BY PIKE AND DYKE.

Bush Advocate, Volume V, Issue 330, 21 June 1890, Page 5

BY PIKE AND DYKE.

v, A' TALE/OP THE MSJE OP THE BUTCH •■%*:• .-T-:.- ■"•;■:'•■;■ •"^EPUBtIO. . : ■ -;, , ■I' "i^4l^ : - ' • bVG^'B^OTYV V % . ;; r -£ . j -WfjLtSiUor olf'The tfon of Sfc.i'ari;'.? '/Bonnie Prince " .'>^Chm#vi?' i'-With Olive in India ;" u "Vv"it> Lee in ."■':"» ;. Virginia ;" "The Cat of Bubaste.;',' JE;oi^ - ! \[&k^^yji, :: , ',:«: ', .. ; v'.-^V 'k->4'' A: DANQEBODS .JOS&ONi „...!!.■.. \ • , v :: . . 4 ? I hear you have a letter for me front* my ' 4^ppcl .friend tho^ burgomaster of- Enkhuizen, of Orange said, as Ned,' with a deeb ' /Myarence j approached the- teble :'at which -.'-' ~-' Is ( sw M Bitt(ngi •■" He send" me naill news/ 1 ■ "' J|np6' ?•*'"' ■ ... .; • '.•.„/-.- \ *'&: '^vNoyyour Exoetfency," he said. , "It won ;' <i matter personal to myself that he has been " ? ''-gd6ji •enough to' write to you, : and I craVe -';*our >pErdon; beforehand Jf or occupying "your ■ ;4ime lor a moment with so unimportant a '^•aatrieolk''.' :.-.'•■••-' '■'■'■ ■ ' ' : - The prince glanoed at him keenly as he, was j^eaking, and saw. that the young, fellow . bef or e ' turn was using, no., mere form of .words, sbufc ' th'it he really felt embarrassed at the that, lie was intruding upon hiß ■4i*6urß. ; He ,opened the lettered glanced • *Mdbtfn it: ■-.■•..■■;... -'■•■".•;...• -■•' -<i u -Ah ! you are English," he said in surprise. ;4l thought you a countryman of mine*" ; : 4 »Mty. .mother:! ls from i Holland, sir,?' Ned replied; "and has brought me up to speak her , language as i. well as as my father's,* and to , feefthat Holland i» my country/. as much aa ' England." ' . • '« And you are the son of , v the English cap-'-fein'who,-lately, a3 ( I heard, being in fciapas?age down the.Zuider' Zee by the Spanish •hip Don Pedro, defended' himself so stoutly that he inflicted great loss and damage upon the Spaniard, and. brought his ship into-Euk- •; %vuzen. without further damage than a grievous | ~; wound Jto himself. ( Th« ib.u.rgomaster tells me <ttuit yojii are ' anxiqusr,sp , en,ter.. iny Bervjce as a * *l«Ajiuteap, v dna tfiat you have the,permu»ipn of ": ".fo&r parents to do bo. „, litany b£ r your., brave; JKBOmpatriots are already coming ;c over; and, l am gkd indeed of ■ their aid, which I regard M an omen that England will some day bestir herself on our behalf. ( But you look young for such rough work, young sir. 1 should not take you for more than eighteen;" *' I am not yet, eighteen, sir," Ned) said, Although he did not think it necessary to nseution that he still wanted two years, to that age.! -'''-But even children apid women have wded in the defence voftheir towns." ..... , ' *f It us some what strange,'? thtj prince said, ** thatyour parents should have tountenanoed four thus embarking iutlu'fl matter at so yohng -vx age." ' ■ - ■ i ** The Spaniards have -murdered mygrand- . 1 father, three of niv uucles, and on aun£ ; and my ,t»ther would, hud he not been that he is disabled liyitliewoundhereooiyedjand which has post him 4he loßS,of a lee, have , himself volunteered," TSTed replipd, 'jlßut, bit, if you think me too -vpnhg po fight m the ranks, my father thought ■feat you might perhaps make use of me mother wAyfti I have sailed up every river in the' Netherlands, havuig been for- the last fire years in my father's ship trading with theso , ports, , and know ! their naviffatjion and the depth of "water,, If you have fftUers that you want carried to your friends ili Flanders, and would eutruat them to me, I : '#oold deliver them faithfully for you whatr . . : w«r the risk ,' and.beiu'g hut a boy, could pass ' ' where a man would be suspected. I only aak, mi i to be put to such use as you can make of ' maf whatever it -may- be;" deeming mylife but xtt alight accouut' in so great and good a cause. ' .fSNoman can offer more," the prince said londly. "I like your face, young sir, and can Meat once that you can be trusted, and that you have entered upon this' matter in a serious spirit. Ydur father has proved . himself . to be a brave fighter and a skilful sailor, and I doubt *0t that you are worthy%f him; Your youth u no drawback iri my eyes, Boeing that I my•elf, long before I reached your age, was ■dxed up in State affairs, and that the Emperor C arles, my master, did not •disdain to listen to my. opinions. I accept your offer of service in the name of the Netherlands; and deeming thaty iuj you say , you may be of more service in the way of which you have spoken than were I to Attach you to one of the regiments I am, . saising, Twill for the present appoint you as a . Toliinteer attached to my own household, anil, ttost me, I willnot keep you long in idleness. " He touched a bell and the page entered. " Take , gentleman,'' he Baiu, •-.." to Count Nieu- j ' wenar, and toll him that he is to hav.e rank as a. gentleman, volunteer, and will at present -xemaiuas a rao-über of my household, and be treated as such." ••«,"■ With a kindly nod ! hP dismissed Ned, who wnu so affected by the Jkiudue&tj of manner of •the prince that ' he could only murmur a word or two of thanks and assurances of devotion. One of the burgomaster's letters, of which Ned j ms the bearer, was to Count Nieuwenar, the prince's chamberlain, and wheii the page introjau'eed him to that officer, with the message the' prince had given him, Ned handed to him the "burgomaster's letter. The count ran his jyedownit. ■'•'< ' >'.''■' ■/"A My friend the burgomaster speaks highly in. your praise, , young sir," he said; •' and although it needed not that since the prince . riunwelf has been pleased to appoint you to his liousehold, yet I am glad to receive so good a *eport of 'you. All Holland and Zeeland lntve' been talking of the gallant fight Ahat your father's ship made against the .Spaniard ; and though I hear that the Queen i of England has made' remonstrances to the Spanish- Ambassador as to thiß attack upon an English uhipj methiuks it is the Spaniards. who suffered most' in the affair," ( ■** TTould you kindly instruct me, sir, in the ' duiaeß I have to perform '<" ; ' 4< There are ho duties whatever," the count •aidwith a eniilo. "There is no state or cerexnony here. ' The prince lives like, a private citizen, and all that you have to do is to behave discreetly, to present yourself at the hours of <neals, and to \& in readiness to perform any -service with which the prince may intrust you ; although for., what service he destines you, I own. I am in . ignorance. ■ But," he •aid more gravely, "the prince is not j a. man to cumber himself with persons who' 'are useless to him, nor to keep ■boat his person any save those upon whose fidelity he is convinced that he can rely. Thereiotel. doubt not that he will find work for you | 4odo, for indeed there is but little ease and flaietfor those who serve him. This afternoon X will find for you an apartment, and I may tell vou that although you will have at. present «io duties to perform, and need not therefore jceepih close' attendance, it were better that f&jx were never very Jong absent ; for when the prince wants' a thing done he wants 'it done speedily, and values most those upon whom he can rely at all times of the night and day.' Return here ut noon, o,ndl will then present you to the gentlemen and officers, with whom you -will associate." ... ••On leaving the chamberlain Ned walked for f jMftne time through the streets of Rotterdam. He '.scarcely noticed where he went, bo full ■«»^e' his thoughts of the reception that he had ■ ailßt'With, and the more than realisation of his ,fcop<s»r The charm of manner, as well as the veal Kindness : of the priQcej had completely • «astif!ated him , ' as indeedjthey did all who came iii<o<>ntact with him, and he felt that no dangers ho could run, no efforts he could make would be too great if he could but win the approbation of so kind a master. He presented mmself to the chamberlain at the hour named, and the latter took him to a large hall in which many officers and gentlemen, were about to sit down to dinner, and introduced Ned to them as the son of the English captain who hod .flO-Uravely beaten off the Don iedro, and whom tho Prince of Orange had received into ids household is the quality of a gentleman ■volunteer. Ned was well received, both on his . own account and from the good will that was entertained towards England. Although personally the Prince of Orange kept up no state and lived most simply and quietly, he, still maintained an extensive household and extended a generous hospitality more suited jto his past wealth than to his present necessities. He nad theihabita of a great noble ; and although pressed on all ■ sides for money, and sometimes <lriven to make what he considered great economies in hi§ establishment, his" house was *lso open to his friends and adherents. .Certain l^ in the) meal to which he sat down Ned saw little signs of economy. There was but little Bilver plate on the table, "for the*. -prince's jewels and plate had been pledged years before for the payment of the German mercenaries ; but there was an abunpatoce of _ food of all kinds, generous wine fn> pjrofusion, and the guests were served by numerous pages and attendants. ,On:the following day the prince rode to Haarlem accompanied by his household and a "hundred horsemen, for at Haarlem he hadsumxnoned a meeting ot the representatives of the States that still remained faithful to him. Ab boob as they were settled in tho quarters assigned to them Ned sallied out tc make inquiries concerning the relatives with whom bis aunt and cousins had taken refuge. As he knew her maiden namt lie had no difficulty in learning the part of the fomjo- in which her father dwelt, and knowing •Pnblished by special arrangement with Blackii juadSon.

