 CHAPTER XIII. My Faithful Watchdog Some two hours later, in a long, low, vaulted room, which was the refectory of the convent of the Sisters of St. Agneton, some two thousand men were assembled. They sat on wooden benches all round the two huge horseshoe-shaped tables at which the sisters were want to take their meals. The room was situate on the ground floor of the convent building, and a row of low-growing windows ran the whole length of one of the walls. Heavy curtains hung before all the windows, and portiers were drawn over the doors at either end, both in order to deaden all sound and to prevent all light from showing without. Low candles burned in tall pewter candelabra at intervals upon the tables. The bulk of the men who were there were young, or at any rate still in the prime of life, strong and well-knit in figure, the sort of men whom any leader would be glad to enrol as soldiers under his banner. But there were others among them who were grave and elderly, like Monsieur Deneute, the procurator general, and the Baron van Grobendoc, chief financial advisor on the town council. Monsieur Pierre van Overbeck, Vice-Bailiff of Ghent, was also there, as well as Monsieur's Levin van Dynes, the wealthy brewer at the sign of the Star of the North in the Newport, Lawrence van Rijk, son of the High-Bailiff, and Frederick van Bevereen, wardmaster of the Guild of Armourers. And there were a good many others, gentlemen of substance and consideration in the town. At this moment every one of those two thousand men were keeping their eyes fixed upon one who alone was standing under the dais at the end of the refractory, where the abyss of the convent usually had her place. This portion of the room was raised two steps above the rest, and standing there, the man who thus held the attention of all the others looked abnormally tall, for he was dressed in doublet and hose of some dark stuff which clung to him like a skin. His high boots reached well over his thighs, his head was closely shrouded in a hood, and his face was hidden by a mask made of untanned leather, which left the mouth only quite free. His highness, the Prince of Orange, whom may God protect, he was saying in a loud, clear voice which rang out from end to end of the room, was fortunately able to furnish me with all your names and places of abode, with the help of Missour van Danes, who lent us his horses, and Missour Lawrence van Rijk, and Frederick van Bevereen, who gave me their assistance. We were able to communicate with you all during the night, and warn you of the imminent danger which hung over your heads. It was well done, friend Leatherface, said Missour Danute, so well indeed, that we are all ready and willing to place ourselves under your guidance and to accept you as our leader for of a truth we know not what we must do. Wood to God, said the man whom they called Leatherface, that I could do more for you than the little which I have done. To each of you last night I gave the same warning. Danger is nigh, terrible, imminent, for our plans are discovered, and the presence of the Prince of Orange in Ghent, known to the Duke of Alva, let all those who wish to do so leave the city at once with their wives and children, for death and torture threatens those who remain. As you see, my dear friend, said Loven van Danes, the wealthy brewer, quietly, not one of us, hath followed this portion of your advice. You are all brave men and noble sons of Flanders, quote Leatherface earnestly. As Highness is proud of you, he believes in you, he trusts you. A cause which has such men as you, for its champions and defenders, is assured of victory. A murmur of satisfaction went round the room, and Leatherface resumed after a little while. In the meanwhile, with the help of God, the precious person of the Prince of Orange is safe. A hearty cheer quickly suppressed greeted this announcement from every side. Unfortunately, continued Leatherface, I could not persuade his Highness to leave the city early this morning. He would not believe in the danger which was threatening him. He would not believe that his plans and his presence here had been betrayed. Yes, betrayed! Now said one of the younger men vehemently, and by whom? Dust know by whom, friend Leatherface? And all around the tables grimly set lips murmured, by whom? My God! By whom were we betrayed? And Lawrence van Reich's glowing eyes were fixed upon the man, under the canopy, as if he would have torn the mask from off his face, and read in those mysterious eyes the confirmation of his own horrible fears. And Leatherface, looking straight into Lawrence's pale and haggard face, said slowly, by one who hath already paid the full price for all the misery which that betrayal will bring in its wake. What came in odd yet eager query from most of them there? Leatherface bent his head, but gave no direct reply, and all of them there were satisfied, for they believed that the faithful and wary watchdog, justiciary, as well as guardian angel, had discovered the betrayer, and had killed him, making him pay the full price for all the misery which he had brought about. Only Lawrence hung his head, and dared not ask any more. And now tell us about the Prince, urged Miss Sarah van Overback, the vice-baliff, where is he now? Well on his way to Bruges, please God! replied the man with the leather mask. All day I had entreated him to go, but he refused to listen. You dream of treachery, he said to me, and see it where none exists. I spent the day scouting, as far as Mel and Wetteren, for I felt that nothing would convince him but actual facts. At four o'clock in the afternoon the advanced courier arrived from a lost. Luckily his horse was less swift than mine. I managed to gain on him, and brought in the news of the Duke of Alva's arrival to his highness half an hour before the commandant of the garrison knew of it. Even then it might have been too late, quote one of the listeners. It very nearly was, retorted leather-face, light-heartedly, had the lieutenant governor sent advanced orders that his arrival be kept a secret, until his troops passed through the city gates, the Prince of Orange would still be engend at this hour. Holy Virgin! exclaimed Lawrence Van Rijk, and what did you do? His highness donned doublet and hose of common baffle, and pulled a tattered felt hat well over his eyes, as did also the count of Hoogstratton and Young Count Mansfeld. I made myself look as like a draper's assistant as I could, and then the four of us joined the crowd. The rumor of the Duke's coming had spread all over the city there were plenty of gaffers about. All round by the wall-port they abounded, and as the twilight slowly faded into dusk the approaches to the gate were densely packed. No one was allowed to loiter round the guardhouse or upon the bridge, but there were many who, with overwhelming loyalty, desired to greet the Duke of Alva even before he reached the confines of the city. That was our opportunity. The commandant at the wall-port happened to be in rare good humor. He thought the idea of meeting the lieutenant governor and his troops some way outside the city an excellent one. He allowed those who wished to go across the bridge. The Prince of Orange, his two friends and I, were merged in that crowd, and no one took notice of us. Directly we reached, mirrored back, we struck across the fields. In ten minutes we left the crowd a long way behind us, and had skirted the town as far as Wandelgem. We were in no danger then, but his highness was greatly fatigued. There was a difficulty, too, about getting horses. Young Count Mansfeld was footsore, and the Count of Hookestratton perished with thirst. In short, it was six o'clock before we had the horses ready, and I had the satisfaction of seeing the Prince safely started on his way. When I returned, it was close on eight, and the city gates had all been locked. He gave a light, good-humored laugh, and one of the men asked, Then how did you get in? I swam, and I scaled