While the skipper was pointing out to his passengers the super-excellence of the accommodation his vessel afforded, a female voice was heard exclaiming, in shrill tones—
“I must see him, I must see my master, the Count! He has bolted, decamped, run off without so much as saying why he was going, or where he was going, or leaving me those full and ample directions which I had a right to expect.”
“Hark!” exclaimed the Count, turning pale. “That must be Johanna Klack; if she once sees me, she’ll take me back, to a certainty. Oh dear me, what shall I do?”
“I know what I will do,” cried the Baron, beginning to ascend the companion-ladder. “Captain Jan Dunck, keep the Count down here below; don’t let him show himself on any account. I will settle the matter. This female, this termagant, will carry off one of your passengers, and, as an honest man, you are bound to protect him.”
“Ja, ja,” said the Captain; “slip into one of those bunks and you will be perfectly safe, and if she manages to get down below, my name isn’t Jan Dunck.” Saying this, the skipper followed the Baron up on deck, and, clapping on the hatch, securely bolted it.
The Baron had grasped a boathook, the skipper seized a broomstick, and in a loud voice shouted to his crew, “Boarders! repel boarders!” In a boat alongside stood a female, her countenance flushed and irate, showing by her actions her intention of climbing up the vessel’s side. The crew obeyed their commander’s call, and from the fore hatchway appeared the small ship’s boy, holding a kettle of boiling water in his hand, while the rest had armed themselves with various weapons.
“Who are you, and what do you want?” asked Captain Jan Dunck, in a loud voice.
“I am that most ill-used person, Johanna Klack, the housekeeper, once honoured, respected, and trusted, of the noble Count Funnibos, who has been inveigled away with treachery and guile by that false friend of his, the Baron Stilkin. I’ve proof positive of the fact, for as I hurried along searching for the truants I met a brave mariner, who told me that he had not only spoken with them, but had seen them go on board this very vessel, and that, if I did not make haste, I should be too late to catch them. There’s the Baron; I know him well, and I am very sure that my master is not far off. I must have him, I will have him back!” and, making a spring, she endeavoured to mount the side of the vessel.
“Will you?” exclaimed the skipper, bestowing a rap on her knuckles which made the poor woman let go her hold of the rigging.
“Give it her,” cried the Baron, lunging at her with his boathook, at which the small ship’s boy rushed forward with the steaming kettle in his hand.