ng and three bawbees."

"And just this once again," said I, "I will remind you it was a blessing
that I came alongst with you."

"What else would I be thinking all this time?" says she, and I thought
weighed a little on my arm. "It is you that are the good friend to me."

CHAPTER XXIII

TRAVELS IN HOLLAND

The rattel-waggon, which is a kind of a long waggon set with benches,
carried us in four hours of travel to the great city of Rotterdam. It
was long past dark by then, but the streets pretty brightly lighted and
thronged with wild-like, outlandish characters--bearded Hebrews, black
men, and the hordes of courtesans, most indecently adorned with finery,
and stopping seamen by their very sleeves; the clash of talk about us
made our heads to whirl; and, what was the most unexpected of all, we
appeared to be no more struck with all these foreigners than they with
us. I made the best face I could, for the lass's sake and my own credit;
but the truth is, I felt like a lost sheep, and my heart beat in my
bosom with anxiety. Once or twice I inquired after the harbour or the
berth of the ship _Rose_; but either fell on some who spoke only
Hollands, or my own French failed me. Trying a street at a venture, I
came upon a lane of lighted houses, the doors and windows thronged with
wauf-like painted women; these jostled and mocked upon us as we passed,
and I was thankful we had nothing of their language. A little after we
issued forth upon an open place along the harbour.

"We shall be doing now," cries I, as soon as I spied masts. "Let us walk
here by the harbour. We are sure to meet some that has the English, and
at the best of it we may light upon that very ship."

We did the next best, as happened; for, about nine of the evening, whom
should we walk into the arms of but Captain Sang? He told us they had
made their run in the most incredible brief time, the wind holding
strong till they reached port; by which means his passengers were all
gone already on their further travels. It was impossible to chase after
the Gebbies into the High Germany, and we had no other acquaintance to
fall back upon but Captain Sang himself. It was the more gratifying to
find the man friendly and wishful to assist. He made it a small affair
to find some good plain family of merchants, where Catriona might
harbour till the _Rose_ was loaden; declared he would then blithely
carry her back to Leith for nothing and see her safe in the hand