"
"But are you not stabbed, Master Rupert?"
"Stabbed! No; who should have stabbed me? One of you somehow hit me
on the back, and down I went; but there is no stab."
"He had a dagger. I saw it flash," Hugh said, lifting Rupert to his
feet.
"Had he?" Rupert said; "and who was he?
"If it was an enemy, it is your coat of mail has saved me," he
continued, turning to Van Duyk. "I have never taken it off since.
But how did he get behind me I wonder?
"Run," he continued energetically, "and see if the lady is safe.
There must have been mischief behind."
Mynheer van Duyk, closely followed by the others, ran upstairs to
his daughter's room. The door was open. He rushed into the room. It
was empty. The window was open; and looking out, two ladders were
seen, side by side.
It was clear that while the fray had been raging, Maria von Duyk
had been carried off.
Chapter 15: The End of a Feud.
After the first cry of rage and grief at the discovery of the
abduction of Maria van Duyk, there was a moment's silence. Rupert
broke it, laying his hand on the shoulder of Van Duyk, who had
dropped despairingly into a chair.
"We will find her," he said, "wherever she be. Let us lose no
moments in sorrow. Call up the burgomaster, or whoever leads the
burghers, and let us consult."
In another minute or two four of the principal magistrates of Dort
had joined the party, and Van Duyk told them what had happened.
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