CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.
A BRAVE DEFENCE.
As we approached the northern gate, by which we purposed enteringAntwerp, we met some straggling parties of persons who had come out ofthe city, slowly proceeding towards the river. They none of themcarried anything, neither baskets nor bundles, nor visible property ofany description. Yet there was something in their looks which made mefancy that they were anxious to escape from the place.
We hastened on to Dame Trond's house. As we passed through the streets,loud salvos of artillery and the rattling sound of musketry reached ourears, fired in honour of the ruler of the Netherlands or his statue; asA'Dale remarked, it was hard to say which. On reaching the witch'sabode, I knocked as before at the door. We were speedily admitted.People who come with gold in their purses are seldom denied. The olddame was highly pleased, and promised us every possible good luck to theend of our days.
"You are fortunate, young sir," she said, "in being able to make yourescape from this city; for, from all I have seen and heard, by the studyof my art I perceive that ere long even worse days than the miserableones at present are coming upon it."
"It needs no witch to tell us that, mother," observed A'Dale. "WhenDuke Alva finds that he can so easily fill his coffers by murdering hisloving subjects, he is not likely to end his system, until he has nomore subjects worth murdering."
The old woman gave a keen, quick glance up at A'Dale.
"Those are dangerous words to speak, young master," she observed. "Itis well that my walls have no ears; but if a Netherlander were to utterthem, I would not answer for the consequences."
I could not understand Dame Trond's character. That she was an impostorI had no doubt. She certainly was not an adherent of the Church ofRome, and still more certainly she had no knowledge of Christianity. Iam afraid she was like others, who found it profitable to impose ontheir fellow-creatures in spite of all consequences. Yet she wasapparently kind-hearted, and possessed some of the milk of human nature,though it might turn rather acid at times. When we bade her farewell,she hobbled after us to the door, again thanking us for our liberality,and praying that we might be protected from all dangers.
Having thus far satisfactorily performed our mission, we turned oncemore to the North Gate of the city. We were again surprised by thenumber of persons we saw emerging from the gate; as we passed throughit, we observed the guard as usual standing at their posts, and notseeming in any way disposed to interrupt them. I remarked, however,among them two or three men I knew, and whom I had always felt sure werestrong Protestants. They saluted us as we passed. One of them,stepping forward, whispered to me, "Hasten on without delay!"
I thanked the man, and we took the hint, walking rapidly forward to theplace Captain Radford had appointed. I now became very anxious for himand Aveline and Master Overton, fearing lest by waiting for us theymight become involved in the dangers to which the fugitives would toolikely be exposed. Shortly afterwards, as we looked back, we saw thepeople behind us increasing their speed, and in a short time the veryguard we had left at the gate overtook us. Seeing the man who hadspoken to me, I asked him what had occurred.
"Taking advantage of the absence of the soldiers in the citadel, wesurprised the Spanish guard at the gate," he answered, "and occupyingtheir post, allowed our friends to go through. We have left theSpaniards bound in the guardroom. We have closed the gates behind us,and are now hastening to get on board ship before our flight isdiscovered A good reason then have we for making haste."
We observed that not only the men who had formed the guard at the gatewere armed, but so also were a large number of the persons whoaccompanied them. I remembered well the escape of fugitives I had manyyears before witnessed, when the Romanists, without remorse, attackedthem. We were still some distance from the point of embarkation towardswhich the fugitives were making their way, when a shout from those stillbehind us reached our ears:
"The Spaniards are coming! Fly, friends, fly! the Spaniards arecoming!"
We looked over our shoulders, and saw a body of horsemen sweeping alongthe road which led from one of the further gates of the city. They weregalloping furiously, and by the glitter of their leader's sword, whichwas pointed towards us, we were left in no doubt as to their intentions.
"Countrymen, we must stand and fight, and hold the ground till the womenand children have embarked! Who will rally round me?" cried one of thefugitives.
