CHAPTER XVI
THE WAY TO FREEDOM
SHRILL blasts from the siren woke me from a sleep which in its dreamlessness resembled death.
I prudently loosened the tapes of my boat-cover, and with difficulty suppressed a “Hurrah!” for the steamer was running into the harbour of Flushing.
Nothing mattered any longer. I pulled out my knife, and at one blow ripped open the boat-cover from end to end; but this time on the deck side.
With a deep breath, I stood in the middle of the boat-deck, and expected to be made a prisoner at any moment.
But no one bothered about me. The crew was occupied with landing manœuvres; the travellers with their luggage.
I now descended to the promenade-deck, where several passengers eyed me with indignation on account of my unkempt appearance and my torn blue stockings, which looked, I must say, anything but dainty.
But my eyes must have been so radiantly happy, and such joy depicted on my dirty, emaciated features that many a woman glanced at me with surprise.