the walls. He replied simply, But how? Asked another. Oh, I swam like a fish, and climb like an ape. But were you not seen? Oh yes, and shot at, but the Spaniards are bad shots, and I am here. Again he laughed gaily, lightheartedly, like apprentice after an escapade, and the two men who sat near as Tim, the procurator general, and the baron van Grubendoc, surreptitiously, took hold of his hand, and pressed it warmly. So much for the past, signaurs, resumed Leatherface, after a while, my duty is done, I leave the planning of the future to wiser heads than mine. No, no, quote the Vice-Bailiff emphatically, have we not said that we want you to lead us? I retorted the other gaily, what do I know of leadership? I am only his highness's watchdog. Let me follow a leader, and bear my share in the present trouble, I am not fit to command. A murmur went round the room, and the procurator general rejoined earnestly, the men will obey no one, but you take off your mask, friend, and let us all look upon the face of a man. You have all despised me too much in the past, to heed my counsel's now. There you spoke a lie, man, said Miss Sarah Van Daines, the brewer. We have all honored the man whom we called Leatherface, as the bravest amongst us all. We do not know who you are. We only know you as a gallant gentleman, to whom, next to William of Orange himself, we owe every triumph which our cause hath gained over our execrated tyrants. Therefore I pray you to unmask, and let us know at least to whom, next to God himself, we owe the life of the noble Prince of Orange, and also to whom we must look in future for guidance and leadership. Once more the murmur went round the room, words of warm approval came from every side, whilst among the younger men the cry was raised and repeated insistently, unmask, unmask, cried Lawrence Van Reich, be you criminal or ne'er-do-well in the eyes of others, you are a hero in our sight, unmask, unmask, they reiterated unanimously. The man with the leather mask then advanced to the very edge of the platform, and putting up his hand he asked for silence, signeurs he began, I am your servant and will do as you wish. I have told you that I am no leader and am not fit to command, yet you choose to honor me, and this is no time for false humility and the diffidence which is the attribute of cowards. But, despite your gracious choice of me as your leader in this terrible emergency, will you ere you finally decide to follow me, hear from me, what plan I should pursue, and to what heights of self-sacrifice I would ask you to rise in the face of the awful calamity which threatens our city. Signeurs he continued, and indeed now save for the ring of that deep-toned voice, so great was the silence in the vast refractory that every heartbeat might have been heard. You have heard the decree of our tyrant, unless we deliver to him the precious person of our noble prince, the whole city will be delivered over to the brutal soldiery who will pillage our houses, desecrate our churches, murder and outrage our wives, our mothers and our children, just as they did in Mons, in Valenciennes and in Mecklen. Signeurs we are men, all of us here, and at thought of what awaits us and our fellow citizens, our very heart-blood seems to freeze with horror. It is of our women that we must think and of our children. Thank God that the prince knows nothing of this decree which hath been framed by the most inhuman monster the world hath ever known, or of a certainty he would have gone straight to the Castile and given up his precious life to save our fellow citizens. Signeurs what the prince would have done we know, and as he would have acted so must we be prepared to act, but before I parted from him I had his advice on the plan which I now beg leave to place before you. When my word of honor signeurs he approved of it in its entirety, and much that I will submit to you anon hath been framed under his guidance. He paused awhile, and through the holes in the mask his glowing eyes searched the faces of his listeners with a masterful glance that was both challenging and appealing. Every one of us here, he said abruptly, is, I know, ready to sacrifice his life for faith, for freedom, and country, and ere we give in to the monstrous tyranny which hath planned the destruction of our city we must fight, signeurs, fight to the death, fight for every inch of our ground, fight for every homestead which we would save from outrage. Hath awaits us all anyhow, then at any rate with God's help let us die fighting to the end. Once more he paused, in order to draw breath, even whilst from every side there came emphatic words of enthusiasm and of approval. He held his hearers now in the hollow of his hand, they were unemotional, stolid men for the most part, these flumish burgers and patricians, men who throughout the terrible oppression under which they had grown for over fifty years had grimly set their teeth and endured where others had fought, because reason and common sense had shown the futility, the irreparableness of the conflict. But they were men too who once roused to action would never give in until they had won their fight or had been destroyed to the last man of them, and with that inspiring prophet standing there before them, stirring their sluggish blood with his ringing voice some of that same determination began to creep into their bones which had animated valiant orange and his brothers and his Dutch followers to carry on the struggle for freedom at all costs and with the last drop of their blood. We'll fight with you and under your standard friend said the procurator general who was the spokesman of the others, we are well armed, I ye are well armed rejoined leather face triumphantly, the guild of armorers are with us to a man, and we have been able to supplement our secret stores with all the treasure in the magnificent armory which Miss Soor van Beveren has placed at our disposal in the name of his guild, I we are well armed and well manned, there are two thousand of us seniors and our numbers will be doubled before noon tomorrow. The Duke hath brought ten thousand soldiers with him, well it will be a three to one fight, but if we were still more completely outnumbered we would still carry on the struggle seeing that the lives of our children and the honor of our women are at stake. We can fight murmured one of the older men, but we cannot conquer, no we cannot conquer said leather face earnestly, we must perish because might is greater than right, unless God chooses to perform a miracle, and I for one still believe that he will, but we must not weaken our determination by reckoning childishly on divine interference if we fight, we fight because we refuse to die like cowards, because we refuse to go before our maker shamed at having allowed our homes to be devastated, our women outraged, our children massacred without striking a blow, however futile in their defense, we fight then signeurs, he added exultantly, is that your decision? There was not one dissentient voice, old and young, grave and gay, prudent and hotheaded, every man there was ready to follow the leader of their choice for freedom, faith and country cried leather face loudly for freedom, faith and country came from 2000 panting throats as to our plan of campaign now resumed the man with the mask as soon as silence and calm was restored once more, I have not yet had the time to think on all the details soberly, but the main outline of it was dictated to me by the Prince of Orange, even whilst we halted at Wandelgem waiting for horses, he is the finest military strategist the world hath ever known, misfortune hath pursued him, but hath not impaired his marvelous powers of command, I will ask some of you, signeurs, to aid me with your counsels and with the directions which his highness hath given me, we may yet give such a fine account of ourselves as will force our tyrants to treat with us for peace, there are only two thousand of us now, by tomorrow we