"No, kind sir; why should he? Our father says, that those who fear God and trust in Him need fear nothing else in heaven or hell, but may have confidence that He who made all things can keep in their right places (wherever these may be) both the good spirits and the bad."
"Well spoken, little one! Art ready to give an answer for the faith that is in thee?" cried the stranger, laying his white gloved hand on the child's shoulder. "And pray, Blondinka, what sayest thou to this story of treasure in the Isle of Ghosts?" And the keen eyes of the officer peered enquiringly into Blonda's fair, open face.
Her gaze met his frankly and fearlessly, as she replied, "For myself, good sir, what can I say? I am a child, and I know nothing. My father tells Tonie and me not to think of there being gold hidden away in some rocky fastness of the island, for fear we should give ourselves up to the thought of it and the search for it, and thus forget our everyday work and the duty that God puts near at hand for us to do. He says, moreover, that since Scripture tells us that 'the love of money is the root of all evil,' and since also our Saviour Himself has said, 'How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of heaven,' it is better and safer for us never to concern ourselves about hidden gold; and he, our father, himself believes that this island is no treasure house at all. But not so Freskel Valden."
"And who may Freskel Valden be?" asked the officer. "Some wise old grey-beard who can tell many a story of the long ago?"
Blonda laughed gleefully. "Nay, sir stranger," she said, "he is but a youth, and the good God in making his body left out—so they say—half his mind. Some call him a fool, but not I, for he knows many things that we know not, and where he loves, his heart makes him wiser than the wisest."
"Would that I had as kind an advocate, my little Blonda!" said the young man. "Give my respects to thy father, child, and say that General Nicolai is glad to have met thee, and that if at any future time I should be passing this way again, I would be glad to renew my acquaintance with his little daughter, and see him and thy brother in your own home. And now farewell, dear child. If thou and thy wise, half-witted friend should chance to find the robbers' treasure, remember that I put in a claim for at least half."
And laughing good-humouredly, the tall officer went away towards the road, accompanied by Philip Bexal.
[CHAPTER III]
THE SIEGE OF THE COTTAGE
"MY children, I have bad news for you from Klingengolf; your father will not be home for some time. He has had a fall, and has broken his right arm badly, so that now he is in the hospital, and must stay there till the bone is set. These sad tidings came by a man who was passing through Carfoos on business, and your father sent me the message by him, begging me also to come at once and tell you, my little ones."