 XI. Saving a victim. Ned slept for some hours. When he woke he heard the landlord talking in loud tones in the passage outside. I tell you, wife, it is a burning shame. Menir von Boest has never done a soul-harm in his life. He has always been ready to open his purse-strings in case of distress. He is a man that does not meddle in any way with politics. It is true that he does not go to mass, but that hurts no one, and there is many a nair do well in the village who never darkens the church door. If he prefers to pray in his own house and in his own way, what matter is it to anyone? His cloth mill gives employment to half the village. What we shall do if it is shut up, I am sure I don't know. But what do they care for the village? Menir von Boest is a Protestant and a rich man that is quite enough for the blood council, so he and his pretty young wife are to be dragged off and executed. What is that? Ned asked, opening the door. Can't the blood council even leave your quiet village alone? They can leave nothing alone, the landlord said bitterly. An hour ago four of their officials rode up under one of the agents of the council, a squint-eyed villain. They stopped at the door and asked for the house of Menir von Boest, and then rode off, and half an hour afterwards one of the servants ran down into the village with the news that her master and mistress had been arrested, and that they were to be taken to Antwerp to be executed, for that, as it seems, they had already been tried without their knowing anything about it. Ned started when he heard the landlord describe the leader of the party. This, then, accounted for Genet's presence at Antwerp. He had been sent from Brussels to arrest this cloth manufacturer. He had evidently succeeded in establishing his identity late in the evening or at early morning, and guessing that Ned would have ridden on without loss of time, after setting the soldiers on to assault him, had proceeded to carry out the mission with which he was charged. The villagers would tear the villain limb from limb if they dared, the landlord went on. Why don't they dare, Ned asked. Why? Why, because we should be having a troop of soldiers down here in twenty-four hours, and the village would be burnt and every man in it and woman too put to death. No, no, sir, the people here would do a good deal for Menir von Boest and his wife, but they won't risk everything. Would they risk anything, do you think, Ned asked? Are there half a dozen men in the village, do you think, who would strike a blow for their master if they could do it without running the risk you speak of? The landlord looked at him sharply. This is not the time, young sir, for men to speak before strangers about matters which may put their neck in danger. You are right, Ned said, and I do not blame you for being discreet. I know this cross-eyed man you speak of, and know that he is the secretary of one of the most cruel and bloody of the council, and it was but yesterday that I escaped from his hands almost by a miracle, and I would now, if I could, baffle the villain again. I suppose they are still at his house? They are. They have ordered breakfast to be prepared for them, and it may be another hour before they set out. My plan is this, then, Ned said. If I could get half a dozen determined men to join me, we would go back along the road towards Antwerp three miles or so, and lie in wait until they came along, and then rescue their prisoners from them, if we could get a horse for the man to ride with his wife behind him all the better. We could pretend to be robbers. There are plenty of starving peasants that have been driven to that, and if we attack them three miles away, they would have no suspicion that the people of the village had any hand in it. I will see about that, the landlord said warmly. When my son-in-law's little house was burnt down last winter, Ménir von Bost advanced him money to rebuild it, and charged no interest. He lives but a quarter of a mile out of the village, and I think he will be your man, and would be able to lay his hands on the others. I will run over to him and be back in a quarter of an hour. In the meantime Ned ordered his horse to be saddled, and when the landlord returned he was ready to start. My son-in-law will join you, he said. He has two brothers whom he will bring with him. They both work in von Bost's factory. He bids me tell you to go on for two miles, and to stop where the first road comes in on the right-hand side. They will join you there, and will then go on with you as far as you may think fit. They have got guns, so you can lie in ambush. He will bring a horse with him with a pillion. He could have got more men, but he thinks the fewer to know the secret the better, as there may be inquiries here, and in these days none can trust his own neighbor. And now farewell, young sir. I know not who you are, but you must have a good heart to venture your life in a quarrel for people of whom you know nothing. I am a Protestant myself, landlord, and I have had uncles and other relations murdered by the Blood Council. Moreover, I have a special feud with the chief of these villains. So, saying, Ned shook the landlord's hand and rode off. He halted when he came to the point indicated. In less than half an hour he saw three men coming from the other direction. As one of them was leading a horse he at once rode on to meet them. We have made a detour through the fields, the young man leading the horse said. It would not have done for anyone in the village to have seen us journeying this way. Quite right Ned agreed. There are babblers everywhere, and the fewer who know ought of a matter like this the better. Now where had we best ambuscade? There is a little wood by the roadside half a mile on, and we had best move there at once, for they may be along at any time now. Two of the men were armed with muskets and all three carried flails. They moved briskly forward until they got to the woods. You had best fasten up the horse among the trees, Ned said, and then take your station close to the road. I will ride out from the trees as I come up and engage them in talk so that you and your brother can take a steady aim. Don't fire until you are sure of each bringing down a man. Then rush out and engage them with your flails. I will answer for their leader myself. We won't miss them, never fear, young sir. We have too much practice at the ducks in the winter to miss such a mark as that. After seeing the horse tied up and the men take their stations behind trees, Ned went a few yards further and then waited the coming of the party with the prisoners. He had not a shadow of compunction at the fate that was about to befall these officials. They had hauled away hundreds to the gallows, and the animosity that prevailed between the two parties was so intense that neither thought of sparing the other if they fell into their hands. As for Genet, Ned felt that his own life would not be safe as long as this man lived. He might for ought he knew have other missions of the same nature as that he had just fulfilled, and he felt sure that whatever disguise he might adopt, this man would detect him did they meet, and in that case not only his own life but that of many others might be sacrificed. In about ten minutes the sound of horse's hoofs was heard. Ned waited till they came within a few paces and then suddenly rode out from the wood. Genet, who was riding ahead of the others, reigned in his horse suddenly. What are you doing, fellow? He began angrily, riding out the suddenly upon us. Then his voice changed as he recognized Ned. What is it you again? he exclaimed. This time at least you shall not escape me. He drew a pistol and fired. Ned was equally quick and the two shots rang out together. Ned's cap flew from his head, the bullet just grazing his skin, while Genet fell forward on his saddle and rolled to the ground, shot through the heart. Almost at the same instant two guns were discharged from the wood and two of the officials fell. The other two, behind whom the prisoners were strapped, set spurs to their horses, but Ned rode in front of them and the men dashing from the trees seized the reins. Surrender, Ned shouted, or you are dead men. The two officers shouted lustily that they surrendered, but Ned had the greatest difficulty from preventing their assailants from knocking out their brains with their flails. There is no plunder to be obtained from them, comrades, he said loudly. They are only poor knaves riding behind the master. Get them off their horses and strap their hands with their own belts and toss them in among the trees, but you can search their pockets before you do so. I will see what their leader has got upon him. As soon as the two prisoners were dragged away, Ned addressed Minniere von Boest, who with his wife was standing almost bewildered by the sudden event that had freed them. This is no robbery, Minniere, but a rescue. We have a horse and pillion here in the wood in readiness for you, and I should advise you to ride at once with your wife for Slos or some other seaport, and thence take ship either into Holland or to England. Your lives will assuredly be forfeited if you remain here. But who are you, sir, and who has done us this great service? I am serving under the Prince of Orange, Ned replied, and have been doing business for him at Brussels. I have twice narrowly escaped with my life from the hands of the leader of that party, and was in the village when they arrived and seized you. Finding how deep was the regret that so kind a master should be thus led away to execution, I determined if possible to save you, and with the aid of these three men, two of whom are workmen of yours, and the other, a farmer you befriended last year when his house was burnt down, we have succeeded in doing so. The three men now came out of the wood. My brave fellows, the manufacturer said, I and my wife owe our lives to you and to this gentleman. You are heartily welcome, sir, the young farmer said. You have saved me from ruin, and one good turn deserves another. I and my brothers were only too glad to join when we heard that this gentleman was determined to try to release you. If it had not been for him it would never have entered our heads till it was too late. May I ask your name, sir? Von Boest said to Ned. My wife and I would like to know to whom we owe a life-long debt of gratitude. I will take your advice and ride at once for slurce. I have many friends there who will conceal us and get us on board a ship. My arrangements have long been made for departure, and my capital transferred to England, but I thought I should have had sufficient notice of danger to take flight. Where can I hear of you, sir? My name is Edward Martin. My father is an English captain who lives at Rotherhithe, close by London. At present, as I said, I am in the service of the Prince of Orange, but my home is still in England. And now, sir, I think you had best be riding at once. I presume that there are by-roads by which you can avoid passing through any towns on your way to slurce. It is better not to delay a minute, for at any moment some party or other of soldiers may come along. The men had by this time brought out the horse. Von Boest mounted, and his wife was assisted on to the pillion behind him. Good-bye, good friends! he said. God grant that no harm come to you for this kind deed! The moment he had ridden off Ned and his companions lifted the bodies of the three men who had fallen and carried them into the wood. We had best turned their pockets inside out, Ned said, and take away everything of value upon them. This fellow has a well lined purse, the young farmer said as he examined the pocket of Genet, and here are a bundle of papers and his doublet. Give me the papers, Ned said. They may be useful to me, and doubtless they contain lists of other victims whom I may be able to send warning to in time for them to escape. What shall we do about the horses? I would take off the