couple of hundred pounds? Is it really so important for you to leave
Flushing to-day? We have hardly landed!"

"Yes, it is very important. And I have already told you that I don't
care how much it costs."

The skipper, who had evidently begun to waver, rubbed his chin
thoughtfully.

"H'm! Anyhow, I couldn't do it myself. I have important information for
the Herr major, and he would have a right to blame me, if I went away
without even so much as speaking to him. But perhaps--perhaps I
might find out a skipper who would take the risk, provided that I got
something out of it for myself."

"Of course, of course! I don't want a favour from you for nothing. You
shall have fifty pounds the moment I set foot in the boat."

"Good! And two hundred for the skipper and his men? The men are risking
their lives, you mustn't forget that. Besides, they will have to manage
confoundedly cleverly to get past the German guardships unnoticed."

"Yes, yes! Why waste so much time over this useless bargaining? Here is
the money--now get me a boat."

"Go in there," said Brandelaar, pointing to the door of a little dark
side room. "I will see whether my friend Van dem Bosch will do it."

Before complying with Brandelaar's suggestion, Edith glanced at the
man whom he had indicated with a movement of his head. Externally
this robust old sea-dog was certainly not attractive, but his alarming
appearance did not make Edith falter in her resolution for a moment.

"Good--talk to your friend, Brandelaar! And mind that I don't have to
wait too long for his consent."

. . . . . . .

The gallant Brandelaar must have found a very effective means of
persuasion, for in less than ten minutes he was able to inform Edith
that Van dem Bosch was ready to risk the journey on the terms offered.
He said nothing more about the danger of the undertaking, as if he
were afraid of frightening the young Englishwoman from her plan, so
profitable to himself. From this moment nothing more was said about the
matter. It was not far to the place where the cutter lay at anchor,
and Edith struggled on bravely between the two men, who silently walked
along by her side, in the face of the hurricane from the north, roaring
in fitful gusts from the sea. They rowed across to the vessel in a yawl,
and when Brandelaar returned to the quay he had his fifty pounds all
right in his pocket.

"If the Herr major asks after me, you may tell him the whole truth with
confidence,"