“For me there was no time for sentiment. As the first group of soldiers drew near there arose from the landward side a strident blast. I recognized the whistle of the Dutch steamer, which was going out. In sight of the soldiers I sprang to the open door of the casemate, peered within, then rushed to meet them.
“‘Some prisoners have escaped!’ I howled. ‘See, the door of the casemate has been torn away! Did you not hear the noise, sluggards? Look!’ I pointed toward the town, where, above the farther wall, we could see the masthead light of the steamer. ‘They have fled to the Hollandez!’
“The cry was taken up: ‘They have fled to the Hollandez!’ and the soldiers, with a glance at the dark entrance of the casemate, turned and made off toward the main gate. On the way they met the commandante, who, hearing their cries, rushed to the jetty and bawled at the steamer to stop.
“The place was deserted again and I softly entered the dungeon. I could see nothing in the gloom, but from the shadow I heard a deep, choking voice say: ‘Jacob! Jacob! Ach, mein lieber Jacob! Mein kleiner, lieber Jacob!’
“‘Isidore—mein bruder—Isidore!’ came the thin answer, and then there was a gurgle, a strangling cough, a sigh as of a soul exhausted, a body spent with vain struggling, and yet a sigh filled with promise of an infinite peace. I heard a rustling, such a sound as comes from a tired child as its head falls back upon its mother’s breast. There was the sound of a multitude of kisses, a choked sob—then silence, which endured for many minutes.
“‘Come, my friend,’ I said, softly. ‘We must go, if you wish to take Jacob away.’
“I led the way and Rosenthal followed me out into the night, bearing the body of his brother in his arms, his broad chest shaken with sobs. We scaled the wall, called softly and a moment later our Curaçao men pulled the boat alongside.”
Leyden paused, relit his pipe, puffed a few times in silence.
“They overran that Dutch steamer like cockroaches,” he continued, with a chuckle, “and for a while the government seriously considered withdrawing the privileges of their ports to the line. Ultimately it was decided to let them off with a reprimand, because, you see, the steamers were the only opportunity the port officials had of getting their weekly allowance of spirits for nothing.
“Rosenthal? We made the run back to Curaçao in thirty-six hours, because, you see, the trade always blows the same way. The day we arrived Rosenthal paid me fifteen hundred dollars, the price agreed for the rescue of his brother.