ot move. The Spaniards came up, now
the water reached only to their thighs, and their bright swords flashed
in the sunlight.

"Cut them down!" yelled Ramiro. "At them for your lives' sake."

The boat trembled, but she would not stir.

"Too heavy in the bows," screamed Martha, and struggling to her feet,
with one wild scream she launched herself straight at the throat of the
nearest Spaniard. She gripped him with her long arms, and down they went
together. Once they rose, then fell again, and through a cloud of mud
might be seen struggling upon the bottom of the Mere till presently they
lay still, both of them.

The lightened boat lifted, and in answer to Martin's mighty efforts
glided forward through the clinging mud. Again he thrust, and she was
clear.

"Climb in, Martin, climb in," shouted Foy as he stabbed at a Spaniard.

"By heaven! no," roared Ramiro splashing towards him with the face of a
devil.

For a second Martin stood still. Then he bent, and the sword-cut fell
harmless upon his leather jerkin. Now very suddenly his great arms shot
out; yes, he seized Ramiro by the thighs and lifted, and there was seen
the sight of a man thrown into the air as though he were a ball tossed
by a child at play, to fall headlong upon the casks of treasure in the
skiff prow where he lay still.

Martin sprang forward and gripped the tiller with his outstretched hand
as it glided away from him.

"Row, master, row," he cried, and Foy rowed madly until they were clear
of the last Spaniard, clear by ten yards. Even Elsa snatched a rollock,
and with it struck a soldier on the hand who tried to stay them, forcing
him to loose his grip; a deed of valour she boasted of with pride all
her life through. Then they dragged Martin into the boat.

"Now, you Spanish dogs," the great man roared back at them as he shook
the water from his flaming hair and beard, "go dig for Brant's treasure
and live on ducks' eggs here till Don Frederic sends to fetch you."

The island had melted away into a mist of other islands. No living thing
was to be seen save the wild creatures and birds of the great lake, and
no sound was to be heard except their calling and the voices of the
wind and water. They were alone--alone and safe, and there at a distance
towards the skyline rose the church towers of Leyden, for which they
headed.

"Jufvrouw," said Martin presently, "there is another flagon of wine in
that locker, and we should be glad of a pull