his dress was travel-stained and bespattered with dark red
marks, while his frank and open countenance wore an expression of grief
and anxiety. The two as they met exchanged salutes, the manner of the
latter being hurried, as if he desired not to be stopped.

"Why, what has happened, Captain Van der Elst?" exclaimed the young
gallant who has just been introduced.

"I am in search of the burgomaster, and have been told that he was seen
going to the Tower of Hengist," said the other, without answering the
question.

"I am also bound there, and will gladly accompany you," was the reply.

"Pardon me, Van Arenberg, but the business I am on is of too great
importance to brook delay." And Karl Van der Elst sprang on up the
ascent at a rate which Baron Van Arenberg, without lowering his dignity,
could not venture to imitate. A blush rose for a moment on the Lily's
fair cheek as she saw him coming; her countenance, however, the next
moment assumed an expression of alarm when she remarked his appearance.
He bowed as he approached, gazing at her with a look of sorrow in his
dark eyes which did not tend to reassure her, and without offering any
other greeting, much as he might have desired it, he addressed himself
to the burgomaster, who inquired in an anxious tone, "What news do you
bring, Captain Van der Elst? Has Count Louis defeated the Spaniards?
Has he yet formed a junction with the Prince?"

The young officer, his feelings almost mastering him, could with
difficulty reply, "Count Louis with his brother, Count Henry, the brave
Duke Christopher, and the whole army have been annihilated. We met the
foe near the village of Mookie, where we were hemmed in; in vain we
tried to cut our way through the ranks of the Spaniards. Count Louis,
his brother, and Duke Christopher, with four thousand gallant men, fell
in the attempt. I had just before been despatched to make a circuit in
order to get upon the enemy's flank, which I was ordered to attack.
Before I could reach it the day was lost; the victorious cavalry of the
Spaniards charged over the field, butchering all they met. Many of our
men were suffocated in the marshes or in the river, and others were
burnt in the farmhouses where they had taken refuge. Finding that
success was hopeless, and that I could do nothing to retrieve the day, I
drew off my shattered troop, and I have deemed it my duty to hasten on
to warn the inhabitants of Leyden that the enemy are rapidly a