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.

“Well, this beats my comprehension entirely,” said Bill Spurey.

“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.”

“Why, what, and who can they be?”

“I’ve a notion that Vanslyperken’s at the bottom of it,” replied Spurey.

“Yes,” said Short.

“But it’s a bottom that I can’t fathom,” continued Spurey.

“My dipsey line arn’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 yet 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.”

“Well, but we’ve handspikes,” observed Spurey.

“Got for dam, gif me de handspike,” cried Jansen.

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

“Yes,” replied Short.

“And, in the meantime, get everything to hand that we can.”

“Yes,” replied Short.

“Well, I can’t understand the manoeuvre.  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 manoeuvre 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.