ust risen from a bed of
sickness, and few knew how near to death's door he had been, his disease
aggravated by a report which had reached him that Leyden had fallen, yet
all the time he had been directing the plans for bringing the fleet
across the land. His countenance assumed a cheerful aspect as he spoke
to the almost despairing admiral and his officers.

"I know the people of Leyden," he said, "they will hold out till you can
reach them. Ere long the sea will rise. Already the water is deeper
than when I came on board."

The Prince was right, he had observed clouds gathering in the
south-western horizon, and ere long a strong wind from that quarter
began to blow, the tide flowed in, the water swept over the dykes,
cheers rose from the throats of the seamen. Once more their ships were
afloat, sails were spread, the oars run out, and now they went gliding
on led by the "Ark of Delft," until Zoetermeer was reached. Here a
desperate effort was made by the Spaniards to stop their progress, but
that village and others in the neighbourhood were attacked, the enemy
driven out, and they were set on fire. The blaze lighted up the
midnight sky, announcing to the fainting garrison that relief was
approaching. Barrier after barrier was passed, and for many an hour in
the midst of the howling storm and pitchy darkness a fierce battle
raged. The victorious Hollanders pushed further on, but still two forts
of great strength, those of Zoeterwoude and Lammen, lay between them and
the city, garrisoned by the enemy's best troops and armed with heavy
artillery. They must be captured before the city could be gained.
Stout as were the rovers' hearts, their vessels, though large, were
slightly built, and, except the "Ark of Delft," were incapable of
standing the heavy shot which would be hurled against them. The Spanish
vessels, hitherto kept in reserve, advanced to the fight, but were
quickly sunk, their crews miserably perishing, and ere a shot was fired
against Zoeterwoude the Spaniards were seen in full flight along the top
of the dyke leading towards the Hague. The rovers followed, leaping
from their vessels and slaying all whom they could overtake, many of the
fugitives perishing in the fast advancing waves as the dykes crumbled
beneath their feet. But yet another fort, that of Lammen, the strongest
of all, remained, held by the main body of the enemy. The fleet
approached, but the admiral dared not expose his ships to