the
_predikants_ house--now at once."

"_Ja_, Missis." And Gert departed with willing alacrity. Aletta ran
quickly to her room. A couple of minutes sufficed for her to get into
such travelling attire as she deemed necessary. But one article of her
outfit where with she provided herself would have struck with wild
amazement and misgiving anyone who should have seen her. She felt
devoutly thankful that the old couple had toddled off to exchange gossip
with a neighbour, for not only had she the house to herself, but was
spared the vexation and delay of explaining her movements.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mynheer Lukas Albertus Albertyn, V.D.M. resident minister of the Dutch
Reformed Church at Schalkburg, was a fair type of the average country
_predikant_, which is to say that he performed all the duties of his
office with ordinary conscientiousness, had a keen eye to the customary
emoluments of the said office, both in currency and in kind, and was
regarded with veneration by the female side of his flock, and the older
and less progressive of the male. His political sympathies were all
with his own countrymen and the cause of the Republics, and his outward
appearance we know, for we have already made his acquaintance during the
opening event of this narrative--at the political meeting gathered to
hear the fervid oratory of Andries Botma, to wit.

Mynheer was seated in his dining-room snatching a hasty lunch prior to
setting forth upon his errand of mercy. Truth to tell, he was rather a
puzzled _predikant_ at that moment. What on earth did they want to
shoot this Englishman for? He was well known to many of them, was in
sympathy with them, too, and moreover was engaged to the daughter of one
of their most prominent burghers. Again, it was odd that an English man
should send for him at such a time. Englishmen of Colvin Kershaw's
class, when they did not hanker after Popery, scoffed at all religion,
was Mynheer's experience. There was an English _predikant_ at
Schalkburg, too--one who set up candles and brazen idols, and called
those of the Reformed creed ugly names--why did this Englishman not send
for him?

Perhaps because of the candles and idols. And at this point Mynheer's
reflections were suddenly and somewhat unceremoniously interrupted, for
a quick knock sounded on the door-panel, followed by the entrance of its
perpetrator almost before he had time to