these men know too much; that is bad, and
they might make it unpleasant for me."

"No, no, that would be quite a mistake. Keep your men and make no fuss.
When I get to Ternenzen, I will have you and the crew arrested. You will
be examined by me and in a few days set at liberty."

The skipper did not seem to relish this prospect.

"But suppose you should change your mind in the meantime, and take me
before the court-martial?"

"You may confidently trust my word. It will only be a sham examination
to prevent your men getting unprofitable ideas into their heads and
betraying anything which might arouse suspicion across the water. On the
contrary, it will look as if you had had to endure all kinds of dangers
and disappointments; and if my estimate of you is correct, my worthy
Brandelaar, you will not lose the opportunity of extracting an extra fee
from the Admiral to make up for the anxiety you have suffered."

XXVI

CAMILLE PENUROT

When Heideck and his prisoner, Penurot, reached the Gefion he found the
Commander on deck, notwithstanding the lateness of the hour. He reported
himself, and asked him to treat Penurot as a guest.

"I was getting anxious about you," said the Captain, "and was on
the point of sending the steam pinnace after you. Have you found out
anything important?"

"I believe I have. The two rascals whom I caught there don't seem to
belong to the ordinary class of spies. They are the skipper Brandelaar
and the man I have brought with me."

"Didn't you arrest the skipper as well?"

"I intend to use them in our interest, and hope that Admiral Hollway
will find himself caught in his own net."

"Isn't that rather a risky game? If the fellows have betrayed Admiral
Hollway, you may rely upon it they will do the same by us."

"I trust to their fears and selfishness more than their honour. To take
information about us to the English they must return here again, and so
I hold them in my hand."

"But the converse is true. I confess I have very little faith in such
double-dealing spies."

"Of course, I feel the same; but I believe I have at last found the way
to the headquarters of the English system of espionage. In order to
get to the bottom of the matter I cannot do without the aid of the two
spies."

"The headquarters?"

"Yes. The underlings who risk their lives are always of subordinate
importance. It is, above all, necessary to find out the persons
of higher rank who prudently cont