morning, comes breakfast, in the natural order of mundane affairs, and kings, being but men, and subject to the same wants as other mortals, his Majesty, King William, sat down, and despatched a very hasty meal, in company with his Grace the Duke of Portland, and the Right Honourable the Lord Albemarle. History does not record, as it sometimes does in works of this description, by what viands his Majesty’s appetite was stimulated; we must therefore pass it over, and as his Majesty did on that occasion, as soon as breakfast was over, proceed to business.

“Have you received information, my Lord Albemarle, how many of the conspirators have been seized?”

“May it please your Majesty, I am sorry to inform you, that all who were innocent have been imprisoned, and all who were guilty, have escaped.”

Upon this intelligence his Majesty looked very grave.

“How do you mean, my lord?” said he, after a pause.

“The conspirators have all received some friendly notice, and the only two who are in custody are the syndic, Mynheer Krause, and the woman who keeps the Lust Haus.”

“And you put the syndic down as an innocent person, my lord?”

“If your Majesty will be pleased to read this communication,” replied Lord Albemarle, presenting Ramsay’s letter and enclosures, “you will then be of my opinion.”

King William took the letter and read it. “What Ramsay–he who was attainted with Sir Robert Barclay?”

“The same, your Majesty.”

“So near us, and escaped–but what credence would you place in him?”

“Every credence, may it please your Majesty. I believe him to be incapable of a lie.”

“A traitor, like him!”

“A traitor to your Majesty, but most true to his Catholic Majesty, King James that was. But if I venture to point out to your Majesty, the enclosures prove that Lieutenant Vanslyperken’s word is not of much value. He, at least, is a double traitor.”

“Yes, a little hanging will do him no harm–you are sure this is his writing?”

“There can be no doubt of it, your Majesty, I have compared it.”

“You will see to this, my lord: and now to the syndic.”

“He has, as your Majesty will perceive, been grossly deceived, and suspected without reason.”

“And the woman?”

“Was here yesterday, and fully convinced me that Vanslyperken was a traitor, and that she was innocent. His Grace of Portland was present.”

“Well, my lord, you may give orders for their release; of course a little surveillance will be advisable. You will justify the proceedings to the council, this afternoon.”

“But may I presume to submit to your Majesty, that the public affront offered to the syndic should be repaired.”

“Certainly–send for him,” replied his Majesty, carelessly. “I will receive him to-morrow morning,” and his Majesty left the room.

Lord Albemarle immediately despatched a courier with an order for the release of the syndic and the Frau Vandersloosh, with a note to the former, stating that his Majesty would receive him on the following day at noon. But while this act of justice had been preparing at the palace of the Hague, there were other acts, not quite so justifiable performing at the town of Amsterdam.

The sun made its appearance more than an hour, before the troops of the royal Guard. Mobs were collected in knots in the street, and in front of the Hotel de Ville, or Stadt House, and the object of their meeting, was to canvas the treason and imprisonment of the syndic, Mynheer Van Krause. “Shame–shame,”–“Death to the traitor,”–“Tear him to pieces,”–and “Long life to King William,” were the first solitary remarks made–the noise and hubbub increased. The small knots of people gradually joined together, until they formed a large mob, all burning with loyalty, and each individual wishing to give a practical evidence of it–again were the cries of “Long live the King!” and “Death to traitors!” to be heard, with loud huzzas. A confused din followed, and the mob appeared, as if simultaneously, to be all impelled in one direction. At last the word was given, which they all waited for. “To his house–to his house–down with it–death to the traitor!” and the loyal mob hastened on, each individual eager to be first to prove his loyalty, by helping himself to Mynheer Krause’s goods and chattels.

In the low countries, this species of loyalty always has been, and is now very much the fashion. In ten minutes, the gates were forced open–old Koop knocked down, and trod under foot till he was dead–every article of value that was portable, was secured; chairs, tables, glasses, not portable, were thrown out of the window; Wilhelmina’s harp and pianoforte battered to fragments; beds, bedding, everything flew about in the air, and then the fragments of the furniture were set fire to, and in less than an hour Mynheer Krause’s splendid house was burning furiously, while the mob cheered and cried, “Long live King William!”

