Page:Augusta Seaman--Jacqueline of the carrier pigeons.djvu/215

Rh, and she hurried out with it, going some other way? Perchance as it was late. Mynheer Van der Werf’s wife would not allow her to go home, and has kept her till morning. Perchance she has been taken sick there.”

“It is a small chance, Jan,—a very small one!” said De Witt. “They would surely have sent us word in any case. But go to him if it will set thy heart at rest. I will stay with Vrouw Voorhaas the while.” Jan  set out once more, his poor old legs fairly  tottering under him with loss of sleep, lack  of food, and weakness. But excitement still buoyed him up, and the faint, vague hope  that Jacqueline might have passed the night  with Mevrouw Van der Werf spurred him  on to one more effort. It was yet too early to find the burgomaster at the statehouse, so  he proceeded straight to the residence in the  Werfsteg.

He was obliged to lift the heavy knocker several times before he could arouse the