saddles, bridles and accoutrements, throw them into a ditch together with the men's arms, and pile a few bushes over them, then drive the horses across the fields till they reach some grazing ground near the river. The farmers there will doubtless appropriate them in time. Now as to these two prisoners they are the only trouble. You need not trouble about them, the farmer said. We have made them safe. We are not going to risk our lives and those of our wives and families, as we should have done if we had left those fellows alive to identify us. There is sure to be a search sooner or later, and those two men would have led the party to every house within miles round, and would have been sure to recognize one or other of us. We are ready to risk our lives to save men near von Boest, but we are not willing to throw them away needlessly. Ned could hardly blame the men who had indeed stabbed their captives the instant they dragged them among the trees, for doubtless the risk they would have run of detection would have been great had they permitted them to live. They had now only to regain their village without observation, and to keep their own secret to be free from all risk whatever. Putting Genet's papers in his doublet, Ned again mounted his horse and rode off. Two hours later he reached St. Nicholas. He could now have ridden straight on to Bergen-au-Pzon, the port at which he hoped to be able to find a boat, but he thought that Genet's papers might contain matters upon which it might be necessary for him to act at once. He had now no fear of detection, for with the death of Genet all search for himself would be at an end. Putting up his horse at an end he ordered a meal to be prepared at once, and calling for a flask of wine in the meantime sat down at a table in the corner of the great parlor and examined the papers. First there was a list of twelve names among whom was that of von Boest. One of these as well as that of the manufacturer had been crossed out. With them were official documents ordering the arrest of the persons named, together in most cases with that of their wives and one or more members of their family. Besides these was a document with the seal of the council ordering all magistrates and others to render every assistance required by the bearer in carrying out the duties with which he was charged. Then there was a long list of persons resident in St. Nicholas, and Axel, against whom denunciations of heresy or of suspected disloyalty to Philip had been laid. There was a note at the bottom of this list, inquire into the condition of life and probable means of each of these suspected persons. It is somewhat lucky for all these people, Ned said to himself, that I happen to fall in with Ménir Genet. The question now is how to warn them. I see there are three orders of arrest against people here, and ten names on the suspected list. At any rate I can warn them myself. As soon as he had finished his meal Ned inquired the addresses of the three persons ordered to be arrested. They were all, as he had expected, leading men in the place, for it was the confiscation of the goods of the victims quite as much as any question of religion or loyalty that was at the bottom of a large proportion of the arrests and executions. The first Ned called upon was, like von Boest, a cloth manufacturer. He was rather a pompous man, and when Ned was shown in, said, Now young man, my time is valuable, so let us have no useless talking. What is it you want? Your time perhaps is more valuable than you think, Ned said quietly, seeing that you have not got much of it left. What do you mean, sir? The manufacturer said angrily. I mean simply this, Ned replied, that I am the bearer of an order of the council for your arrest, and that of your wife, your son Ernest, and your daughter Mary, upon the charge of having been present and taken part in a meeting of the people of this town, at which words of treasonable character were uttered. Moreover, there is a note at the bottom of this order saying that these charges have been proved to the satisfaction of the council, and that you are accordingly to be executed upon your arrival at Antwerp, the necessary orders having been transmitted to the governor of the prison there. The manufacturer sank down in a chair the picture of terror. I have done no harm, he stammered. I knew not when I went to the meeting what was going to be said there. What matters that, Ned asked, you have been tried and condemned, and one or other of the council has doubtless obtained the grant of your property. Well, sir, I will not frighten you longer. This is the document in question, but fortunately I am not the person charged with this execution. I met him on the way, and there was a disagreement between us, and the result is that he will execute no more orders, and his papers fell into my hands. It may be some days before he is missed, and then doubtless someone else will be charged to carry out the orders of which he was the bearer. This will give you time to make preparations for flight, and I should advise you before eight and forty hours are over to be on your way towards the frontier of Germany or on board a ship at one of the ports. I will hand you this document in order that you may convince your wife and family of the danger that you are all running and of the urgent need of haste. He had left at once, before the man who was almost stupefied by the misfortune that had befallen him had time to utter his thanks. He then called on the other two men against whom he bore orders of arrest, as both received him with greater courtesy than that shown by the first he had visited, he broke the news more gently to them, and discussed with them the manner in which they had best make their escape. One he found had friends and business connections in Slurs, and doubted not that he could obtain passage there to Holland or England, while the other had similar connections in Axel. Ned handed over to them the orders for the arrest of burghers of those towns, and these they gave him their promise to deliver, and also either to see or to send letters warning all the persons who were mentioned in the list of suspected. As he was anxious to get on as soon as possible he also gave them the list of the suspected at St. Nicholas, and these they promised also to warn, both were profuse in their gratitude to him for having saved them from certain death. Having thus concluded his business Ned again mounted his horse and rode for Bergen-Opzome, the port at which he intended, if possible, to embark for Zeeland. Bergen-Opzome, an important town, lay half a mile distant from the scout, and was connected with the river by a channel guarded by two forts. There had been a strong Spanish garrison here, but it had lately been weakened by the withdrawal of a large detachment to take part in the successful enterprise undertaken for the relief of Tergoos in the island of Beveland, which was besieged by a force from flushing. Ned had frequently been at Bergen-Opzome in the good venture, and knew that while the magistrates and wealthier citizens were devoted to the Spanish cause, the greater portion of the inhabitants, especially the seafaring class, were patriots to a man. He therefore went to a small inn by the waterside, where he had several times taken meals with his father when the ship was lying off from the river. Seeing his horse put up in the stable, he entered the tap room. The sailor's drinking there looked somewhat surprised at the entrance of one differing much in appearance from the ordinary customers of the place. The landlord, who was leaning against his counter, did not advance to meet him, for strangers were by no means popular, and a suspicion that the newcomer was a spy would speedily empty his house. As Ned approached him he suddenly started, and was about to speak when the lad quickly placed his finger on his lip. He feared that the landlord was about to utter his name, and there might, for ought he knew, be someone there who would report it. How are you, landlord? he said. It is some time since I was here last, and I think you had almost forgotten me. The landlord took the hint. Yes, indeed, he said, and how is your father? I have not seen him lately, and heard he was not well. No, he has been laid up for some time, but he is mending. You see, I have taken service. I see, the landlord said. Well, my good wife will be glad to see you and hear about your family. So, saying, he led the way into a private room. Why, what means this, Master Martin? he asked. We heard here of the brave fight your father's ship made some two months since with a Spaniard in the Zydozee, and that he was sorely wounded, but what means this masquerading? Surely you have not given up the sea. Only for the present, Ned replied, you know I am Dutch on my mother's side. All her family have been murdered by the Spaniards, and what with that and my father being attacked and wounded, I made up my mind to give up the sea for a time, and to help the good cause as much as I could. I have been carrying a message to Brussels, and want now to get back to Rotterdam or some other seaport town. How had I best do it? It is not easy, the landlord replied. Our trade is stopped here now. The rivers swarm with craft manned, some by the beggars of the sea, and others by fishermen, and the Spanish ships cannot come up, save in great force. We have two or three of their warships here which go out and skirmish with our men, and do not always get the best of it. Our people did badly the other night when they let the Spaniards wade across to Tergoos. That was a bad business, but about your getting away, let me see how it can be managed. I have got a horse here. That is bad, the landlord said. You could put on sailor's clothes and in the morning when I send in my guest list to the magistrate, I could put down that you had gone, but the horse would betray me. Is it a good beast? Yes, it is a very good horse. It was a present to me and I don't like parting with it, but of course I cannot take it away. I will send round to a man I know who deals in horses. He is one who will hold his tongue, especially when he sees an advantage in it. I will tell him it belonged to a man who has been here and gone away suddenly, and ask him what he will give for it, and take it quietly away after it gets dark to his own stables and ask no questions about it. He will guess it belonged to somebody who has left secretly. Of course he won't give more than half the value of the animal, but I suppose you will not be particular about terms. Anyhow I will do the best I can for you. When he is once out of the stables they may comment question as much as they like, but they will get nothing out of me beyond the fact that a young man came here, put up his horse, stayed the night, and left in the morning. I suppose they have no special interest in you so as to lead them to make a close inquiry? None at all, Ned replied. That is settled then, the landlord said, now as to yourself. Two of my sons are at sea, you know, and I can rig you up with some of their clothes so that you can stroll about on the wharves, and no one will suspect you of being anything but a fisherman. Then I will try and arrange with some of the sailors to take you down in a boat at night, and either put you on board the first of our craft they come upon, or land you at flushing. Now I will take you into my wife, and she will see about getting you a meal and making you comfortable. Later on the landlord came in and said that he had made a bargain for the horse. The beast is worth thirty crowns, he said, but he will not give more than fifteen, and it required a good deal of bargaining to raise him to that. Of course he suspected that there was something out of the way about the affair, and took advantage of it. That will do very well indeed, Ned said. I did not expect to get anything for it. I have been having a talk too with some of the sailors belonging to a small craft lying at the