wered, and the captain was quickly hauled up to to the
top of the wall. He shook Albert and Berthold warmly by the hand.

"I must lose no time," he said, "in reporting to the burgomaster and
commandant the steps the Prince has taken for the relief of the city.
You are undoubtedly eager to hear, but I must reserve my report for your
ciders."

The two lads hastened on with their friend, and fortunately found the
burgomaster in consultation with the commandant. The boys stood eagerly
listening while the captain delivered his message.

"You heard that the admiral had received directions from the Prince to
take possession of the Land-Scheiding. This was done two nights ago.
But a few Spaniards were found stationed on the dyke, and they were
quickly driven off when we fortified ourselves upon it. In the morning
the enemy endeavoured to recover the lost ground, and attacked us in
considerable force, but we drove them back, they leaving hundreds of
dead on the field. No time was lost in breaking through the dyke in
several places. The water rushing on, the fleet sailed through the
gaps; but, to our disappointment, we found another dyke, that of the
Greenway, three quarters of a mile further on, rising at least a foot
above the waters. This had also been left ill-protected, and our
admiral promptly attacking it, took possession, and levelling it in many
places, brought the flotilla over its ruins. Soon afterwards, however,
the further progress of the fleet was arrested by the shallowness of the
water; but our admiral, knowing the anxiety you must be feeling,
dispatched me to inform you of this, and to assure you that he waits but
the rising of the tide and a favourable wind to bring you succour."

The news was thus far satisfactory, and the captain was warmly thanked
for bringing it, but that he received his reward when at the
burgomaster's invitation he accompanied him home, there could be little
doubt.

The wind, however, still blew from the east, and the inhabitants well
knew that as long as it came from that quarter they must look in vain
for the wished-for ocean to reach their walls.

Day after day the siege continued; the inhabitants were suffering not
only from famine, but from pestilence, produced by the scantiness of
their food. Hapless infants were starved to death, mothers dropped dead
in the streets with their dead children in their arms, and in many a
house the watchmen in their rounds found whole fam