? 'WtnSprinee wolfttflit- anyMtffoi? tHffrSj pf thsday, be wholly absorbed- m f . important business, made his .wa>. thither, introducing himself to'tha burgher. l^ ;■ ; A 14 Ah '." the latter said, " I have often hearc my daughter speak of her* sister-in-law who ha^ married and Bettled in England. ; So you ari > her son ?» Well; you will imd her house in. thi 1 street *hat ruiis alongby the city Wall, near the • Watergate.- ' •It "was well that she happened t< be laid up with illness at the time Alva'i - ruffianseeized'ftud murdered her husband anc his family. . She was well-nigh difttraughtf or £ time, aud well she, might be; though,. indeed her lot is but, that of. tens of thousands .oi others in this unhappy .country. I woulc gladly have welcomed ner. here, bnt, ,1 have another married daughter who lives' with mt and keeps my, house for mo, and as she hat ! half' a dozen children the house is weU'-nigl full. And Elizabeth longed for quiet in hei sorrow, so I established Her in the little house I-.tell you of. I have been going to write to your father, but have put it off from time to time, for one has so much to think of in these days that one has no time for private matters. She.tellsme that her husband and his brothers had) foreseeing the evil times coming, sent money to England to his care,' and thaij it has been invested in houses in London." "I believe that to so," Ned replied; "and my father, who is at present lying sorely ..wounded at Enkhuizon, will, I am sure, now that he knows where ray aunt is, communicate with her. by letter on the subject. Lwiirgive you hiß address at Eukhuizen> and as it is but a short journey from here you might perhaps find titno to go over and see him, when he will be to talk freely with you on the subjeot. Now, with your permission I will go and see iny auut." Ned had no difficulty in finding the house indicated. He knocked ! at the door, and it was opened by his aunt herself. - < She looked up for a moment inquiriugly, and then exclaimed : . " Why, it ib my nephew, Edward Martin ! ilt is nearly two years since I saw: you last, and so much has happened since ;" and Bhe burst into tears. ' , ■ Ned followed her into the house, where he was warmly welcomed by his two cousins— •girls of fourteen aiid fifteen years old. He had first to explain ' how it was that he had come to Haarlem, aud they were grieved indeed to hear what hod happened to Captain Martin, who was a great favourite with them. " And so you have entered the service of the Prince of Orange P" his aunt, said when he had 'finished his story. ' ' Truly I wonder that your father and mother have allowed you to embark in so hopeless an enterprise." " Not hopeless," Ned said. " Tilings look dark at present; but either England or France may come to our help. At any rate, aunt, if the Spanish army sweeps over Holland and Zaeland surely -, you, with two girls, will not .await its approach, You have friends in England.. My father and mother will be only too glad to nave you with them till you can make yourself a home close by. And there are the moneys sent over that vnlf enable you to live in comfort. It will h" bt \ke going among strangers,' There is qui * i colony of emigrants from the NetherlaiiUß already in London,: You will find plenty who can speak your language.'' . " All my family are here," she replied : "my father, and brothers, and sisters. I c6ri 1 a never be happy, elsewhere." " Yes, aunt, I can understand that. But if the Spaniards come, how many of your family may be alive hero a week afterwards ?" The woman threw Tip her handß in a gesture of despair. " Well, we must hope for the best, aunt ; but I would urge you most strongly if you hear that a Spanish' army is approaching to fly to England if there be an opportunity open to you, or if not to leave' the city and go to some town or village as far from here as possible." " Haarlem is strong, and can stand a stout siege," the woman said confidently. "I have, no doubt it can,,- aunt. But theSpaniards are good engineers, and unless the Prince of Orange is strong enough to march to its succour, sooner or later it must fall ; and you know what happens^hen " "Why should they come here more than elsewhere?. There are many other towns that lie nearer to them." "That is so, aunt.- But from the walls you can see the towers and spires of Amsterdam, and that city served tHem 'as a gathering place in the heart of the country whence they may strike blows all round ; and, therefore, as you jlio so close, lone of the first blows may" ba struck here. Besides, if they take Haarlem, they cut ■the long strip of land that almost alone remains faithful to the prince asunder. Well, aunt, please think.it over. If you doubt my words write to my mother. at Enkhuizeh. I warrant she will tell you how gladly Bhe will receive you in England, and how w.eli you may make yourself a home there. Ido not know how long I am to be staying here, and 1 have to be in close attendance on the prince in case he may suddenly have occasion for my services) but I will come down every day for a talk with I you ; and Ido hope for the sake of my cousins, I if not for your- own, you will decide to leave this troubled land for a time, and to take refugo in England, where none will interfere with your religion, and where you can live free from the Spaniard's cruel bigotry." , ' Ned remained for a fortnight without any particular duties. When the., prince was closeted with persons of importance, and he icuew that there was no chance of his being required, he spent much of his time at his aunt's. He was beginning to feel wearyof hanging about tho prince's ante-chamber doing nothing, when one day a page came up to him and told him that the prince required his presence. He followed the boy to the prince's "cabinet, full of hope that he was to have an opportunity of proving: that he was in earnest in his offers of service to the cause of Holland. ■ "I daresay you began to think that I had forgotten you," the prince began when the page had retired and the curtain had fallen behind him, " but it js not so. Until to-day 1 have had no occasion for your services; but hive now a mission to intrust to you. I have letters that I wish carried to Brussels and delivered to some of my friends there. You had Ibost start at once in the disguise of a peasant-boy. You must sew up your despatches inaryour jerkin, and remember that if they are found upon you a cruel death will surely be your fate. If you safely carry out your mission in Brussels^ return with the answers you will receive by such route as -may seem best to you ; for this must depend upon the movements of the Spaniards. The chamberlain will furnish you with what money you may require." 4 'Thanks, your excellency, I. am provided with sufficient means for such a journey." "I neod not tell you, my lad, to bee-ireful and prudent. Remember, not only is your own life at stake, but that the interest of the country will suffer, aud the lives of many will betfbrfeited should you fail iu your mission. You will see that there are no names upon these letters ; only a small private mark, differing in 4och case, by which you can distinguish them. Here is a paper which is a key to those marks. You must, before you start, learn by heart the names of those for whom the various letters are intended. In this way, should the letters fall into the hands of the Spaniards, they will have no olue as to the names of those to whom they are addressed. :: • , ' "This paper, on which is written ' To the Blue Cap in -the South Corner of the Market square of Brussels,' is intended to inclose all the other letters, and when you have learned the marks Count Nieuwenar will fasten them up in it and seal it with my seal. The object of doing this is, that should you be captured, you can state that your instructions from me are to deliver the packet to a man with a blue cap, who will meet you at the south corner of the Market square at Brussels, and, touching you on the shoulder, ask • How blows the wind in Holland ?' . These are the instructions I now you. If such a man comes to you you will deliver the packet to him, if not you will open it and deliver the letters. But this last does not form part of yonr instructions. , ( J This device will not save your life if you are taken, but it may save you from torture and others from death. For were these unaddressed letters