The speaker was a sturdy artisan--a master blacksmith of the city,well-known for the valiant way in which he had, on more than oneoccasion, wielded his double-handled sword. Others repeated his call,and some fifty brave fellows collected together, forming a strong bodyacross the road. Happily, in consequence of the number of canals andditches, the horsemen were compelled to keep in the causeway, and werethus unable to cut off the fugitives by making a circuit in any otherdirection. We could not help answering to the brave blacksmith's call,by joining those who rallied round him. The order was now given slowlyto retreat, that we might afford ourselves a better chance of escapingafter the women and children had embarked. The Spanish horse weredrawing nearer and nearer. They were well-trained ruffians, whoseswords had often been dyed in the blood of the unhappy Netherlanders,and no sensation of pity was likely to prevent them from slaughteringall they could now overtake. As they came within a hundred yards of us,their commander ordered them to charge.
"Slay! slay! cut down all your swords can reach!" we heard him shoutingout.
We had a few pike-men with us, who, springing to the front, knelt downto receive the horses. Those with pistols formed the second rank, whilethose with arquebuses and musketoons drew up behind them. We thuspresented a formidable front, while a deep ditch on either sideprevented our being taken in flank. The Spaniards, nothing daunted,however, galloped forward. We received them firmly. Several saddleswere emptied of their riders, and five or six of the leading horsesslain or badly wounded. The bodies of the animals encumbering the road,prevented the advance of those in the rear, thus giving time to us toreload our fire-arms, while the Spanish commander, seeing that he couldnot break through our line, gave the order to his men to wheel about andretire. Several others were shot as they fled, but their fleet horsessoon carried them out of reach of our fire-arms. On seeing this, ourbrave leader gave the order to his followers to retreat towards theboats. But before we had made good fifty yards, the Spaniards had oncemore wheeled about, and came galloping at a furious pace towards us.Again we threw ourselves into the same position as before. Thunderingover the ground came the Spanish horsemen, with the determination ofcrushing us. The artisans of Antwerp, however, well-trained to arms,were not men to be cut down without fighting hard, when given theopportunity of resisting in a body. Still the Spaniards chargedcourageously, and several of the front rank were cut down, while otherswere killed or wounded by the discharge of their musketoons. The placesof those who were killed were instantly supplied by others from therear, and once more the cavalry had to retreat. At that instant a mancame running up from the bank of the river, which was elevatedconsiderably above the ground on which we stood, with the alarmingintelligence that a body of musketeers was seen in the distanceadvancing towards us. Those dreaded musketeers! even the bravest wellknew that we could not hope to withstand them! The possibility thatAveline might be among those we saw on the banks gave courage to my arm,and made me resolve to fight to the last, in order to stop the progressof the hated Spaniards. Once among that crowd of helpless women andchildren and old men, I knew too well the fearful havoc they wouldcommit. The atrocities which they had been guilty of at Valenciennesand many other places were still too fresh in our memory not to bethought of. Once more, therefore, we retreated, facing the foe, whoagain galloped towards us.
On looking round as we approached the river's bank, my worstapprehensions were realised, for there I recognised Captain Radford,though his back was turned towards me as he waved to a boat coming upthe river to hasten onward.
Our retreat had now become almost a flight,for our pike-men, not daring to kneel to receive the horsemen, wereunable as before to drive them back. Headed by the blacksmith, however,the bravest of the party stood their ground, giving blow for blow as thehorsemen rode among them. The latter must have been aware that themusketeers were advancing to their support, and this for very shame madethem eager to finish the fight with the half-armed citizens with whomthey were contending. The horsemen were approaching the spot whereCaptain Radford and his companions stood. Neither he nor Aveline,engaged in watching the progress of the boat, were aware of the nearapproach of danger. Though I shouted to them, amid the din of battlethey did not hear my voice. Calling on A'Dale, therefore, I could nolonger withstand the temptation of springing forward at all events to beby the side of Aveline, should the horsemen reach her, although ourdoing so might appear as if we were taking to flight. The moment was afearful one. It seemed scarcely possible that any human power couldsave us. Although several of the troopers had been killed, still theywere a strong body, and, rendered furious by their previous defeats,fought desperately, slashing on every side, and cutting down all theirswords could meet. At a quick march the formidable musketeers wereadvancing towards us. The boats, by which alone we could escape, werenot to be seen from where I stood. I could only hope, therefore, thatthey might be approaching. Still the brave blacksmith, surrounded byseveral of his workmen, stood his ground, not only defending himselfwith his formidable double-handled sword, but cutting down many of hisopponents. This enabled A'Dale and me to rush up the bank. I calledout Aveline's name. She sprang towards me.