Before the courier could arrive from the Hague, all that was left of Mr Krause’s property was the bare walls. Merchandises, everything was consumed, and part of the building had fallen into the canal and choked it up, while fifteen schuyts waiting to be discharged of their cargoes had been obliged to retreat from the fury of the flames, the phlegmatic skippers looking on with their pipes in their mouths, and their hands in their wide breeches-pockets.

The loyal mob having effected their object, gradually retired. It is singular, that popular feeling is always expressed in the same way. Had the mob collected for disloyal purposes, they would have shown their disloyalty just in the like manner, only it would have been the Stadt House instead of that of Mynheer Krause.

But now there was a fresh impetus given to the feelings of the mob. The news had been spread like wildfire, that Mynheer the syndic had been proved innocent, and ordered to be immediately liberated, and was sent for by his Majesty; upon which, the mob were undecided, whether they should prove their indignation, at this unjust imprisonment of their worthy magistrate, by setting fire to some public building, or by carrying him in triumph to his own house, which they forgot they had burnt down. Fortunately they decided upon the latter, they surrounded the Stadt House with cries of “Long life to our worthy syndic–prosperity to Mynheer Krause,” and rushing up stairs, they caught him in their arms, and carried him triumphantly through the streets bringing him at last to the smoking ruins of his own house, and there they left him; they had done all they could, they had carried him there in triumph, but, as for building the house up again, that was impossible; so, as Mynheer Krause looked with dismay at the wreck of all his property, the loyal mob dispersed, each feeling that he had been a little too hasty in possessing himself of a small share of it. What a fine thing is loyalty! Mynheer Krause found himself alone; he looked with scorn and indignation upon the scene of violence, and then walked away to an hotel, particularly disgusted with the loyal cry of “Long live King William.”

In the meantime, the door of the dungeon where the widow Vandersloosh was incarcerated was thrown open, and she was informed that she was no longer a prisoner. The widow indignant that she should have been confined for her loyalty, raved and walked majestically out of the Stadt House, not deigning to answer to the compliments offered to her by some of the inferior officers. Her bosom swelled with indignation, and she was determined to tell his Majesty a bit of her mind, if she should obtain access to him; and the next day she took the trouble to go all the way to the Hague, again to see his Majesty, but his Majesty wasn’t at home, and Lord Albemarle to whom she sent in, was indisposed, and his Grace the Duke of Portland was particularly engaged; so the widow had the journey for nothing, and she declared to Babette, that she never would put her foot under the palace roof again as long as she lived.

But, although Madam Vandersloosh was not received at court that day, the syndic Mynheer Krause was; when he sent in his name, Lord Albemarle led the syndic by the hand to his Majesty.

“We have been too hasty, Mynheer Krause,” said his Majesty, with a gracious smile.

Mynheer bowed low.

“I regret to hear that the populace in their loyalty have burnt down your house, Mr Krause–they were too hasty.”

Mynheer Krause made another low bow.

“You will continue your office of syndic of the town of Amsterdam.”

“Pardon me, your Majesty,” replied Mynheer Krause respectfully, but firmly, “I have obeyed your summons to appear in your presence, but will request that your Majesty will release me from the burden. I have come to lay my chain and staff of office at your Majesty’s feet, it being my intention to quit the town.”

“You are too hasty, Mynheer Krause,” replied his Majesty with displeasure.

“May it please your Majesty,” replied Krause. “He who has been confined as a prisoner in the Stadt House, is not fit to exercise his duties there as a judge; I have served your Majesty many years with the utmost zeal and fidelity. In return, I have been imprisoned and my property destroyed, I must now return to a station more suitable to my present condition, and once more with every assurance of loyalty, I beg to be permitted to lay my insignia of office at your Majesty’s feet.”

