by G. A. Henty
CHAPTER X
A DANGEROUS ENCOUNTER
The Count of Sluys was sitting at a table covered with papers.
"You have chosen a strange disguise," he said with a smile.
"It is none of my choosing," Ned replied. "I came into the cityin the dress of a peasant boy, but was arrested by Councillor VonAert, and had I not made my escape should probably have by thistime been hung."
"Are you the lad for whom such a search has been made?" the countasked in surprise. "Von Aert is so furious he can talk about nothingelse, and all the world is laughing at his having been tricked bya boy. Had I known that it was the prince's messenger I should nothave felt inclined to laugh; thinking that papers, that would haveboded me evil if discovered, might have been found upon him."
"They were found upon me," Ned replied; "but happily I recoveredthem. As they were not addressed, no one was any the wiser. Thisis the one intended for you, sir."
The count opened and read the document, and then gave Ned a longmessage to deliver to the prince. It contained particulars of hisinterviews with several other nobles, with details as to the numberof men they could put in the field, and the funds they could disposeof in aid of the rising. Ned took notes of all the figures on aslip of paper, as he had done in several other instances. The countthen asked him as to his arrest and manner of escape, and laughedheartily when he found that Von Aert had himself by mistake returnedthe letters found upon Ned.
"I have delivered all but one," Ned said. "And that I know not howto dispose of, for it would be dangerous to play the same trickagain. And, indeed, I want if possible to be out of town tomorrow;not so much for my own sake, but because were I detected it mightbring destruction upon those who are sheltering me."
"Who is this letter for?" the count asked. Ned hesitated; thenoble to whom the letter was addressed was, like many others of theprince's secret adherents, openly a strong supporter of the Dukeof Alva. And, indeed, many were at that time playing a double game,so as to make profit whichever side was successful in the long run.
"Perhaps it is better not to tell me," the count said, seeing Ned'shesitation, "and I am glad to see that you are so discreet. But itcan be managed in this way: Take a pen and go to that other tableand write the address on the letter. I will call in my servant andtell him to take it from you and to deliver it at once, and askfor a reply to the person from Beerholt. That is, if that is thepassword to him also. He shall deliver the reply to you, and I willgive you my promise that I will never ask him afterwards to whomhe took the letter."
Ned felt that this would be the best course he could adopt, andaddressed the letter at once. The count touched a bell and thelackey again entered.
"Take that letter at once," the count said, motioning to the letterNed held in his hand. "You will deliver it yourself, and ask thatan answer may be given to you for the person from Beerholt. Waitfor that answer and bring it back here."
After the servant had gone the count chatted with Ned as to thestate of affairs in Holland, and asked him many questions abouthimself. It was an hour and a half before the servant returned. Hewas advancing with the letter to the count, when the latter motionedto him to hand it to Ned.
"Is there nothing else that I can do for you?" he asked. "How doyou intend to travel back through the country? Surely not in thatdress?"
"No, sir; I was thinking of procuring another."
"It might be difficult for you to get one," the count said. "I willmanage that for you;" and he again touched the bell. "Philip," hesaid to the lackey, "I need a suit of your clothes; a quiet plainsuit, such as you would use if you rode on an errand for me. Bringthem here at once, and order a new suit for yourself.
"He is but little taller than you are," he went on when the manhad retired, "and his clothes will, I doubt not, fit you. You havenot got a horse, I suppose?"
"No, sir."
"Which way are you going back?"
"I shall take the Antwerp road."
"There is a clump of trees about three miles along that road," thecount said. "Philip shall be there with a horse for you at any hourthat you like to name."
"I thank you greatly, count. I will be there at nine in the morning.I shall sally out in my present dress, leave the road a mile orso from the town, and find some quiet place where I can put on thesuit you have furnished me with, and then walk on to the wood."