"I'll fight for you to the last," I said, pointing to the Spaniards.
Then, for the first time, I saw that the _Falcon's_ boats were only ashort distance from the bank. A'Dale joined me, armed with an arquebuswhich he had taken from one of the Spaniards who had been shot. He hadalso provided himself with the man's ammunition-pouch and belt.
"I'll stand by you, Verner," he said, "to keep the Spaniards at bay,while you retreat with Mistress Aveline."
I thankfully followed his suggestion, and, lifting Aveline from theground, bore her down the bank towards the first boat which approachedthe shore. Scarcely had the stern touched the ground before a number ofthe unhappy fugitives rushed towards it, and attempted to force theirway on board. It seemed cruel to prevent them, and yet there was notroom for all. Keeping Aveline out of the water, I waded in anddeposited her safely in the stern of the boat; then shouting to CaptainRadford, I entreated him also to come on board. The _Falcons_ crew hadmeantime driven back their assailants, and taking the opportunity,before the Spaniards again rode at them, they hurried down the bank andgained the boats, already half full of fugitives. It was a sore trialto Captain Radford when he had to insist on many of the unfortunatepeople again landing; but there was no help for it. The boats wouldhave sunk had he allowed all to remain. As it was, they were alreadytoo deeply laden for safety. The sailors had literally to lift outthose who had last got in, and to place them on the shore, ere we shovedoff into deep water. It was heartrending to see the whole shore linedwith fugitives: some rushing into boats which had already come up, somewaving frantically to other boats which were approaching. Here, Spanishtroopers charging the unhappy people with lances, or sabring them asthey attempted to fly into the water. Here and there were knots ofbrave men struggling with their foes. Several of the unfortunatecitizens were swimming off, either to overtake the retiring boats or toget on board those they saw approaching. Now and then a shriek washeard ere the unhappy fugitive sunk below the surface.
We rowed away as fast as the crowded state of our boats would allow. Icould not withdraw my eye from the shore. Simultaneously a cry arosefrom the hapless fugitives who had not yet reached the boats, and atthat instant the heads of the musketeers, with their glittering arms,appeared above the bank, forming a deadly line--and instantly theirweapons were levelled at the ill-fated people. There was a general rushinto the river. Even those who could not swim trusted rather to thewaters of the Scheld than to the mercy of their fellow-creatures. Inspite of the hot fire opened upon them, the brave boatmen rowed here andthere, receiving all they could, though often a man, woman, or child wastaken on board immediately afterwards to be slain by the murderousbullets of the Spaniards. Even at the distance we had already gained,several bullets reached us. Two or three of the _Falcon's_ men, andsome of those we had rescued, were struck. Now we saw the Spaniardshurrying along the banks, evidently hoping to get possession of someboats in which to pursue us.
"Were we not overloaded, they would find us rough customers to deal withon our own element," observed Captain Radford. "As it is, if they comenear us, we will give them a warmer reception than they expect." Invain the Spaniards shouted to the people on board some of the boats,which had as yet got to no great distance, to return. They, happily,would not trust themselves to their tender mercies. We meantimecontinued to row away towards the _Falcon_. The mate, who had been lefton board, seeing us coming, had already loosened sails, ready to getunder weigh directly we should reach her. There was no time to be lost,for several Spanish horsemen, each taking a foot soldier behind him, hadgalloped along the banks till they reached some boats which had beenmoored there. Unfortunately, as it appeared, the crews of several werein the neighbourhood, and at the sword's point were forced to man them.This I heard afterwards. With the musketeers on board, they rowedrapidly down the Scheld in pursuit of the fugitives. Although thelatter had a considerable start, some of the boats were heavy, and thecrews of others were severely wounded, so that they could make but slowprogress. Our hearts burned with sorrow and indignation as we saw oneafter another taken, and the unfortunate people in them mercilesslybutchered. The delay, however, enabled us to keep ahead of them, as itallowed also other boats to escape.
