intended that night to attack the house of the
little doctor, who had, they knew, much money in his possession.

"What I have proposed is the best," said one of them; "he has no one
with him but his daughter."

"I value her more than his money," replied another; "so, recollect
before we go, it is perfectly understood that she is to be my property."

"Yes, if you choose to purchase her, there's no objection," replied a
third.

"Agreed; how much will you in conscience ask for a paling girl?"

"I say five hundred guilders," replied another.

"Well, be it so, but on this condition, that if my share of the booty
does not amount to so much, I am to have her for my share, whatever it
may be."

"That's very fair," replied the other: "but I'm much mistaken if we
don't turn more than two thousand guilders out of the old man's chest."

"What do you two say--is it agreed--shall Baetens have her?"

"O yes," replied the others.

"Well, then," replied the one who had stipulated for Mynheer Poots's
daughter, "now I am with you heart and soul. I loved that girl, and
tried to get her,--I positively offered to marry her, but the old hunks
refused me, an ensign, an officer; but now I'll have revenge. We must
not spare him."

"No, no," replied the others.

"Shall we go now, or wait till it is later? In an hour or more the moon
will be up,--we may be seen."

"Who is to see us? unless, indeed, some one is sent for him. The later
the better, I say."

"How long will it take us to get there? Not half an hour if we walk.
Suppose we start in half an hour hence, we shall just have the moon to
count the guilders by."

"That's all right. In the meantime, I'll put a new flint in my lock,
and have my carbine loaded. I can work in the dark."

"You are used to it, Jan."

"Yes, I am,--and I intend this ball to go through the old rascal's
head."

"Well, I'd rather you should kill him than I," replied one of the
others, "for he saved my life at Middleburgh, when every one made sure
I'd die."

Philip did not wait to hear any more; he crawled behind the bushes until
he gained the grove of trees, and passing through them, made a detour,
so as not to be seen by these miscreants. That they were disbanded
soldiers, many of whom were infesting the country, he knew well. All
his thoughts were now to save the old doctor and his daughter from the
danger which threatened them; and for a time he forgot his father, and
the exciting rev