Page:Augusta Seaman--Jacqueline of the carrier pigeons.djvu/212

186 went to sleep again. Another hour passed, and Jan, frightened almost out of his  senses, resolved to seek Dr. de Witt. Waking Vrouw Voorhaas he told her that he did not feel well and was going out to consult the  doctor. She, he said, must go quietly to sleep again, as it was nothing serious. Unsuspectingly she assented, and he hurried out to find Dr. de Witt, weary with his day’s  exertion, just about to turn into bed. The tale was soon told, and Pieter de Witt lost  not a moment in resuming his clothes.

“She has answered some summons,” said he, “and has been led into a trap. I know it! I have suspected all along that something like this would happen when we least  dreamed of it. My God! It is unthinkable!” From end to end the two searched the city that night. No one had heard of her, none had seen her, and they returned  home in the gray of early morning, foot-sore,  despairing and heartsick.

“It will kill Vrouw Voorhaas,” said De