Certainly, the pantomime was inimitably got up, but it had all been arranged by Moggy, the corporal, and the others. There was not one man of the crew who had not been sworn to secrecy, and whose life would have been endangered if, by undeceiving Vanslyperken, they had been deprived of such just and legitimate revenges. Smallbones disappeared as soon as Vanslyperken had fallen down. He was allowed to remain there for some time to ascertain if he would say anything, but as he still continued silent, they raised him up, and found that he was insensible. He was consequently taken down into the cabin and put into his bed. The effect produced by this trial of Mr Vanslyperken's nerves was most serious. Already too much heated with the use of ardent spirits, it brought on convulsions, in which he continued during the major part of the night. Towards the morning, he sank into a perturbed slumber. It was not till eleven o'clock in the forenoon that he awoke and perceived his _faithful_ corporal standing by the side of the bed. "Have I not been ill, corporal?" said Mr Vanslyperken, whose memory was impaired for the time. "Mein Gott! yes, mynheer." "There was something happened, was not there?" "Mein Gott! yes, mynheer." "I've had a fit; have I not?" "Mein Gott! yes, mynheer." "My head swims now; what was it, corporal?" "It was de ghost of de poy," replied the corporal. "Yes, yes," replied Vanslyperken, falling back on his pillow. It had been intended by the conspirators, that Smallbones should make his appearance in the cabin, as the bell struck one o'clock; but the effect had already been so serious that it was thought advisable to defer any further attempts. As for Smallbones being concealed in the vessel for any length of time, there was no difficulty in that; for allowing that Vanslyperken should go forward on the lower deck of the vessel, which he never did, Smallbones had only to retreat into the eyes of her, and it was there so dark that he could not be seen. They therefore regulated their conduct much in the same way as the members of the inquisition used to do in former days; they allowed their patient to recover, that he might be subjected to more torture. It was not until the fourth day that the cutter arrived at the port of Amsterdam, and Mr Vanslyperken had kept his bed ever since he had been put into it; but this he could do no longer: he rose weak and emaciated, dressed himself, and went on shore with the despatches which he first delivered, and then bent his steps to the syndic's house, where he delivered his letters to Ramsay.