uld appear. Her numerous duties compelled her
frequently to be absent, but each time she returned home she hurried
there, as often to be disappointed. She had risen one morning rather
later than usual from her couch, when going to the tower she perceived
that the number of her pigeons was increased, quickly searching out the
new arrival she discovered, as she had expected, a letter below its
wing, it was longer than the previous one. As the burgomaster, to whom
she carried it, read the news it contained his eyes brightened. It was
from the Prince himself; it said that the sluices at Rotterdam and
Schiedam had been opened, that the dykes were all pierced, that the
water was rising upon the Land-Scheiding, the great outer barrier which
separated the city from the sea; that he had a fleet of two-hundred
vessels in readiness stored with provisions, under the command of
Admiral Boisot, and that as soon as there was sufficient depth of water,
the fleet would fight its way to the walls of Leyden and bring the
citizens relief.

"This is indeed joyous news!" exclaimed the burgomaster. He at once
directed Berthold to summon the city musicians to meet him, with their
instruments, in the market-place, to which, accompanied by Jaqueline, he
immediately repaired. He knew that many of the chief citizens would
soon collect there. Taking the letter, he read it publicly, when the
bands of music striking up, marched through the streets playing lively
melodies and martial airs. The bells rang out merry tunes, and salvos
of cannon were fired not at the foe but at brief intervals, to give
indubitable signs that the city was rejoicing.

"These scenes will astonish our enemies, who will at first be unable to
comprehend their import, but I've an idea they will soon find out, and
may deem it wise to decamp," exclaimed Berthold. Albert proposed making
a sortie to attack the Spaniards before they had recovered from their
astonishment at hearing the joyful sounds from the city, and seeing the
waters flowing over the land.

"No! no!" answered the commandant. "Many valuable lives might be
sacrificed, and the ocean will ere long fight for us far more
effectually than our swords."

The burgomaster, generally accompanied by Jaqueline, paid frequent
visits to Hengist Tower.

Already from its summit the waters could be seen covering spaces which
had hitherto been dry land, the canals having in many places risen ten
inches and were overflow