Mynheer Krause suited the action to the word. The king frowned and turned away to the window, and Mynheer Krause perceiving that his Majesty’s back was turned upon him, walked out of the door.

“Too hasty,” thought Mynheer Krause, “I am loyal and thrown into prison, and am expected to be satisfied with the plea of being too hasty. My house is burnt down, and the plundering mob have been too hasty. Well–well–it is fortunate I took Ramsay’s advice, my house and what was in it was a trifle; but if all my gold at Hamburgh and Frankfort, and in the charge of Ramsay had been there, and I had been made a beggar, all the satisfaction I should have received would have been a smile, and the excuse of being too hasty. I wonder where my daughter and Ramsay are? I long to join them.”

From which mental soliloquy, it will be evident to the reader, that Mynheer Krause’s loyalty had been considerably diminished, perhaps thinking that he had paid too dear for the commodity.

Upon his return, Mynheer Krause publicly announced that he had resigned the office of syndic, much to the astonishment of those who heard of it, and much to the delight of his very particular friend Engelback, who, the next morning set off for the Hague, and had an interview with his Grace the Duke of Portland, the result of which was, that upon grounds best known to the parties; for history will not reveal everything, Mynheer Engelback was recommended to fill the office of syndic of the town of Amsterdam, vacant by the resignation of Mynheer Krause; and that in consequence of this, all those who took off their hats to Mynheer Krause but two days before, and kept them on when they met Mynheer Engelback, now kept them on when they met Mynheer Krause, and pulled them off very politely to Mynheer Krause’s very particular friend, Mynheer Engelback.

Chapter LIII

Trial and execution of two of the principal personages in our history.

We left Sir Robert Barclay on the deck of the cutter, the ladies and women sent down below, and Mr Vanslyperken on the point of being dragged aft by two of Sir Robert’s men. The crew of the _Yungfrau_, at the time, were on the lower deck, some assisting the wounded men, others talking with Jemmy Salisbury and his wife, whom they were astonished to find among the assailants.

“Why, Jemmy, how did you get a berth among those chaps?”

“I’ll tell you,” said Moggy, interrupting: “when he was last at Portsmouth, they heard him playing his fiddle and singing, and they took such a fancy to him, that they were determined to have him to amuse them in the cave. So one evening, they _kidnapped_ him, took him away by main force, and kept him a prisoner ever since.”

“That’s carrying the joke rather too far,” observed one of the men.

“Mein Gott! yes,” replied the corporal.

“But I am at liberty again now at all events,” replied Jemmy, taking the cue from his wife; “and if that chap, Vanslyperken, don’t command the cutter any more, which I’ve a notion he will not, I shall enter as boatswain–heh, Dick.”

“Yes,” replied Short, who was swinging in his hammock.

“Well–when I found that Jemmy couldn’t be found, that my dear darling duck of a husband–my jewel, a box of diamonds (arn’t you my Jemmy), didn’t I tear my hair, and run about the streets, like a mad woman,” continued Moggy. “At last I met with Nancy Corbett, whose husband is one of the gang, and she told me where he was, fiddle and all, and I persuaded her to let me go to him, and that’s why we both are here.”

This was a good invention of Moggy’s, and as there was nobody who took the trouble to disprove it, it was received as not the least apocryphal. But now Mr Vanslyperken was dragged past them by two of the conspirators, and all the men of the _Yungfrau_ followed on deck, to see what was to take place.

When Mr Vanslyperken had been brought aft, his legs tottered, and he could hardly stand. His face was livid, and his lips white with fear, and he knew too well that he had little mercy to expect.

“Now, sir,” said Sir Robert, with a stern air, “hear the accusation against you, for although we may be lawless, we will still be just. You voluntarily entered into our service, and received our pay. You were one of us, with only this difference, that we have taken up the cause from principle and loyalty, and you joined us from mercenary motives. Still we kept our faith with you; for every service performed, you were well and honourably paid. But you received our money and turned against us; revealed our secrets, and gave information to your government, by which that gentleman” (pointing to Ramsay) “and many others, had not they fortunately received timely notice, would have perished by the gibbet. Now, sir, I wish to know, what you can bring forward in your defence, what have you to urge that you should not die the death which you so traitorously prepared for others.”

