'There is not a word of truth in this,' said De Witt. 'Who told you such a tale?'
'Elijah himself.'
'Elijah is a rascal. I have enough cause against him without that.'
'Then tell me about yourself. I am bewildered. How came you to disappear?'
'Let us walk together to the spit by the windmill, and I will tell you all.'
They turned the way he said, and he did not speak again till they had reached the spot.
'We will sit down, Glory; I suffer still somewhat from my leg, so that I am always glad to rest. Now I will tell you the whole story. You remember the evening when we quarrelled. You had behaved rather roughly to Phoebe Musset.'
'I remember it only too well, George.'
'After you had left, I went to the Mussets' house to inquire after Phoebe, who had been well soused in the sea by you; and on my return I fell in with Elijah Rebow. He took me to task for not having gone after you and patched up our little difference. He said that a quarrel should never be allowed to cool, but mended while hot. He persuaded me to let him row me in his boat to the Ray. He said he was going there after ducks or something of that sort, I do not remember exactly. I agreed, and got into his punt with him, and we made for the Rhyn. We had scarcely entered the channel when a lugger full of men ran across our bows and had us fast in a jiffy. I was overpowered before I knew where I was, and taken by the men in their boat.'
'Who were they, George?' asked Mehalah, breathlessly.