"I can't understand it," Rupert said. "Of course one could imagine a sea or river breaking through a dyke11 and covering low lands, but that the whole country should sink, and there be deep water over the spot, appears unaccountable."
"The learned believe," Maria said, "that deep down below the surface of the land lies a sort of soil like a quicksand, and that when the river deepens its bed so that its waters do enter this soil it melts away, leaving a great void, into which the land above does sink, and is altogether swallowed up."
"It is a marvellously uncomfortable feeling," Rupert said, "to think that one may any night be awoke with a sudden crash, only to be swallowed up."
"Such things do not happen often," Maria said; "and the districts that suffer are after all but small in comparison to Holland. So I read that in Italy the people do build their towns on the slopes of Vesuvius, although history says that now and again the mountain bubbles out in irruption, and the lava12 destroys many villages, and even towns. In other countries there are earthquakes, but the people forget all about them until the shock comes, and the houses begin to topple over their heads."
"You are right, no doubt," Rupert said. "But to a stranger the feeling, at first, of living over a great quicksand, is not altogether pleasant.
"Tomorrow the doctor says I may leave my room. My own idea is that I need never have been kept there at all."
"If there had been any great occasion for you to have moved about, no doubt you might have done so," Maria said; "but you might have thrown back your cure, and instead of your bones knitting well and soundly, as the leech13 says they are in a fair way to do, you might have made but a poor recovery. Dear me, what impatient creatures boys are!"
"No, indeed I am not impatient," Rupert said. "You have all made me so comfortable and happy, that I should indeed be ungrateful were I to be impatient. I only want to be about again that I may spare you some of the trouble which you bestow14 upon me."
"Yes, that is all very well and very pretty," Maria said, laughing; "but I know that you are at heart longing15 to be off to join your regiment16, and take part in all their marching and fighting. Do you know, an officer who came here with you after that terrible fight near Antwerp, told me that you covered yourself with glory there?"
"I covered myself with mud," Rupert laughed. "Next day, when I had dried a little, I felt as if I had been dipped in dough17 and then baked. I am sure I looked like a pie in human shape when you first saw me, did I not?"
"It would have been difficult to tell the colour of your uniform, certainly," Maria smiled. "Fortunately, neither cloth nor tailors are scarce in our good town of Dort, and you will find a fresh suit in readiness for you to attire18 yourself in tomorrow."
"Oh, that is good of you," Rupert said, delighted; for he had been thinking ruefully of the spectacle he should present the next day.
As to Hugh, he had been fitted out in bourgeois19 clothes since he came, and had said no word as to uniform.
In another fortnight Rupert was thoroughly20 restored to health. His wound had healed, his bones had perfectly21 set, and he was as fit for work as ever. Even his host could not but allow that there was no cause for his further detention22. During this time Rupert had talked much with the Burgomaster, who spoke23 French fluently, and had told him frequently and earnestly of the grievous harm that was done to the prospects24 of the war by the mischievous25 interference with the general's plans by the Dutch deputies, who, knowing nothing whatever of war, yet took upon themselves continually to thwart26 the plans of the greatest general of the age. Van Duyk listened with great attention, and promised that when he went shortly to Haarlem he would use all his influence to abbreviate27 the powers which the deputies so unwisely used.
Two or three days before the date fixed28 for Rupert's departure, he was walking in the town with Mynheer Von Duyk and his daughter, when he observed a person gazing intently at him from the entrance to a small bylane. He started, and exclaimed:
"Where?" exclaimed both his companions.
"He has gone now," Rupert said. "But he stood there in shadow, at the entrance to that lane."
So saying, he hurried forward, but no sign of his enemy was visible.
"Are you sure it was he?" Mynheer Von Duyk asked. "What can he be doing in Holland?"
Rupert then in a few words recounted their meeting in Liege, the subsequent attempt to murder him at the mill, and the disappearance30 of Sir Richard Fulke, and his exchange into some other regiment.
Von Duyk was much disturbed.
"This touches me nearly," he said. "It is from your interference on behalf of my daughter that you have incurred31 this fellow's enmity, and it is clear that he will shrink at nothing to gratify it. Moreover, I cannot consider my daughter to be in safety, as long as so reckless a man as this is in the town. I will go at once to the magistrates32, and urge that my daughter goes in danger of him, and so obtain an order to search for and arrest him. In a few hours we will have him by the heels, and then, after a while in prison, we will send him packing across the frontier, with a warning that if he comes back he will not escape so lightly."