found upon you, you would be put to such cruel tortures that flesh and blood could not withstand them, aud the names of those for whom these letters are intended would be wrung from you ; but inclosed as they are to Master Blue Cap, it may be believed that you are merely a messenger whose instructions extend no further than the handing over the parcel to a frieud of mine in Brussels. Now, you have no time to lose. You have your disguise to got, and these signs and the namos they represent to commit to heart. A horse will be ready in two hours time to take you to Rotterdam, whence you will proceed in a coasting vessel to Sluys or Axel." 1 At the time named Ned was in readiness, Ho was dressed now as a young Flemisl; peasant. Ho had left the chest with hif ' clothes, together with his armour and weapons ' in the caro of his aunt's father, for ho hopet ■ that before his return she would have left th< > town. Ht could not, however, obtain any pro 1 mise that she would do so. Her argument was 1 if other women could stay in Haarlem whj ' should she not do the same. Her friends an! ' family were there; and although, if th< 1 Spaniards were to besiege the town, she migh 3 decide to quit it, she could not bring herself ti 3 go into exile, unless indeed all Holland wa I conquered and all hope gone. s Ned carried a stout stick, which was amor formidable weapon than it looked, for th

b Knob "was loaded . with: lead. , He Hesitated b about, taking .pistols, for. if at any time he were r searched a'ud such, weapons : , found updu > '. him : 'the discovfcpy' might prove fatal, for; a peasant I boy certainly, w.ould^ not beicarr^g, weapons 1 , tthat were at' that time coßtiy; and compara? 5 tiyely rare. Hip despatches were sewn- up in 3 the* fining of his coat, and his'money, beyond i that required for present use, hidden in his big j boots. . A country horse with rough trappings, 3 such as a small farmer might ride, was in I readiness, - ai^d mounting this ho rode to Kotteri dam, some 'thirty-five miles distant, and there .put it up at a small inn, where he had- been t charged to leave it. ,'.-,•• '■ i •.. • [ He thein walked down to the river and inj quired about boats sailing for. the porta of ) Sluys or Ax;el. He was not long in discover--5 iug one that would start the next day for .the i latter place, ; and after, bargaining t with the < master for. a passage returned L to the inn. The ) next morning he set sail soon after daybreak. , . There were three or four other passengers, and l Ned was not long before he established himself i on friendly terms with the master and the four men that constituted the crew. i "I wonder," he said presently to the ; master, " that trade still goes on between the towns of Holland and those in the provinces that hold to,Alva." "The citizens of those towns are greatly divided in their opinions^"', the captain said. " Many would gladly rise if they had the chance, but they lie too clo3e to the Spanish power to venture to do so. Still they are friendly enough to us, and as they have heed of our goods and we of theirs, no one hinders traffic or interferes with those who come. and go. Most' of these towns have but small Spanish garrisons, and these concern themselves not with anything that goes on beyond maintaining the place for Spain., It is the Catholic magistrates appointed by Alya who, manage the affairs of the towns, and as these are themselves mostly '. merchants and traders^ their . interests lie m keeping the ports open and' en- ; couraging_ trade, so we come and go uuques- j turned. The Spaniards have •enough on /their 1 hands already without causing discontent by restricting trade. Besides, the duke affects to consider the rising in Holland and Zeeland as a trifling rebellion which he can suppress without difficulty, and'it would be giving too' much importance to the movement were he to close all the ports and forbid communication." " Will you go outside or inside Walcheren ?" " Outside," the captain replied. "It is the longest way, but the safest. The Spaniards hold Middleburg and Tergoes, and have lately defeated the force from Flushing that endeavoured to capture Tergoes. There are many of our craft and some of the Spaniards in the passages, and fighting often takes place. It is )etter to avoid risks of trouble, although it may be a few leagues further round by Walcheren. I am ready to take my share of the fighting when it is needful, and aid iu carrying the troops across from Flushing and back, but when I have goods in my hold I like to keep as well away from it as may be." ; ■ They cast anchor off Flushing for the wind was now foul, but when tide turned they again got under way and beat up the channel to Axel. No questions were asked as they drew up alongside the wharves. Ned at once stepped ashoie and made his way to a small inn, chiefly frequented by sailors, near the jetty. The shades of n'ght were just falling as they arrived, and he thought it were bettor not to attempt to proceed further until the following morning. He had been several times at Axel in the Good Venture, and was familiar with the town. The. population was a mixed one, for although in Brabant, Axel had so much communication with the opposite shores of Holland that a considerable portion of the population had imbibed something of the spirit that animated their neighbours, and would, if opportunity offered, have gladly thrown off the authority of the officials appointed by the Spaniards. Ned knew tint as a stranger he should be viewed with great suspicion by the frequenters of the little inn, for the spy system was carried 1 to such an extent that people were afraid to utter, their sentiments even in the bosom of their own families. He therefore walked about until it was time to retire to rest, and in that way escaped alike the suspicions and questionings ha might otherwise have encountered. He could easily have satisfied them as to the past — he had just arrived in the coasting smack the Hopeful, from Rotterdam, and the master of that craft could, if questioned, corroborate bis statement — but it would not be so easy to ' satisfy questioners as to the object of his coming. Why should a lad from Holland want to come to Brabant ? . Every oneknew that work was far more plentiful in the place he had come from than in the states under the Spaniards, where the cultivators scarce dare 'sow crops sufficient for their own consumption, so extensive" was the pillaging carried on by the Spanish troops. These, always greatly in arrears of pay, did not hesitate to take all they required from the unfortunate inhabitants ; and the latter knew that resistance or complaint was alike useless, for the soldiers were always on the- verge of mutiny. Their officers , had little control over them; and Alva himself was always short of money, and being unable to pay his troops was obliged to allow them to maintain themselves upon the country, As soon as the gates were opon iu the morning Ned made his way to that through which the road to Brussels ran. The four or five Spanish soldiers at the gate asked no questions, and Ned passed on with a brisk step. He hud gone about three miles when he heard sounds of horses' hoofs behind him, and presently two men came along. One was, by his appearance, a person of some importance, the other he took to be his clerk. Ned doffed his hat as the horse wentpabt. " Where are you going, lad ?" the elder of the two men asked. "lam going, worshipful sir, to see some friends who live at the village ox Deligen, near Brussels," . " These are evil times for travelling. Your tongue shows that you come not from Brabahi" " No, sir, my relations lived at Vordwky, hard by Amsterdam." " Amsterdam is a faithful city, although there, as elsewhere, there are men who are traitors to the:r king and false to their faith. You are not one of them, I hope P" 1 ' "I do not know," Ned said, "that'lam boundto answer questions of any that ride by the highway, unless I know that 'they have right and authority to question me." "I have right and authority," the man said angrily. "My name is Philip Vou Aert, and I am one of the council charged by the viceroy to ' investigate into these matters." Ned again doffed his hat. " I know your name, worshipful sir, as that of one who is foremost iu searching out heretics. There are few in the laud, oven ignorant country boys like myself, who have not heard