wharf. They are most anxious to be off, for they are idle. The order that no boats were to leave was issued just after they came in. They have been six days doing nothing, and may, for ought they see, be kept here for another six months. They have been afraid to try to get away, for there are sentries all along the wall to see that none try to put out, and some guard boats from the Spanish ships rowing backwards and forwards outside the fort, both to see that no ships leave, and that none come up to harm the shipping. Still they say they have been making up their minds that they may as well stand the risk of being shot by the Spaniards, as the certainty of being starved here. Besides they are patriots, and know that their boats may be wanted at any time for the conveyance of troops. So when I told them that I doubted not that you would pay them well for landing you at flushing, they agreed to make the attempt, and will try to night. As soon as you have had your breakfast you had better join them in the tap room, go out with them through the water gate, and get on board their craft and lie snug there till night. How many men are there? Ned asked. There are six altogether, but only two will be up here presently. Here are the fifteen crowns for your horse, that will do well to pay your passage to flushing. As soon as he had eaten his breakfast, Ned, now dressed as a young fisherman, went into the tap room with the landlord. Two sailors were sitting there. This is the young fellow that I was speaking to you about, the landlord said. He is one of us, and heart and soul in the cause, and young though he looks has done good service. He is ready to pay you fifteen crowns when you land him at flushing. That is a bargain, one of the men said, and will pay us for the week we have lost here. I should take you for a sailor, young sir. I am a sailor, Ned said, and can lend a hand on board if need be. Can you swim? Because if we are overhauled by the Spaniards we shall all take to the water rather than fall into their hands. Yes, I can swim, Ned said, and agree with you that I would rather swim than be captured, but if it is only a boatload that overhauls us I would try to beat them off before giving up a craft in which I had a share. The sailors looked rather doubtfully at the lad, and their expression showed that they thought he was talking boastfully. He means what he says, the landlord put in, he is the son of the English captain who beat off the great Spanish ship Don Pedro in the Zidose a few weeks ago. The men's faces changed, and both got up and shook hands cordially with Ned. That was a brave affair, young sir, and there is not a town in Holland where your father's name is not spoken of in honour. We know the ship well, and have helped load her before now, and now we know who you are. Recognise your face. No wonder you want to get out of Bergen-Opzum. Why, if I had known it had been you, we would have been glad enough to take you to Flushing without charging you a penny, and will do so now. Will we not, comrades? If it presses you in any way to pay us. Not at all, Ned said, I am well supplied with money, and since you are risking your boat as well as your lives, it is only fair that I should pay my share. I can afford the fifteen crowns well enough, and indeed it is but the price of a horse that was given me. Well, if it will not hurt you we will say no more about it, the sailor replied, seeing that we have had a bad time of it lately, and have scarce money enough left between us to victual us until we get home. But had it been otherwise we would have starved for a week rather than had it said that we made hard terms with the son of the brave Captain Martin when he was trying to escape from the hands of the Spaniards. Now, lads, you had better be off at once, the landlord interrupted. It is time I sent in my report to the town hall, and like enough men will be down here asking questions soon after, so it were best that Master Martin were on board your craft at once. Goodbye, young sir. Tell your worthy father that I am glad indeed to have been able to be of some slight service to his son, and I trust that it will not be very long before we see the last of the Spaniards, and that we shall then have his ship alongside the wharves again. Ned shook hands heartily with the landlord, who had refused to accept any payment whatever from him, and then started with the two sailors. They made their way down to the inner Haven, and then went on board the boat, a craft of about ten tons burden which was lying alongside. The wharves had a strange and deserted appearance. When Ned had last been there some fifty or sixty vessels of different sizes had been lying alongside discharging or taking in cargo, while many others lay more out in the stream. Now there were only a dozen boats of about the same size as that on which they embarked, all like it, arrested by the sudden order that no vessels should leave the port. There were no large merchant men among them, for trade had altogether ceased, save when a strong convoy of French, Spanish, or German ships arrived, for with flushing in the hands of the patriots, and the sea swarming with the craft of the beggars, foreign vessels bound for ports in the hands of the Spaniards did not dare singly to approach the mouth of the Skelte. Ned received a hearty welcome from the other sailors when they learned from their skipper and his companion who he was, and before he had been ten minutes on board they asked him to give them the full details of the fight off Ankhausen, and how it was that the Spaniards thus interfered with an English ship. Ned told them the story, and the sailors when he had finished had each some tale to tell of oppression and cruelty to friends or relatives on the part of the Spaniards. When they had finished their midday meal, which was the hardiest the sailors had enjoyed for some days, for the landlord when making the bargain had paid them five crowns in advance, and the empty larder had been accordingly replenished, the skipper said to Ned, I think that it will be just as well you did something in case the magistrates should take it into their heads to send down to search the craft along the wharves. The landlord said that they might make inquiries as to what had become of the man who stayed last night at his inn. You may be sure he did not put down in his guest list a description which would help them much in their search for you, should they make one, still they keep a pretty sharp look out over us, and if they search at all are likely to come to try here to begin with. I am quite ready to do anything you may set me to, Ned said. Then we will get the boat out and row off and bait our hooks and try for fish. We have caught a few every day since we have been here, and indeed if it were not for the fish the men in most of the boats here would be starving. That will do capitalily, Ned said, anyhow it will be an amusement to me. The boat was pulled up alongside, Ned and four of the men got into it and rode down the port into the old haven, and out between the two forts guarding the entrance into the skelte. Then dropping their grapnel, baited some lines and began to fish. As boats from all the other craft lying by the shore were engaged in the same work, either with line or net, this was natural enough, and they did not return until evening was falling, by which time they had captured a considerable number of fish. We have had more luck than we have had all the week, one of the men said as they rode back, sometimes we have only got just enough for ourselves, today when we don't want them we have caught enough to sell for two or three guilders, for fish are scarce now in the town and fetch good prices, however they will come in handy for our voyage. When they came alongside the skipper told them that three hours before two of the city constables had come along, and had inquired of him whether he had seen ought of a tall man of some thirty years of age, dressed in sober clothes, and with the appearance of a retainer in some good family. He had assured them that he had seen none at all answering that description, and indeed that no one beside himself and his crew had been on the wharf that day. They had nevertheless come on board and searched the cabin, but finding nothing suspicious, and hearing that the rest of the crew, four men and a boy, were engaged in fishing, they had gone off without further question. Where do the guard boats ply? Ned asked presently. A mile or two above the forts, and as much below, for you see vessels can come up either passage from the sea. It is the longest round by Valkorin, but far easier and freer from sandpanks. Vessels from the west generally take the Valkorin passage, but those from the east and coasters who know every foot of the river come by the eastern skelte. Which way do you think of going? That by flushing if we have the choice, we pass several towns in the possession of the Spaniards, and were the beggars to come up they would probably take the other channel, and I have noticed that there are always two robots in the river to the east, and only one to the west. Our greatest difficulty will be in passing the two warships anchored at the mouth of the port under the guns of the forts. Once fairly out into the skelte we may think ourselves safe, for the river is so wide that unless by grievous ill chance we are not likely to be seen on a dark night such as this will be by the robots. Our real danger is in getting through the two forts and the ships at the mouth of this port. There is a vigilant watch kept at the forts, but there are not likely to be any sentries placed on the walls at the entrance of this inner haven, or on that running along by Old Haven down to the forts. We will start as soon as the tide turns and drift down with it. We will get out a pole or two to keep our course down the center till we get near the forts, and must then let her drift as she will, for a splash in the water or the slightest sound would call the attention of the sentries there, and if the alarm were given the boats of the two ships outside would have us to a certainty. I think the night is going to be most favorable. The clouds are low, and I have felt a speck or two of mist. It will come on faster presently, and it will want keen eyes to see five yards away when the night falls. Luckily there is not a breath of wind at present, and I hope there will not be until we are fairly out, otherwise we should be sure to drift ashore on one side or the other as we go down the channel. By Pike and Dyke, a tale of the rise of the Dutch Republic, this LibriVox recording is in the public domain. By Pike and Dyke, by G. A. Henty, Chapter 12, Back with the Prince. Before throwing off the warps from the shore the captain gave each man his orders. Two were to stand with fenders, in case the boat drifted either against another craft or against the wall. Two were to take the long poles used for punting. An old sail had been torn up into strips and wrapped around these, with a pad of old rope at the end, so that they could push off from the wall without noise. Not a word was to be spoken in case of their being hailed, nor was there to be the slightest movement on board unless the use of the fenders or poles were required. Lastly all took off their boots. It was half an hour after the turn of the tide when the warps were thrown off. The tide in the inner port was so sluggish that it was absolutely necessary to pull the boat along until she got out into what was known as the Old Haven, which was the cut leading down from the town to the river. The work was noiselessly done, and Ned, standing at the bow beside the skipper, scarce heard the slightest sound. The night was fortunately very dark, and looking intently he could hardly make out the outline of the shore on either side. In a quarter of an hour they emerged from the inner port. On their left hand the wall of the fortifications connecting the town with the north fort at