can reckon on several thousands more, but of a certainty at the first clash of arms all our young and able bodied fellow citizens will take heart and join us in our desperate struggle and may God help us all, there is no doubt that he had inflamed the blood of his hearers, by the dim light of the tallow candles every face now looked flushed, every pair of eyes glowed with the noble fire of patriotism and of courage, leather face waited for a time in silence while whispered conversation and discussion became general, he did not join in it himself, but stood somewhat apart from the others the sinusure of all eyes, a strange almost mysterious figure in his tightly fitting clothes which gave full play to the powerful muscles of arms and thighs and displayed the great breadth of shoulder and depth of chest, many there were who still eyed him curiously, Lawrence Van Rijk in particular did not take his eyes off him, but no one thought of challenging him again to unmask what mattered what the face was like when the heart was so great and fine, after a few minutes the man with the mask once more advanced to the edge of the platform, there was still something that he wished to say, we must not forget, seniors, he began very quietly that the tyrant have given us a respite of forty eight hours before he will embark on his hellish work of destruction, he hath demanded the person of the prince of orange as the price of his mercy, well, seniors, the prince, thank God, is no longer here, but it is just possible that we may bribe the wild beast yet into satisfaction by giving him some of the blood for which he thirsts and thus save our beautiful city from all the horrors which he hath in contemplation against her, and how will do that friend side Missour van overback despondently, with your permission I will explain rejoin the other, I propose that anon in the early morning, a certain number of you seek out the Duke of Alva in Het Spanjards Castile and tell him that the prince of orange, aided by his humble watchdog, did succeed in evading once again the trap which had been set for him, but he continued with slow and deliberate emphasis that you are prepared to deliver into his hands the person of the man leather face since you happened to know his whereabouts in the city. For a moment he could not continue, loud and vehement protestations against this monstrous proposal arose from every side. I entreat you, Seniors, to remember he continued with deep earnestness as soon as the tumult had subsided that a certain amount of mystery hath hung not through mine own seeking, believe me, around my person. Next to our prince himself there are few in this unfortunate country whose death would be more welcome to our Spanish tyrants than that of the miscreant leather face, and my belief is that if you offered to give him up to the Lieutenant Governor you might obtain from that cruel despot a small measure of mercy for our city. He had long since finished speaking, but now there were no longer any protestations or murmurs, and awesome silence hung about the vaulted room. No one had stirred, no one spoke. Not one man dared to look his neighbor in the face. Every man stared straight before him at that slim figure which suddenly appeared to them all to be unearthly as it stood there beneath the canopy like the very personification of simple self-sacrifice offering up his life so willingly and above all so cheerfully to save his fellow men. In these days of cruel oppression and of sublime virtues such an act of abnegation was probably not rare. Men were accustomed to suffer death and worse for an ideal and for the sake of others who were weaker than themselves. But there was something so engaging, so lighthearted in that stranger there that every man who heard him felt that by sacrificing such a man he would be sending a brother, a son, or dear friend to the gallows. Well, signors said leather face, I still await your decision. You speak glibly, friend, murmured the procurator general somberly, but if the tyrant hath you in his power it will not only mean death for you, remember, it will not mean the axe or the gallows, it will mean the torture chamber of the inquisition first and the stake afterwards. I know that retorted the other simply. Better men than I have gone through it all for faith and freedom. I am young, tis true, but I have no ties of interest or affection that bind me to this earth. Few men will go to their maker so little regretted by kith or kin as I shall be. So I pray you do not think of me, rather turn your thoughts I entreat to the details of the plan, the composition of the deputation that would be prepared to meet the Duke of Alva tomorrow. Those posts too will be full of danger, and the negotiations too might fail. What is the life of one man worth when weighed in the balance with an entire city? And which of us would you entrust with the abominable errand, queried Lawrence van Rijk abruptly? Not you of a certainty said the other, your mother will have need of comfort and protection since she refused to place herself in safety. Missour, the procurator general should, I think, leave the deputation. He have never been suspected of heresy or rebellion, and the proposal would thus come quite naturally from him. If Missour van Overbeck will join him, and you, Signor van Grubendach, me seems that we could not choose better. Nay, I cannot do it, interpose the vice bailiff vehemently, I would sooner cut off my right hand now. Would you sooner sacrifice this city, all the women and children, your own wife, Missour, and daughters, rather than one man, whose identity you need never know? It was indeed a terrible puzzle, one which even these brave men found it hard to solve. I entreat you, Signors, continued Leatherface earnestly, to do what I ask. Nay, he added, resolutely, I'll do more. Just now you chose me as your leader, then I command you to act in accordance with my will. You are quite determined, then, asked the vice bailiff. Would you counsel me to waver, retorted the other? Ah, Signors, he added, with that ringing note in his voice, which was so inspiring to them all. I entreat you, do not grieve for me, rather grieve for yourselves, and gather courage for your errand. So help me, God, yours will be no easy task. You will have to fawn and to cringe before the tyrant whom you hate. You will have to bear his arrogance and the insolence of his menials. You will have to swallow your wrath and to bend your pride. Your sacrifice, indeed, will be far harder to make than mine. I only offer mine own unworthy life. You will offer up tomorrow your dignity, your manhood, all that you and your fathers hold so dear. Nay, I would not change places with you for ten such worthless lives as mine. See what a coward I am. I send you to do this abominable errand while I sit at home in comfort and dream of the happiness of giving my life for Gent and for her children. God help us all, murmured Mr. De Newt, the procurator-general. Indeed, he alone can do that, rejoined leather-face, for grave fears assail me that our proposal will be rejected. Is it likely that it would appeal to such a bloodthirsty tyrant as the Duke of Alva? My one hope, and that, alas, is a slender one, is that he hath it not in his mind to destroy our beautiful city, and might be glad of an excuse of exercising mercy. A groan of execration greeted this suggestion. Was it likely that any thought of mercy could ever enter the mind of such a man? More cruel than any beast of prey, for he killed for the mere sake of killing inflicted in human tortures on innocent victims for the sake of gloating over their sufferings and rejoiced in bloodshed and outrage and desecration for their own sakes without any thought of benefiting himself. Then, if these negotiations fail, signeurs concluded leather-face, finally nothing will be left for us but a bitter struggle which may end in defeat, but which will leave us proud and unconquered still. Amen to that, said the procurator general