Chapter XLII

In which is shown the imprudence of sleeping in the open air, even in a summer’s night.

The Yungfrau was not permitted to remain more than two days at her anchorage.  On the third morning Mr Vanslyperken’s signal was made to prepare to weigh.  He immediately answered it, and giving his orders to Short, hastened, as fast as he could, up to the syndic’s house to inform Ramsay, stating, that he must immediately return on board again, and that the letters must be sent to him:  Ramsay perceived the necessity of this, and consented.  On his return to the boat, Mr Vanslyperken found that his signal to repair on board the frigate had been hoisted, and he hastened on board to put on his uniform and obey this order.  He received his despatches from the captain of the frigate, with orders to proceed to sea immediately.  Mr Vanslyperken, under the eye of his superior officer, could not dally or delay:  he hove short, hoisted his mainsail, and fired a gun as a signal for sailing; anxiously looking out for Ramsay’s boat with his letters, and afraid to go without them; but no boat made its appearance, and Mr Vanslyperken was forced to heave up his anchor.  Still he did not like to make sail, and he remained a few minutes more, when he at last perceived a small boat coming off.  At the same time he observed a boat coming from the frigate, and they arrived alongside the cutter about the same time, fortunately Ramsay’s boat the first, and Mr Vanslyperken had time to carry the letters down below.

“The commandant wishes to know why you do not proceed to sea, sir, in obedience to your orders,” said the officer.

“I only waited for that boat to come on board, sir,” replied Vanslyperken to the lieutenant.

“And pray, sir, from whom does that boat come?” inquired the officer.

“From the syndic’s, Mynheer Van Krause,” replied Vanslyperken, not knowing what else to say, and thinking that the name of the syndic would be sufficient.

“And what did the boat bring off, to occasion the delay, sir?”

“A letter or two for England,” replied Vanslyperken.

“Very well, sir, I wish you a good morning,” said the lieutenant, who then went into his boat, and Vanslyperken made sail.

The delay of the cutter to receive the syndic’s letters was fully reported the same evening to the commandant, who, knowing that the syndic was suspected, reported the same to the authorities, and this trifling circumstance only increased the suspicions against the unfortunate Mynheer Van Krause; but we must follow the cutter and those on board of her.  Smallbones had remained concealed on board, his wounds had been nearly healed, and it was now again proposed that he should, as soon as they were out at sea, make his appearance to frighten Vanslyperken; and that, immediately they arrived at Portsmouth, he should go on shore and desert from the cutter, as Mr Vanslyperken would,