Page:Augusta Seaman--Jacqueline of the carrier pigeons.djvu/307

Rh a lonely spot, I was set upon by a masked man, overpowered, stabbed in the ribs,  dragged into the bushes and left for dead. I know now that my assailant was Dirk Willumhoog, and that he had been hired to kill me!” At this familiar name the children gasped.

“Next morning the calvacade [sic] passed on without me, telling the boy I had left in the  night to return to Louvain. But Dirk’s thrust had not quite reached its mark! I was picked up next day by some kind-hearted  peasants, carefully tended for weeks, and at  last was as well as ever. I was of course, perfectly unknown to them and remained so. In the meantime I had decided on a plan. I communicated with Vrouw Voorhaas, told her  to sell the house, take you children and go  to live in Leyden. She was to carefully conceal the fact that I was alive, and bring you children up in her good care till I should return. I knew that you would be more than