September 2, 2025 • 29 mins
Set in the tumultuous 1570s, By Pike and Dyke plunges listeners into the harrowing world of the Netherlands, where the shadow of Spanish tyranny looms large. Amidst the chaos, Edward Ned‚ Martin‚a young man caught between two worlds as the son of an English captain and a Dutch lady‚takes a stand to help his mothers people and seek vengeance for his slain relatives. Joining the ranks of the revolutionary leader William the Silent, Prince of Orange, Ned embarks on perilous secret missions across occupied territories. Through narrow escapes, fierce naval battles, and heart-stopping sieges, he witnesses the stirring yet tragic birth of the Dutch republic. (Summary by D. Leeson)
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter twelve of by Pike and Dike, A Tale of
the Rise of the Dutch Republic. This LibriVox recording is
in the public domain by Pike and Dike by G. A. Henty,
Chapter twelve back with the prints. 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
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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
round 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
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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
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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
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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
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center of the cut. Very slowly, the boats 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 the fender 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
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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 that 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
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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 poling,
now only giving an occasional push to keep her head
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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
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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
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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 boats 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.
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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 astern, and then the creaking of blocks Ned made
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his way aft. 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 bored her
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that she has simply drifted out from the town, having
been carelessly moored. In that case, they may let drop
her anger 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
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the ship, we are drifting stern foremost. If we can
fasten a long line to her se turn, we can
hang on to it. They will not be able to
see us if we are twenty fathoms astern. 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.
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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 astern 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
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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
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speedily came to the conclusion that having been carelessly fastened
up alongside the wharves without any one 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
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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
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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
wrung 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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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they again drew alongside and noiselessly climbed onto the deck.
The men armed themselves with belaying pins, 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 astern and built upon the deck, and
was used by the skipper himself and by any passengers
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he might be carrying. The crew living in the foxil.
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,
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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 pin fell on the head and it disappeared.
Then there was a loud explosion as an arquebus was fired,
the bullet crashing through the door. It is a good thing.
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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
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for weapons had now been fetched from the foxhel 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 sand banks. 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,
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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
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of the arquebus 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
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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,
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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 at 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 southwest,
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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 planned, 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 sure
that if they refuse, we shall open the door and
give them no quarter. That would be the best plan.
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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,
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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.
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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
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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 astern. 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,
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and so bring out boats to cut us off. There
is no fear of that, the captain replied. Tegus 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,
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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 Argus and
on the east side of Vulcaren 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
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only wanted to be put ashore at Flushing in order
to take another boat. Therefore, Rotterdam so that I shall
save one day, if not two, if you sailed 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 Saint Anna, and, leaving South
Beveland behind them, turned up the channel called the Kaipe
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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 Zealand 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
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sunset entered the port of Rotter, the finding when he
landed that the Prince of Orange had that day returned
from a trip to Haarlem 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
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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,
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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
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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
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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
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upon you? No, sir, I have run some slight risk
and danger, owing to an unfortunate meeting with Councilor Vaughan Rt,
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
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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
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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 promises less than I had hoped.
Promises are cheaper than gold. And even here in Holland,
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where all is at stake, the burghers 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. Numbers of men
who can be relied upon to rise are satisfactory, and
more even than I had hoped for. For in matters
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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
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when each city will fight only in its own defense,
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
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of Cuverden. 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
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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
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Vonnard's 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 betake myself
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to my work. Ned retired to his own room and
resumed the attire he usually wore. After supper, he was
sent for or 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.
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I have already told these gentlemen what valuable services you
have rendered to the cause we all have at heart,
And they, like myself, wished to know how you fared
and how you escaped the danger you referred to at
the hands of vaugh Art. 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,
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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 honor to older men.
The manner in which he escaped from the hands of
vaugh Art, one of the craftiest as well as of
the most cruel of the Council of Blood, was excellent.
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And had he, then, after obtaining his discos guys 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 Slurs was excellent. And though he takes
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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.