The search, however, was not successful; and Mynheer Von Duyk was beginning to think that Rupert must have been mistaken, when the officer of the magistracy discovered that a man answering to the description given had been staying for three days at a small tavern33 by the water, but that he had hastily taken a boat and sailed, within a half hour of being seen by Rupert.
"It is a low resort where he was staying," Von Duyk said, "A tavern to which all the bad characters of the town--for even Dort has some bad characters--do resort. If he came here to do you harm, or with any fresh design upon my daughter, he would find instruments there. I had intended to have left Maria behind, when I travelled to the Hague next week; but I will now take her with me, with two or three stout34 fellows as an escort.
"As for you, friend Rupert, you have but two more evenings here in Dort, but I pray you move not out after dusk, for these long wars have made many men homeless and desperate, and it is not good for one who has an enemy to trust himself abroad at night, alone."
The next morning Hugh went down to the quay35 with one of the clerks of Von Duyk, and struck a bargain with some boatmen to carry Rupert and himself to Bergen op Zoom36. It was a craft of some four or five tons burden, with a good sized cabin.
The next day Hugh went down early to the boat with the bans containing Rupert's luggage and his own, and a servant of Von Duyk accompanied him, bearing some provisions and a few choice bottles of wine for their use on the way.
"Do you know, Master Rupert," he said on his return, "I don't much like the look of that boatman chap. When we got down to the quay this morning, he was talking with two men whose faces I did not see, for they walked suddenly and hastily away, but who seemed to me to flavour much of the two men we disturbed that evening when they were carrying off Miss Von Duyk. I could not swear to them, for I did not get a fair sight of them before, but they were about the same size and height, and it was clear that they did not wish to be recognized."
Rupert made no reply for a while, but thought the matter over.
"Well, Hugh, I wish it had not been so, for I hate quarrels and brawls37, but I do not think that we need be uneasy, especially now that we are warned. The boat carries but three men, and as we shall have our pistols and swords, I imagine that we are a match for these Dutch boatmen. See that the pistols are loaded, and say naught38 to our kind friends here as to your suspicions. I would not make them uncomfortable."
Before taking leave of their friends, Rupert was drawn39 aside by Mynheer Von Duyk, who begged to know if he had any necessity for money, and assured him that then or at any other time he should be glad to honour any drafts that Rupert might draw upon him.
"I am not a man of many words," he said, "but in saving my daughter from that ruffian you have laid me under an obligation which I should be glad to discharge with half my fortune. I am, as you know, a rich man--I may say a very rich man. Had you been a few years older, I would gladly have given my daughter to you did your inclination40 and hers jump that way. As it is, I can only regard you as a younger brother of hers, and view you as a sort of son by adoption41. Young men in cavalry42 regiments43 require horses and have many expenses, and you will really pain me much if you refuse to allow me to act as your banker. I have, believing that you would not take it wrongly, paid in to your account with the paymaster of your regiment the sum of two hundred pounds, and have told him that the same sum would be paid to your account annually44 so long as the regiment might be in Flanders, and that he may further cash any order drawn by you upon my house.
"There now, my daughter is waiting, and the hour for sailing is at hand. Do not let us say any more about it."
So saying he hurried Rupert out into the hall where Maria Von Duyk was waiting, before he could have raised any objection, had he wished to do so. But in truth Rupert felt that he could not refuse the kind offer without giving pain, and he knew moreover that this allowance, which to the rich merchant was a mere45 trifle, would add greatly to his comfort, and enable him to enter more freely than he had yet done in the plans and pursuits of his brother officers, who were for the most part young men of fortune. With a word or two of sincere thanks therefore, he accompanied the worthy46 Dutchman, and twelve minutes later the party were on their way down to the quay.
"A surly looking knave47 is your captain," Mynheer Von Duyk said as they stood by the boat while the men prepared for a start. "I see he belongs not to this town, but to Bergen. However, the voyage is not a long one, and as you know but little of our language it will matter but slightly whether his temper be good or bad.
"There, I see he is ready. Goodbye, Master Holliday. Goodbye, my good Hugh. All fortune attend you, and God keep you both from harm."
Maria added her affectionate adieux to those of her father, and in a few minutes the boat was moving down the river under full sail.
"Hugh, you may as well overhaul48 the cabin at once," Rupert said; "we have paid for its sole use during the voyage. Cast your eye carefully round, and see if there is anything that strikes you as being suspicious. I see no arms on deck; see that none are hidden below."