fervently. Then let us go quietly to our homes tonight. Let us keep from those who are weak and anxious all knowledge of that which we have resolved. Let our women pray while we prepare to act. Flemish women have hearts of steel, they will not waver when the hour comes. They will help us with their prayers now, and load our archibuses for us when we need them. For them we will fight and for our children. And if defeat stares us in the face at the last, then will we save them by one supreme act from falling into the hands of the tyrant. Until then and after, signeurs, allow me to keep this mask upon my face. When you go to meet the Duke of Alva tomorrow, you will offer him a paltry chattel, a man whom you do not know, who hath no name, no identity, the spy of the Prince of Orange, just him whom you call leather-face. God reward you, they murmured fervently. Perhaps he will whisper the man with the mask under his breath and with a speedy death. And now, he added, as the hour is late, let us disperse. Tomorrow, here, and at this hour, we meet again. Massour de Nuit will give you a report of his audience with the tyrant, and I may be lucky enough to be allowed to give my life for this city which I love. Farewell, signeurs, may God guard you until then. If Alva will have none of me, then I will have the honor of leading you to victory, I hope, to death, if God wills. One by one they rose from the benches where they had been sitting, and all took what they believed to be a last farewell of that strange man whose identity was still unknown to them, yet whom they had all learned to love as a leader and as a friend. Indeed, their noble hearts were torn asunder by the awful alternative which he himself had placed for them. It was a case of grim determination, of smothering every call of sentiment which might prove insistent against thus sacrificing a brave man to the cruel lust of an abominable tyrant. It had to be, and these men were fine and great enough in themselves to understand that in offering up his life to save his fellow citizens, Leatherface had certainly chosen the better part. And having looked their last on him, they went out through the postern gate of the convent of St. Agneton in groups of twos and threes. They crossed the two bridges that spanned the lay at this point. The night was dark, and this was an isolated part of the city situate far from the Stathos and the Cooter, from the St. Boffs and St. Nicholas quarters of the city came faintly echoing across the river, the sound of riotous merriment proceeding from those buildings and houses wherein the walloon soldiery had installed themselves. But the men who had just pledged themselves to fight a losing battle against overwhelming odds paid no heed to what went on around them. They glided noiselessly through the dark and narrow streets. Some went to right, some to left, some to north, and others to south, and quietly regained their homes. But in the vast refectory two men had remained behind after everyone else had gone. They were the man with the mask and Lawrence Van Rijk. The latter had waited in silence whilst the whole of the assembly filed out by the door. But when leather face in his turn prepared to go, Lawrence threw him such a look of appeal that after an instant's hesitation he too decided to wait. Then when the last of the assembly had gone, Lawrence tried to speak, but the words died in his throat ere they reached his quivering lips. There was still that look of mute appeal in his eyes, and of well-nigh unendurable mental torment in every line of his haggard face. And suddenly he gave a cry like some wounded creature in mortal pain. He fell on his knees against the table, and burying his face in his hands he sobbed like a child. The other waited patiently and silently until the paroxysm was over. His mouth beneath the mask looked set, but kindly, and his eyes through the holes in the leather were fixed upon the stricken man. She is safe from the vengeance of our people, he said, as soon as he saw that Lawrence had momentarily regained his self-control. Is that what troubles you, Missour? Lawrence, already ashamed of his tears, had struggled to his feet. He passed his hand across his moist forehead and through his unruly hair, and tried to look leather face valiantly between the eyes. Partly that, he said resolutely, but I'll not speak of her. It was she then who betrayed us all, he added with another heartbroken cry. To this leather face made no answer, and Lawrence continued more calmly. It was of the list I wish to speak, the papers which his highness entrusted to my care. Yes, I went to look for them after, after she left the house and found that they had gone. Then what did you do? I knew that we were betrayed, then, there at once, and by her, an exquisite woman, Missour, whom I, oh, it was horrible, he exclaimed, and even now a look that was almost like death came over his wand cheeks and hollow eyes. Then once more he resumed quietly for a few moments the blow of this awful discovery completely stunned me. I could neither think nor act. My first coherent thought was to consult with my mother as to what had best be done, how to find his highness until evening I knew not, or how to obtain duplicate lists so that I could run round the town and warn all our followers of the terrible danger that threatened them. You did not think of flight for your mother, I mean. I entreated my mother to leave the city at once, but she refused to go, and we were standing face to face with one another, and the terrible calamity that had befallen us all when Pierre came in with a letter which he said was given to him in the open street by a man whom he did not know. The letter I take it came from you. Yes, replied the other, I was afraid that you might do something rash and raise the alarm before it was necessary. The lists, he added, are quite safe. I was able, after his highness left the High Bailiff's house last night, to extract them from the bureau, where I did not feel that they were oversafe. In their place I put a packet containing fictitious lists of men who do not exist, and places of abode which are not to be found in this city. It is these which have been sent to Senor de Vargas. I had just time to scribble these and to place them in a conspicuous place in the bureau. You used a false key, then, queried Lawrence in bewilderment. Am I not a spy of the Prince of Orange? Retorted the other, with a quaint little laugh, and are not all spies provided with means of forcing secret locks? Here are the lists, he added, as from inside his doublet he half drew the packets of papers. When you are called to account for them, you can return them without fear. No one will know that they ever left your care, that is, if you have not spoken of it before now. No, I had not the heart. We all knew that we were betrayed. You warned us all, and took measures to convene us here tonight. But until the hour when your letter warned me that for the moment all was well, I endured mental torments, such as surely the lost souls in hell have never suffered. I saw those lists in the hands of our tyrants, placed there by the instrumentality of a woman who is, to me, the embodiment of all that is pure and good. I saw in my mind the spies of Alva going the round this very night, and arresting our brave followers one by one. Oh, God, you do not know what I suffered. Do not think of that any more, Missour, rejoined Leatherface quietly. As you see, the lists are now safe in my care. Alas, it is too late to beg you to take your mother out of the city. Guard and protect her well, and God help us all. He once more now prepared to go, and Lawrence was ready to follow him. But just at the last, an impulse caused the latter to detain the mysterious stranger once more. There was still one question which hovered on his lips, the answer to which would perhaps ease that awful burden of sorrow which Lenora's betrayal had placed upon his soul. Missour, he said appealingly, what