"Very well; you shall find the horse there at that hour withoutfail. You are a brave lad, and have carried out your task withgreat discretion. I hope some day to see you again by the side ofthe Prince of Orange."
A minute later the lackey returned with a bundle containing thesuit of clothes. Ned placed it in his basket.
"Goodbye, and a good journey," the count said. Ned followed thelackey, whom the count had told him had been born on his estate,and could be implicitly trusted, down the stairs, and then madehis way without interruption to his lodging.
"Welcome back," the countess exclaimed, as he entered. "We haveprayed for you much today, but I began to fear that harm had befallenyou; for it is already growing dark, and I thought you would havebeen here two or three hours since. How have you sped?"
"Excellently well, madam. I have delivered all the letters, andhave obtained answers, in all cases but one, by word of mouth. Thatone is in writing; but I shall commit it to heart, and destroy itat once. Then, if I am again searched, I shall not be in so perilousa position as before."
He opened the letter and read it. As he had expected, it waswritten with extreme caution, and in evidently a feigned hand; nonames either of places or persons were mentioned. The writer simplyassured "his good cousin" of his goodwill, and said that owing tothe losses he had had in business from the troubled times, he couldnot say at present how much he could venture to aid him in the newbusiness on which he had embarked.
After reading it through, Ned threw the paper into the fire.
"He did not feel sure as to whom he was writing," he said, "andfeared treachery. However, as I have obtained nine answers, I neednot mind if this be but a poor one. Now, madam, I am ready to startat half past seven in the morning. I have been furnished with anotherdisguise, to put on when I get beyond the walls; and a horse is tobe in waiting for me at a point three miles away; so that I hopeI shall be able to make my way back without much difficulty."
Accordingly in the morning, after many thanks to the Countess VonHarp for her kindness, and the expression of his sincerest hope thatthey might meet again, either in England or Holland, Ned startedon his way. On reaching one of the streets leading to the gate hefell in behind a group of country people, who, having early disposedof the produce they had brought to market, were making their wayhome. Among them was a lad of about his own age; and on reaching thegate two soldiers at once stepped forward and seized him, to thesurprise and consternation of himself and his friends. The soldierspaid no heed to the outcry, but shouted to someone in the guardhouse, and immediately a man whom Ned recognized as one of thewarders who had attended him in prison came out.
"That is not the fellow," he said, after a brief look at the captive."He is about the same age, but he is much fairer than our fellow,and in no way like him in face."
Ned did not wait to hear the result of the examination, but at oncepassed on out of the gate with the country people unconnected withthe captive. A minute or two later the latter with his friendsissued forth. Ned kept about halfway between the two parties untilhe reached a lane branching off from the road in the direction inwhich he wished to go. Following this for a mile he came into theGhent road, and had no difficulty in finding the place where he hadhidden his money. Going behind a stack of corn, a short distanceaway, he changed his clothes; and pushing the female garments wellinto the stack, went on his way again, well pleased to be once morein male attire.
The clothes fitted him well, and were of a sober colour, such asa trusty retainer of a noble house would wear upon a journey. Heretraced his steps until again on the road to Antwerp, and followedthis until he c
ame to the clump of trees. Here the count's servantwas awaiting him with two horses. He smiled as Ned came up.
"If it had not been my own clothes you are wearing, I should nothave known you again," he said. "The count bade me ask you if youhad need of money? If so, I was to hand you this purse."
"Give my thanks to the count," Ned replied, "and say that I am wellfurnished."
"Not in all respects, I think," the man said.
Ned thought for a minute.
"No," he said. "I have no arms."
The man took a brace of pistols from the holsters of his own horseand placed them in those on Ned's saddle, and then unbuckled hissword belt and handed it to Ned.
"It is ill travelling unarmed in the Netherlands at present," hesaid. "What with the Spaniards and the Germans, and the peasants whohave been driven to take to a robber's life, no man should travelwithout weapons. The count bade me give you these, and say he wassure you would use them well if there should be need."
