y seamen, who will fight to the death," he
observed; "but I have hopes that we may so manage it as to encounter no
opposition. The sea-wall can easily be scaled, and I propose,
therefore, to have ladders in readiness, so that, climbing over them, we
may avoid the gates. As the Spanish troops will be in the citadel in
attendance on Duke Alva, we may manage even in daylight to do so without
being observed. The boats will be in readiness to receive us, and we
may speedily get aboard my ship."

I do not here mention all the details of our plan. Having arranged it
thoroughly, I then told him I had hopes that some means might be found
of rescuing Master Overton. For that also he was prepared. His idea
was, that if the prison could be found, to force the gates while the
troops were away in the citadel. He believed that many of the citizens
would unite in the attempt, in the expectation of rescuing their own
friends. Indeed, so great was the hatred felt by the great mass of the
population towards the Spaniards, that the instant they were removed,
without considering the consequences, the people were ready to rise, for
the sake of doing any mischief which might present itself.

We found that Master Clough had returned, and once more gone out. We
now waited anxiously for his return, as we could do nothing till the
evening, when Captain Radford proposed once more going among his brother
captains, in order that he might obtain further assistance. We waited
and waited. Still he did not appear, and our anxiety increased. At
length, as it was growing dusk, and Jacob and I were about to prepare
for our expedition, a knock was heard at the door.

"That's the master's!" exclaimed Jacob, hurrying down.

We followed him, when the door opened, and Master Clough appeared with
his wife leaning on his arm, followed by A'Dale and Margery. Both were
agitated and trembling, and could with difficulty find words to explain
what had happened. Till the very moment of their liberation they had
believed that they were to share the fate of many of their
fellow-prisoners, who, it was reported, were to be carried forth and
executed outside the walls on the following day, in honour of the Duke
Alva's appearance in the city. How far the report was correct we could
not tell, but it had served very naturally to agitate them greatly.
They had no time, however, for giving way to their feelings; for the
condition of their liberation, Master Clo