re doubtless anxious to escape hence with
your lives. So I make you an offer. Let one of our party come under safe
conduct on board your boat and search it, just to see if anything lies
beneath those rushes for instance. Then, if it is found empty, we will
withdraw to a distance and let you go, or the same if full, that is,
upon its contents being unladen into the mud."

"Are those all your terms?" asked Foy.

"Not quite all, worthy Heer van Goorl. Among you I observe a young
gentleman whom doubtless you have managed to carry off against his
will, to wit, my beloved son, Adrian. In his own interests, for he will
scarcely be a welcome guest in Leyden, I ask that, before you depart,
you should place this noble cavalier ashore in a position where we can
see him. Now, what is your answer?"

"That you may go back to hell to look for it," replied Martin rudely,
while Foy added:

"What other answer do you expect from folk who have escaped out of your
clutches in Haarlem?"

As he said the words, at a nod from Martin, Martha, who by now had crept
up to them, under cover of his great form and of surrounding reeds, let
go the stern of the boat and vanished.

"Plain words from plain, uncultivated people, not unnaturally irritated
by the course of political events with which, although Fortune has mixed
me up in them, I have nothing whatever to do," answered Ramiro. "But
once more I beg of you to consider. It is probable that you have no food
upon your boat, whereas we have plenty. Also, in due course, darkness
will fall, which must give us a certain advantage; moreover, I have
reason to hope for assistance. Therefore, in a waiting game like this
the cards are with me, and as I think your poor prisoner, Adrian, will
tell you, I know how to play a hand at cards."

About eight yards from the cutter, in a thick patch of water-lilies,
just at this moment an otter rose to take air--an old dog-otter, for it
was grey-headed. One of the Spaniards in the boat caught sight of the
ring it made, and picking up a stone from the ballast threw it at it
idly. The otter vanished.

"We have been seeking each other a long while, but have never come to
blows yet, although, being a brave man, I know you would wish it,"
said Red Martin modestly. "Senor Ramiro, will you do me the honour to
overlook my humble birth and come ashore with me for a few minutes, man
against man. The odds would be in your favour, for you have armour and I
have nothing b