of it." The councillor looked gratified. •' Ah ! you have heard me well spoken of ?" he said. " I have heard you spoken of, 6ir, well or i'l, according to the sentiments of those who spoke." ' " And why hav,e you left Amsterdam to journey so far from home P This is a time vjrheh all men must be looked upon with suspicion until they prove themselves to be good Catholics and faithful subjects of the king, and even a boy like you may T>e engaged upon treasonable business. I ask you again, why are you leaving your family at Amsterdam ?" " Misfortunes have fallen upon them," Ned replied, " and thoy cau no longer maintain me." " Misfortunes, ah ! and of what kind ?" " Thoir business no longer brings them in profit," Ned replied. "They lived, as I told your worship, not in the town itself, but in a village near it, and iu these troubled times trade is well nigh at a Btand-still, and there is want at many a man's door." " I shall stop for the night at Antwerp, whore I have business to do; see when you arrive there that you call upon me. I must ; have further talk with you, for your answers do not satisfy me." Ned bowed low. -<« y ery we \[ ] see that you' fail not, or it will be the worse for you." So saying Von Aert put spurs to his horse, which had been walking alongside Ned as he conversed, and rode forward at a gallop. CHATTER VIII. IN TIIE IIANDS OP THE BLOOD-COUNCTL. " You are an evil-looking pair o? scoun- ' drels," Ned said to himself as he looked after the retreating figures of the two men. " The ' master I truly know by name &3 one of the ' worst instruments of the tyrant ; n.B to the 1 man, knave is written on his face. Ho is as thin as a scarecrow. He has a villainous squint, and an evil smile on his face. If I had ■ been bent on any other errand I would have 1 given very different answers, and taken my 5 chance of holding my own with this good stick » of mine. At any rate, I told them no absolato * lies, The councillor will not have a chance of 3 asking rao any more questions this evening, and ; ■ I only hope that he will be too busy to think > any more about it. I will take the road T through Ghent ; it matters little which way I 1 go, for the two roads seem to me to be of 8 nearly equal distance. ' ' * He therefore at once left the road he was 0 following, and struck across the fields north--8 ward, until he camp upon the road to Ghent, at which town he arrived soon after noon, e having walked two or three and twenty miles, e Fearing to be questioned, he passed through

the town without : Bto : p|^?cTo7sedthe,Scheldt and continued his tyajfc|Or .another j five miles, when he ßtoppedatttnltvillageotGontere. He entered a small inn. '< ; i v v. . > -* "I wish to stop here, for the night," he said/ ," If you have, room?" „>• */-... > !' "Room enough and to spare," th&host replied. " There is no scarcityof j rooms, thouch' there is of good fare; a party of soldiers from Ghent paid a visit to us yesterday, 'and; have scarce left a thing .to. eat in the ,yillage.| However, I suppose we ought to feel thankiul that they did not take o^ur-ttves^ also,?' , " Peter,? a shrill voice cried /from inside thehouse," how often haye I told you not to be. gossiping on public -affairs with, strangers ? Your tongue will cost you your head presently, as I have told you a soore of times." " Necra hundred, Ishouldsay, wife," the innkeeper replied. ' ' lam a speaking no treason, ; but only explaining why our larder is' empty,; save some black' bread, and some pig's flesh we. bought an hour ago; besides, the youth is scarce likely to be one of ? Ithe duke's spies." "There you are again)" the Woman oried angrily. "You want to leave me a widow, and your children fatherless, Peter Grantz. Was a. woman ever tormented with such a man ?." . . "I am not so sure that it is not the other : way," the man grumbled , in an undertone., " Why wife," he, went^on, raising.. his voice, " Who is there~to say Anything against us r Don't I go regularly to' mass,, ana send our good priest a Tine fish or 'the'best euj off the joint two or three times a week. What can I do more P Anyone would think to hear you talk that I was a heretic.? ' ' i -,,\ i "I think you are more fool than heretic," his wife said angrily ; " and that. is the best hope for us. But come in, boy, ai.d sit down ; my husband will keep'you gossiping at tho door for the next hour if you would listen to 'him." ' f ■ "I shall not be sorry to sit down, mistress," Ned. said, entering the .low-roofed room. "I have walked' from Axel since morning." "That is a good long walk truly," the woman said. " Are yougoingpn to Brussels ? If so,.your nearest way faoula have been by Antwerp." ■ -, . " I took the wrong roftd," Ned said, " and as they told me there was but a, mile difference between them, I thought I might as well 'keep on the one I had first takenV " You are from Holland, are you not, by your speech ?" the woman asked. ' "Yes; I have come from Holland," Ned replied. ' ,' , . • " And is it truewhat they say, that the people there have thrown off the authority of the duke, and are going to venture themselves against all the strength of Spain ?" '„ .'' * "Some have risen and some havo not," Ned replied. " None can say what will come of it." "You had "best not say much about your coming from Holland." the woman said ; " for they say that well nigh all from that province are heretics, and to be even suspected of being a heretic in Brabant is enough to cost auyoue his life."-----!•'I am not one to talk," Ned replied ; " but I thank you for your caution, mistress. I have been questioned already, by Philip Von Aeit, and he said he would see me again ; but in truth I have no intention of further intruding on him." "He is one of the Council of Blood," the woman said, dropping her voice and looking round anxiouly ; " and one of the most cruel of them. Beware, my lad, how you fall into his hands, for be assured . he will show you no mercy, if he has reason to suspect, but in the slightest, that you are not a good Catholic and loyal to the Spaniards. Rich or poor, gentle or simple, womau or child, it is nought to him. There is no mercy for heretics, whomsover thoy may ba ; and unless you can satisfy him thoroughly your best plan* is to go bqck'at once, to Axel, and to cross to Holland. You do not now what they are. There are spio3 in every town and. village, and were it known what I have said to you now, little though that be, it would go hard with me; Women have been burned or strangled for fur loss." "I will be careful," Ned said. "I have business which takes me to Brussels, but when 'that is discharged I shall betake me back to Holland as soon as*l can." . By this time the woman, who had been standing oyer the fire while she was talking, had roasted two or three Blicos of pork, aud these, with a piece of black bread ana a jug or le, she placed before Ned. Her husband, who had been standing at the. door, now came in. " You are no wiser than I am, wife, with all your scolding. I have been listening to your talk ; you have scolded me when over I opened ray lips, and there you yourself say things ten times as dangerous." "I Bay them inside the house, Peter Grantz," she retorted, "and don't stand talking at the door so that all the village may hear me: The lad is honest, as I can Bee by his' face, and if I could do aught for him I would do bo." " I should be glad if you could tell me of some little place where I could put up in Brussels ; some place where I ooula stay while looking out for work, without anyone troubling themselves as to whence I came or where I am goiug, or what are my views as to religion or politics." " That were a difficult matter." the woman replied. "It is not that the landlords care what party those who visit their house belong to t but that for aught they know there may be spies in their own household ; and in these days it is dangerous even to give shelter to one of the new religion. Therefore, though landlords may care nothing who frequent their houses, they are in a way forced to do so lest they themselves should, be denounced as horbourers of heretics. Brussels has a strong party opposed to the duke ; for you know that it is not those of the new religion only who would gladly Bee tho lost of the Spaniards. There are but few heretics in 'Brabant now, the Inquisition and the Council of Blood havo made an end of most, others have fled either