the mouth of the Haven rose high above them, but its outline could be seen against the sky. The captain had told the men pulling to take her sharp round the corner and keep her along as close as possible to the foot of the wall as she was far less likely to be observed by any sentry who might be there than she would be if kept out in the center of the cut. Very slowly the boat drifted along her course, assisted occasionally by the men pushing with their poles against the foot of the wall that rose a few feet from them, while those with defenders stood in readiness to place them in position should the ship approach so close to the wall as to render contact probable. The captain was now at the tiller, the way given her by the poles being sufficient to enable him to keep her on her course close to the wall. Another quarter of an hour and they were at the end of the wall, for the forts at the entrance were detached. They were now approaching the most dangerous portion of the passage. They were no longer sheltered in the shadow, but must go along openly. It was, however, improbable that there would be sentries on the face of the fort looking towards the town, and Ned, accustomed as he was to keep watch on deck at night, could scarce make out the low shore a few yards away, and felt pretty confident that the eyes of the sleepy sentries would not be able to pierce the gloom. The men had ceased polling now, only giving an occasional push to keep her head straight and prevent her from swinging round. Presently a sailor standing next to Ned touched his arm and pointed to the right, and straining his eyes he could dimly make out a dark mass looming in that direction. Unlike the wall they had left, the forts stood at a little distance back from the water, and Ned was sure that as he could scarce make out the outline of the one nearest to them, no one upon its wall could distinguish the tracery of the masts and rigging of the boat. The mist had thickened since they had started, and coming on heavier just at this point the fort was presently entirely obscured. Another twenty minutes passed. They must be now, Ned knew, in the course of the river, and he began to think that the danger was over when a dark object suddenly appeared from the mist close at hand. In another moment there was a shock, and then a long grinding motion as the boat swept along by the side of a large ship. Following the shock came a sharp challenge from the darkness above, followed by other shouts, obedient to orders they had received. No sound was heard from the smack. Each man stooped low under the bulwarks. Two or three shots rang out from the ship, and there was a hail in Dutch, Stop or we will sink you! Ned knew that this was an idle threat. The vessel was lying head to the tide, and only a small gun or two in the stern could be brought to bear, and already the ship was lost to sight in the mist. There was much shouting and noise heard a stern, and then the creaking of blocks. Ned made his way The game is up, the skipper said. They will be alongside in a few minutes. Dark as it is, they cannot miss us. They will know that we must have drifted straight down. We must take to the boats and row for it. I should say, Captain, Ned said, we had best take to the boat and row off for a short distance and then wait. As likely as not they may think when they board her that she has simply drifted out from the town, having been carelessly moored. In that case they may let drop her anchor and return to their ship. That is a happy thought, the captain said, and running forward he told the crew to take the boat at once. I have another idea, Captain, Ned said, just as they were about to push off. As we saw when we were passing the ship we are drifting stern foremost. If we can fasten a long line to her stern we can hang on to it. They will not be able to see us if we are twenty fathoms a stern. Then if they anchor, and as is likely enough, leave two or three men on board, we can haul ourselves noiselessly up the rope and board her. Capital, the captain replied, I was wondering how we should find her again in the dark, that would be the very thing. He sprang on board again, fastened a light line to the rudder, and dropped down into the boat again. Now back her stern lads very gently, I can hear their oars. In a minute the captain gave orders to cease rowing, for the line had tightened. The Spanish ship was showing a bright light in her stern. This acted as a guide to the boats, and in two or three minutes after the crew had left the smack, two large boats full of soldiers came alongside. Those in the little boat, lying but fifty or sixty yards away, could hear every word that was spoken. First came a volley of angry exclamations of disappointment, as the Spaniards found that they had been called from their beds, only to capture an empty little coaster. As Ned had expected they speedily came to the conclusion that having been carelessly fastened up alongside the wharves, without anyone being left in charge, she had drifted out with the tide. It would serve them right if we were to set her alight, one of the officers said. We had best not to do that, another replied, it might cause an alarm in the town, and besides boats are wanted. We had better drop her anchor and leave four men on board to take care of her. In the morning the knaves to whom she belongs will come out to claim her, and I warrant you the captain will punish them sharply for the trouble they have given us. This opinion prevailed. A minute later a splash was heard in the water, and in a very short time the line connecting the boat with the smack tightened, and those on board knew that she had been brought up by her anchor. There was a good deal of noise and trampling of feet as the Spaniards took their place in the boats again, and then the heavy splashing of many oars as they started to row back against the tide to their own vessel. The captain rung Ned's hand. You have saved the boat for us, young sir, for we should never have found her again, and if we had, those on board would have heard us rowing up to them, and would have given the alarm. Now we have only to wait for a bit, and then haul ourselves up and overpower the Spaniards. I doubt if we can do that without noise, Ned replied, at any rate it would be very dangerous while their ship is lying so close. I should say the best plan will be to wait as you say till the Spaniards have settled themselves comfortably, then to haul up to her and push the boat along by her side, fending her off carefully so as to make no noise until we reach the bow, then we can cut the cable and let her drift. The tide is running strong now, and in half an hour she will be over a mile down the river, and there will be no fear of a shout being heard on board the ship, and we can then board her and tackle the Spaniards. That will certainly be the best way, the captain agreed. Nothing could be better. Well, we will give them half an hour to settle themselves in the cabin. They will not stay on deck many minutes in the wet. The sound of voices on board the smack soon ceased. After waiting half an hour to give the Spaniards time if not to go to sleep to become drowsy, the captain and one of his men began to pull upon the line. Presently the dark mass could be seen ahead, and they were soon up to her. Very carefully they passed the boat alongside, taking pains to prevent her touching. When they reached the bow, the captain grasped the cable, and with two or three cuts with the knife severed it. Then the boat was pushed off from the ship, and gently paddled away to the full length of the line. Another half hour, and they again drew alongside, and noiselessly climbed on to the deck. The men armed themselves with belaying pens, and Ned took his pistols from the belt beneath his jacket. Then they quietly approached the door. There was a light burning within. The cabin was a stern, and built upon the deck, and was used by the skipper himself and by any passengers he might be carrying. The crew living in the foxhole. The doors which opened outwards were noiselessly closed, for two of the Spaniards were sitting up playing cards, and there was no chance of taking the party so much by surprise as to capture them without noise. The instant the doors were closed a heavy coil of rope was thrown against them. There was a loud exclamation in the cabin, and a moment later a rush to the door. This however did not yield. Then a window in the side was thrown open, and a head was thrust out, and there was a loud shout of treachery! Help! A moment later a heavy belaying pen fell on the head, and it disappeared. Then there was a loud explosion as an archibus was fired, the bullet crashing through the door. It is a good thing we are well on our way, the skipper said. We must be two miles from the Spanish ship now, and even if they hear the report they will not think it has anything to do with us. Besides, if they did they could never find us. Some more ropes had now been piled against the door, and there was no fear of its being burst open. Two men were posted at the windows on each side of the cabin with swords, for weapons had now been fetched from the foxhole. Now, the captain said, let us get up the sails. There is but little wind, and I think there is enough to give us steerage way and prevent us from drifting through the sandbanks. I suppose we are well beyond the guard boats now, captain? Ned asked. Oh yes, they are not more than half a mile below the forts. Besides, I should think they have not been out, for they would know that when the tide once turned no craft could come up from below. Yes, we are quite safe as far as they are concerned. Sail was soon made, and though there was scarce wind enough to belly out the canvas, the boat began to move slowly through the water, as was shown by her answering her helm. The discharge of the archibus in the cabin was continued from time to time. You may as well cease that noise, the captain shouted to them. Your ship is miles away, and unless you want your throats cut, you had better keep yourselves quiet. You know the beggars are not to be trifled with. The soldiers ceased firing. They had indeed already concluded from the fact that the boats did not come to their rescue, that the vessel must somehow have got far from their ship. The name of the terrible beggars filled them with alarm, for they knew that they showed no mercy. They had not the least idea as to the number of their captors, and gave themselves up for lost. An hour later the captain dropped the second anchor and brought up in the stream. We must wait till morning, he said, it is no use getting away from the Spaniards to be cast ashore, and there is no saying in what part of the river we may be yet present, though we must certainly be six or seven miles below Bergen. Towards morning the mist cleared off, and the wind began to freshen. I think it will blow hard before long, the captain said, and as it is from the south west it will soon carry us out of the river. Now what had we better do with those fellows in the cabin? I should say the best plan, captain, would be to bring the boat alongside, and tell them that if they will leave their arms behind them, and come out one by one, they may take to it and row ashore, that if they refuse we shall open the door and give them no quarter. That would be the best plan, the captain agreed, and going to one of the windows offered these terms to the Spaniards. The men had prepared for the worst, and had determined to sell their lives as dearly as possible. So convinced were they that the beggars would show no quarter that they were at first incredulous. It is a trick to get us to give up our arms, one said. It is not, the captain replied. I swear to you on the word of a sailor that we will respect the terms and allow you to depart unarmed. We don't want to throw away three or four lives merely for the pleasure of cutting your throats. After a consultation between themselves the soldiers accepted the