Page:Augusta Seaman--Jacqueline of the carrier pigeons.djvu/217

Rh “’Tis passing strange! ’Tis fairly devillish!” he vociferated. “I could feel no worse if harm had come to one of my own  family! Nay, I know nothing about her, and what is worse, I can do nothing. I am as helpless as thou art. My hands are tied! Thou sayest thou hast searched the city?—even I can do no more! If she has by any means been taken beyond the walls,—God  help her!” The two men sat for some moments gloomily silent. Jan had reached a point of exhaustion where his body absolutely refused to obey the behests of his  mind,—when he attempted to take his departure, he could not rise from his chair.

“Thou must stay and have a little food and drink,—such poor stuff as I can offer thee!”  said the burgomaster seeing his plight, and  he rang for a servant to bring in such fare  as they had in the house. Jan had no heart to attack the breakfast, but Van der Werf  insisted that he should eat a little to sustain  his strength. So he made a brave attempt,