Fiction > Book editions > New York, 1893 - David Balfour

CHAPTER XXIII
TRAVELS IN HOLLAND
The rattel-wagon, which is a kind of a long wagon
set with benches, carried us in four hours of travel
to the great city of Rotterdam. It was long past dark
by then, but the streets pretty brightly lighted and
thronged with the wild-like, outlandish characters —
bearded Hebrews, black men, and the hordes of
courtesans, most indecently adorned with finery and
stopping seamen by their very sleeves ; the clash of talk
about us made our heads to whirl ; and what was the
most unexpected of all, we appeared to be no more
struck with all these foreigners than they with us. I
made the best face I could, for the lass's sake and my
own credit ; but the truth is I felt like a lost sheep, and
my heart beat in my bosom with anxiety. Once or
twice I inquired after the harbor or the berth of the
ship Rose; but either fell on some who spoke only
Hollands, or my own French failed me. Trying a
street at a venture, I came upon a lane of lighted
houses, the doors and windows thronged with wauf-like
painted women ; these jostled and mocked upon us as