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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 chain says of the discretion of the lad
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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
tomorrow evening. I would fain hear from him somewhat further
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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 neighborhood than you
can do. For the next fortnight, Ned was employed carrying
messages from the Prince to various towns and ports. Alva
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was at Amsterdam, and the army under his son, Don
Frederick was marching in that direction. On their way from Zutfen,
they came down upon the little town of Narden on
the coast of the zider Ze. A troop of a
hundred men was sent forward to demand its surrender. The
Burghers answered that they held the town for the King
and the Prince of Orange, and a shot was fired
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at the troopers. Having thus committed themselves, the Burghers 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
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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
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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 then 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
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houses which had escaped the flames were leveled to the ground,
and Narden ceased to exist. Great as the horrors perpetrated
at Zutfen had been, they were surpassed by the atrocities
committed at Narden. The news of the horrible massacre, so
far from frightening the Hollanders into submission, nerved them to
even more strenuous resistance. Better death in whatsoever form it came,
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than to live under the rule of these foul murderers.
With the fall of Narden, 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 lay
cowed beneath the heel of the Spaniards. Holland alone and
a few of the islands of Zealand remained to be conquered.
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The inhabitants of Holland felt the terrible danger, and Bossu
Alva's stadtholder formally announced that the system pursued at Mechlin,
Zutfn and Narden 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 Narden, Ned received
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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.
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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
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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 Peters, and the
crew will be all glad to see you again. Ned
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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,
(26:46):
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
(27:08):
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
(27:30):
stop there. I quite agree with you, Ned. The Duke
is sure to attack Harlem next. If he captures it,
he will cut Holland in to and strike a terrible
blow at the cause. Your mother shall write a letter
to night 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 neither dwell with us,
(27:52):
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 therefore his heirs, and the
money he transmitted to England is in itself sufficient to
(28:15):
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 burgher of that town, I would send my
family away to Leiden or Dort, and stay myself to
(28:36):
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 strait leading from the ziger Zee to Harlem.
(28:56):
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
(29:17):
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,
(29:38):
for they were now in full sight of Amsterdam, and would,
if detained, thus be opened to an attack across the ice.
End of Chapter twelve.
Chapter twelve of by Pike and Dike, A Tale of
the Rise of the Dutch Republic. This LibriVox recording is
in the public domain by Pike and Dike by G. A. Henty,
Chapter twelve back with the prints. 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
(00:22):
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
round 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
(00:42):
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
(01:02):
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
(01:23):
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
(01:43):
center of the cut. Very slowly, the boats 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 the fender 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
(02:05):
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 that 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
(02:26):
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 poling,
now only giving an occasional push to keep her head
(02:46):
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
(03:06):
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
(03:28):
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 boats 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.
(03:51):
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 astern, and then the creaking of blocks Ned made
(04:14):
his way aft. 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 bored her
(04:35):
that she has simply drifted out from the town, having
been carelessly moored. In that case, they may let drop
her anger 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
(04:55):
the ship, we are drifting stern foremost. If we can
fasten a long line to her se turn, we can
hang on to it. They will not be able to
see us if we are twenty fathoms astern. 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.
(05:18):
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 astern 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
(05:39):
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
(06:01):
speedily came to the conclusion that having been carelessly fastened
up alongside the wharves without any one 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
(06:23):
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
(06:44):
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
wrung 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
(07:05):
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
(07:27):
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
(07:48):
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
(08:11):
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
(08:32):
they again drew alongside and noiselessly climbed onto the deck.
The men armed themselves with belaying pins, 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 astern and built upon the deck, and
was used by the skipper himself and by any passengers
(08:53):
he might be carrying. The crew living in the foxil.
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,
(09:14):
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 pin fell on the head and it disappeared.
Then there was a loud explosion as an arquebus was fired,
the bullet crashing through the door. It is a good thing.
(09:36):
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
(09:58):
for weapons had now been fetched from the foxhel 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 sand banks. 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,
(10:19):
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
(10:39):
of the arquebus 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
(11:01):
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,
(11:23):
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 at 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 southwest,
(11:44):
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 planned, 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 sure
that if they refuse, we shall open the door and
give them no quarter. That would be the best plan.
(12:06):
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,
(12:26):
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.
