“Can I help you to land, friends?” said Martin, mocking them.  “No, it is no use looking right or left, the mud there is very deep.”

“An arquebus, shoot him with an arquebus!” shouted the men in front; but there was no such weapon in the boat, for the Spaniards, who had left in a hurry, and without expecting to meet Red Martin, had nothing but their swords and knives.

Ramiro considered a moment, for he saw that to attempt to storm this little landing-place would cost many lives, even if it were possible.  Then he gave an order, “Back aboard.”  The men obeyed with alacrity.  “Out oars and up anchor!” he cried.

“He is clever,” said Foy; “he knows that our boat must be somewhere, and he is going to seek for it.”

Martin nodded, and for the first time looked afraid.  Then, as soon as Ramiro had begun to row round the islet, leaving Martha to watch that he did not return and rush the landing-stage, they crossed through the reeds to the other side and climbed into their boat.  Scarcely were they there, when Ramiro and his men appeared, and a shout announced that they were discovered.

On crept the Spaniards as near as they dared, that is to within a dozen fathoms of them, and anchored, for they were afraid to run their own heavy sailing cutter upon the mud lest they might be unable to get her off again.  Also, for evident reasons, being without firearms and knowing the character of the defenders, they feared to make a direct attack.  The position was curious and threatened to be prolonged.  At last Ramiro rose and addressed them across the water.

“Gentlemen and lady of the enemy,” he said, “for I think that I see my little captive of the Red Mill among you, let us take counsel together.  We have both of us made this expedition for a purpose, have we not—­namely, to secure certain filthy lucre which, after all, would be of slight value to dead men?  Now, as you, or some of you, know, I am a man opposed to violence; I wish to hurry the end of none, nor even to inflict suffering, if it can be avoided.  But there is money in the question, to secure which I have already gone through a great deal of inconvenience and anxiety, and, to be brief, that money I must have, while you, on the other hand are doubtless anxious to escape hence with your lives.  So I make you an offer.  Let one of our party come under safe conduct on board your boat and search it, just to see if anything lies beneath those rushes for instance.  Then, if it is found empty, we will withdraw to a distance and let you go, or the same if full, that is, upon its contents being unladen into the mud.”

“Are those all your terms?” asked Foy.

“Not quite all, worthy Heer van Goorl.  Among you I observe a young gentleman whom doubtless you have managed to carry off against his will, to wit, my beloved son, Adrian.  In his own interests, for he will scarcely be a welcome guest in Leyden, I ask that, before you depart, you should place this noble cavalier ashore in a position where we can see him.  Now, what is your answer?”