Ned leaped into the saddle, and with sincere thanks to the mangalloped off towards Antwerp. Unless ill fortune should again throwhim in the way of Von Aert he now felt safe; and he had no fearthat this would be the case, for they would be devoting their wholeenergy to the search for him in Brussels. He burst into a fit ofhearty laughter as he rode along, at the thought of the fury thecouncillor must have been thrown into when, upon his return home,he discovered that he had given away the wrong packet of letters.He would have been angry enough before at the escape of the captivehe was himself watching, and the loss thereby of the means uponwhich he had reckoned to discover the ownership of the letters,and so to swell the list of victims. Still he doubtless consoledhimself at the thought that he was sure before many hours to havehis prisoner again in his power, and that, after all, annoying asit was, the delay would be a short one indeed. But when he tookthe packet from his pocket, and discovered that he had given up theall important documents, and had retained a packet of blank paper,he must have seen at once that he was foiled. He might recapturethe prisoner, torture him, and put him to death; but his firststep would of course have been to destroy the precious letters,and there would be no evidence forthcoming against those for whomthey were intended, and who were doubtless men of considerablestanding and position, and not to be assailed upon the mere avowalextracted by torture from a boy and unsupported by any writtenproofs.
"That evil looking clerk of his will come in for a share of hisdispleasure," Ned thought to himself. "I believe that he is worsethan his master, and will take it sorely to heart at having beentricked by a boy. I should have scant mercy to expect should I everfall into their hands again."
Ned rode through the city of Mechlin without drawing rein. It wasbut a month since that it had been the scene of the most horriblebutchery, simply because it had opened its gates to the Prince ofOrange on his forward march to attempt the relief of Mons. A few ofthe prince's German mercenaries had been left there as a garrison.These fired a few shots when the Spanish army approached, andthen fled in the night, leaving the town to the vengeance of theSpaniards. In the morning a procession of priests and citizens wentout to beg for pardon, but the Spaniards rushed into the town andbegan a sack and a slaughter that continued for three days.
The churches, monasteries, and religious houses of every kind,as well as those of the private citizens, were sacked; and thedesecration of the churches by the fanatics of Antwerp, for whichhundreds of heretics had been burnt to death, was now repeated athousand fold by the Roman Catholic soldiers of Philip. The ornamentsof the altars, the chalices, curtains, carpets, gold embroideredrobes of the priests, the repositories of the Host, the preciousvessels used in extreme unction, the rich clothing and jewelryof the effigies of the Virgin and saints were all plundered. Theproperty of the Catholic citizens was taken as freely as that ofthe Protestants; of whom, indeed, there were few in the city. Men,women, and children were murdered wholesale in the streets.
Even the ultra Catholic Jean Richardot, member of the Grand Council,in reporting upon the events, ended his narration by saying "Hecould say no more, for his hair stood on end, not only at recounting,but even at remembering the scene." The survivors of the sack weremoving listlessly about the streets of the ruined city as Ned rodethrough. Great numbers had died of hunger after the conclusion ofthe pillage; for no food was to be obtained, and none dare leavetheir houses until the Spanish and German troops had departed. Zutphenhad suffered a vengeance even more terrible than that of Mechlin.Alva had ordered his son Frederick, who commanded the army thatmarched against it, to leave not a single man alive in the city,and to burn every house to the ground; and the orders were literallyobeyed. The garrison were first put to the sword, and then thecitizens were attacked and slaughtered wholesale. Some were strippednaked and turned out to freeze to death in the fields. Five hundredwere tied back to back and drowned in the river. Some were hungup by their feet, and suffered for many hours until death came totheir relief.
