f his stirrup.

This troop, the only defence of the prison, overawed by its firm
attitude not only the disorderly riotous mass of the populace, but also
the detachment of the burgher guard, which, being placed opposite the
Buytenhof to support the soldiers in keeping order, gave to the rioters
the example of seditious cries, shouting,--

"Hurrah for Orange! Down with the traitors!"

The presence of Tilly and his horsemen, indeed, exercised a salutary
check on these civic warriors; but by degrees they waxed more and more
angry by their own shouts, and as they were not able to understand how
any one could have courage without showing it by cries, they attributed
the silence of the dragoons to pusillanimity, and advanced one step
towards the prison, with all the turbulent mob following in their wake.

In this moment, Count Tilly rode forth towards them single-handed,
merely lifting his sword and contracting his brow whilst he addressed
them:--

"Well, gentlemen of the burgher guard, what are you advancing for, and
what do you wish?"

The burghers shook their muskets, repeating their cry,--

"Hurrah for Orange! Death to the traitors!"

"'Hurrah for Orange!' all well and good!" replied Tilly, "although I
certainly am more partial to happy faces than to gloomy ones. 'Death
to the traitors!' as much of it as you like, as long as you show your
wishes only by cries. But, as to putting them to death in good earnest,
I am here to prevent that, and I shall prevent it."

Then, turning round to his men, he gave the word of command,--

"Soldiers, ready!"

The troopers obeyed orders with a precision which immediately caused
the burgher guard and the people to fall back, in a degree of confusion
which excited the smile of the cavalry officer.

"Holloa!" he exclaimed, with that bantering tone which is peculiar to
men of his profession; "be easy, gentlemen, my soldiers will not fire a
shot; but, on the other hand, you will not advance by one step towards
the prison."

"And do you know, sir, that we have muskets?" roared the commandant of
the burghers.

"I must know it, by Jove, you have made them glitter enough before my
eyes; but I beg you to observe also that we on our side have pistols,
that the pistol carries admirably to a distance of fifty yards, and that
you are only twenty-five from us."

"Death to the traitors!" cried the exasperated burghers.

"Go along with you," growled the officer, "you always cry the same