“I don’t know,” he answered, and as he spoke Martha ran up, for she also had seen the boat. “You see,” he went on, “if we try to escape they will catch us, for oars can’t race a sail.”
“Oh!” said Elsa, “must we be taken after all?”
“I hope not, girl,” said Martha, “but it is as God wills. Listen, Martin,” and she whispered in his ear.
“Good,” he said, “if it can be done, but you must watch your chance. Come, now, there is no time to lose. And you, lady, come also, for you can help to roll the last two barrels.”
Then they ran back to the hole, whence Foy and Adrian, with great toil, had just dragged the last of the tubs. For they, too, had seen the sail, and knew that time was short.
“Heer Adrian,” said Martin, “you have the cross-bow and the bolts, and you used to be the best shot of all three of us; will you help me to hold the causeway?”
Now Adrian knew that Martin said this, not because he was a good shot with the cross-bow, but because he did not trust him, and wished to have him close to his hand, but he answered:
“With all my heart, as well as I am able.”
“Very good,” said Martin. “Now let the rest of you get those two casks into the boat, leaving the Jufvrouw hidden in the reeds to watch by it, while you, Foy and Martha, come back to help us. Lady, if they sail round the island, call and let us know.”
So Martin and Adrian went down to the end of the little gravelly tongue and crouched among the tall meadow-sweet and grasses, while the others, working furiously, rolled the two barrels to the water-edge and shipped them, throwing rushes over them that they might not catch the eye of the Spaniards.