Ned put up at Antwerp for the night. The news of the destructionof Zutphen, and of the horrors perpetrated there, had arrivedbut a few hours before, and a feeling of the most intense horrorand indignation filled the inhabitants; but none dared to expresswhat every one felt. The fate of Mechlin and Zutphen was as Alvahad meant it to be, a lesson so terrible, that throughout theNetherlands, save in Holland and Zeeland alone, the inhabitantswere palsied by terror. Had one great city set the example and risenagainst the Spaniards, the rest would have followed; but none daredbe the first to provoke so terrible a vengeance. Men who would haverisked their own lives shrank from exposing their wives and childrento atrocities and death. It seemed that conflict was useless. Vander Berg, a brother-in-law of the Prince of Orange, who had beenplaced by the prince as Governor of Guelderland and Overyssel,fled by night, and all the cities which had raised the standard ofOrange deserted the cause at once. Friesland, too, again submittedto the Spanish yoke.
Ned, after putting up his horse at a hotel at Antwerp, saunteredout into the streets. Antwerp at that time was one of the finest andwealthiest towns in Europe. Its public buildings were magnificent,the town hall a marvel of architectural beauty. He stood in thegreat square admiring its beauties and those of the cathedral whenhe was conscious of some one staring fixedly at him, and he couldscarce repress a start when he saw the malicious face of Genet,the clerk of Councillor Von Aert. His first impulse was to fly,but the square was full of burghers, with many groups of Spanishsoldiers sauntering about; he could not hope to escape.
He saw by the expression on Genet's face that as yet he was notsure of his identity. He had before seen him only as a country boy,and in his present attire his appearance was naturally a good dealchanged. Still the fixed stare of the man showed that his suspicionswere strongly aroused, and Ned felt sure that it would not belong before he completely recognized him. Nothing could be moreunfortunate than that this man whom he had believed to be diligentlysearching for him in Brussels should thus meet him in the streetsof Antwerp. Turning the matter over rapidly in his mind he saw butone hope of escape. He sauntered quietly up to a group of soldiers.
"My friends," he said, "do you want to earn a few crowns?"
"That would we right gladly," one of them replied, "seeing thatHis Gracious Majesty has forgotten to pay us for well nigh a year."
"There is a hang dog villain with a squint, in a russet cloak anddoublet, just behind me." Ned said. "I have had dealings with him,and know him and his master to be villains. He claims that I amin debt to his master, and it may be that it is true; but I haveparticular reasons for objecting to be laid by the heels for itjust now."
"That is natural enough," the soldier said. "I have experiencedthe same unpleasantness, and can feel for you."
"See here, then," Ned said. "Here are ten crowns, which is twoapiece for you. Now, I want you to hustle against that fellow, picka quarrel with him and charge him with assaulting you, and drag himaway to the guard house. Give him a slap on the mouth if he criesout, and throw him into a cell, an
d let him cool his heels theretill morning. That will give me time to finish my business and beoff again into the country."
"That can be managed easily enough," the soldier said with a laugh."He is an ill favoured looking varlet; and is, I doubt not, apestilent heretic. It would be a pleasure to cuff him even withoutyour honor's crowns."
"Here is the money, then," Ned said; "but, above all, as I havesaid, do not let him talk or cry out or make a tumult. Nip himtightly by the neck."
"We know our business," the soldier said. "You can rely on us tomanage your affair."
Ned sauntered quietly on. In a minute or two he heard a loud andsudden altercation, then there was the sound of blows, and lookinground he saw two of the soldiers shaking Genet violently. The manendeavoured to shout to the crowd; but one of the soldiers smotehim heavily on the mouth, and then surrounding him they draggedhim away. "That is very satisfactorily done," Ned said to himself,"and it is by no means likely that Master Genet will get a hearingbefore tomorrow morning. He will be pushed into a cell in theguard room on the charge of brawling and insolence, and it is notprobable that anyone will go near him till the morning. I certainlyshould like to peep in and have a look at him. His rage would begood to see; and he has been instrumental in sending such hundredsof men to prison that one would like to see how he feels now thatit is his turn. Still I must not count too surely upon having time.He may possibly find some officers who will listen to his tale,although I do not think he is likely to do that; but still it wouldbe foolish to risk it, and I will mount my horse and ride on atonce."