“Die!” exclaimed Vanslyperken, “no–no–mercy, sir–mercy. I am not fit to die.”

“Few are–but this is certain–that a villain like you is not fit to live.”

“On my knees, I ask mercy,” cried the frightened wretch, dropping down. “Mr Ramsay, speak for me.”

“I will speak,” replied Ramsay, “but not for you, I will show you, that even if you were to escape us, you would still be hung; for all your extracts of the despatches, I have, with full explanation, put into the hands of the English government. Do you expect mercy from them–they have not showed much as yet.”

“O God–O God!” exclaimed Vanslyperken, throwing himself down on the deck in despair.

“Now, my lads, you have heard the charges against this man, and also that he has no defence to offer, what is your sentence?”

“Death!” exclaimed the conspirators.

“You men, belonging to the cutter, you have heard that this man has betrayed the present government of England, in whose pay and service he was at the time–what is your opinion?”

Hereupon, Obadiah Coble hitched up his trousers, and said, “Why, as a matter of opinion, I agrees with you, sir, whomsoever you may be.”

“Mein Gott! yes, sir,” exclaimed the corporal.

And all the crew cried out together, “Death–death!” which, by-the-bye, was very mutinous.

“You perceive that you are doubly condemned as a double traitor,” said Sir Robert. “So prepare to die; the religion you profess I know not, but the time you will be allowed to make your peace with your God is fifteen minutes.”

“Oh!” groaned Vanslyperken, with his face to the deck.

“Up there, my lads, and get a whip on the yard-arm,” said Ramsay.

Some of his party went to obey the order, and they were assisted by the seamen of the _Yungfrau_. But while they were getting the whip ready on the starboard, Jemmy Ducks was very quietly employed getting another on the larboard yard-arm, which nobody took notice of.

As soon as the whip, and the cord with the hangman’s noose made fast to it, were all ready, it was reported to Sir Robert by Corporal Van Spitter, who stepped up to him with his usual military salute. Sir Robert took off his hat in return. His watch had been held in his hand, from the time that he had passed sentence upon Vanslyperken, who still remained prostrate on the deck.

“It is my duty to inform you, sir, that but five minutes are left of the time awarded to you,” said Sir Robert to Vanslyperken.

“Five minutes!” exclaimed Vanslyperken, jumping up from the deck, “but five minutes–to die in five minutes,” continued he, looking up with horror at the rope at the yard-arm, and the fatal noose at the end of it, held in the hand of Corporal Van Spitter. “Stop, I have gold–plenty of gold–I can purchase my life.”

“Kingdoms would not purchase it,” said Sir Robert, scornfully.

“Oh!” exclaimed Vanslyperken, wringing his hands, “must I leave all my gold?”

“You have but two minutes, sir,” observed Sir Robert. “Let the rope be put round his neck.”

This office was performed by Corporal Van Spitter. The corporal was quite an amateur.

“Mercy, mercy,” cried Vanslyperken, again falling on his knees, and holding up his hands.

“Call upon Heaven for mercy, you have but one minute left.”

But here an interruption took place.

A female made her appearance on the other side of the deck, dragging, by a cord, the hero of our novel, Snarleyyow, who held back with all his power, jerking his head to the right and to the left, but it was of no use, he was dragged opposite to where Vanslyperken knelt. As the reader may guess, this person was Smallbones, who had tied on a bonnet, and muffled up his face, so as not to be observed when he first went on board. Jemmy Ducks now assisted, and the whip on the larboard yard-arm was made fast to a cord with a running noose, for the hanging of the cur.

The sight roused Vanslyperken. “My dog!” exclaimed he, “woman, leave that dog alone–who are you that dare touch my dog?”

