"I do, I will, my good friend, and I will go to prison proudly, and like an innocent and injured man."

And Mynheer Krause hastened down to his counting-house, to make the proposed arrangements, Ramsay returning to Wilhelmina, to whom he imparted what had taken place between him and her father, and which had the effect of confirming her resolution.

We must now return to the widow Vandersloosh, who has arrived safely, but melting with the heat of her journey, at the Palace of the Hague. She immediately informed one of the domestics that she wished to speak with his majesty upon important business.

"I cannot take your name in to his majesty, but if you will give it me, I will speak to Lord Albemarle."

The widow wrote her name down upon a slip of paper, with which the servant went away, and then the widow sat down upon a bench in the hall, and cooled herself with her fan.

"Frau Vandersloosh," said Lord Albemarle, on reading the

name.

"Let her come up. Why this," continued, he, turning to the Duke of Portland, who was sitting by him, "is the woman who is ordered to be arrested this night, upon the evidence of Lieutenant Vanslyperken; we shall learn something now, depend upon it."

The Frau Vandersloosh made her appearance, sailing into the room like a Dutch man-of-war of that period, under full sail, high-pooped and broad-sterned. Never having stood in the presence of great men, she was not a little confused, so she fanned herself most furiously.

"You wish to speak with me?

" said Lord Albemarle.

"Yes, your honour's honour, I've come to expose a snivelling traitor to his majesty's crown. Yes, yes, Mr. Vanslyperken, we shall see now," continued the widow, talking to herself, and fanning away.

"We are all attentive, madam."

Mistress Vandersloosh then began, out of breath, and continued out of breath till she had told the whole of her story, which, as the reader must be aware, only corroborated all Vanslyperken had already stated, with the exception that he had denounced the widow. Lord Albemarle allowed her to proceed without interruption; he had a great insight into character, and the story of the widow confirmed him in his opinion of Vanslyperken.

"But, my good woman," said Lord Albemarle, " are you aware that Mr. Vanslyperken has already been here?"

"Yes, your honour, I met him going back, and he turned his nose up at me, and then I said, 'Well, well, Mr. Vanslyperken, we shall see; wait a little, Mr. Vanslyperken.'

"And," continued Lord Albermarle, "that he has denounced you as being a party to all these treasonable practices?"

"Me-denounced me-he-O Lord, O Lord, only let me

meet him face to face-let him say it then, if he dares, the snivelling-cowardly-murdering wretch."

Thereupon Mrs. Vandersloosh commenced the history of Vanslyperken's wooing, of his cur Snarleyyow, of her fancy for the corporal, of his finding her with the corporal the day before, of her beating him off with the brooms, and of her threats to expose his treason. "And so, now, when he finds that he was to be exposed, he comes up first himself; that's now the truth of it, or my name's not Vandersloosh, your honour;" and the widow walked up and down with the march of an elephant, fanning herself violently, her bosom heaving with agitation, and her face as red as a boiled lobster.

"Mistress Vandersloosh," said Lord Albemarle, "let the affair rest as it is for the present, but I shall not forget what you have told me. I think now that you had better go home.' At this dismissal the widow turned round.

“Thank your worship kindly," said she, "I'm ready to come whenever I'm wanted. Yes, yes, Mr. Vanslyperken," resumed the widow, as she walked to the door, quite forgetting the respect due to the two noblemen, we shall see; yes, yes, we shall see.

"Well, my lord, what think you of this?" said Lord Albemarle to the duke, as the widow closed the door.

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Upon my soul I think she is honest; she is too fat for a traitor."

66 I am of your opinion. The episode of the corporal was delightful, and has thrown much light upon the lieutenant's conduct, who is a traitor in my opinion, if ever there was one; but he must be allowed to fulfil his task, and then we will soon find out the traitor; but if I mistake not, that man was born to be hung."

We must now return to Mr. Vanslyperken, who received the note from Ramsay, just as he was going down to the boat. As he did not know what steps were to be taken by Government, he determined to go up to Ramsay, and inform him of his order for immediately sailing.

He might gain further information from his letters, and also remove the suspicion of his having betrayed him. Ramsay received Mr. Vanslyperken with an air of confidence.

"Sit down, Mr. Vanslyperken, I wish to know whether there is any chance of your sailing."

"I was about to come up to you to state that I have orders to sail this evening."

"That is fortunate, as I intended to take a passage with you, and what is more, Mr. Vanslyperken, I have a large sum in specie, which we must contrive to get on board. Cannot we contrive it? I cannot go without it." Yes,

"A large sum in specie!" Vanslyperken reflected. he would secure Ramsay as a prisoner, and possess himself of the specie if he could. His entrapping Ramsay on board would be another proof of his fidelity and dexterity. But then Van

slyperken thought of the defection of the corporal; but that was of no great consequence. The crew of the cutter dare not disobey him, when they were ordered to seize a traitor.

While Vanslyperken was meditating this, Ramsay fixed his eyes upon him, waiting for his reply.

"It will be difficult," observed Vanslyperken, "to get the specie on board without being seen.'

"I'm afraid so too; but I have a proposition to make. Suppose you get under way, and heave-to a mile outside, I will then come off in the syndic's barge. I can have the use of it. Then nothing will be discovered."

Vanslyperken appeared to reflect again.

"I shall still run a great risk, Mr. Ramsay."

"You will run some little, perhaps, but you will be well paid for it, I promise you.'

"Well, sir, I consent," replied Vanslyperken. hour do you propose to embark?"

"At what

"About eleven, or a little earlier. You will have a light over the stern; hail the boat when you see it coming, and I shall answer, King's messenger, with despatches;' that will be a blind to your crew-they supposed me a king's messenger before."