Hugh returned on deck in a few minutes.
"It seems all right, Master Rupert. There are some provisions in a locker49, and in another are a cutlass, a couple of old pistols, and a keg half full of powder; I should say by its weight there are ten pounds in it. The arms are rusted50, and have been there some time, I should say. There is also a bag of heavy shot, and there is a long duck gun fastened to the beam; but all these things are natural enough in a boat like this. No doubt they fire a charge or two of shot into a passing flight of wildfowl when they get the chance."
"That's all right then, Hugh, especially as they evidently could not go down into the cabin without our seeing them; and as with our pistols and swords we could make short work of them even if they did mean mischief51, we need not trouble ourselves any further in the matter. It's going to be a wet night, I am afraid; not that it makes much difference, but one would rather have stayed on deck as long as one could keep awake, for the smells of the cabin of a Dutch fishing boat are not of the sweetest."
Rupert was not mistaken. As the darkness came on a thick heavy mist began to fall steadily52; and he and Hugh descended53 through the half door from the cockpit into the cabin.
"Now let us have supper, Hugh; there are plenty of good things; and I have a famous appetite."
The thoughtfulness of Mynheer von Duyk's housekeeper had placed two candles in the basket together with two drinking glasses; and the former were soon lighted, and by the aid of a drop or two of their own grease, fixed upright on the rough table. Then a splendid pie was produced; the neck was knocked off a bottle; the lads drew out their clasp knives, and set to work.
"Here is a bottle of schnapps," Hugh said, examining the basket when they had finished a hearty54 meal.
"You may as well give that to the boatman, Hugh. I expect the good frau had him in her thoughts when she put it in, for she would hardly give us credit for such bad taste as to drink that stuff when we could get good wine."
Hugh handed out the bottle to the boatman, who took it with a surly grunt55 of satisfaction. It was raining steadily, and the wind had almost dropped. An hour later the lads agreed that they were ready for sleep. Hitherto the door had been slightly open to admit air.
"Shall I shut the door, Master Rupert?"
"Well, perhaps you had better, Hugh. We have got into the way of sleeping heavily at Dort, without any night guard or disturbance56. I doubt not that these Dutchmen mean us no harm. Still it is well to be on the safe side."
"There is no fastening to it, Master Rupert."
"Well, take your sword out of its scabbard, Hugh, and put the scabbard against the door, so that it will fall with a crash if the door is opened. Then, if we have a pistol close to hand, we can sleep in security."
Hugh obeyed his instructions; and in a few minutes, wrapped in their military cloaks, they were fast asleep on the lockers57, which served as benches and beds. How long they slept they knew not; but both started up into a sitting attitude, with their hands on their pistols.
"Who's there?" both shouted; but there was no answer.
The darkness was intense; and it was clear that whoever had tried to open the door had shut it again.
"Have you your tinderbox handy, Hugh? If so, let us have a light.
"Those fellows are moving about overhead, Hugh; but we had better stay where we are. The scabbard may have shaken down, for the wind has got up, and the boat is feeling it; and if they mean foul58 play they could knock us on the head as we go out from under the low door.
"Hallo! What's that?"
The "that" was the falling of some heavy substance against the door.
"Those are the coils of cable, Hugh; they have blocked us in. Go on striking that light; we can't push the door open now."
Some more weight was thrown against the door, and then all was still.
Presently Hugh succeeded in striking a light--no easy task in the days of flint and steel--and the candles being lighted, they sat down to consider the position.
"We are prisoners, Master Rupert; no doubt about that."
"None at all, Hugh. The question is what do they mean to do with us. We've got food enough here to last us with ease for a week; and with our pistols and swords, to say nothing of the duck gun, we could hold this cabin against any number."
Presently they heard the men on deck hailing another boat.
"I suppose that is that rascal Fulke," Rupert said. "I hope that I am not quarrelsome by disposition59, Hugh; but the next time I meet that fellow I will, if time and place be suitable, come to a reckoning with him."
There was a movement above, and then a bump came against the side. The other boat had come up.
"Now we shall see what they are up to."
Nothing, however, came of it. There was some low talking above, and some coarse laughter.
Rupert had half lain down again, but he leapt up now.
"What's to be done now, Master Rupert?" Hugh asked.
"Let us try the door, Hugh."
A single effort showed that they were powerless here. The door was strong, it was fastened outside, and it was heavily weighted with coils of rope and other substances.