The ostler was somewhat surprised when Ned told him that he hadchanged his mind, and that, instead of remaining for the night atAntwerp, he should ride forward at once. As Ned paid him handsomelyfor the feed the horse had had he made no remark, and Ned mountedand rode out through the town by the gate through which he hadentered. Then he made a wide detour round the town, and rode on alongthe bank of the river until he came to a ferry. Here he crossed,and then rode on until he reached a village, where he resolved tostop the night, being now off the main roads, and therefore fairlysafe from pursuit, even should Genet be able to satisfy his captorsthat a mistake had been made, and that those who captured him hadin fact been aiding a fugitive to escape from justice.
The host of the little inn apologized for the poor fare that wasset before him, on the ground of the exactions of the soldiers."One can scarcely call one's life one's own," he grumbled. "A bodyof them rode into the village yesterday and stripped it clear ofeverything, maltreating all who ventured even to remonstrate. Theycame from Antwerp, I believe; but there is no saying, and even ifwe knew them it would be useless to make complaints."
Ned assured his host that he was very indifferent in the matter offood.
"In these days," he said, "if one can get a piece of bread one maythink one's self lucky. But you have, I hope, sufficient foragefor my horse."
"Yes," the landlord replied; "their horses ate as much as theycould, but they could not carry off my supply of corn. Indeed thehorses were pretty well laden as it was with ducks and geese. Ilet them have as much wine as they could drink, and of the best, sothey did not trouble to go down into the cellar. If they had theywould likely enough have broached all the casks and let the winerun. There is nothing that these fellows are not capable of; theyseem to do mischief out of pure devilment."
Ned had scarcely finished his meal when a tramping of horses washeard outside.
"The saints protect us!" the landlord exclaimed. "Here are eitherthese fellows coming back again, or another set doubtless just asbad."
A minute later the door opened and a party of a dozen soldiersentered.
"Wine, landlord! and your best!" a sergeant said. "Some comradeswho called here yesterday told us that your tap was good, so wehave ridden over to give you a turn."
The landlord groaned.
"Gracious, sirs," he said, "I am but a poor man, and your comradeson parting forgot to settle for their wine. Another two or threevisits, and I am ruined."
A volley of impatient oaths at once broke out, and without furtherhesitation the terrified landlord hurried away, and returned loadedwith flasks of wine, upon which the soldiers were speedily engaged.
"And who may you be, young sir?" one of them asked Ned, who wassitting at a small table apart from the rest.
"I am simply a traveller," Ned replied, "engaged upon my master'sbusiness."
"You are a likely looking young fellow too," the soldier said, "andwould have made a good soldier if you had had the chance, insteadof jogging about doing your lord's bidding; but I warrant me youare no better than the rest of your countrymen, and do not knowone end of a sword from the other."
"I am not skilled in arms," Ned replied, "though my experiencegoes a little further than you say; but as you gentlemen protectthe Netherlands, and we have no army of our own, I have not hadthe opportunity, even had I wished it, to become a soldier."
"Move over here," the soldier said, "and join us in a cup to thehonour of Philip and confusion to the Prince of Orange and alltraitors."
"I will join you in drinking to Philip, for in truth he is a greatmonarch and a powerful, and I will also drink to the confusion ofall traitors whomsoever they may be."
"You are all traitors at heart," one of the Spaniards who had notbefore spoken, put in. "There is not a native of the Netherlandsbut would rise against us tomorrow."
"I think that is true speaking," said Ned quietly. "There are manytraitors in the Netherlands I grant you, but there are others towhom your words can hardly apply."
"They are all the same," the soldier said angrily. "Knaves everyone of them. However, before we have done with them we will reducetheir number."