terms. Ned placed himself at one of the windows to see that the arms were laid aside before the men issued out. Then the coils of rope were removed, and the door opened, the sailors taking their place there in case the Spaniards, at the last moment, should catch up their arms. This, however, they had no idea of doing, and were indeed far more afraid of treachery than were their captors. One by one they issued out, passed between the line of the sailors to the bulwark, and got into the boat. It was still dark, and they could not tell that the group of men at the cabin door were all those on board. As soon as the last was in the rope was thrown off and the boat dropped a stern. It will be light enough to see the shore in half an hour, the captain said as they drifted away, and then you can land where you like. It would be awkward if they happen to light upon some town, Ned said, and so bring out boats to cut us off. There is no fear of that, the captain replied. Tergus is the only place down here in which they have a garrison, and that lies some miles away yet. Besides, we shall get under way as soon as we can make out the shore. They have only two oars on board, and are not likely to know very much about rowing. Besides, we shall make out the shore from deck before they will from the boat. Of course you will not go round by flushing now, it will be shorter for you to go straight out to sea through the islands. Yes, and less dangerous. There may be ships at Tergus and on the east side of Valkyren, as they still hold Middelburg. The sooner we are out to see the better, and it will, of course, suit you also, Ned replied. I only wanted to be put a shore at flushing in order to take another boat there for Rotterdam, so that I shall save one day, if not two, if you sail direct. In another half hour it was light enough to make out the shore. The anchor was again weighed in and the boat got under way. They were now off the end of the island of St. Anna, and leaving South Beveland behind them turned up the channel called the Kipe, between the islands of North Beveland and Duvaland. Here they passed many fishing smacks and coasting vessels, for they were now in the heart of Zeeland, and far beyond reach of the Spaniards. They were frequently hailed, and were greeted with shouts of applause when they told how they had given the Spaniards the slip, and made their escape from Bergen. Two hours later they were out at sea, and before sunset entered the port of Rotterdam, finding when he landed that the Prince of Orange had that day returned from a trip to Harlem and some other towns, where he had been engaged in raising the spirits of the citizens, inciting them to resistance, and urging them that it was necessary to make a common effort against the enemy, and not to allow the town to be taken piecemeal, Ned at once made his way to the house he occupied, as he entered one of the pages hurried up to him. What do you want? he asked. The Prince is ready to give audience to all who have important business, but it is too much that he should be intruded upon by sailor lads. You do not remember me, Ned laughed. Your memory is a short one, Master Hans. I did not indeed, the page exclaimed, who would have thought of seeing you dressed as a sailor boy. The Prince will be glad to see you, for the first question he asked when he crossed the threshold this afternoon was whether you had returned. He hurried away, and returned a minute later with word that the Prince would see Ned at once. Well, my brave lad, so you have returned, the Prince said, as Ned entered. I have blamed myself many times for letting you go upon so dangerous a mission, and I am glad indeed to see that you have safely returned, even if you have failed altogether touching the matter on which you went. I thought more of the honor than of the danger of the mission you entrusted to me, your Excellency, Ned replied, and am happy to say that I have fulfilled it successfully, and have brought you back messages by word of mouth from all, save one, of those to whom your letters were addressed. Say you so, the Prince exclaimed, in tones of satisfaction, then you have indeed done well, and how fared it with you on your journey. Did you deliver the letters and return here without suspicion falling upon you? No, sir, I have run some slight risk and danger owing to an unfortunate meeting with Councillor Vaughnart, who was of a more suspicious nature than his countrymen in general, but I will not occupy your Excellency's time by talking about myself, but will deliver the various messages with which I am charged. He then went through the particulars of his interviews with each of the nine persons he had visited, and gave the contents of the letter word for word he had received from the tenth, excusing himself for not having brought the message by word of mouth, owing to the difficulty of obtaining a private audience with him. He also produced the paper upon which he had jotted down all the particulars of the men and money that had been confided to him. Your news might be better and worse, the Prince said when he had concluded. Some of these men doubtless are, as they say, zealous in the cause. Others are not to be largely trusted in extremities. The money they promise is less than I had hoped. Promises are cheaper than gold, and even here in Holland, where all is at stake, the burgers are loath to put their hands in their pockets, and haggle over their contributions, as if they were to be spent for my pleasure instead of their own safety. It is pitiful to see men so fond of their money-bags. The numbers of men who can be relied upon to rise are satisfactory, and more even than I had hoped for, for in matters like this a man must proceed cautiously, and only sound those upon whom he feels sure beforehand he can rely. The worst of it is, they are all waiting for each other. One will move if another will move, but none will be first. They will move if I get a victory. But how can I win a victory when I have no army nor money to raise one, and when each city will fight only in its own defence, and will not put a man under arms for the common cause? As the Prince was evidently speaking to himself rather than to him, Ned remained silent. Please to write all the particulars down that you have given me, the Prince went on, that I may think it over at my leisure. And so you could not see the count of Kuvoden. Was he more difficult of access than he of slurs? I do not know that he was, sir, Ned replied, but my attire was not such as to gain me an entrance into antechambers. No, I did not think of that, the Prince said. You should have taken with you a suit of higher quality. I forgot when I agreed that you should, for safety, travel as a country lad, that in such dress you could hardly gain an entrance into the palaces of nobles, and, of course, it would have excited surprise for one so attired to try to purchase such clothes as would have enabled you to boldly enter. I might possibly have managed as a peasant lad, Ned replied with a smile, but having been detected in that attire, and being eagerly sought for by Von Arts agents, I was at the time dressed as a peasant woman, and could think of no possible excuse upon which I might obtain an audience with the count. No, indeed, the Prince said, smiling, I must hear your story with all its details, but as it is doubtless somewhat long I must put it off until later, after the evening meal you shall tell us your adventures before I be-take myself to my work. Ned retired to his own room, and resumed the attire he usually wore, after supper he was sent for by the Prince, with whom he found the Chamberlain and three or four of his principal officers. Now, young sir, tell us your story, the Prince said, do not fear of its being long, it is a rest to have one's mind taken off the affairs of state. I have already told these gentlemen what valuable services you have rendered to the cause we all have at heart, and they, like myself, wish to know how you fared and how you escaped the danger you referred to at the hands of Von Arts. Thus requested, Ned gave a full account of his journey and of the adventures he had met with in Brussels and on his way back. What think you, sirs? the Prince asked when Ned had concluded his story. It seems to me that this lad has shown a courage, a presence of mind, and a quickness of decision that would be an honour to older men. The manner in which he escaped from the hands of Von Arts, one of the craftiest as well as of the most cruel of the Council of Blood, was excellent, and had he then, after obtaining his disguise, escaped at once from the city, I for one should assuredly not have blamed him, and I consider he showed a rare devotion in continuing to risk his life to deliver my letters. Then again the quickness with which he contrives to carry out his scheme for saying a word to the Count of Slurce was excellent, and though he takes no credit to himself, I doubt not that the escape of the boat after falling foul of the Spanish ship was greatly due to him. I think, sirs, you will agree with me that he has the makings of a very able man in him, and that henceforth we can safely entrust him with the most delicate as well as the most perilous missions. There was a general cordial agreement. I am free to aver that you are right and that I am wrong, Prince, the Chamberlain said. I know that you seldom fail in your judgment of character, and yet it seemed to me, if you will not mind my saying so, that it was not only rash but wrong to risk the lives of our friends in Brussels upon the chances of the discretion of the lad. I now see that you were right, for there are few indeed who, placed as he was, would have carried out his mission as skillfully and well as he has done. By the way, the Prince said, I would beg you to seek out the captain of the boat in which you came here, and bid him come to me this time to-morrow evening. I would fain hear from him some what further details as to how you escaped from the Spaniards, for I observed that in this matter you were a little reticent as to your share in it. He may be able to tell me, too, more about the strength of the Spanish garrisons in Bergen and its neighbourhood than you can do. For the next fortnight Ned was employed carrying messages from the Prince to various towns and ports. Alva was at Amsterdam, and the army under his son, Don Frederick, was marching in that direction on their way from Zutphen. They came down upon the little town of Nardin on the coast of the Zydersee. A troop of a hundred men was sent forward to demand its surrender. The Burgers answered that they held the town for the king and the Prince of Orange, and a shot was fired at the troopers. Having thus committed themselves, the Burgers sent for reinforcements and aid to the Dutch towns, but none were sent them. And when the Spaniards approached on the first of December they sent out envoys to make terms. The army marched forward and encamped a mile and a half from the town. A large deputation was sent out and was met by General Romero, who informed them that he was commissioned on the part of Don Frederick to treat with them. He demanded the keys, and gave them a solemn pledge that the lives and properties of all the inhabitants should be respected. The gates were thrown open, and Romero with five hundred soldiers entered. A sumptuous feast was prepared for them by the inhabitants. After this was over the citizens were summoned by the Great Bell to assemble in the church that was used as a town hall. As soon as they assembled the soldiers attacked them and killed them all. The town was then set on fire, and almost every man, woman, and child killed. Don Frederick forbade that the dead should be buried, and issued orders forbidding anyone on pain of death to give shelter to the few fugitives who had got away. The few houses which had escaped the flames were leveled to the ground, and Nardan ceased to exist. Great as the horrors perpetrated at Zutphen had