of her? Pray for her, Missour, replied Leatherface quietly. She suffers more than you do. Must we all curse her then, or else be traitors to our own people? Nay, you can pity her. What she did, she did from her own sense of patriotism and of justice. She hates us all, Missour, as the enemies of her people. She hates and despises me as the assassin of the man she loved. Pray for her, Missour. But in pity, pray also for the man who, while striving to win her heart, only succeeded in breaking his own. An hour later in the house, in the new strut, Clémence van Rijk was still awake. She sat in her favorite tall chair beside the hearth and Lawrence, her son, was kneeling beside her. It is too late now, mother, he was saying gloomily, no power on earth can save you. Would to God you had let me take you to brooch this afternoon, and desert my post like a coward, retorted Clémence hotly. I can do little, tis true. But when the hour comes, I can tend the sick and the dying, and pray for the dead. And if you are taken from me, Lawrence, I can be laid beside you. But she added, with such an intensity of bitterness and hatred, that her voice nearly choked her as she spoke, I would not owe my safety to that execrable, treacherous, hush mother in the name of heaven, broken Lawrence with a heartbroken sob. Are you too going to defend her? Retorted the mother fiercely. She was compelled to act as she did, murmured Lawrence. She acted in ignorance and innocence. I'd stake my life that she is pure and good. Pure and good exclaimed Clémence with a strident laugh, a spawn of the devil, without virtue and without mercy. Oh, that my lip should ever have touched her lying face, that white forehead which concealed thoughts of falsehood and treachery. Do not defend her, Lawrence, or you will break my heart. Leave her defense to your brother, Mark, who cares nothing for his country and for his kindred, who will smile and drink whilst the walls of Gant fall about his ears, who hath allowed his weak and cowardly heart to be captured by that murderous. Leave him to defend her, I say. Lenora De Vargas is worthy of Mark van Reich. Mother cried Lawrence with uncontrolled vehemence, as he threw his arms round his mother's shoulders, in the name of God's stop for you almost blaspheme. Speak not of Mark, save with a blessing on your lips. Pray for him this night as you have never prayed before. Lawrence cried the mother, are you mad? What do you mean? What has happened to Mark? Where is he? In his bed, no doubt, at this moment, mother. Sleeping whilst we all weep and pray. Sleeping in peace whilst giving up life, and more than life, to try and save us all, retorted Lawrence, as he slowly rose to his feet. Lawrence, you are mad. Mark is the friend and savior of the Prince of Orange, Mother dear, said the young man quietly, and we have all known him hitherto as leatherface. It is false, cried Clemont's vehemently. I swear by God that it is true, proclaimed Lawrence fervently. The exclamation which she would have uttered froze upon Clemont's van Rike's lips. For a moment she remained quite still, leaning slightly forward, with hands resting upon the arms of the chair. Then a pitiable moan escaped her, and slowly she rose, and then fell upon her knees. Oh God, forgive me, she cried, if this be true. It is true, Mother, said Lawrence fervently. For close on two hours tonight, I sat close to him whilst he spoke. In the absence of the Prince of Orange, we have chosen him as our leader. If the Duke of Alva refuses the proposals which we are going to put before him, Mark will lead us to fight or to death. The proposal? What proposal? That leatherface be given up to the tyrant as the price of the safety of the city. And you, his brother, agreed to this infamous suggestion, murmured Clemont's hoarsely, We must not leave a stone unturned or a man alive to save the women and children, replied Lawrence somberly. Then may God have mercy on us all, cried Clemont's, and she fell back heartbroken against the cushions of her chair. CHAPTER XIV THE NEXT MORNING At the tenth hour, five reverend signeurs presented themselves before the Duke of Alva, Lieutenant Governor of the Low Countries, and Captain General of the Forces, in the apartments which he occupied in Het Spanjard's Castile. They were Massor Pierre van Overbeck, Vice-Bailiff of Ghent, Massor De Newt, Procurator General, and Massor Jan van Magrode, Chief Sheriff of the Cure. Then there was Massor Levin van Danes, the Brewer at the sign of the Star of the North, and Baron van Grubendoc, Chief Financial Advisor, on the Town Council. They had waited on his highness at a very early hour, but had been kept waiting in the guard room for two hours without a chair to sit on, and with a crowd of rough soldiers around them, some of whom were lounging about on the benches, others playing at cards or dice, whilst all of them improved the occasion and wild away the time by indulging in insolent jests at the expense of the reverend burgers, who humiliated beyond forbearance, and vainly endeavouring to swallow their wrath did not dare to complain to the officer in command, lest worse insults be heaped upon them. At one hour before noon these signors were at last told very peremptorily that they might present themselves before his highness. They were marched between a detachment of soldiers through the castle yard to the magnificent apartments in the Miest Torren, which at one time were occupied by the Counts of Flanders. Now the Duke of Alva's soldiery and his attendants were in every corridor and every entry room. They stared with undisguised insolence at the grave signors who belonged to the despised race. The lieutenant governor was graciously pleased to receive the burgers in his council chamber, where seated upon a velvet-covered chair, upon an elevated platform, and beneath a crimson dais, he looked down upon these free citizens of an independent state, as if he were indeed possessed of divine rights over them all. The officer in command of the small detachment, which had escorted the deputation into the dreaded presence, now ordered the five signors to kneel, and they, who had a petition to present and an act of mercy to entreat, obeyed with that proud humility wherewith their fathers had knelt 32 years ago in set cloth and ashes before the throne of the Emperor Charles. Your desire signors, queried the Duke curtly, some of the members of his abominable grand council sat around him on benches placed well below the level of the platform. Albaric Del Rio was there, bland and submissive, President Viglius, General de Norcoms, and President Hessels, men who were as bitter against Orange and his followers, as was Alba himself, and sitting a little apart from the others, Don Juan de Vargas, but recently arrived from Brussels. Your desire signors, the Duke had questioned, peremptorily, and after a few moments, Messor de Newt, the procurator general, who was spokesman of the deputation, began timidly at first, then gradually more resolutely. It is with profound grief, he said, that we became aware last night that Your Highness's visit to our city was not one of goodwill and amity. Your Highness's severe restrictions upon our citizens and stern measures taken against them have filled our hearts with sorrow. Your abominable treachery hath filled our heart with wrath, retorted the Duke roughly, and nothing but the clemency enjoined upon us by our suzerain, Lord and King, prevented us from reducing this accursed city to ashes and putting every one of her citizens to the sword without giving them a single chance of retrieving their hellish conduct by surrendering themselves unconditionally to our will. It is with the utmost confidence rejoined the procurator general, humbly, that we rely upon the well-known clemency of our suzerain, Lord the King, and place the future of our beautiful city unconditionally in Your Highness's hands. The future of the city is in my hands, Missour, said the Duke dryly, by the power of our