They found neither him nor his vessel, and they wandered about half the night, very cold, very indignant, much perplexed.

At last, on their way back, they came upon the skipper at the village of Terheyde, who made the extraordinary excuse that he had overslept himself and that he feared the plot had been discovered.

It being too late to make any attempt that night, a meeting was arranged for the following evening.

No suspicion of treachery occurred to any of the party, although it became obvious that the skipper had grown faint-hearted.

He did not come on the next night to the appointed place but he sent two nephews, boatmen like himself, whom he described as dare-devils.
On Monday night, the 26th of February, the seventy went on board the vessel, which was apparently filled with blocks of turf, and packed themselves closely in the hold.