"The water rises fast. It's over our ankles," Hugh said quietly.
"They have taken to the boats."
Not all, however, for through the door there came a shout, "Goodbye, Master Holliday," and a loud, jeering63 laugh.
"Au revoir, Sir Richard Fulke," Rupert shouted back; "and when we meet next, beware!"
"Ha, ha! it won't be in this world;" and they heard their enemy get into the boat.
"Now, Hugh, we must set to work; we have got the boat to ourselves."
"But what are we to do, Master Rupert?"
Rupert was silent for a minute.
"There is but one way, Hugh. We must blow up the boat."
"Blow up the boat!" Hugh repeated, in astonishment64.
"Yes, Hugh. At least, blow the deck up. Give me that keg of powder."
Hugh opened the locker. It was, fortunately, still above water.
"Now, Hugh, put it in that high locker there, just under the deck. Knock its head out.
"Now for a piece of cord."
"But it will blow us into smash, Master Rupert."
"I hope not, Hugh; but we must take our chance. I would rather that than be drowned gradually. But look, the water is up nearly to our waists now; and the boat must be pretty nearly sinking. I will take hold of the cord. Then both of us throw ourselves down to the floor, and I will pull the string. Three feet of water over us ought to save us; but mind, the instant you feel the shock, jump up and rush for the opening, for it is pretty sure to sink her.
"Now!"
The lads dived under water, and the instant afterwards there was a tremendous explosion. The deck of the boat was blown into the air in a hundred fragments, and at the same moment the boat sank under the water.
A few seconds later Rupert and Hugh were swimming side by side. For a while neither spoke--they were shaken and half stunned66 by the shock.
"It is a thick fog, Hugh. All the better; for if those scoundrels come back, as is likely enough, there is no chance of their finding us, for I can hardly see you, though I am touching67 you. Now we must paddle about, and try to get hold of a spar or a bit of plank68."
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1
lavished
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| v.过分给予，滥施( lavish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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3
starched
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| adj.浆硬的，硬挺的，拘泥刻板的v.把（衣服、床单等）浆一浆( starch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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4
rosiest
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| adj.玫瑰色的( rosy的最高级 )；愉快的；乐观的；一切都称心如意 | |
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5
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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6
flirtation
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| n.调情，调戏，挑逗 | |
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7
marketing
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| n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西 | |
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8
fathoms
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| 英寻( fathom的名词复数 ) | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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catastrophes
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| n.灾祸( catastrophe的名词复数 )；灾难；不幸事件；困难 | |
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dyke
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| n.堤，水坝，排水沟 | |
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lava
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| n.熔岩，火山岩 | |
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13
leech
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| n.水蛭，吸血鬼，榨取他人利益的人；vt.以水蛭吸血；vi.依附于别人 | |
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14
bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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dough
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| n.生面团；钱，现款 | |
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attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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19
bourgeois
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| adj./n.追求物质享受的(人)；中产阶级分子 | |
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20
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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22
detention
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| n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下 | |
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23
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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25
mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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thwart
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| v.阻挠，妨碍，反对；adj.横(断的) | |
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abbreviate
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| v.缩写，使...简略，缩短 | |
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28
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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30
disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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31
incurred
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| [医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式 | |
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magistrates
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| 地方法官，治安官( magistrate的名词复数 ) | |
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tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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quay
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| n.码头，靠岸处 | |
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zoom
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| n.急速上升；v.突然扩大，急速上升 | |
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brawls
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| 吵架，打架( brawl的名词复数 ) | |
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naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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40
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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41
adoption
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| n.采用，采纳，通过；收养 | |
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42
cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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43
regiments
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| （军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物 | |
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44
annually
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| adv.一年一次，每年 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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46
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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47
knave
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| n.流氓；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
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48
overhaul
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| v./n.大修，仔细检查 | |
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49
locker
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| n.更衣箱，储物柜，冷藏室，上锁的人 | |
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50
rusted
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| v.（使）生锈( rust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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51
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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52
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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53
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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54
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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55
grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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56
disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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57
lockers
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| n.寄物柜( locker的名词复数 ) | |
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58
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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59
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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60
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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61
scuttled
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| v.使船沉没( scuttle的过去式和过去分词 )；快跑，急走 | |
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62
trampling
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| 踩( trample的现在分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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63
jeering
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| adj.嘲弄的，揶揄的v.嘲笑( jeer的现在分词 ) | |
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64
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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65
muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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66
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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67
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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68
plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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