Close to the _Falcon_ lay two vessels which had been prepared for thereception of the fugitives. Their crews, with arms in their hands,received on board all who could reach them; and, waiting till the lastboat-load of the survivors had got alongside, they cut their cables andmade sail just at the time that we did.
There was, happily, a strong and favourable breeze. The Spaniardscontinued pursuing us, firing their muskets as long as we remainedwithin their reach. No one was hit on board our vessel, although theothers more or less suffered. We returned their fire, every now andthen sending a shot from our great guns, in the hopes of sinking theirboats. This we did not succeed in doing, but I suspect we somewhatdamped their ardour, and at length they ceased rowing, and, firing aparting volley at us, turned their boats' heads up the river.
We had yet many dangers to encounter. There were forts on either sideof the river, and should intelligence of what had occurred reach them,they would undoubtedly attempt with their guns to stop our progress.But night was now approaching, and we might possibly pass them in thedark. At all events the risk must be run. We communicated with theother vessels, Captain Radford promising to lead, and urging them tofollow closely in his wake.
"There would be no use firing in return," he observed; "our shot wouldonly knock off a few pieces of their stone walls, and would in no wayassist us to escape."
The wind was fair, and there was enough of it to fill our sails, so thatwe glided steadily down the stream. We felt a considerable amount ofanxiety as we approached the first fort; but, hoisting our colours, westood on, as if we had no reason to dread their power. All the womenand children on board had been sent below, as were most of the men, lesttheir numbers should excite suspicion. The crew only were allowed toappear, and they were placed at their proper posts, or directed to walkunconcernedly up and down the deck while we remained in sight of thefort. We observed the gunners at their stations in the castle, andevery instant we expected to see a cloud of smoke with its attendantflash, followed by a round shot, issue from the muzzles of the guns.Slowly we glided by, dipping our flag, in mark of respect, as we passedthat of Spain waving on the fort. A
ll on board breathed more freely aswe found ourselves getting past, though we still looked with anxiety tosee how our consorts would be treated. They likewise sailed by withimpunity.
The first great danger had now been escaped. There was still anotherfort to pass on the same bank of the Scheld as Antwerp. We stood on,however, under all sail, hoping that news of our flight might not havereached it. Gradually we drew near. Just then we saw through thethickening gloom of evening a horseman galloping at full speed along thecauseway which led to the fort. We guessed too well his errand, but wehad no means of avoiding the danger. Keeping our colours flying,therefore, as before, we stood on. Happily, at that moment the breezeincreased, and we ran on more rapidly. The tide, too, was in ourfavour. Still the fort had numerous guns, and the deep water was veryclose to their muzzles.
The horseman was yet at some distance. We watched him anxiously, hopingthat horse and rider might come to the ground, or that some otheraccident might happen before he could deliver his message. Providencefavoured us more than we could have dared to hope, for one of theseamen, noted for his sharp sight, and whose eye had been kept on thehorseman, exclaimed:
"He has rolled over the bank!"
The crew could scarcely refrain from giving a shout of satisfaction. Adark object, supposed to be the horseman, was seen directly afterwardsclimbing up the bank and making his way towards the fort, though thethickening gloom prevented our distinguishing who he really was. On wewent. We could see lights, which made us fear that the gunners werepreparing their slow-matches, but it was now too dark to distinguish anyobjects beyond the outline of the fort. The navigation of the river wasso well-known to Captain Radford, that without hesitation he stoodboldly on.
We calculated that the horseman would not be long in reaching hisdestination, and every instant we were expecting to have a shot sentbetween our masts or into our hull. Already we were under the guns, adischarge from which, well directed, would quickly have sunk us. I heldmy breath in my anxiety, looking intently towards the embrasures, out ofwhich I knew the guns were protruding. How anxiously we marked the lineof bristling cannon as we passed along in front of it! At length, wehad but a few more guns to pass. Suddenly there was a loud shouting inthe fort. Lights were seen moving rapidly along. In an instantafterwards we could distinguish the small sparks of the slow-matches inthe hands of the gunners.
"Fire! fire quickly!"
The words were heard distinctly as they were uttered by the commandantof the fort.
The Golden Grasshopper: A story of the days of Sir Thomas Gresham Page 26