suzerain, Lord, and with the help of the troops at my command. I told you last night under what condition I will spare Your town from total destruction. I am not in the habit of changing my mind during the course of one night. Alas, Your Highness, but the city is quite unable to fulfill the one condition which would appease the wrath of our suzerain, Lord, and Your own. Then retorted Alva haughtily, why waste my time and Your own in bandying words which must remain purposeless. Either William of Orange is delivered into my hands, or my soldiers burn Your city down at sunset tomorrow. By our Lady, is that not clear enough? Clear enough, Alas, rejoined the Procurator General, and suddenly in his mind there rose a picture of the tall man last night beneath the dais of his inspiring words. His wholehearted sacrifice, his ringing voice seemed to echo through this narrow room, and some of the words which he spoke knocked at the gates of the grave's signor's memory. Yours will be the harder task. He had said gaily, You will have to fawn and to cringe, to swallow Your wrath and to bend Your pride. Well, God knew that they had done all that. They had swallowed their wrath and bent their pride before an insolent soldiery, and now they were fawning and cringing to a tyrant whom they abhorred. Gant, beloved city, once the home of the free, what must thy citizens endure for thy sake? And the Procurator General, the descendant of an hundred free men, had to lick the dust before Alva's throne. He forced his voice to tones of humility. He looked up at the tyrant, with eyes full of unspoken devotion. What can we do? He said timidly, To prove our loyalty, I entreat your magnificence to look down on our helplessness. Orange is no longer in Gant, and we do not know where to find him. A pretty tale indeed interposed de Vargas suddenly, with a strident laugh which was echoed obsequiously by the other members round the council board. A pretty likely tale, which I trust your highness will not think to believe. I neither believe nor disbelieve any tale which these graves signores choose to tell me. Rejoin the duke, I want orange, or we burn this city down, till not a stone in it be left upon stone. And Missouri Danute, whose entire soul rose in revolt against that rough dictate of a hellish tyrant, had perforced to subdue his passionate wrath, and to speak with affected humility and unconcern. We had hoped, he said quietly, that we might offer to your highness such a proof of our loyalty that you would no longer wish to cast aside a city that hath always hitherto proved staunch and true. What mean you, Sera? What proves can you give me now of this accursed city's loyalty, when you harbor a veritable army of traitors within your walls? We would wish to prove to your magnificence that the city itself takes no part in the vagaries and ploddings of a few hot-headed malcontents, hot-headed malcontents for soothe, exclaimed the duke fiercely. Two thousand men prepared to take up arms against our suzerain, Lord the King, arms concealed in churches and cemeteries, money poured into the lap of orange, and all his rebels. There are more than two thousand men who are prepared to fight and die for their country and their king, said the Fleming Swavly, and who are equally ready to pour money into the coffers of their liege lord, as represented by his highness Ferdinand Alvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alva, and by the reverend members of his council. This he had said very slowly and with marked emphasis, and even while he spoke, he had the satisfaction of seeing more than one pair of eyes round that council board gloating with delight at the vision of treasure and wealth which his words had called forth. He and his colleagues had long after the assembly of last night discussed between them this one proposal, which might, they hoped, tempt the cupidity of the Spaniards which they knew to be boundless. They were wealthy men, all of them. The town was wealthy beyond the dreams of Alva's avarice and the five men who had been deputed to offer up a brave man's life as the price of a city's safety had resolved to sacrifice their last stiver and keep the hero in their mist. But Alva, with a sneer, had already destroyed all the fond hopes which had been built upon that resolve. If you offered me every treasure to the last golden contained in your city, he said, with emphasis no less strongly marked than had been the other man's offer, I would not deny myself the pleasure of raising this abominable nest of rebels to the ground. Why should I? He added with a cynical shrug of the shoulders take from you as a bribe what my soldiers can get for me by the might of fire and sword. Orange alone would tempt me, for I would wish to have him alive. We might kill him by accident when we destroy the town. We can collect two million golden in gold, said Massour Denout insinuatingly, and lay that sum at the feet of your magnificence tomorrow. Ah, said the Duke Blandly, then I am greatly relieved that so much money can be got voluntarily out of this city. Your words, Massour, are honey to mine ears. They prove, beyond a doubt, that if you can raise two million golden in forty eight hours, my soldiers can put up ten times that amount in a two days sacking of this town. The money voluntarily offered Monsignor, here interposed, the Vice-Bailiff, would shame neither the giver nor the receiver. The destruction of a free and loyal city would be an eternal disgrace upon the might of Spain. Spare me thy heroic surah, quote Alva fiercely, or I'll have that impudent tongue of thine cut out before nightfall. And once more the burgers had to bend their pride before the appalling arrogance of their tyrant be gone now, added the Lieutenant Governor peremptorily, seeing that the Flemings were silent for the moment. The business of the state cannot be held up by such profitless talk. And if you have nothing better to offer to our gracious King than money, which is already his, why then you are wasting my time, and had best go back to those who sent you. No one sent us, Monsignor, resumed the procurator general, with as much dignity as he could command, even though his back ached and his knees were painfully cramped. We are free burgers of the city of Ghent, which alas hath earned your highness's displeasure. We have offered of our treasure so as to testify to our loyalty, but this offer your magnificence hath thought fit to refuse at the same time. We are not at the end of our resources or of our protestations of loyalty. We have yet another offer to place before your highness, which perhaps may be more agreeable in your sight. And what is that offer, Sera? Be quick about it as my patience of a truth is at the end of its resources. The procurator general did not make immediate reply. Truly, he was screwing up his determination for the terrible ordeal which was before him. He hung his head and despite his fortitude, probably because of weakness following on fatigue, he felt that tears gathered in his eyes and he feared that his voice now as he spoke would become unsteady. The others, too, kept their eyes fixed to the ground. They could not bear to look on one another at this moment when they were about to offer up so brave and gallant a life in sacrifice for their city and for all the townsfolk. Indeed, Massour Denout, ere he spoke, forced his mind to dwell upon all the horrors of Mons and Valencians and Meklin upon all the women and children, the feeble and the old, his own wife, his daughters, and his mother so as to gather courage for the task which had been imposed upon him. Thus there was silence for a minute or so in this narrow room wherein the clothes velvet draperies made the air heavy so that the number of men here assembled, Spaniards and Flemmings and soldiers felt as if an awful load was weighing their senses down. Counselor Hessels, as was his want, had fallen asleep. He woke up in the oppressive silence in order to murmur drowsily to the gallows