to France, or England, or Holland, some have outwardly conformed to . the rights of the Church, and there am few indead who remain openly separated from her, though in their heirts they may remain heretics as before. " Still there are great nnmbers who long to see the old Constitution restored — to bos persecution abolished, the. German and Spanish troops Bent packing, and to be ruled by pur own laws under the Viceroy of the King of Spain. Therefore in Brussels you are not likely to bo very closely questioned. There are groat numbers of officials, a small garrison, and a good many spies ; all of . those are for the duke, the rest of the popution would rise to-morrow did they see a chance of buccosh. I should say thatyouare more likely ? being a stranger, of being bub- . pected of bomg a spy than of being a heretic— that is if you are one, which I do not ask, and do not want to know. Tho people of Brussels are uot given to tumults aa are those of Antwerp and Ghent, but are a quiot people going their own way. Being the capital there are more strangers resort there than to other places, and therefore people come and go without inquiry ; still, were 1 you/ I would, if you have any good reason for avoiding notice, prefer to .lodge outsidetbo city, entering the gates of a moruing, doing what business you may have, during the day, and leaving again before sunset;. That way you would altogethor avoid questionings, and will attract no more attention than other country people going in to sell their goods." " Thank yon, I will follow your advice," Ned said. " I iiave no wish to get into trouble, and being a stranger there,. l should have difficulty in proving that my story is a true one were I questioned." Next morning Ned 6et out at daybreak, and arrived at Brussels early iu the afternoon. He had determined to adopt the advice given him the evening before ; and also that he would not endeavour to get a lodging in any of their villages. It will not take mo more than a day, or at most two days, to deliver my letters," he thoughtto himself^ " and there will be no hardship in sleeping iu the fields or under a tree for a couple of nights. In that way I shall escape all notice, for people talk in villages even more than thoy do in towns." He had decided that he would not that day endeavour to deliver any of the letters, but would content himself with walking about the town and . learning the , names of tho streets, bo that he could set about delivering the letters without the necessity of asking many questions. When within half a mile of the town he left the road, and cutting open tho lining of hie jerkin took out the letters. Then he cut up a square pioco of turf with his knife, scooped out a little earth, inserted the packet of lettei'3, and then stamped down the sod upon it, Iu another hole close to it he buried the money hidden in hia boot, and then returning to the road walled on into Brussels, feeling much more comfortable now that he had for a time got rid of documents that would coi,t him his life were thoy found upon him. Passing through the gates, he wandered a.bout for some hours through tho streets, interested in the stir and bustle that prevailed. Mingled with tho grave citizonß were Spanish and Gorman soldiers, nobles with their trains of pages and followers, deputies from other towns of Brabant and Artois, monks and priests, country people who had brought in their produce, councilors and statesmen, Spanish nobles and whining mendicants. Ho learnt the names

- :^&aayi9l v 'fh^i^e^t^ > )iitiialniar!keil 'ine' house of those for whom he had letters. Some o these were'.nobleaj-otliers citizens of Brussels He bought some bread and cheese in the market place, and ate them sitting on a door-step; anc |apng tied some food, in a bundle; to semfoi supper, he left the , town well satisfiedwith hi discoveries. ">. . ■'■>■■ „■<-.•; ■ He slept under shelter of a hay stackl and.ii the moimng dug up the packet, sewed it up it its hiding-place again, and re-entered the.cit\ oe soon aa the gates were opened, going in witr r a number of market people who had congre gated there awaiting the opening of the gates. Ka very Bhort.time the shops, were all opened, .forif people went to bedearly, they were alsOastii early in those days. He went first towards the house of , one of the burghers, and watched until he saw the man himself, appear at the doorway of his shop.sTh'en he walked across the. street. ■ .'. * \. ' '; ■, • " The weather is . clear,", he said, " bat the sun is nigh hidden with clouds." , . The burgher gave a alight start; then. Ned went oh :\ " 1 have brought you tidings from the farm." .' ' v " Come in," the burgher said in loud tones, so that he could be heard by his two assistants in the shop. ' ' My wife will be glad to hear tidings of her old nurse, who, was ill when she last heard from her. You canreassure her in that respect, I hope f" ;;,'. " Yes : she is mending fast," Ned replied, as; he followed the burgher through the shop. The man led the way upstairs, and then into a small sittingroom. He closed the door behind him* "NoV," he asked. " what message do you bring from Holland?" " I bring a letter, 1 ' Ned replied ; and taking out his knife again, cut the threads of the lining and produced the packet. The silk that bound it, and which was fastened by the | prince's seal, was so arranged that it could be ' r slipped off. and so enabled the packet to be ' opened without breaking the seal, Ned took out the letters ; and aftei examining the marks on the corners, handed one to the burgher. The ; latter opened and read the contents, " lam told," he said when he had finished, M not to givefyou an answer in writing, but to deliver it by word of mouth. Tell the prince I have sounded many of my guild, and thatcertaintly.the greater part of the weavers' will rise and join in expelling the. Spaniards whenever a general rising has been determined upon; and it is certain that, all. the other chief towns will join in the move* meat. Unless it is general I fear' nothing can be done. So great, is the consternation that has been caused by the sack of Mechlin,, the slaughter of thousands of citizens, and the horrible atrocities upon the women, that no city alone will dare to provoke the vengeance of Alva. All must rise or none will do so. lam convinced that Brussels will do her part, if others do theirs ; although, as the capital, it is upon her the first brunt of the Spanish attack will fall. In regard to money, tell him that at present none can be collected. In the first place, we are all well nigh ruined by the exactions of the Spanish ; and in the next, however well disposed we may be, there are few who, would commit themselves by subscribing for the cause until the revolt is general and successful. Then,I doubt notj that the councillors would vote as large a subsidy as the city could affor'd to pay. Four at least of the members of the council of our guild can be thoroughly relied upon, and the mince can - safely communicate with them. These are Qunther, Barneveldt, Hasselaer, and Buys." ''Please, repeat them again," Ned said, " in order that I may be sure to remember them rightly." •' As to general toleration," the burgher went on, after repeating the names, " in matters of religion, alth )ugh there are many differences of opinion, I think that the prince's commands on this head will be complied with, and that it would be agreed that Lutherans, Calvinists and other sects will be allowed to assemble for worship, without hindrance ; but the Catholic feeling is very strong, especially among the nobles, and the numbers of those secretly inclined to the new religion has decreased greatly in the past few years, just 1 as they have increased in Holland and .