Page:Augusta Seaman--Jacqueline of the carrier pigeons.djvu/66

44 to visit poor Jan Van Buskirk once a  day, and take him some soothing medicine. He says that nothing helps him like the decoction of my herbs, and nothing charms  away his pain like the touch of my hands. Dost thou know, Gysbert, that he has been obliged to kill and eat most of his pigeons  since food has been so short? I know not what he will do when they are gone!”

“We will share our food with him, Jacqueline. He has always been so kind to us, and taught us how to raise and train our  pigeons. But now, let us to rest! It is late, and I must see Burgomaster Van der Werf  early to-morrow.”

Poor Jacqueline’s sleep that night was restless and tormented by frightful dreams  in which Gysbert’s new and dangerous vocation, and the evil face of Dirk Willumhoog  bore no inconspicuous part. Gysbert, on the contrary, slept sweetly and undisturbed as a  year old baby, and rose next morning