with them all. Alva sat sullen and wrathful, looking down with contempt and scorn on the kneeling burgers before him. De Vargas, now and again, turned anxious, furtive eyes to where a rich portier of Damasque velvet hid a door in the paneling of the wall. Even now it seemed as if that portier stirred as if an unseen hand was grasping it with a febrile nervous clutch. It seemed, in fact, as if someone lived and breathed there behind the curtain and as if all that was said and would be said in the room would find its echo in a palpitating heart. Anon, the duke of Alva's impatience, broke its bounds, and you'll not speak, Sera, he cried, Get you gone! Get you gone! I say, ere I order my lackeys to throw you out of my house. Your pardon, Monsignor, said Massour Denout with sudden resolution. I but paused in order to choose the words which might best please your ears. The offer which I am about to make to Your Highness is in the name of all the citizens of Ghent, and I feel confident that Your Highness will gladly acknowledge that no greater mark of loyalty could be offered by any town to our Souserain, Lord the King. Speak, commanded Alva. Next to the Prince of Orange himself, said the procurator general timidly, is there not a man who hath gravely incurred Your Highness's displeasure, but who hath hitherto evaded the punishment which Your Highness would no doubt meet out to him? Yes, there is, replied the duke curtly, a man who chooses to wrap himself up in a mantle of mystery, a spy of Orange, a rebel and traitor to the King. There is such a man, Sera, he hath several times thwarted my projects with regard to Orange. If, as you say, Orange is not in Ghent, then hath that man had a hand in helping him to get away. Well, what of that man, Sera? I want him. He is called Leatherface by my soldiers. What of him, I say? Leatherface is in Ghent, Monsignor, murmured Deneute, scarce above his breath. Come, that's good! Then will our booty be even richer than we thought? Leatherface is in Ghent, Monsignor, continued Deneute more steadily, but he is an elusive creature. Mysterious agencies are at work, so they say, to enable him to escape the many traps that are set for him. He swims like a fish and climbs like an ape. He entered the city last night, an hour after all the gates had been closed. In the terrible confusion, which will attend the destruction of our city, he would escape again. But just now he is in Ghent, and you will deliver him over to me, broken Elva with a harsh laugh, if I will spare your city. The procurator general nodded his head in reply. His lips refused him service for that awful, that irreparable yes. The five men now no longer hung their heads white as the linen ruffles around their throats. They were gazing straight into the face of the tyrant, trying to read the innermost thoughts of that inhuman devil, who held the destiny of their city or of a brave man in the hollow of his claw like hands. Elva pondered, and while he did so, his prominent, heavy-lidded eyes sought those of his colleagues, no less inhuman, more devilish may have than himself. And from behind the heavy portier there seemed to come a long drawn-out sigh, like some poor creature in pain. De Vargas frowned, and a muttered curse escaped his lips. How long has she been there? Asked Elva quickly, in a whisper. All the time, replied De Vargas, also under his breath. But this is not for women's ears. Nay, your highness does not know my daughter. It was the man Leatherface who killed her first lover. She would be happy to see him hang. And she shall too. She hath deserved well of us. We owe our present triumph to her. Then he turned once more to the burgers. I like your offer, he said coldly, and in a measure I accept it. Nay, he added with that cruel and strident laugh of his, seeing that at his words a certain look of relief overspread the five pale faces before him. Do not rejoice too soon. I would not give up the delight of punishing an entire city for the mere pleasure of seeing one man hang. True, I would like to hold him next to Orange himself. I would sooner see that mysterious Leatherface dangling on a gibbet than any other heretic or rebel in this abominable country. But to give up my purpose over Ghent, that is another matter. Once and for all, signeurs, he added with fierce and irrevocable determination. Ghent shall burn since Orange has escaped again. But I have said that I accept your offer and I do. I take it as an expression of tardy loyalty and will reward you in accordance with its value. We will burn your city, signeurs, but if when your flaming walls begin to crumble about your ears, when my soldierry have taken their fill of your money and your treasures and human lives begin to pay the toll of your rebellion and treachery, then if you deliver to me the person of Leatherface alive, I will, in return, stay my soldier's hands and order that in every homestead one son and one daughter, I, and the head of the house too, be spared. Otherwise, and remember that this is my last word, not one stone shall remain upon stone within the city, not one inhabitant, man, woman, or child shall be left to perpetuate rebellion inside these walls. I have spoken, and now go, go and tell Leatherface that I await him. He hath not aided Orange's escape in vain. He rose and with a peremptory gesture pointed to the door. The five burgers were silent. What could they say? To beg, to implore, to remonstrate would indeed have been in vain, as well implore the fierce torrent not to uproot the tree that impedes its course, or beg the wolf not to devour its prey. Painfully they struggled to their feet, roughly urged along by the soldiers. They were indeed cramped and stiff as well mentally as physically. They had done their heart-breaking errand. They had swallowed their wrath and humbled their pride. They had cringed and they had fond and licked the dust beneath the feet of the tyrant who was in sheer lustful wantoness sending them and their kiff and kin guilty and innocent alike to an abominable death. And they had failed, miserably failed either to bribe to cajole or to shame that human fiend into some semblance of mercy. Now a deathlike sorrow weighed upon their souls. They were like five very old men sent tottering to their own graves. Some could hardly see because of the veil of tears before their eyes. But even as one by one they filed out of the presence of the tyrant. They still prayed, prayed to God to help them and their fellow citizens in this the darkest hour of their lives. Truly if these valiant people of Flanders had lost their faith and trust in God then they would have gone absolutely and irretrievably under into the awful vortex of oppression which threatened to crush the very existence of their nation and would have hurled them into the bottomless abyss of self-destruction. End of Chapter 14 Chapter 15 of Leatherface A Tale of Old Flanders This is a LibriVox recording A LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Dion Giants Celtic City, Utah Leatherface A Tale of Old Flanders by Baroness Orksie Chapter 15 Two Pictures These stand out clearly among the mass of documents, details, dissertations, and chronicles of the time so clearly indeed that only a brief mention of them will suffice here. First, Lenora in the small room which adjoined the council chamber within Het Spangard's Castile in Ghent she had stood for close upon an hour under the lintel of the open door her hand clinging to the heavy velvet portier. Not one sound which came from the council chamber failed to strike her ear. Every phrase of that awesome interview between the supplicants and their vengeful tyrant struck at her heart until at last unable to keep still she uttered a moan of pain. All this was his work, not hers before God and her own conscience she felt that she could not have acted differently that if it had all to be done again she would again obey the still insistent voice which had prompted her to keep her oath and to serve her