what with fright and confusion, none of us know what we are about. You
were right, sir, in persuading us to defend ourselves. We might easily
have beaten off the small force of General Moraud; but we thought he had
ten thousand men, at least. We will do better another time; but the
French are now in full retreat everywhere."

That night, after dusk, Captain Vangilt came into my room: he had been a
prisoner; but the burgomaster made inquiries, and let him out, which, as
chief magistrate, he had the power to do. Vangilt embraced me with much
warmth, and expressed his regret that he could not persuade that wretch,
Moraud, from his murderous intentions.

"It came to the same thing, Vangilt. I owe you my life; for if you had
not created the delay, we should have been shot."

"That's true," replied he. "How fortunate it was, that, as my squadron
of gun-boats were destroyed, I consented to join Moraud with what men I
could collect, to surprise the town. Are you badly wounded?"

"No, not seriously, I believe; I hope to be able to get to Hamburg in a
few days."

"There is more than one there who will be delighted to see you."

"Is Mr Vanderwelt alive and well?"

"Oh yes; and Minnie, my pretty cousin, is still unmarried." Vangilt
smiled as he made this reply.

"I must ask for your parole, Vangilt, and then you can go to Hamburg
with us."

"With all my heart," replied he; "for we are tired of war, and as I am a
Dutchman and not a Frenchman, I care little for the reverses we have met
with; all I hope is, that Holland may become a kingdom again, and not a
French state, as it is now."

The next day, I was visited by the Russian commandant, who very
willingly granted me the parole of Vangilt. In a week I was well enough
to travel by slow journeys to Hamburg, lying on mattresses in a small
covered waggon, and escorted by Cross and Vangilt. A few hours before
my arrival, Vangilt went ahead to give notice of my coming, and on the
evening of the second day I found myself in a luxurious chamber, with
every comfort, in the company of Mr Vanderwelt, and with the beaming
eyes of Minnie watching over me.

The report of Minnie's beauty was fully warranted. When she first made
her appearance, the effect upon me was quite electrical: her style was
radiant, and almost dazzling--a something you did not expect to find in
the human countenance. Their reception of me was all that I could
desire; their affection shown towards