The eventful day at last arrived. Stebbins, as prearranged, had begged
the exile to telegraph the exact hour of his departure and mode of
travel from Rotterdam, suggesting the boat as being by far the best,
and Joplin had answered in return that Fop Smit's packet, due at
sundown the following day, would count him among its passengers.
The deep tones of the whistle off Papendrecht sent every man to his
post, the villagers standing back in amazement at the extraordinary
spectacle, especially at Tine and Johann in their queer clothes, who,
being instantly recognized, were plied with questions.
The boat slowed down; made fast; out came the gangplank; ashore went
the little two-wheel carts drawn by the sleepy, tired dogs; then the
baskets of onions were rolled off, and the few barrels of freight, and
then two or three passengers--among them a small, feeble man, in a long
coat reaching to his heels--made their way to the dock.