“He is a bigger fool than Jacob!”
“Then he won’t do; and, in fact, we didn’t think of having him. The man we have in our mind is one Ten Eyck!”
“Ha!” said he, without moving a muscle of his face, “that is sensible! Oh, Saint Nicholas,” he thought, “won’t I crow over that Paul Swedlepipe after this!” Then he added aloud: “How many men do you leave with us?”
“Five. You won’t need many, as our expedition must be kept secret. Mind that, and don’t blab.”
Ten Eyck nodded his head vigorously, and the captain came to the principal object of the visit. “You bought a horse yesterday?”
“Yaw,” said he.
“What did you give for him?”
“One hundred and fifty guilders.”
“Ah; the price is large. I want to see the horse. If he is good, I will give you a hundred and fifty.”
“I sells him den. I puys him,” he went on, now using broken English, as it was more in sympathy with the subject, “vor fear Paul Swedlepipe get him. Coom over unt see him.”