>Zeeland, where, as I hear, the people are well nigh all Protest in ts. Please assure the prince of my devotion to him personally, and I shall do my best to further his plans, and can promise him that the Guild of Weavers will be among the first to rise against the tyranny of the Spaniards." Ned, as he lett the house, decided that the man he had visited was not ono of those who would.be of any great use in an emergency. He was evidently well enough disposed to the cause, but was not one to take any great risks or to join openly in the movement unless convinced that success was assured for it. -He was walking along thinking the matter over, when he was suddenly and roughly accosted. Looking up ho saw the Councillor Von Aert and his clerk, the former with an angry look upon his face, the latter, who was close beside his master, and who had evidently drawn his attention to him, with a malicious grin of satisfaction. " Hullo, sirrah," tLe councillor said angrily, " did I not tell you to call upon me at Antwerp ?" Ned took off bis hat and said humbly : " I should of course have obeyed your worship's order had I passed through Antwerp ; but I afterwards remembered I hud cause to pas3 through Ghent, and therefore took that road, knowing well that one so insignificant oj myself could have nothing to tell your worship that should occupy your valuable time." "That we will see about," the councillor said grimly. " Genet, lay your hand upon this young fellow's collar. We will lodge him in safe keeping, and inquire into the matter when wo have leisure. I doubt not that you were right when you told me that you suspected he was other than he seemed." Ned glanced round ; a group of Spanish soldiers were standing close by, and he saw that an attempt at escape would be hopeless. He therefore walked quietly along by the side of the clerk's horse, determining to wrest himself from the man's hold and run for it the instant he saw an opportunity. Unfortunately he was unaware that they were at the moment within fifty yards of the prison. Several bystanders who had heard the conversation followed to see the result ; and other passera-by, ■seeing Ned led by the collar behind the dreaded councillor, speedily gathered around' with lookß expressing no good-will to Von Aert. The Spanish soldiers, however, accustomed to frays with the townspeople, at, > once drew thoir weapons and closed round the clerk and his captive, and two minutes later they arrived at the door of the prison, and Ned. completely taken by surprise, found , himself thrust in and the door closed behind him before he had time to decide upon his best course. "You will place this prisoner in a secure place," the councillor i said. "It is a case of grave suspicion : and I will myself question hiin later on. Keep an eye upon him until I come again." Ned was handed over to two warders, who conducted him to a chamber in the third story. Here, to his dismay, one of his jailers took up his post, while the other retirod, locking the door behind him. Thus the intention Ned had formed as ho ascended the stairs of destroying the documents as soon as he was alone, was frustrated. The warder took his place at the window, wbiih looked into an inner court of the prison, and putting his head out entered into conversation with some of his comrades in the yard below. Ned regretted now that he had, before leaving the burgher, again sewn up the lotteis in his doublet. Had he carried them loosely about him, he could have chewed them up one bv one ana swallowed them ; but he dared not attempt to get at them now, as his warder might at any motnont look round. The latter was relieved twice during the course of the day. None of the men paid auy attention to the prisoner. The succession of victims who entered the walls of the prison only to quit them for the gallows was bo rapid that they had no time to concern themselves with their affairs. Probably the boy was a heretic ; but whether or not, if he had incurred the enmity of Councillor Von Aert, his doom was sealed. It was late in the evening betoro a warder appeared at the door and said that the councillor was below, and that the prisoner was to be brought before him. Ned was led by the two mon to a chambar on the ground floor. Here Von Aert, with two of his colleagues, was seated at a table, the former's clerk standing behind him. " This is a prisoner I myselt made this morning," Von Aert said to his companions. I overtook him two miles this side of Axel, and questioned him. He admitted that he came from Holland ; and his answers were so unsatisfactory that I ordered him strictly to call upon me at Antwerp, not having time at that moment to question him further, Instead oi ! obeying, he struck off from tho road and tool: that through Ghent ; and t should have lieaWl no more of him, had I had not by chance encountered him this morning in tho street here. Has ho been seareho;l ?" ho askod tho warder. " No, your Excellency. You gave uo order* that he should be examined." " Foolb !" tho councillor said angrily ; " thib is the way you do your duty. Had ho been the bearer of important correspondence he might have destroyed it by now." •« We havo not loft him, your Excellency.

He has never been alone for' a moment, and 'bad ho Opportunity wnateveif ' ttit cteilirpying anythina." .' , ( , - - "•'-.:;;, , M ". '',!v > ' "/Weuj 'search' th>t bundle'ffirßt/fthW coun-, cillorijaid.''- .v.': ".->•* .-,.•.-. '•■ ■ «*■'•;■ ■ ;•. ; --.' i -Phe 'bundle was : fottEid'tb 1 contain nothing suspicious; '. / '■'. ■'''■' . ;' " Now, take off his doublet arid boots, and examine them carefully. Let not a' seam, or a corner escape you.7" l : ... 'Acoußtomed te"the,wprk, : one of the wardera had scarcely taken the doubtet'in'his hand when he proclaimed that there was a parcel sewn up in the lining. ■ ' "I thought flo !" Von Aert exclaimed, beaming with satisfaction at 1 his own p'erspickcity.' "I thought there was, something suspicious about the fellow. I believe I can almost smell out a heretic or a traitor." 1 ' * - ' •.-* The councillor's colleagues murmured! their admiration at his acuteness. . ."■ ; .',' " What have we here ?♦' Von Aert tfehirqn, as he exaifained the; packet. "ABealed parcel addressed' to the Blue Cap in the South Corner of the Market Square 'of Brussels.' What think you of that, my friends, for r mystery' and treason? Now, let us see the contents.- Ah, ten letters without ' addresses. But I see there are marks different from 'each other on the corners. Ah!" he went on with growing excitement, as .he tbre\ open and' glanced at the contents, " from the archtraitor himself to conspirators here ,in Brussels. This is an important capture indeed. Now, Birroh, .what 'have you to 'say to this P For whom are these letters intended P" " 1 know nothing of the contents of -the letters, worshipful sir/' Ned said, falling on his knees and assuming an appearance of abject terror. " They, were delivered to me at Haarlem, and I was told that I should! have fiva nobles if I carried them to Brussels and delivered them safely to a man ' who would meet me in the south corner of the Market Square at Brussels. I was to hold the packet in my hand and sling my. bundle upon my stick, so that he might know me. He was to have a blue cap on, and was to touch me on the shoulder and ask me, '.How blows the wind in Holland?' and that, worshipful sir, is all I know about it. I could not tell that there was any treason in the business, else not for fifty, nobles would I have undertaken ifc" , '.. " You lie, you young villain J" the councillor shouted. "Do you try to persuade me > that the Prince of Orange would have intrusted: documents of such importance to the first boy he met in the street. In the first place you must be a heretic" "I don't know about heretics," Ned said, rising to his feet . and speaking stubbornly. " lam of the religion my, father taught me, and would not pretend that I was a Catholic, not o save my life." . .. •'There vou.are,you see," the councillor said triumphantly to bis colleagues, " Look at the obstiuacy ana insolence of these Hollanders. Even this brat of a boy dares td rtell us lie is not a Catholic. Take him away," he said to the warder, " and see that he is securely kept. We may want to question him again ; but in any case he will goto the, gallows to-morrow 'or next day." Ned was at once led away. . , '" What think you ?" Von Aert asked his colleagues as the door closed : behind the prisoner. u Is it worth while to apply the torture to him at once to obtain from him the names of those for whom these letters were intended? It is most important for to know. Look at this letter ; it is from the prince himself, and refers ,to preparations making for a general rising." " I should hardly think the boy would have . been intrusted with so important a secret,' ' one of the other councillors said ; " for it would be well known ho would be forced by to'rture to reveal it if these letters were to be found upon him. I think that the story he tells is a true one, and