been, they were surpassed by the atrocities committed at Nardan. The news of the horrible massacre, so far from frightening the Hollander's into submission, nerved them to even more strenuous resistance. Better death in whatsoever form it came than to live under the rule of these foul murderers. With the fall of Nardan there remained only the long strip of land facing the sea, and connected at but a few points with the mainland that remained faithful to the cause of freedom. The rest of the Netherlands laid cowed beneath the heel of the Spaniards. Holland alone and a few of the islands of Zeeland remained to be conquered. The inhabitants of Holland felt the terrible danger, and Bosu, Alvas Stadtholder, formally announced that the system pursued at Meklin, Zutphen, and Nardan was the deliberate policy of the government, and that man, woman, and child would be exterminated in every city which opposed the Spanish authority. The day after the news arrived of the fall of Nardan, Ned received a letter from his father, saying that the good venture was again at Ankhausen, and that she would in two days start for Harlem with a fleet of Dutch vessels, that he himself had made great progress in the last six weeks, and should return to England in her, and that if Ned found that he could get away for a day or two he should be glad to see him. The Prince at once gave Ned permission to leave, and as he had an excellent horse at his service he started the next morning at Daybreak, and arrived at Ankhausen before nightfall. He was received with great joy by his family, and was delighted to find his father looking quite himself again. Yes, thanks to good nursing and good food, my boy, I feel almost strong and well enough to take my post at the helm of the good venture again. The Doctor tells me that in another couple of months I shall be able to have a wooden leg strapped on, and a stump about again. That was a rare adventure you had at Brussels, Ned, and you must give us a full account of it presently. In the morning you must come on board the vessel. Peter's and the crew will be all glad to see you again. Ned stayed two days with his family. On the evening of the second day he said to his father, I should like to make the trip to Harlem and back, father, in the good venture. It may be that the Spaniards will sally out from Amsterdam and attack it. Last time we had to run away, you know, but if there is a sea-fight I should like to take my part in it. Very well, Ned, I have no objection, but I hardly think that there will be a fight. The Spaniards are too strong, and the fleet will start so as to pass through the strait by night. Well, at any rate I should like to be on board the good venture again if only for the sail down and back again, Ned said. They are to sail at three o'clock tomorrow, so that if the wind is fair they will pass the strait at night and anchor under the walls of Harlem in the morning. I suppose they will be two days discharging their cargo of food and grain, and one reason why I want to go is that I may, if possible, persuade my aunt and the two girls to return with me and to sail for England with you. All think that Harlem will be the next place besieged, and after what has taken place in the other towns it would be madness for my aunt to stop there. I quite agree with you, Ned. The Duke is sure to attack Harlem next if he captures that he will cut Holland in two and strike a terrible blow at the cause. Your mother shall write a letter tonight to her sister-in-law, urging her to come with us, and take up her abode in England till these troubles are over. She can either dwell with us, or if she would rather we can find her a cottage hard by. She will be well provided with money, for I have at home a copy of your grandfather's will signed by him leaving all his property to such of his relatives as may survive him. His three sons are dead, your mother and Elizabeth are there for his heirs, and the money he transmitted to England is in itself sufficient to keep two families in comfort. What proportion of it was his and what belonged to his sons now matters not, seeing that your mother and aunt are the sole survivors of the family. As you say it is madness for her to remain in Holland with her two girls. Were I a burger of that town I would send my family away to Leiden or Dort and stay myself to defend the walls to the last, but I do not believe that many will do so. Your countrymen are obstinate people, Sophie, and I fear that few will send their families away. Upon the following afternoon Ned started with the little fleet. The wind was fair and light, and they reached the mouth of the straight leading from the Zyder Z to Harlem. Then suddenly the wind dropped and the vessels cast anchor. For the two or three days previous the weather had been exceedingly cold, and with the fall of the wind the frost seemed to increase in severity. And Ned, who had been pacing the deck with Peters chatting over what had happened since they last met, was glad to go into the cabin, where the new first mate and supercargo had retired as soon as the anchor was let go. They sat talking for a couple of hours until a sailor came in, and said that they were hailed by the nearest ship. They all went on deck. Ned shouted to know what was the matter. Do you not see the water is freezing? By morning we shall be all frozen up hard and fast. This was startling news indeed, for they were now in full sight of Amsterdam, and would, if detained, thus be open to an attack across the ice. CHAPTER XIII. THE SEAGE OF HARLEM There was much shouting in the little fleet as the news spread that the sea was freezing. Boats were lowered and rowed from the ship to ship, for the ice was as yet no thicker than window-glass. Ned went from the good venture to the craft round which most of the boats were assembling to hear what was decided. He returned in a few minutes. They are all of opinion that it is hopeless for us to get out of this. We could tow the vessels a short distance, but every hour the ice will thicken. They concluded that anchors shall be got up, and that the ships all lie together as close as they can pack. What will be the use of that? Peter's asked. If we are to be frozen up, it makes no difference that I can see whether we are together or scattered as at present. The idea is, Ned said, if we are packed together we can defend ourselves better than if scattered about, and what is more important still, we can cut through the ice and keep a channel of open water round us. So we could, Peter's agreed. Let us to work, then. Which ship are we to gather round? The one I have just left, Peter's, she is lying nearly at the center. For the next two hours there was much bustle and hard work. Then as the ice was it yet greatly hindered the operation of moving the ships. At last they were all packed closely together, much more closely indeed than would be possible in these days, for the bow spritz, instead of running out nearly parallel with the water line, stood up at a sharp angle, and the vessels could therefore be laid with the bow of one touching the stern of that in advance. As there was now no motive for concealment, lamps were shown and torches burned. There were thirty craft in all, and they were arranged in five lines closely touching each other, when all was done the crews retired to rest. There was no occasion to keep watch, for the ice had thickened so fast that boats could not now force their way through it, while it would not before morning be strong enough to bear the weight of armed men walking across it. This is a curious position, Ned said, as he went on deck next morning. How long do you think we are likely to be kept here, Peter's? Maybe twenty-four hours, maybe three weeks, lad. These frosts when they set in like this sell them last less than a fortnight or three weeks. What do you think of our chances of being attacked? I should say they are sure to attack us. The whole Spanish army is lying over there in Amsterdam, and as soon as the ice is strong enough to bear them you will see them coming out. How strong a force can we muster? There are thirty craft, Peter's replied, and I should think they average fully fifteen men each, perhaps twenty. They carry strong crews at all times and stronger than usual now. That would give from five to six hundred men. I suppose all carry arms? Oh yes, I do not suppose that there is a man here who has not weapons of some kind, and most of them have archibuses. It will take a strong force to carry this wooden fort. It was still freezing intensely, and the ice was strong enough to bear men scattered here and there, although it would not have sustained them gathered together. Towards the afternoon the captain judged that it had thickened sufficiently to begin work, and fifty or sixty men provided with hatchets got upon the ice and proceeded to break it away round the vessels. After a couple of hours a fresh party took their places, and by nightfall the ships were surrounded by a belt of open water, some fifteen yards wide. A meeting of the captains had been held during the day, and the most experienced had been chosen as leader, with five lieutenants under him. Each lieutenant was to command the crews of six ships. When it became dark five boats were lowered. These were to row round and round the ships all night so as to keep the water from freezing again. The crews were to be relieved once an hour, so that each ship would furnish a set of rowers once in six hours. Numerous anchors had been lowered while the ships were first packed together, so as to prevent the mass from drifting when the tide flowed or ebbed, as this would have brought them in contact with one side or the other of the ice around them. The next morning the ice was found to be five inches thick, and the captains were of opinion that the Spaniards might now attempt an attack upon them. Their first attack will certainly fail, Ned said as they sat at breakfast. They will be baffled by this water-belt round us, however they will come next time with rafts ready to push across it, and then we shall have fighting in earnest. The lieutenant under whom the crew of the Good Venture were placed came down while they were at breakfast to inquire how many archibuses there were on board. We have ten, the captain said. As I suppose you have no men who skate on board I should be glad if you will hand them over to me. What does he say? The first mate asked in surprise upon this being translated to him. What does he mean by asking if we have any men who skate, and why should we give up our guns if we can use them ourselves? Ned put the question to the lieutenant. We are going to attack them on the ice as they come out, he replied. Of course all our vessels have skates on board. In winter we always carry them, as we may be frozen up at any time, and we shall send out as many men as can be armed with archibuses. Those who remain on board will fight the guns. That is a capital plan, Ned said, and the Spanish who are unaccustomed to ice will be completely puzzled. It is lucky there was not a breath of wind when it froze, and the surface is as smooth as glass. Well, there will be nine archibuses for you, sir, for I have been out here two winters and have learnt to skate, so I will accompany the party, the other nine archibuses with ammunition we will hand over to you. A lookout at one of the mast heads now shouted that he could make out a black mass on the ice near Amsterdam and believed that it was a large body of troops. Every preparation had already been made on board the ships for the fight. The good venture lay on the outside tier facing Amsterdam, having been placed there because she carried more guns than any of the other vessels, which were for the most parts small, and few carried more than four guns, while the armament of the good venture had, after her fight with the Don Pedro, been increased to ten guns. The guns from the vessels in the inner tiers had all been shifted on to those lying outside, and