Ned did not reply; but having drank the glass of wine, returnedto his seat, and shortly afterwards, when the soldiers began toquarrel among themselves, slipped from the room. The landlord wasoutside, pacing anxiously up and down.
"Are there any more of them in the village?" Ned asked.
"Not that I know of," he answered; "and to me it makes no difference.They will stay here swilling my wine all night, and in the morninglike enough will set fire to my house before they ride away. Ihave just sent off my wife and daughters to be out of their reach.As for myself, I am half minded to mix poison with their wine andfinish with them."
"That would only bring down vengeance upon yourself," Ned said."Some would probably escape and tell the tale. At any rate, as thereare so large a number there would be sure to be inquiry when theywere found to be missing, and no doubt they mentioned to some oftheir friends before they started where they were coming to, andinquiry would be made. You could never get rid of all their bodies.Besides, doubtless others in the village heard them ride up, andknow that they have been here; so you could not escape detection.It is better to put up with them."
"Yes, if there were only these fellows; but you will see thatanother party will come, and another, until I am entirely ruined."
"If you think that, I would in the morning shut up my house anddepart, and not return until these troubles are over."
"And then come back and find my house burned down," the innkeepergroaned.
"Better that than to see yourself gradually ruined, and perhapslose your life," Ned said.
"There is nowhere to go to," the innkeeper said with a shake ofhis head.
"You might do as many others have done," Ned replied, "and go toHolland, where at least you would be safe."
"But not for long," the man said. "The army will soon be on themarch in that direction, and my fate there would be worse thanhere. Here I am only an innkeeper to be fleeced; there I should beregarded as a heretic to be burnt. Listen to them. They are fightingnow. Do you hear my mugs crashing? I only hope that they will killeach other to the last man. I should advise you, sir, to be off atonce. They may take it into their heads that you are some one itbehooves them to slay, it matters not whom; and you would certainlyget no sleep here tonight if you stay."
"That i
s true enough," Ned agreed; "and perhaps it would be thebest way for me to get on horseback again, but I know not the road,and might likely enough miss it altogether, and drown myself inone of your ditches."
"I will send my boy with you to put you on to the road," the landlordsaid. "I sent him out to sleep in the stables, so as to be out ofthe way of these desperadoes. He will walk beside your horse untilyou get into the main road."
Ned willingly accepted the proposal, for indeed he felt thatthere might be danger in remaining in the house with these drunkensoldiers. He accordingly paid his reckoning, and was soon onhorseback again, with the landlord's son, a boy of some ten yearsold, walking beside him. In half an hour they came upon a broadroad.
"This," the lad said, "will take you to St. Nicholas."
Ned gave the boy a crown for his trouble, and rode slowly along.He had no idea of entering St. Nicholas, for it was now nigh eleveno'clock at night, and the arrival of a traveller at such an hourwould be sure to attract attention. The night, too, was dark, andhe could scarce see the road he was following. After thinking itover for some time he dismounted, led his horse a distance fromthe road, fastened the reins to a bush, and threw himself down onthe ground to wait for daylight. The night was cold, and a finerain was falling. Ned got up from time to time and walked aboutto keep himself warm, and was heartily glad when he saw the firstrays of daylight in the east.
After waiting for half an hour he mounted, and after riding a fewmiles entered a large village. Thinking that it would be saferthan at St. Nicholas, he halted here. It was still raining, and thedrenched state of his clothes therefore excited no comment beyondthe host's remark, "You must have started early to have got sowet?"
"Yes," he said, "I was up before daylight. I have a change of clothesin my saddlebag, and shall be glad to put them on. Will you orderyour man to give my horse a good rub down, and let him have a hotmash. How far am I from Ghent now?"
"If you have come from Antwerp, sir, you have come just halfway."
Ned changed his clothes and had some breakfast, and then as he satby the fire the feeling of warmth and comfort after his long andcold night overpowered him, and he went fast to sleep.
