I trust that your officers will so
conduct it as to defeat your enemies."

"But their vessels?" cried the burgomaster. "The wind is northeast, and
they will be in our city in two hours."

"You have yourselves six old ships and thirty boats at St. Marie; that
is a mile off, is it not? That is your maritime barricade across the
Scheldt."

"Yes, monseigneur, that is so. How do you know all these details?"

Monseigneur smiled.

"I know them, as you see; it is there that lies the fate of the battle."

"Then," said the burgomaster, "we must send aid to our brave seamen."

"On the contrary, you may dispose otherwise of the 400 men who are
there; twenty brave, intelligent, and devoted men will suffice." The
Antwerpians opened their eyes in surprise.

"Will you," continued monseigneur, "destroy the French fleet at the
expense of your six old vessels and thirty boats?"

"Hum!" said the Antwerpians, looking at each other, "our ships are not
so old."

"Well, price them," said the stranger, "and I will pay you their value."

"See," said William softly to him, "the men against whom I have to
contend every day. Were it not for that, I should have conquered long
ago."

"Come, gentlemen," continued the stranger, "name your price, but name it
quickly. I will pay you in bills on yourselves, which I trust you will
find good."

"Monseigneur," said the burgomaster, after a few minutes' deliberation
with the others, "we are merchants, and not soldiers; therefore, you
must pardon some hesitation, for our souls are not in our bodies, but in
our counting-houses. However, there are circumstances in which, for the
general good, we know how to make sacrifices. Dispose, then, of our
ships as you like."

"Ma foi, monseigneur," said William, "you have done wonders. It would
have taken me six months to obtain what you have done in ten minutes."

"This, then, is my plan, gentlemen," said monseigneur. "The French, with
the admiral's galley at their head, will try to force a passage. Make
your line long enough, and from all your boats let the men throw
grappling-irons; and then, having made fast the enemy's ships, set fire
to all your own boats, having previously filled them with combustible
materials, and let your men escape in one reserved for the purpose."

"Oh!" cried William, "I see the whole French fleet burning."

"Yes, the whole; then no more retreat by sea and none by land, for at
the same time you must open the sluices of M