that it is more likely they would be given him to deliver to some person who. would possess the key to these marks on the letters." . ■ u " Well, at any rate no harm can be done bv applying the screws," the councillor Baid, " If : he knows they will make him speak, warrant you." . The other two agreed, " If you will allow me to suggest your Excel-, lency," Genet said humbly, " that it might be the better way to try first if any such as this Blue Cajp exists. Tne boy might be prpmised his life it he could prove the story was true. Doubtless there is some fixed hour at which he was to meet this Blue Cap. We might, let him go to meet him, keeping,^of course, a strict , watch over him. Then if any Buch man appears and sneaks to him we could pounce upon him at ' once and wring from him the key to . these marks. If no such man appears we, should then know that the story was but a device to deceive, aud could then obtain by some .means the truth from him." The suggestion met with approval. " That is a very good plan, and shall be carried out. Send for the prisoner again." Ned was brought down again. " We see that you are young," Von Aert said, " and you have doubtless been misled in this matter, and knew not that you were carrying treasonable correspondence. We therefore are disposed to treat you leniently. At what time were vou to meet this Blue Cap in the market?" " Within an hour of sunset," Ned replied. '* I am to bo there at sunset and to wait for an hour ; and was told that he would not fail to come in that time, but .that if he did I was to come again the next day." : " It ia to be hoped that he will not fail you," Von Aert said grimly, " for we shall not be disposed to wait his pleasure. To-morrow evening you will go with a packet and deliver it to the man when he comes to yon. Beware that you do not try to trick üB, for you will be closely watched, and it will be the worse for you if you attempt threachery. If the man comes those who are there will know how to deal with him." " And shall Ibe at liberty to depart ?" Ned asked doubtfully. " Of course you will," Von Aert replied, " we should then have no further occasion for you, and you would have provod to us that your story was a true one, aud that you were really in ignorance that there was any harm in carry ing the packet hither." Ned was perfectly well aware that the councillor was lying, and that even had he met the man in the blue cap he would be dragged back to prison and put to death, and that the promise meant absolutely nothing— the Spaniards having no hesitation in breaking the most solemn oaths made to heretics. He had indeed only asked the question because bethought that to assent too willingly to the proposal might arouse suspicion. It 19 the very thing he had been. hoping for,' nnl which offered the sole prospect of escape from a death by torture, for it would at leaet give him the chance of a dash, to freedom. He had named an hour after sunset partly because it was the hour which would have been probably chosen by those who wished that the meeting should take place unobserved, but still more because his chances of escape would be j vastly greater wero the attempt made after | dark. The throe councillors sat for Bome time , talking over the matter after Ned had been removed. The letters had all been read. They, had been carefully written, so as to give no in- , formation if they should fall into the wrong . hands, and none of them contained any allu- | sion whatever to past letters or previous nogotiatione. " It is clear," Von Aert said, " that this is a conspiracy, and that those to whom these letters are sent are deeply concerned in it, and yet these letters do not prove it. Suppose that we either seize this Blue Cap or get from the boy the names of those for whom the letters are intended, they could swear on the other hand that thoy knew nothing whatever about them, and had boon falsely accused. No doubt many of those people are nobles and citizens of good position, and if it is merely' their word against the word of a boy, and that wrung from him by torture, our case would not ben, very strong one." " Our case is not always strong," one of the councillors said ; " but that does not often make much difference." " It makes none with the lower class of the people," Von Aert agreed ; " but when we havo to deal with people who have influential friends it is always best to be able to prove a case completely. I think if we get the names of those for whom the letters are meant we can utilise the boy again. We will send him to deliver the letters in person, as I believe he was intondodto do, He may receive answers to take back to Holland ; but even if he does not the fact that these people should have received such letters without at once denouncing the bearer aud communicating tho contents to us, will be quite sufficient proof of their guilt." "In that case," one of> the others remarked, "tlioboy must not be crippled with the i torture." | " There will be no occasion for that," Von i Aert said contemptuously. " A couple of turns with the thumbscrew will suffice to get out of a boy of that ago everything he knows. Well, | my friends, we will meet here to-morrow even- i iug. I shall go round to the Market square j with Genet to 6ee tho result of this affair, in which I own I am deeply interested ; not only ; because it is mo?t important, but because it is due to the fact that, I myself entertained a suspicion of the boy that the discovery of the plot has been made. I will take charge of tliese letters, which are for the time useless to lia, but

v hours of t^W-fpflpy^g^'day/h^lpfl^i^TOS^;': tiiii6^t6^come;tirien v iusiate wa&M^i&wsffl%& tifctj lf ■•it;ls3?M||M^ wttald"iipt"l»caEJto^Uffy^'Hß'^pjaa-JsOTmt-.;.v toi the top ¥toiyi;pi ajttouse lmd, taro#femeeff ,j s out of a Window, f 6r snatch a'd^ggerjrpwoijm of his guards and Bteb. f 'lumßelfi % tf;n«fßa^.jw:-/ mode of escaped A thou%nd times " wtfejt. tp.dts> .-: ; so than to expire oil ! 'a^bbdtf'- Sft^"-'sy|!fl^OTi| -;,'•■ atrocious tortured, : >vhith would, /bi^/kfteV," :.;• wring from Kiin'the names of those for^ott^/.-. the letters were iiitended^. , , . ,; " f I>V if - : : '" YHe could bertr pain aS well as anotKer^Dut , flesh^and blocfti coiijd- ii'ot ; , resist ■ tKeJ, ! teml)% v \ \. agonies inflicted by the < '.to^ture, ! 'and%botaer:OTl^' later the truth would b& 'Wrung from i&es'Mom . reluctaut lips. . Still- 5 he^thought ttidt fii(M« ' fair chance of oscapei, It w&cle.ar >; thathe „ could ixot be closely surrbunded by a guigrdy.for in that case Blue Cap' would not venturenear him. He must, therefore, be allowed c> a; cony . siderable amount of liberty ; . and, how r ever , many men might be on watch a short distacpe off i he ought to be able by a sudden rush, to make his way through them. Th^re would at that hour be numbers of people in the street; atld this would addja bis chauce of evading his' 1 pursuers. ' . •< >. .='• He eat heartily of a meal that was brought. , htm at mid-day, and .when just / aiWnsefc:the ii . warder entered the cell : and told him to follow him, he felt, equal to any exertion. When he came down into the courtyard, a. dozen men • were gathered there, together witlif Von A'|rt ; ancThis clerki '' k " : . . " " • " Now," the councillor said, sternly, " you see these meni They will round you on all ' sides, and I warn you that if you attempt to escape or give any warping sign to this Blue ; Cap, or to try any.tncks.with'uspf any sort,. r you shall be put to death with euch tortures oa * you never dreamt of. Upon the other hand,, if you carry out my orders faithfully, and hand, over this packet to the man who meets you, you. r will be at liberty to go straight aw.ayi and to return home without molestation." . ' '\1 understand," Ned replied ; " and asl \ cannot help 'myself, wil} do I your bidding. ", Where are' my; stick and l>und}G ? .He will nojt , know' me unless I have; them. lain' to carry: / . them on my shoulder. 1 * '."'.' '"'.,• '■'„ ■ "Ah! I forgot," the. councillor said, and/. fiving the order ff> one of tte 4 warders' Ned's-' undle land stick were brought him. '.' '"]'-., ■-,■ " You will stroll leisurely' along,"Ypn Aert ; said, " and appear natural and unconcerned. ,' We shall be close to you, and you willbe'seized , in an instant if we observe anything suspicious,, in your movements.'