word "Allemachte!" that is "Almighty," a favourite Dutch expression.

Marie was the first to perceive that I had come to life again. Shaking
herself free from the clasp of the young man, she staggered towards me
and fell upon her knees at my side, muttering words that I could not
catch, for they choked in her throat. Then Hans took in the situation,
and wriggling his unpleasant self to my other side, lifted my hand and
kissed it. Next my father spoke, saying:

"Praise be to God, he lives! Allan, my son, I am proud of you; you have
done your duty as an Englishman should."

"Had to save my own skin if I could, thank you, father," I muttered.

"Why as an Englishman more than any other sort of man, Mynheer
Predicant?" asked the tall stranger, speaking in Dutch, although he
evidently understood our language.

"The point is one that I will not argue now, sir," answered my father,
drawing himself up. "But if what I hear is true, there was a Frenchman
in that house who did not do his duty; and if you belong to the same
nation, I apologise to you."

"Thank you, sir; as it happens, I do, half. The rest of me is
Portuguese, not English, thank God."

"God is thanked for many things that must surprise Him," replied my
father in a suave voice.

At that moment this rather disagreeable conversation, which even then