The female turned round, threw off her bonnet and handkerchief and exhibited to the terrified lieutenant, the face of the supposed departed Smallbones.

“Smallbones!” exclaimed the crew of the _Yungfrau_ in a breath.

“God of mercy–help me, God of mercy!” cried Vanslyperken, aghast.

“I suppose that you do come for to go to know me now, anyhow,” said Smallbones.

“Hath the sea given up its dead?” replied Vanslyperken, in a hollow voice.

“No, it arn’t, ’cause why? I never was a drowned,” replied Smallbones; “no thanks to you, though; but if so be as I supposes, you be a going to be hung–as I’m a good Christian, I’ll forgive you–that is, if you be hung, you know.”

Vanslyperken, who now perceived that Smallbones had been by some miracle preserved, recovered himself.

“If you forgive me,” replied Vanslyperken, “then pray do not ill-treat my dog.”

“I’se not forgiven him, anyhow–I owes him enough, and now I’ll have his account settled, by gum. When you goes up there, he goes up here, as sure as I’m Peter Smallbones.”

“Be merciful!” exclaimed Vanslyperken, who, strange to say, forgot his own miseries in pleading for his darling cur.

“He be a convicted traitor, and he shall die, by gum!” cried Smallbones, smacking his fist into the palm of his hand.

During the conversation, the time allotted to Vanslyperken had long expired, but the interest occasioned by it had inclined Sir Robert to wait till it was over.

“Enough,” cried Sir Robert, “your time is too long expired. Commend your soul to God–let the rope be manned.”

“Now Jemmy, stand by to toddle forward,” cried Smallbones.

“One moment–I ask but one moment,” cried Vanslyperken, much agitated, “only one moment, sir.”

“For what?”

“To kiss my poor dog,” replied Vanslyperken, bursting into tears; strange and almost ridiculous as was the appeal, there was a seriousness and a pathos in Vanslyperken’s words and manner, which affected those who were present like a gleam of sunshine, this one feeling which was unalloyed with baser metal shone upon the close of a worthless and wicked life, Sir Robert nodded his head, and Vanslyperken walked with his rope round his neck over to where the dog was held by Smallbones, bent over the cur and kissed it again and again.

“Enough,” cried Sir Robert, “bring him back.”

Corporal Van Spitter took hold of Vanslyperken by the arm, and dragged him to the other side of the deck. The unfortunate wretch was wholly absorbed in the fate of his cur, who had endeavoured to follow his master. His eyes were fixed upon Snarleyyow, and Snarleyyow’s were fixed upon his master, thus they were permitted to remain for a few seconds, when Sir Robert gave the signal. Away went the line of men who had manned the starboard whip, and away went Jemmy Ducks on the larboard side, and, at the yard-arms’ of the cutter were suspended the bodies of Vanslyperken and Snarleyyow.

Thus perished one of the greatest scoundrels, and one of the vilest curs, which ever existed. They were damnable in their lives, and in their deaths they were not divided.

By the manuscript records, found in the Jacobite papers, it appears that the double execution took place on the 3rd of August in the year of our Lord, 1700.

Chapter LIV

In which affairs begin to wind up.

There are few people whose vindictive feelings are not satisfied with the death of the party against whom those feelings have been excited. The eyes of all on deck (that is all except one) were at first directed to the struggling Vanslyperken, and then, as if sickened at the sight of his sufferings, were turned away with a feeling very near akin to compassion.

One only looked or never thought of Vanslyperken, and that one was Smallbones, who watched the kicking and plunging of his natural enemy, Snarleyyow. Gradually, the dog relaxed his exertions, and Smallbones watched, somewhat doubtful, whether a dog who had defied every other kind of death, would condescend to be hanged. At last, Snarleyyow was quite still. He appeared nearly to have gone to–“Where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest.”

“He won’t a cum to life any more this time,” said Smallbones; “but I’ll not let you out of my hands yet. They say a cat have nine lives, but, by gum, some dogs have ninety.”