"Yes, that will be prudent," replied Vanslyperken, who then took his leave with great apparent cordiality.

"Villain!" muttered Ramsay, as Vanslyperken shut the door, "I know your thoughts.'

We must pass over the remainder of this eventful day. Wilhelmina had procured the dress of a boy, in which disguise she proposed to elope with Ramsay, and all her preparations were made long before the time. Mynheer Krause was also occupied in getting his specie ready for embarkation, and Ramsay in writing letters. The despatches from the Hague came down about nine o'clock, and Vanslyperken received them on board. About ten he weighed and made sail, and hove-to about a mile outside, with a light shown as agreed. About the time arranged, a large boat appeared pulling up to the cutter. "Boat, a-hoy!", King's messenger with despatches," was the reply. "All's right," said Vanslyperken; get a rope there, from forward.'

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The boat darted alongside of the cutter. She pulled ten oars; but, as soon as she was alongside, a number of armed men sprang from her on the decks, and beat the crew below, while Ramsay, with pistols in his belt, and his sword in his hand, went aft to Vanslyperken.

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What is all this?" exclaimed the terrified lieutenant. Nothing, sir, but common prudence on my part," replied Ramsay. I have an account to settle with you.' Vanslyperken perceived that his treachery was discovered, and he fell upon his knees. Ramsay turned away to give orders, and Vanslyperken darted down the hatchway, and gained the lower deck.

"Never mind," said Ramsay, "he'll not escape me; come, my lads, hand up the boxes as fast as you can."

Ramsay then went to the boat, and brought up Wilhelmina, who had remained there, and conducted her down into the cabin. The boxes were also handed down, the boat made fast, and the conspirators remained in possession of the deck. The helm was taken by one of them; sail again made on the cutter, and the boat with a boat-keeper towed astern.

CHAPTER XLVII.

WHICH IS RATHER INTERESTING.

MR. VANSLYPERKEN's retreat was not known to the crew; they thought him still on deck, and he hastened forward to secrete himself, even from his own crew, who were not a little astonished at this unexpected attack, which they could not account for. The major part of the arms on board were always kept in Mr. Vanslyperken's cabin, and that was not only in possession of the assailants, but there was a strong guard in the passage outside which led to the lower deck.

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Well, this beats my comprehension entirely," said Bill Spurey.

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Yes," replied Short.

And mine too," added Obadiah Coble, "being as we are, as you know, at peace with all nations, to be boarded and carried in this way.'

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'Why, what, and who can they be?"

"I've a notion that Vanslyperken's at the bottom of it," replied Spurey.

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Yes," said Short.

"But it's a bottom that I can't fathom," continued Spurey. My dipsey line ar'n't long enough either," replied Coble. "Gott for dam, what it can be?" exclaimed Jansen. "It must be the treason."

"Mein Gott! yes," replied Corporal Van Spitter. "It is all treason, and the traitor be Vanslyperken." But although the corporal had some confused ideas, yet he could not arrange them.

"Well, I've no notion of being boxed up here," observed Coble, they can't be so many as we are, even if they were stowed away in the boat, like pilchards in a cask. Can't we get at the arms, corporal, and make a rush for it?"

"Mein Gott! de arms are all in the cabin, all but three pair pistols and the bayonets."

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Well, but we've handspikes," observed Spurey. "Gott for dam, gif me de handspike," cried Jansen.

S

"We had better wait till daylight, at all events, observed Coble, we shall see our work better."

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Yes," replied Short.

"And in the meantime, get everything to hand that we can." "Yes," replied Short.

"Well, I can't understand the manœuvre. It beats my comprehension, what they have done with Vanslyperken.' "I don't know, but they've kicked the cur out of the cabin."

"Then they've kicked him out too, depend upon it."

Thus did the crew continue to surmise during the whole night, but, as Bill Spurey said, the manœuvre beat their comprehension.

One thing was agreed upon, that they should make an attempt to recover the vessel as soon as they could.

In the meantime, Ramsay with Wilhelmina, and the Jesuits, had taken possession of the cabin, and had opened all the despatches which acquainted them with the directions in detail, given for the taking of the conspirators at Portsmouth, and in the cave. Had it not been to save his friends, Ramsay would, at once, have taken the cutter to Cherbourg, and have there landed Wilhelmina and the treasure; but his anxiety for his friends determined him to run at once for the cave, and send overland to Portsmouth. The wind was fair and the water smooth, and, before morning, the cutter was on her way.

In the meantime, the crew of the cutter had not been idle; the ladders had been taken up and hatches closed. The only chance of success was an attack upon the guard, who was stationed outside of the cabin.

They had six pistols, about two hundred pounds of ammunition; but, with the exception of half-a-dozen bayonets, no other weapons. But they were resolute men, and as soon as they had made their arrangements, which consisted of piling up their hammocks, so as to make a barricade to fire over, they then commenced operations, the first signal of which was a pistol-shot discharged at the men who were on guard in the passage, and which wounded one of them. Ramsay darted out of the cabin at the report of the pistol; another and another was discharged, and Ramsay then gave the order to fire in return. This was done, but without injury to the seamen of the cutter, who were protected by the hammocks, and Ramsay, having already three of his men wounded, found that the post below was no longer tenable. A consultation took place, and it was determined that the passage on the lower deck and the cabin should be abandoned, as the upper deck it would be easy to retain.

The cabin's skylight was taken off, and the boxes of gold handed up, while the party outside the cabin door maintained the conflict with the crew of the Yungfrau. When all the boxes were up, Wilhelmina was lifted on deck, the skylight was shipped on again, and, as soon as the after-hatches were