ome
brief notes.

"I trust that I may return, perhaps ere many hours are over, on board
the fleet to bring you succour," he answered. "You will know of our
approach, for our guns will thunder against the fortresses of the enemy
when the waters rise sufficiently to enable us to advance."

"The wind still blows from the cast and keeps back the fleet," she
observed.

"But the wind may ere long change, and depend upon it our brave admiral
and his `Sea Beggars' will not linger the moment there is sufficient
water to float their ships," said Karl, in an encouraging tone. When
her eyes were lifted towards his countenance, their expression was very
different to that with which she had regarded the baron. With natural
reluctance Karl, having received his dispatches, at length rose to take
leave and prepare for his enterprise. As there were traitors within the
gates he kept all his arrangements secret. They were known only to his
two young friends and Hans Bosch, who undertook to accompany him. Not
till late on the following day was it even known that he had set out
when the burgomaster announced that he had despatched another messenger
to entreat their friends to hasten to their relief. Desperate as had
been the state of matters in the besieged city, they hourly became
worse. Leyden, indeed, appeared to be at its last gasp. The noble
burgomaster maintained his heroic bearing, ever moving about to
encourage the wavering and to revive the drooping spirits of the loyal;
but a trial greater than any he had yet had to endure was in store for
him.

Jaqueline had from the first employed herself in going among the sick
and suffering, and carrying such relief as she was able to afford, and
consoling the afflicted ones from that Book in which true comfort alone
can be found. In these active duties she found her chief solace. Not
only was she enduring physical suffering! but no certain tidings had
been received of Captain Van der Elst, and reports were current that he
had been captured by the Spaniards, it being well known that if such was
the case a cruel death must have been his fate. One evening the Lily
was returning to her home from one of her expeditions of mercy, attended
by Margaret, an old and faithful servant, who was her constant
companion. As darkness was already overspreading the city, she hurried
on, unwilling to be out so late at night, when she was accosted by a
poor woman, who, with a piteous tale, too li