"We have had an upset, and shall be glad to be out of this." The boatmen gave a cry of surprise, but at once leapt to their feet, and would have thrown a rope, but by this time the lads were alongside, and leaning over they helped them into the boat.

Then they looked with astonishment at their suddenly arrived guests.
"We are English soldiers," Hugh said, "on our way to Bergen op Zoom, when by some carelessness a keg of powder blew up, our boat went to the bottom, and we have been swimming for it for the last couple of hours." "Are you the English officer and soldier who left Dort this afternoon ?" one of the men said.

"We saw you come down to the quay with Mynheer Von Duyk and his daughter.

Our boat lay next to the boat you went by." "That is so," Hugh said.

"Are you going to Bergen?
We have enough dollars left to pay our passage." "You would be welcome in any case," the boatman said.