Page:Augusta Seaman--Jacqueline of the carrier pigeons.djvu/198

172 of us two, but what it is I cannot imagine. However, thou must get rid of these wet things, sister. There is a little room adjoining this where thou canst sleep. It has evidently been arranged for that purpose. Take off thy dripping clothes and wrap thyself in the bed-coverings, and we  will then tell each other all that has happened  since we parted.

“Now,” said Gysbert, when his sister had arrayed herself in the warm bed-coverings,  “I will begin by telling thee all about my  journey to Rotterdam.” And he rehearsed  to her all the details of his interview with  the Prince of Orange, and continued: “It  took me another day and night to pass Delft  and reach the Spanish outposts. Feeling so certain I should get through in safety, I  think I grew a little reckless and determined  to try the route I had taken the first time. I never made a bigger mistake!

“In the first place, I hadn’t an idea of the password, having been away three days.