EDITH'S LAST JOURNEY
Skipper Brandelaar had given Edith the name of the inn near the harbour, where he expected a message from Heideck in the course of the night; for he felt certain that the Major would be anxious to speak to him as soon as possible.
But he was considerably surprised when, instead of the messenger he expected, he saw his beautiful disguised passenger enter the low, smoke-begrimed taproom.He went to meet Edith with a certain clumsy gallantry, to shield her from the curiosity and importunities of the men seated with him at the table, whose weatherbeaten faces inspired as little confidence as their clothing, which smelt of tar and had suffered badly from wind and weather.
Utterly surprised, he was going to question Edith, but she anticipated him.
"I must get back to Dover to-night," she said hurriedly, in a low tone."Will you take me across? I will pay you what you ask."The skipper shook his head slowly, but resolutely.
"Impossible.Even if I could leave again, it couldn't be done in such weather.""It must be done.The weather is not so bad, and I know you are not the man to be afraid of a storm.""Afraid--no! Very likely I have weathered a worse storm than this with my smack.But there is a difference between the danger a man has to go through when he cannot escape it, and that to which he foolishly exposes himself.When I am on a journey, then come what pleases God, but--""No more, Brandelaar," interrupted Edith impatiently."If you cannot, or will not go yourself, surely one of your acquaintances here is brave and smart enough to earn a couple of hundred pounds without any difficulty."The skipper's little eyes twinkled.
"A 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 Idon'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," Edith had said to him."And greet him from me--greet him heartily.Don't forget that, Brandelaar.".......
