glish waters. The balance Mr.
Brown will give you on your return, on receipt of a note from us to the
effect that we are safely home."

"It cannot be done," said Jan.

"Then the deal's off," remarked the Flight-Sub coolly; but he
ostentatiously poured the coins from his right hand into his left
before returning them to his pocket.

The Dutchman capitulated.

"Very good," he said. "I can trust an English Naval officer, although
many a time have I been done in London. Get in, one of you."

"But the other?" enquired the Sub.

"I am strong, but I am not a Hercules," replied the Dutchman with a
shrug of his shoulders. "One I can carry to the cart. To-day is a
heavy wash, so I must return for a second load. You twig?"

"In you get, Trefusis," ordered his companion, in a tone that would
brook no refusal.

By dint of hunching his shoulders and bending his knees, Ross managed
to get into the basket. The lid was shut, and Jan, assisted by the
Sub, lifted the heavy load on to his shoulders.

Jolting over the cobble-stones, the cart proceeded at a rapid pace for
nearly a quarter of an hour. Then Jan called to the dogs to stop. The
lid was thrown back and Ross told to get out.

He found himself outside a small cottage by the side of a canal. Katje
was on her knees washing a bundle of clothes; the operation assisted,
with disastrous results to the interned officers' effects, by means of
two large stones with which she pounded the saturated garments.
Without even turning her head to watch the midshipman's exit from the
basket, she proceeded vigorously with her task.

Jan led him into the cottage and pointed to a heap of clothes.

"Put these on you," he said. "I will now go for your friend."

Before the Flight-Sub rejoined him, Ross was rigged out as a Dutch
youth, in voluminous trousers, long coat, stock, tall cylindrical hat,
green stockings, and wooden shoes. His companion had to look twice
before he recognized him.

"Now you come with me to Mynheer Guit," said Jan. "He is a bulb
merchant, and lives just outside Ymuiden. You will then go on board a
barge that brings the boxes of bulbs from Mynheer Guit's warehouse to
the ship. I will be with you. The men in the barge will say nothing.
Before to-night you will be safe on board the _Hoorn_."

Jan was as good as his word. That night the fugitives slept
comfortably in the cabin of the mate of the steamship _Hoorn_; and at
tide-time, early on Saturday