Some one would help us." "If we could speak Dutch." "Oh dear," said Vince, "how hard it is! But never mind, let's get away.
We might find an English ship there." Mike shook his head, and Vince set to work inventing other ways of escaping; but they finally decided that the best way would be to wait till they were in the river or port, and then to try and get off each with an oar to help support them in what might prove to be a longer swim than they could manage.
That evening the weather lifted, and after a couple of hours' sail they found themselves off a dreary, low-lying shore, upon which a cluster or two of houses was visible, and several windmills--one showing up very large and prominent at the mouth of what seemed to be a good-sized river, whose farther shore they could faintly discern in the failing evening light.
"We're going up there," said Vince--"that's certain." But just as it began to grow dark there was a loud rattling, and down went an anchor, the lugger swung round, and the boys were just able to make out that they were about a couple of miles from the big windmill.
"Too many sandbanks to venture in," said Vince.
"No; we're waiting for a pilot." "I believe," said Vince, "he'll wait for daylight and then sail up the river; and if we don't escape somehow before we're twenty-four hours older my name isn't Burnet." Mike said nothing, but he did not seem hopeful; and soon after they were summoned to the cabin to dinner, where the captain was very friendly.
"Aha! now you see Holland.

It is beautiful, is it not?
Flat as ze Dutchman face.

Not like your Cormorant Crag, eh?
But nevaire mind.

It vas time, and soon ve get butter, bread and milk, ze sheecan, ze potate, for you hungry boy have eat so much ve get to ze bottom of ze store." They asked no questions, for they felt that it did not matter.

Any land would do, and if they could escape it would go hard if they did not avoid recapture.
They were too much excited to sleep for some time that night, lying listening for the coming of the pilot or for the hoisting of the anchor; for there was, after all, the possibility of their having anchored till the tide rose sufficiently for them to cross some bar at the mouth of the river.