Page:Augusta Seaman--Jacqueline of the carrier pigeons.djvu/96

72 and went out hastily to seek the nearest physician. Dr. Pieter de Witt was hard to find for his duties were long and arduous in  these dreadful days, but finally she discovered him in the house of a poor family all  sick but the mother who could hardly drag  herself around. Hearing Jacqueline’s errand he made haste to accompany her. One glance at the unconscious Jan told him the  tale.

“My girl,” he said, turning to Jacqueline, “go away from here as speedily as thou canst. This man has the plague. It has broken out in several parts of the city, owing to bad  food or none at all, and this man has caught  it. Thou art exposing thyself to a terrible disease and almost certain death. This is no place for thee. Go home, and I will take care of the man to the best of my ability, but  I doubt if he will live, even so.”

Jacqueline’s eyes opened wide with a startled look, and she glanced uncertainly at  Jan. The sick man stirred restlessly, then