? .'V.on'Aert then took.a , packet from his doublet and handed it to Ned> who placed it in his belt. The prison door was opened; three or four men went out; and Ned followed. It was a curious feeling to him as" he walked down the street. Bound him were" numbers of people laughing- and chatting ' oath" ey went, while he, though apparently as fi'Cft ". as they, was a prisoner with a dozpnpair of'' eyes watching him, and " : his if e in deadly ' peril. ■ ! CHAPTBB E£V ; IN HIDING. ' , After five minutes' walking Ned arrived at - the Market square, and passed steadily on down . towards the south corner. The market wa» * long since over, and the market folk had re* ' turned 1 to their farms and villages, but there were a large number of people walking about. It was already growing dusk, and in another - half hour would be dark. Ned turned when.. he got near the corner, strolled a short distance ~ back and then turned again, pacing-backwards j and forwards Borne thirty or forfy yards. He ' carefully abstained from seeming to • stare r about. The councillor and his clerk kept - within a short distance of him, the former 1 wrapped up in a cloak with a high collar almost concealed his face. ■ . -. ' ' ; j As to the others watching him, Ned could > only guess at them. Fo t ur men he notice 1, who turned whenever he did'; the others he guesso'd were keeping somewhat further off^ or were . perhaps stationed at the streets leading out of the square so as to cut him off should he escape from those close to him. A few oil lamps wore suspended from various points in the square, and at the ends of the streets. leading from it. These were lighted soon after he arrived in the square. He decided that it would not do to. make for the street leading out -of the south corner, as this was the one that he would be-' .suspected of aiming for; and, moreover, men ... would surely be placed there to cut off Blue Cap .; . on bis ' entry. He, therefore, determined to v make for a somewhat narrow street, about half? way between the south and west corners. - •-..« < He had followed this on the day ho entered.',! Brussels, a8 one of the persons to whom the letters were addressed- lived in it. He know that there were many lanes running into it, and that at the lower end several streets, branching off in various directions, met in the small square in which it terminated. Half an hour passitd. It was now quite dark, and he telt that ne v had . better delay no longer. He walked half along his beat towards the Biuth corner, then witli a sudden spring darted off. The two mpn walking on that side of hhu were abnie ten paces • distant, and he ran atraiglrt at thorn. Tak>.n . by surprise, before they had time to throw back their cloaks, and draw their rapiers, he. was . upon them. With a blow from hi6 leaded stick, delivered . with all his strength, he Bfruck one man to ibo : . ground, and then turning to* the other struck him on the wrist as he was m the act of draw- , ing his sword. The man uttered a loud cry •of pain and rage, and Ned ran at the top of liis speed towards the street. Ho knew that he . need fear no pursuit from the two men he h&cl encountered, and those on the other aide of him' were some distance behind, and that as so many. , people intervened his pursuors would probably soon lose sight of him. Threading luß way , ! between the groups of people, who had arrest ca ' • 1 their w»lk at the sound of loud and sudden , shouting, he npproachod the end of the street. By the light of the lamp there hesawtivo mem standing with drawn swords. Breaking > suddenly into a walk he made for the hove next to the street, and then turned. 60, that he came upon the men sideways instead of from the front, at which they w?re expecting him. There was a sudden exclamation from the m..n nearest to him ; but Neil was within two yar-ls of him before he perceived him, and before lie was on guard the loaded stick fell with the full sweep of Ned's arm upon his uukle, and in an instant he was prostrate, aud Ned darted r.t full speed down the street with the other mun. in pursuit a few paces behind him. Before he had run far Ned found that hs could gain but little upon his pursuer, and t) at he must rid liimßelf of him if he were to havt i chance of escaping. He slackened his speoA a little, and aUcwel the man to gain elightly upon him. Think'ug. that the fugitive w.-m within his grasp the- warder exerted himacit to his utmost. Suddenly Nod sprang into a doorway ; the man, unable to checic himself, rushed past. In a moment Nod was . out again, and before the fellow could arrest his steps and turn, gave him a violent shovo- ' behind, which hurled him on to his face vriih. x tremendous orash, and .Ned continued his wav. There was a great shouting, but it was fully fifty yards away, and he felt his hopps nV. His pursuers were now all behind him, aud Le , felt sure that in the darkness and the narrow streets he should be able to evade them. : He took the first turning he came to, turned again ' and again, and presently-/*; slackened his pace to a walk, convincU' , * that for a time his pursuers must be at „•. fault. He was now among narrow streets hi- r ■ habited by the poorer classes. There were no • l lamps burning nere, and he began to wonder- " . which way he had better take, and where he should pass the night. It was absolutely necessary to obtain some other djsguiae, for he was 'sure that the gates would be so carefully . watched in the morning there would be no ' chance whatever of his gutting safely out in bis-' present attire. Presently, through a casement' on the ground-floor, he hoard the souud of lo'^ singing in a woman's voice. He stopped nt once and listened. It was the air of a Lutheraa '• hymn he had frequently heard in Holland. Without hesitation he knocked at the door, and lifting the latch ontered. A woman nnd girl.were sitting at work inside ; they looked up in surprise at seeing a stranger. • ■ ■'. "Pardon mo, he said, " but lam Protes- ; tant, and am hunted by Alva's blood -hounds. I. ' have evaded thorn, ana I am safe for the pre6onv; but I know not where to go, or where to obtain a disguise. As I passed the wiftdow I.' heard the air of a Lutheran hymn, aud kw&'v .. < that there were within those who would, if they could, aid me." The woman looked reprovingly at the girl. 11 How imprudent of you, Gertrude !" she said. " Not tV at it is your fault more than mine. I ought to have stopped you, but I did noi think ; your voice would be heard through that thick, curtain. Who are you, &ir, and where do you come rom?" she- naked, turning to Ned. " It omo from Holland," he said; " ami v\-»s-the bearer of important letters from the Piiiiceof Onmgo." , . The woman hesitated. " I would not doubt you," she said ; " but in the?e days one has to- s be su^piciouß of one's shallow. However, as- ; I after what you have heard our lives' are ia I ydur hands, I would fain trust you ; though i it sooms to me strange that an important , mission should be intrusted to one of your age and station." ' : " My age was all in my favour," Nod re- •.- plied. "Asto my station, it is not quite whut , it teems ; for I am a gentleman volunteer in. .',.

;~.'i»uq:mrtM i pfec(por.;f .f.,^ ;■„,, - a i ,/■•.■ :-.•.:. ] "^f'-f^Sw, ■■^U.me.'.imojgB ,$$ Co ho J yr,yp,u c «aßie,to | ' -v, Ne5 related , jite a^yenidrej -^d the, manner ■\ ifif -'ss|icli|^lio ' had! effectea^l^es^e, from the ; -..oapwrs'.r. ':; . '•' * * ..:;. i.;,u-.wt!kv:'-'-\'>^.}- :- ----\sf You have, indeed, Lad an esca^,: I '. /the \ . -.'■'•moui ,Baia. . "Thesgt are > 'fe\t' J ,-upq|i ;i Vw:h6in, & ."Criuncill.ojc'ypn Aeit lays «^ia.h^ud v?hq ever es? T fflweJEroiti'iS!"- h^v^deed^howttibc^i skill;. >':'■'> ;aiw/obu^b4n.tb.iw|reeuig ypiirself/-' ». ; ;i .'..-. -t ". ' .^TKwew no .grea^ %s*&* W c^uPßg away' ' ;#ll^•■'■yott^ 'Kw^^^P']'.'(^i?^ u jf^tay toj^ire and . ■'■■ deaAkre^befpi^.youj'^jNed'.yeplied. „.;'■ ;::..')• f ' ;^f(^ndMiow,^ what axe, ,ypur ;phws?'V,thd .-Wiomaniaak'ed.. '.-.■-:!:.; ';<• w •■<■•.•.•• »>'•■■ -V ■. r."Myf only : planas .to. obtaan:a f disguise in firhich fa { eßfta'pq frpm.the-city.^-yMy^iQisfHdniis ijpof oxtunateiy endwl by the ,loss;of/ mj: pajpers, haveb^a^oiTy^tflryiJoiteU tb^the' prince if J Bucoeed in making. ■&%•&&?. .'back to Holland, of the utter failure' 1.-havepiade of til© mission with which.he was good enough to iutrußtme/' ■ '■>• . <; -,-'•' '■ ' > •-• , . ..(TO BB (X>"OTtNU"ED.)