the wooden fort literally bristled with cannon. A quarter of an hour after the news that the Spaniards were on their way had been given, three hundred men with archibuses were ferried across the channel and were disembarked on to the ice. They were divided into five companies of sixty men each under the lieutenants. The captain remained to superintend the defense of the ships. The Dutch sailors were as much at home on their skates as upon dry land, and in high spirits started to meet the enemy. It was a singular sight to see the five bodies of men gliding away across the ice. There was no attempt at formation or order, all understood their business, for in winter it was one of their favorite sports to fire at a mark while skating at a rapid pace. It was two miles from the spot where the ships lay frozen up to Amsterdam. The Spaniards, a thousand strong, had traversed about a third of the distance when the skaters approached them. Keeping their feet with the utmost difficulty upon the slippery ice, they were astonished at the rapid approach of the Dutchmen. Breaking up as they approached, their assailants came dashing along at a rapid pace, discharged their archibuses into the close mass of the Spaniards, and then wheeled away at the top of their speed, reloaded, and again swept down to fire. Against these tactics the Spaniards could do little, unsteady as they were on their feet the recoil of their heavy archibuses frequently threw them over, and it was impossible to take anything like an accurate aim at the flying figures that passed them at the speed of a galloping horse. Nevertheless they doggedly kept on their way, leaving the ice behind them dotted with killed and wounded. Not a gun was discharged from on board the ships until the head of the Spanish column reached the edge of the water, and discovered the impassable obstacle that lay between them and the vessels. Then the order was given to fire, and the head of the column was literally swept away by the discharge. The commander of the Spaniards now gave the order for a retreat. As they fell back the guns of the ships swept their ranks, the musketeers harassed them on each flank, the ice cracked and broken by the artillery fire gave way under their feet, and many fell through and were drowned, and of the thousand men who left Amsterdam less than half regained the city. The Spaniards were astonished at this novel mode of fighting, and the dispatches of their officers gave elaborate descriptions of the strange appendages that had enabled the Hollander's to glide so rapidly over the ice. The Spaniards were, however, always ready to learn from a foe. Alva immediately ordered eight thousand pairs of skates, and the soldiers were kept hard at work practicing until they were able to make their way with fair rapidity over the ice. The evening after the fight a strong wind suddenly sprang up from the southwest, and the rain descended in torrents. By morning the ice was already broken up, the guns were hastily shifted to the vessels to which they belonged, the ships on the outside tiers cast off from the others, and before noon the hull were on their way back towards Ankhhausen, which they reached without pursuit by the Spanish vessels, for at nine in the morning the wind changed suddenly again, the frost set in as severely as before, and the Spaniards in the port of Amsterdam were unable to get out. This event caused great rejoicing in Holland, and was regarded as a happy omen for the coming contest. After remaining another day with his family, Ned mounted his horse and rode to Harlem. The city lay at the narrowest point of the narrow strip of land facing the German Ocean, and upon the shore of the shallow lake of the same name, upon the opposite side of this lake ten miles distant, stood the town of Amsterdam. The lake of Harlem was separated from the long inlet of the Zyder Z called the Y by a narrow strip of land, along which ran the causeway connecting the two cities. Halfway along this neck of land there was a cut with sluice works by which the surrounding country could be inundated. The port of Harlem on the Y was at the village of Sparendem, where there was a fort for the protection of the shipping. Harlem was one of the largest cities of the Netherlands, but it was also one of the weakest. The walls were old and had never been formidable. The extent of the defences made a large garrison necessary, but the force available for the defense was small indeed. Upon his way towards Harlem Ned learnt that on the night before, the tenth of December, Sparendem had been captured by the Spaniards, a secret passage across the flooded and frozen meadows had been shown to them by a peasant, and they had stormed the fort, killed three hundred men, and taken possession of the works and village. Thus Harlem was at once cut off from all aid coming from the Zyder Z. Much disquieted by the news, Ned rode on rapidly and entered the town by the gate upon the southern side, for as he approached he learned that the Spaniards had already appeared in great force before the city. He rode at once to his aunt's house, hoping to find that she had already left the town with the girls. Leaping from his horse he entered the door hurriedly, and was dismayed to find his aunt seated before the fire, knitting. My dear aunt, he exclaimed, do you know that the Spaniards are in front of the town? Surely to remain here with the two girls is madness. Everyone else is remaining, why should not I Ned? his aunt asked calmly. Other people have their houses and their businesses, aunt, but you have nothing to keep you here. You know what has happened at Zutphen and Nardan. How can you expose the girls, even if you are so obstinate yourself to such horrors? The burgers are determined to hold out until relief comes, nephew. I, if they can, Ned replied, but who knows whether they can. This is madness, aunt. I beseech you to come with me to your father, and let us talk over the matter with him, and in the morning if you will not go, I will get two horses and mount the girls on them, and ride with them to Leiden, that is, if by the morning it is not already too late, it would be best to proceed at once. Dame Plomart reluctantly yielded to the energy of her nephew, and accompanied him to the house of her father, but the weaver was absent on the walls, and did not return until late in the evening. Upon Ned's putting the case to him, he at once agreed that it would be best both for her and the girls to leave. I have told her so twenty times already, he said, but Elizabeth was always as obstinate as a mule. Over and over again she has said she would go, and having said that has done nothing. She can do no good by stopping here, and there are only three more mouths to feed. By all means, lad, get them away the first thing in the morning. If it be possible, I would say start tonight, dark as it is, but the Spanish horse may be all round the city, and you might ride into their arms without seeing them. Ned at once sallied out, and without much difficulty succeeded in bargaining for three horses, for few of the inhabitants had left, and horses would not only be of no use during the siege, but it would be impossible to feed them. Therefore their owners were glad to part with them for far less than their real value. When he reached the house he found that his aunt had made up three bundles with clothes and what jewelry she had, and that she was ready to start with the girls in the morning. Before daybreak Ned went out to the walls on the south side, but as the light broadened out discovered that it was too late, during the night heavy reinforcements had arrived to Don Frederick from Amsterdam, and a large force was already facing the west side of the city. With a heavy heart he returned to his aunts with the news that it was too late, for that all means of exit was closed. Dame Plomart took the news philosophically. She was a woman of phlegmatic disposition, and objected to sudden movement and changes, and to her it seemed far less terrible to await quietly the fortunes of the siege than to undergo the fatigues of a journey on horseback, and the uncertainty of an unknown future. Well, nephew, she said placidly, if we cannot get away we cannot, and it really saves a world of trouble, but what are you going to do yourself, for I suppose if we cannot get away you cannot. The way is open across the lake, Ned replied, and I shall travel along the ice to the upper end and then over to Leiden, and obtain permission from the prince to return here by the same way, or if not to accompany the force he is raising there, for this will doubtless march at once to the relief of the town. Even now, aunt, you might make your escape across the ice. I have not skated since I was fifteen years old, the good woman said placidly, and at my age and weight I am certainly not going to try now, Ned, just imagine me upon skates. Ned could not help smiling vexed as he was. His aunt was stout and portly, and he certainly could not imagine her exerting herself sufficiently to undertake a journey on skates. But the girls can skate, he urged. The girls are girls, she said, decidedly, and I am not going to let them run about the world by themselves. You say yourself that reinforcements will soon start. You do not know our people, nephew. They will beat off the Spaniards. Whatever they do, the city will never be taken. My father says so, and everyone says so. Surely they must know better than a lad like you. Ned shrugged his shoulders in despair, and went out to see what were the preparations for defense. The garrison consisted only of some fifteen hundred German mercenaries and the Berger force. Repurda, the commandant of the garrison, was an able and energetic officer. The townspeople were animated by a determination to resist to the end. A portion of the Magistracie had, in the first place, been anxious to treat, and had entered into secret negotiations with Alva, sending three of their number to treat with the Duke at Amsterdam. One had remained there, the other two on their return were seized, tried, and executed, and Sante Aldegonde, one of the Prince's ministers, had been dispatched by him to make a complete change in the Magistracie. The total force available for the defense of the town was not at the commencement of the siege, more than three thousand men, while over thirty thousand Spaniards were gathering round its walls, a number equal to the entire population of the city. The Germans, under Count Overstein, finally took up their encampment in the extensive grove of trees that spread between the southern walls and the shore of the lake. The Spaniards, under Don Frederick, faced the north walls, while the Waloons and other regiments closed it in on the east and west. But these arrangements occupied some days, and the mists which favoured their movements were not without advantage to the besieged. Under cover of the fog, supplies of provisions and ammunition were brought by men and women and even children, on their heads or in sludges down the frozen lake, and in spite of the efforts of the besiegers introduced into the city. Ned was away only two days, the Prince approved of his desire to take part in the siege, and furnished him with letters to the Magistrates promising reinforcements, and to Reperda, recommending Ned as a young gentleman volunteer of great courage and quickness who had already performed valuable service for the cause. His cousins were delighted to see him back. Naturally they did not share in their mother's confidence as to the result of the siege, and felt in Ned's presence a certain sense of security and comfort. The garrison increased by arrivals from without and by the enrolment of every man capable of bearing arms, now numbered a thousand pioneers, three thousand fighting men, and three hundred fighting women. The last were not the least efficient portion of the garrison. All were armed with sword, musket, and dagger, and were led by Canal Haselar, a widow of