“I do not know. They fired on the boat, and I expect they have a shrewd idea that somebody was put on shore.” “In that case,” the man said, “it is probable that they will search my house to-day. By this time they know every little corner of it, so I cannot see where I am to conceal you.” “I observed a stack behind your house,” suggested Will. “Yes, there is one.” “Well, if you would at once get a ladder, and take off some of the thatch and make a hole, I could get into it, and you could then replace the thatch long before the soldiers are likely to come out from Amsterdam.” “Yes, I could do that, and I could hand you in a bottle of schnapps and some water and bread and meat.” “That will do very well. I suppose you have men?” “Yes, I have two, and both of them are true Dutchmen, and may be trusted. I will give you at once the list of the gun-boats and flat-boats I have made ready to send on the first opportunity. I shall be glad to get it out of the house, for, though it is well hidden, they search so strictly that they might find it. They broke all my wainscots, pulled up the flooring, and almost wrecked the house the last time they came; and I don’t suppose they will be less vigilant this time.” He went to the cupboard and brought out some food and drink. “Now, sir,” he said, “if you will eat this I will call up my two men and set to work at once to get your hiding-place made, so that you may be safely lodged in it before any people are about.” Will was by no means sorry to take breakfast. He ate the food leisurely, and just as he had finished Van Duyk came in to say that the place was ready for him. It was not a large hole, but sufficient to let him lie down at full length under the thatch. He climbed up the ladder the men had used and got into his nest, and after Van Duyk had handed him in the provisions he had promised, the two men set to work with all speed to replace the thatch. It was made thin, so that he had no difficulty in raising it, and could even with his finger make a tiny opening through which he could look. The hay that had been removed to make room for him was carried away and thrown down in the mangers for the cows, so that there was nothing to show that the stack had recently been touched. Two hours later Will heard the trampling of horses, and two officers, with a troop of cavalry, rode up. “I bear a warrant to search your house, Van Duyk,” Will heard one of them say. “You have searched it three times already, meinheer, but you can, of course, search it again if you wish. You will certainly find no more now than you did then.” “A spy landed last night, Van Duyk, and it is more than probable that he is taking shelter here.” “I don’t know why you should suspect me more than anyone else. I am a quiet man, meddling in no way with public matters, and attending only to my own business.” “It is all very well to say that; we have certain information about you.”