Once more we were left alone. The hours appeared very long. Though I
had my two companions to talk to, they were so unhappy that they were
little able to speak on any pleasant subject. At length the silence
which had hitherto reigned in our prison was broken by loud shouts and
cries, which proceeded from the streets beyond us. That something
extraordinary was taking place we had little doubt, yet what it was we
of course could not divine. At length at the usual hour the jailer made
his appearance with our provisions, which were, as he had promised, far
better than the usual prison fare. The man's countenance also showed us
that something had happened. I eagerly put the question to him.
"I don't know what to say; I don't know what to say," he answered; "but
I am not quite certain whether you will be outside this dungeon and I in
before the day is over."
"It is honest in you to say that, my friend," I answered; "but how can
that be?"
"Why, to confess the truth," answered the man, "this morning at daybreak
a strange fleet was seen coming up the river Meuse. No one could tell
whence it came. Some thought it was a fleet of merchant vessels for
Rotterdam: but the question was soon set at rest by my friend Peter
Kopplestock, the ferryman, who, going on board one of the ships, found
them to be no others than those fearful desperadoes and pirates--the
Water Beggars. They sent him back to tell the magistrates that two
hours would be allowed them to decide whether or not they would
surrender the town, and accept the authority of De la Marck as Admiral
of the Prince of Orange. That if they will do so, their lives will be
spared; but if not, every man who attempts to resist will be put to the
sword. Our Burgomaster is a mighty brave fellow, and so are our chief
burghers, but they know very well what a desperate fellow the Admiral De
la Marck is; and he has got some five or six thousand men, so Peter
says, on board the fleet; and what can our citizens do to resist them?
He says that he comes simply to free the land from the Tenth Penny, and
to overthrow the tyranny of Duke Alva and his Spaniards. The
magistrates, it seems to me, do not much like to face Admiral De la
Marck, and so they have been busily employed in packing up ever since,
and making their way out of the town."
While the jailer was still speaking, the sound of musketry was heard,
and shouts and cries proceeding from our side of the town. "I must go
and see what it is all about!" exclaimed the jailer, rushing out. We
thought he had left the door open behind him, but, greatly to our
disappointment, we found that, even though frightened, by instinct
rather than intention he had bolted it.
The noise increased, and we felt almost certain, by the shouts and cries
we heard, that the patriots had forced an entrance into the town. We
thought, indeed it was no delusion, that we heard a voice proclaiming
liberty to the Netherlands, and the cry of "Long live the Prince of
Orange! long live our noble Stadtholder!" Again loud noises reached our
ears, and thundering blows echoed through the building. There could be
little doubt that the jail was being forced. Then came crashing sounds,
as if doors were burst open. We endeavoured to force open our own door,
for we knew not what might happen. Directly afterwards, a stifling
smell of smoke found its way through the crevices of the door.
"We shall be baked alive!" exclaimed Jacob Naas. "We must force the
door, even should we break our shoulders in the attempt! Here, you
English John, dash at it with your head, if that is the hardest part of
you." We all shoved at the door together, but in vain. It resisted all
our attempts. The smoke grew thicker and thicker. We could with
difficulty breathe. Again and again we dashed at the door frantically.
We were giving way to despair, when voices were heard. It seemed as if
a body of men were rushing along the gallery, breaking open the doors of
the cells.