distinguished family, who at the head of her female band took part in many of the fiercest fights of the siege, both upon and without the walls. The siege commenced badly. In the middle of December the force of some thirty-five hundred men assembled at Leiden set out under the command of Dele-Marc, the former admiral of the Seabeggers. The troops were attacked on their march by the Spaniards, and a thousand were killed, a number taken prisoners, and the rest routed. Among the captains was a brave officer named Van Trier, for whom Dele-Marc offered two thousand crowns and nineteen Spanish prisoners. The offer was refused. Van Trier was hanged by one leg until he was dead, upon one of the numerous gibbets erected in sight of the town, in return for which Dele-Marc at once executed the nineteen Spaniards. On the eighteenth of December Don Frederick's batteries opened fire upon the northern side, and the fire was kept up without intermission for three days. As soon as the first shot was fired, a crier going round the town summoned all to assist in repairing the damages as fast as they were made. The whole population responded to the summons. Men, women, and children brought baskets of stones and earth, bags of sand and beams of wood, and these they threw into the gaps as fast as they were made. The churches were stripped of all their stone statues, and these too were piled in the breeches. The besiegers were greatly horrified at what they declared to be profanation, a complaint that came well from men who had been occupied in the wholesale murder of men, women, and children, and in the sacking of the churches of their own religion. Don Frederick anticipated a quick and easy success. He deemed that this weakly fortified town might well be captured in a week by an army of 30,000 men, and that after spending a few days slaughtering its inhabitants and pillaging and burning the houses, the army would march on against the next town until ere long the rebellion would be stamped out and Holland transformed into a desert. At the end of three days' cannonade the breach, in spite of the efforts of the besieged, was practicable, and a strong storming party led by General Romero advanced against it. As the column was seen approaching, the church bells rang out the alarm, the citizens caught up their arms, and men and women hurried to the threatened point. As they approached, the Spaniards were received with a heavy fire of musketry, but with their usual gallantry the veterans of Spain pressed forward and began to mount the breach. Now they were exposed not only to the fire of the garrison, but to the missiles thrown by the burgers and women. Heavy stones, boiling oil and live coals were hurled down upon them, small hoops smeared with pitch and set on fire were dexterously thrown over their heads, and after a vain struggle in which many officers were killed and wounded, Romero, who had himself lost an eye in the fight, called off his troops and fell back from the breach, leaving from three to four hundred dead behind him, while but a half dozen of the townsmen lost their lives. Upon the retreat of the Spaniards the delight in the city was immense, they had met the pikemen of Spain and hurled them back discomfited, and they felt that they could now trust themselves to meet further assaults without flinching. To Ned's surprise his aunt, when the alarm bells rung, had sallied out from her house accompanied by the two girls, she carried with her half a dozen balls of flax, each the size of her head. These had been soaked in oil and turpentine, and to each a stout cord about two feet long was attached. The girls had taken part in the work of the preceding day, but when she reached the breach she told them to remain in shelter while she herself joined the crowd on the walls, flanking the breach, while Ned took part in the front row of its defenders. Frau Plomart was slow, but she was strong when she chose to exert herself, and when the conflict was at its thickest she lighted the balls at the fires over which cauldrons of oil were seething, and whirling them round her head sent them one by one into the midst of the Spanish column. Three of them hit men fairly in the face, she said to one of her neighbors, so I think I have done my share of today's work. She then calmly descended the wall, joined her daughters and returned home paying no attention to the den of the conflict at the breach, and contended that she had done all that could be expected of her. On reaching home she bade the girls take to their knitting as usual, while she set herself to work to prepare the midday meal. A few days later the Prince of Orange sent from Sassenheim, a place on the southern extremity of the lake, where he had now taken up his headquarters, a force of two thousand men, with seven guns and a convoy of wagons with ammunition and food towards the town, under General Battenburg. This officer had replaced Della Mark, whose brutal and ferocious conduct had long disgraced the Dutch cause, and whom the Prince, finding that he was deaf alike to his orders and to the dictates of humanity, had now deprived of his commission. Battenburg's expedition was no more fortunate than that of Della Mark had been. On his approach to the city by night a thick mist set in, and the column completely lost its way. The citizens had received news of its coming, and the church bells were rung and cannon fired to guide it as to its direction, but the column was so helplessly lost that it at last wandered in among the Spaniards, who fell upon them, slew many and scattered the rest, a very few only succeeding in entering the town. Battenburg brought off, under cover of the mist, a remnant of his troops, but all the provisions and ammunition were lost. The second in command, de Koning, was among those captured. The Spaniards cut off his head and threw it over the wall into the city, with a paper fastened on it bearing the words, this is the head of Captain de Koning, who is on his way with reinforcements for the good city of Harlem. But the people of Harlem were now strung up, both by their own peril and the knowledge of the atrocities committed by the Spaniards in other cities, to a point of hatred and fury equal to that of the foes, and they retorted by chopping off the heads of eleven prisoners and throwing them into the Spanish camp. There was a label on the barrel with these words, deliver these heads to Duke Alva in payment of his ten penny tax with one additional head for interest. The besieged were not content to remain shut up in the walls, but frequently sallied out and engaged in skirmishes with the enemy. Prisoners were therefore often captured by one side or the other, and the gibbets on the walls and in the camp were constantly occupied. Ned as a volunteer was not attached to any special body of troops, Reperta telling him to act for himself, and join in whatever was going on as he chose. Consequently he took part in many of the skirmishes outside the walls, and was surprised to find how fearlessly the burgers met the tried soldiers of Spain, and especially at the valor with which the cores of women battled with the enemy. In strength and stature most of the women were fully a match for the Walloon troops, and indeed for the majority of the Spaniards, and they never feared to engage any body of troops of equal numerical strength. Look here, Aunt, Ned said to Frau Plomart upon the day after the failure of Battenberg's force to relieve the town, you must see for yourself now that the chances are that sooner or later the town will be captured. We may beat off all the assaults of the Spaniards, but we shall err long have to fight with an even more formidable foe within the town. You know that our stock of provisions is small, and that in the end unless help comes we must yield to famine. The Prince may possibly throw five thousand armed men into the town, but it is absolutely impossible that he can throw in any great store of provision unless he entirely defeats the Spaniards, and nowhere in Holland can he raise an army sufficient for that. I think, Aunt, that while there is time we ought to set to work to construct a hiding-place, where you and the girls can remain while the sack and atrocities that will assuredly follow the surrender of the town are taking place. I shall certainly not hide myself from the Spaniards, Frau Plomart said stoutly. Very well, Aunt, if you choose to be killed on your own hearthstone, of course I cannot prevent it, but I do say that you ought to save the girls from these horrors if you can. That I am ready to do, she said, but how is it to be managed? Well, Aunt, there is your wood cellar below. We can surely construct some place of concealment there. Of course I will do the work, though the girls might help by bringing up baskets of earth and scattering them in the streets. Having received a tacit permission from his aunt, Ned went down into the wood cellar, which was some five feet wide by eight feet long, like every place about a Dutch house it was whitewashed, and was half full of wood. Ned climbed over the wood to the further end. This is where it must be, he said to the girls who had followed him. Now the first thing to do is to pile the wood so as to leave a passage by which we can pass along. I will get a pick and get out the bricks at this corner. We need only make a hole a foot wide, and it need not be more than a foot high, Lucette, the elder, said. That will be sufficient for us to squeeze through. It would, Lucette, but we shall want more space for working, so to begin with we will take away the bricks up to the top. We can close it up as much as we like afterwards. There is plenty of time, for it will be weeks before the city is starved out. If we work for an hour a day we can get it done in a week. Accordingly the work began, the bricks were removed, and with a pick and shovel, Ned dug into the ground beyond, while the girls carried away the earth and scattered it in the road. In a fortnight a chamber five feet high, three feet wide, and six feet long had been excavated. Slats of wood, supported by props along the sides, held up the roof. A quantity of straw was thrown in for the girls to lie on, for our plomart came down from time to time to inspect the progress of the work, and expressed herself well pleased with it. How are you going to close the entrance, Ned? she asked. I propose to brick it up again three feet high, aunt, then when the girls and you have gone in, for I hope that you will change your mind at the last. I will brick up the rest of it, but using mud instead of mortar, so that the bricks can be easily removed when the time comes, or one or two can be taken out to pass in food, and then replaced as before. After you are in I will whitewash the whole cellar, and no one would then guess the wall had ever been disturbed. I shall leave two bricks out in the bottom row of all to give air. They will be covered over by the wood. However hard up we get for fuel we can leave enough to cover the floor at that end a few inches deep. If I can I will pierce a hole up under the board in the room above this, so as to give a free passage of air. If the Spaniards take away the wood as they may well do, they will notice that the two bricks are gone, Mrs. Plomart objected. We can provide for that, aunt, by leaving two bricks inside, whitewashed like the rest, to push into the holes if you hear anyone removing the wood. There is only the light that comes in at the door, and it would never be noticed that the two bricks were loose. That will do very well, Mrs. Plomart said. I thought at first that your idea was foolish, but I see that it will save the girls if the place is taken. I suppose there will be plenty of time to brick them up after they have taken refuge in it. Plenty of time, aunt, we shall know days before if the city surrenders to hunger. I shall certainly fight much more comfortably now that I know that whatever comes, Lucette and Annie are safe from the horrors of the sack.