There was a dead silence on the deck of the cutter for a quarter of an hour, during which the bodies remained suspended. A breeze then came sweeping along and ruffled the surface of the water. This was of too great importance to allow of further delay. Sir Robert desired the seamen of the _Yungfrau_ to come aft, told them he should take their cutter to Cherbourg, to land the Women and his own people, and that then they would be free to return to Portsmouth; all that he requested of them was to be quiet and submissive during the short time that he and his party were on board. Coble replied for the ship’s company–“As for the matter of that ‘ere–there was no fear of their being quiet enough when there were more than two to one against them; but that, in fact, they had no animosity: for even if they did feel a little sore at what had happened, and their messmates being wounded, what was swinging at the yard-arm made them all friends again. The gentleman might take the cutter where he pleased, and might use her as long as he liked, and when he had done with her it was quite time enough to take her back to Portsmouth.”

“Well, then, as we understand one another, we had now better make sail,” said Sir Robert. “Cut away that rope,” continued he, pointing to the whip by which Vanslyperken’s body was suspended.

Jansen stepped forward with his snickasee, the rope was divided at once, and the body of the departed Vanslyperken plunged into the wave and disappeared.

“They mayn’t cut this tho’!” cried Smallbones. “I’ll not trust him–Jemmy, my boy, get up a pig of ballast. I’ll sink him fifty fathoms deep, and then if so be he cum up again, why then I give it up for a bad job.”

Jemmy brought up the pig of ballast, the body of Snarleyyow was lowered on board, and, after having been secured with divers turns of the rope to the piece of iron, was plunged by Smallbones into the wave.

“There,” said Smallbones, “I don’t a think that he will ever bite me any more, anyhow; there’s no knowing though. Now I’ll just go down and see if my bag be to be found, and then I’ll dress myself like a Christian.”

The cutter flew before the breeze which was on her quarter, and now that the hanging was over the females came on deck. One of the Jesuit priests was a good surgeon, and attended to the wounded men, who all promised to do well, and as Bill Spurey said,

“They’d all dance yet at the corporal’s wedding.”

“I say corporal, if we only could go to Amsterdam instead of going to Portsmouth.”

“Mein Gott, yes;” replied the corporal, and acting upon this idea, he went aft and entered into conversation with Ramsay, giving him a detail of the affair with the widow and of her having gone to the Hague to accuse Vanslyperken, ending with expressing his wish of himself and the crew that they might go to the Hague instead of going to Portsmouth. Nothing could please Ramsay better. He was most anxious to send a letter to Mynheer Krause to inform him of the safety of his daughter, and he immediately answered that they might go if they pleased.

“Mein Gott–but how, mynheer–we no have the excuse.”

“But I’ll give you one,” replied Ramsay–“you shall go to the Hague.”

The corporal touched his hat with the greatest respect, and walked forward to communicate this good news. The crew of the _Yungfrau_ and the conspirators or smugglers were soon on the best of terms, and as there was no one to check the wasteful expenditure of stores and no one accountable, the liquor was hoisted up on the forecastle, and the night passed in carousing.

“Well, he did love his dog after all,” said Jemmy Ducks.

“And he’s got his love with him,” replied one of the smugglers.

“Now, Jemmy, let’s have a song.”

“It must be without the fiddle then,” replied Jemmy, “for that’s jammed up with the baggage–so here goes,”

I’ve often heard the chaplain say, when Davey Jones is nigh, That we must call for help in need, to Providence on high, But then he said, most plainly too, that we must do our best, Our own exertions failing, leave to Providence the rest.

I never thought of this much till one day there came on board, A chap who ventur’d to join as _seaman_ by the Lord! His hair hung down like reef points, and his phiz was very queer, For his mouth was like a shark’s, and turn’d down from ear to ear.

He hadn’t stow’d his hammock, not much longer than a week, When he swore he had a call, and the Lord he was to seek.