board twenty-four
hours ago. The Dutchmen had been kind to me in their rough way,
particularly as they took me for a Frenchman. I thought it prudent not
to undeceive them, and passed myself off to the skipper as a castaway
citizen of the Republic One and Indivisible, which my knowledge of the
language made easy.

But, as you may imagine, now that I stood on the deck of the _Scheldt_,
my mind had room for but one thought. Miss Kit--where was she?

Even had her curiosity brought her on deck yesterday to see the rescue
of the poor foreigner, she would hardly have recognised in the smoke-
begrimed, swollen features of the half-drowned man her old squire and
comrade of long ago. Still less would Martin, who had never set eyes on
me for four years, discover me. I knew him well enough as I came upon
him just then leaning over the bulwark taking an eyeful of Dutch
scenery.

He turned round as I approached and nodded.

"_Comment vous portez-vous_?" said he, using up one of the slender stock
of French phrases he had at command.

I replied in French that I did well, and was entirely at monsieur's
service, and madame's too, for I heard, said I, monsieur did not travel
alone.

Martin, who only half-comprehended, looked at me doubtfully, and turned
on his heel.

Presently, as I leaned over the port watching the river, I overheard him
in conference with the skipper, who spoke imperfect English.

"Convent of the Carmelite Nuns?" said the latter; "that is outside the
town some distance. Is mademoiselle to be taken there?"

"Ay; those are my orders."

"Will she go?"

"She must," said Martin.

"She has not been very obedient so far," said the skipper with a laugh.
"You have not received much encouragement."

"What do I want encouragement for," growled Martin, "from her?"

"Perhaps the encouragement of Mees Norah, her maid, has been enough for
you. But I warn you, my young lady will not travel so easily by land as
by sea. You will need a troop of horse to take her to the Carmelites, I
expect."

This was said with a sneer at Martin's qualifications as a squire of
dames which that gentleman did not enjoy.

"I can manage my own business," said he in an unpleasant voice. "I
shall take her there in a carriage, and if she resists she will have to
find out she is not her own mistress."

"As you will," said the skipper. "I thank my stars I have not the
task."

Indeed, I came to learn later on that he had good re