king and country in the only way that lay in her power. It was his work, not hers his whose whole life seemed to be given over to murder to rebellion and to secret plottings and who had tried to throw dust in her eyes and to cajole her into becoming a traitor too to all that she held dear. It was his work and the terrible reprisals which the Duke of Alva's retributive justice would meet out to this rebellious city lay at the door of those who had conspired against the state and not hers who had only been and humble tool in almighty hands. But in spite of her inner conviction that she had done right in spite of her father's praise and approval which he had lavished on her all the way from Dendrimond to Ghent she could not rid herself of a terrible sense of utter desolation and utter misery and of a feeling of pity for all these poor people which caused her unendurable almost physically unendurable agony. When and on the lieutenant governor dismissed the burgers and after a few words with her father and Senor Del Rio left the council chamber Lenora had a feeling as if the ground was opening before her as if an awful chasm yawned at her feet into which she must inevitably fall if she dared look into it and yet she looked and looked as if fascinated by the hideousness of what she saw pictures of cruelty and of evil far more horrible than any which had ever been limed of hell and in the overwhelming horror which faced her now she felt herself screaming aloud with appealing defiance it is his work not mine let the blood of his kinsfolk fall upon him not me ere she tottered and fell back when full consciousness returned to her her father was by her side he looked pale and sullen and instinctively she drew away from him where at he smiled showing his large teeth which looked like the fangs of a wolf I ought never to have allowed you to come here Lenora he said roughly as his highness said it was not at all fit for women's ears his highness she retorted coldly also said that to be here was my right your triumph today being all due to me well he added lightly tis you wanted to come remember yes she said I wanted to come I would have sent you to Brussels with Inez and a good escort it is not too late you can still go Gent will not be a fitting place for women during the next few days he added whilst a glow of evil satisfaction suddenly lit up his shallow face would you prefer to go no father I thank you she replied I would wish to stay ah that's a brave daughter and a true Spaniard he cried and I promise you that you shall be satisfied with what you see Ramon your cousin will be avenged more completely than even you could have dared to hope and that assassin leather face will suffer you shall see him dangling on a gibbet never fear a slight shudder went right through her her face was as white as her gown and as she made no reply her father continued blindly you little thought that your marriage would bring such a magnificent harvest of reprisals quite so soon the city of Gent and the man leather face the destruction of the one and the death of the other are your work my daughter she closed her eyes for she saw that awful chasm once more yawning at her feet and once more she felt herself falling falling with no one to cling to but her father who kept asking her whether she was satisfied with what she had done his voice came to her as through a shroud he talked and talked incessantly of gant of rebels of murder and pillage and gibbets and torture chambers of women and children and fathers of families of sons and of daughters and of one leather face of the high bailiff of Gent of Lawrence and of Mark her husband I wonder where that fool is now she could hear her father saying through a muffler which seemed to envelop his mouth on the high road to Brussels may have with a message from you to me did you say you had sent him on from Dendermont or straight away from Gent I am half sorry I gave in to your whim and brought you here with me but till you wanted to come hey my girl you were so obstinate I was weak enough to give in but I ought not to have let you listen to those mealy-mouthed flimmings ah you are my true daughter you wanted to see these traitors punished what? and Ramon's murder avenged well you shall see it all my dear I promise you but I wish you could tell me what has become of that fool of a husband of yours we shall have to know presently if you are still wife or widow he said this quite gaily and laughed at his own jest and Lenora pale and wild eyed echoed his laugh she laughed as she had done two nights ago at Dendermont when a face made up of lighted windows grinned at and mocked her across the grand place she laughed until the whole room began to dance a wild gollyard around her until her father's face appeared like one huge mocking grin then she just glided from the couch down onto the floor and there she lay white and inert whilst Senora De Vargas cursing the megrams of women went calmly in search of help the second picture has for background the refectory in the convent of St. Agneton at the same hour as when last night the newly chosen mysterious leader had roused boundless enthusiasm in the hearts of all his hearers there is no lack of enthusiasm now either but tempers are more subdued gloom hangs over the assembly for Massour the procurator general has just given a graphic account of his mission to the lieutenant governor when he has finished speaking the man with the mask who sits at the head of the table at the top of the long low room asks quietly then he refused all the five men who this morning had knelt humbly before the tyrant exchanged silent glances after which Massour Deneute says firmly he refused nothing will save our city insisted Leatherface solemnly except if we track the Prince of Orange and bring him bound and a prisoner to the feet of Alva nothing save Orange's person will move Alva from his resolve Leatherface sits for a moment quite still with his head buried in his hands and the vast crowd now assembled in the room waits in breathless silence for his next word there are far more than 2,000 men here this night the number has indeed been more than doubled the deadly danger which threatens the city has already brought over 3,000 new recruits to the standard suddenly with a resolute gesture Leatherface draws his mask away and rises to his feet in full view of all the crowd Mark van Rijk comes as one cry from several hundred throats I he says with a light laugh your ne'er-do-well and frequenter of taverns was just the watchdog of our noble Prince unknown I was able to render him some small service now that you are no longer called upon to throw me as a bait to the snarling lion I'll resume my own identity and hereby ask you if knowing me for what I am you still trust me to lead you to victory or to death to victory shout the younger men enthusiastically to die like men murmur the older ones tomorrow we fight Seniors says Mark earnestly tomorrow we defend our homes our wives our daughters with scarce a hope of success tomorrow we show to the rulers of the world how those of the downtrodden race can die whilst fighting for God and liberty tomorrow they all assent with unbounded enthusiasm the ardor of a noble cause is in their veins not one of them here hesitates for one second in order to count the cost and yet every one of them know that theirs is a forlorn cause how can a handful of burgers and apprentices stand up before the might of Spain but they are men at bay they the sober burgers of a fog-ridden land steady wise of council without an ounce of impestuousity or hot-headedness in their blood and yet they are ready to go into this desperate adventure without another thought save that of selling their lives and the honor of their women folk as dearly as they can for leader they have a man for help they have only God for incentive they have their own dignity their pride their valor for weapon they have the justice of their cause and the right to die like men End of chapter 15