t waiting for any Prince of Orange. Magicians they must
be--magicians and nothing less."

Dirk's interest was excited. Putting his hand into his pocket he drew
out a gold piece, which he gave to the man.

"Friend," he said, "you cook my food, do you not, and look after me?
Well, I have a few of these about me, and if you prove kind they may as
well find their way into your pocket as into those of your betters. Do
you understand?"

The man nodded, took the money, and thanked him.

"Now," went on Dirk, "while you clean the room, tell me about this
escape, for small things amuse those who hear no tidings."

"Well, Mynheer," answered the man, "this is the tale of it so far as I
can gather. Yesterday they captured two fellows, heretics I suppose, who
made a good fight and did them much damage in a warehouse. I don't know
their names, for I am a stranger to this town, but I saw them brought
in; a young fellow, who seemed to be wounded in the leg and neck, and
a great red-bearded giant of a man. They were put upon their trial this
morning, and afterwards sent across, the two of them together, with
eight men to guard them, to call upon the Professor--you understand?"

Dirk nodded, for this Professor was well known in Leyden. "And then?" he
asked.

"And then? Why, Mother in Heaven! they came out, that's all--the big
man stripped and carrying the other on his back. Yes, they killed the
Professor with the branding iron, and out they came--like ripe peas from
a pod."

"Impossible!" said Dirk.

"Very well, perhaps you know better than I do; perhaps it is impossible
also that they should have pushed the door to, let all those Spanish
cocks inside do what they might, and bolted them in; perhaps it is
impossible that they should have spitted the porter and got clean away
through the outside guards, the big one still carrying the other upon
his back. Perhaps all these things are impossible, but they're true
nevertheless, and if you don't believe me, after they get away from the
whipping-post, just ask the bridge guard why they ran so fast when they
saw that great, naked, blue-eyed fellow come at them roaring like a
lion, with his big sword flashing above his head. Oh! there's a pretty
to-do, I can tell you, a pretty to-do, and in meal or malt we shall
all pay the price of it, from the Governor down. Indeed, some backs are
paying it now."

"But, friend, were they not taken outside the gaol?"

"Taken? Who was to take them wh