(12:47):
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
(13:10):
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 astern. 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,
(13:30):
and so bring out boats to cut us off. There
is no fear of that, the captain replied. Tegus 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,
(13:51):
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 Argus and
on the east side of Vulcaren 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
(14:14):
only wanted to be put ashore at Flushing in order
to take another boat. Therefore, Rotterdam so that I shall
save one day, if not two, if you sailed 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 Saint Anna, and, leaving South
Beveland behind them, turned up the channel called the Kaipe
(14:35):
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 Zealand 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
(14:58):
sunset entered the port of Rotter, the finding when he
landed that the Prince of Orange had that day returned
from a trip to Haarlem 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
(15:19):
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,
(15:40):
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
(16:01):
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
(16:21):
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
(16:42):
upon you? No, sir, I have run some slight risk
and danger, owing to an unfortunate meeting with Councilor Vaughan Rt,
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
(17:02):
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
(17:24):
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 promises less than I had hoped.
Promises are cheaper than gold. And even here in Holland,
(17:45):
where all is at stake, the burghers 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. Numbers of men
who can be relied upon to rise are satisfactory, and
more even than I had hoped for. For in matters
(18:07):
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
(18:27):
when each city will fight only in its own defense,
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
(18:49):
of Cuverden. 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
(19:09):
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
(19:30):
Vonnard's 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 betake myself
(19:52):
to my work. Ned retired to his own room and
resumed the attire he usually wore. After supper, he was
sent for or 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.
(20:15):
I have already told these gentlemen what valuable services you
have rendered to the cause we all have at heart,
And they, like myself, wished to know how you fared
and how you escaped the danger you referred to at
the hands of vaugh Art. 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,
(20:37):
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 honor to older men.
The manner in which he escaped from the hands of
vaugh Art, one of the craftiest as well as of
the most cruel of the Council of Blood, was excellent.
(20:57):
And had he, then, after obtaining his discos guys 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 Slurs was excellent. And though he takes
(21:19):
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.
(21:41):
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 chain says of the discretion of the lad
(22:02):
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
tomorrow evening. I would fain hear from him somewhat further
(22:23):
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 neighborhood than you
can do. For the next fortnight, Ned was employed carrying
messages from the Prince to various towns and ports. Alva
(22:44):
was at Amsterdam, and the army under his son, Don
Frederick was marching in that direction. On their way from Zutfen,
they came down upon the little town of Narden on
the coast of the zider Ze. A troop of a
hundred men was sent forward to demand its surrender. The
Burghers answered that they held the town for the King
and the Prince of Orange, and a shot was fired
(23:05):
at the troopers. Having thus committed themselves, the Burghers 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
(23:28):
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
(23:49):
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 then 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
(24:11):
houses which had escaped the flames were leveled to the ground,
and Narden ceased to exist. Great as the horrors perpetrated
at Zutfen had been, they were surpassed by the atrocities
committed at Narden. The news of the horrible massacre, so
far from frightening the Hollanders into submission, nerved them to
even more strenuous resistance. Better death in whatsoever form it came,
(24:35):
than to live under the rule of these foul murderers.
With the fall of Narden, 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 lay
cowed beneath the heel of the Spaniards. Holland alone and
a few of the islands of Zealand remained to be conquered.
(24:57):
The inhabitants of Holland felt the terrible danger, and Bossu
Alva's stadtholder formally announced that the system pursued at Mechlin,
Zutfn and Narden 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 Narden, Ned received
(25:19):
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.
(25:40):
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
(26:02):
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 Peters, and the
crew will be all glad to see you again. Ned
(26:25):
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,
(26:46):
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
(27:08):
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
(27:30):
stop there. I quite agree with you, Ned. The Duke
is sure to attack Harlem next. If he captures it,
he will cut Holland in to and strike a terrible
blow at the cause. Your mother shall write a letter
to night 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 neither dwell with us,
(27:52):
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 therefore his heirs, and the
money he transmitted to England is in itself sufficient to
(28:15):
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 burgher of that town, I would send my
family away to Leiden or Dort, and stay myself to
(28:36):
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 strait leading from the ziger Zee to Harlem.
(28:56):
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
(29:17):
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,
(29:38):
for they were now in full sight of Amsterdam, and would,
if detained, thus be opened to an attack across the ice.
End of Chapter twelve.
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