h faction had its leaders, its
partisans, its badges, and its followers. Many and bloody were the feuds
and fights that raged through all those low-lying lands of Holland, as
the nobles, or "Hooks," as they were called--distinguishable by their
big red hats,--and the merchants, or "Cods," with their slouch hats of
quiet gray, struggled for the lead in the state. And how they DID hate
one another!

Certain of the younger nobles, however, who were opposed to the reigning
house of Holland, of which Count William, young Jacqueline's father,
was the head, had espoused the cause of the merchants, seeing in their
success greater prosperity and wealth for Holland. Among these had been
the young Lord of Arkell, now a sort of half prisoner at Count William's
court because of certain bold attempts to favor the Cods in his
own castle of Arkell. His defiant words therefore raised a storm of
protests.

"Nay, then, Lord of Arkell," said the Dauphin John, "you, who prate so
loudly, would better prove your words by some sign of your own valor.
You may have dared fight your lady mother, who so roundly punished you
therefor, but a lion hath not the tender ways of a woman. Face YOU
the lions, lord count, and I will warrant me they will not prove as
forbearing as did she."

It was common talk at Count William's court that the brave Lady of
Arkell, mother of the Count Otto, had made her way, disguised, into
we castle of her son, had herself lowered the drawbridge, admitted her
armed retainers, overpowered and driven out her rebellious son; and that
then, relenting, she had appealed to Count William to pardon the lad and
to receive him at court as hostage for his own fealty. So this fling of
the Dauphin's cut deep.

But before the young Otto could return an angry answer, Jacqueline had
interfered.

"Nay, nay, my lord," she said to her husband, the Dauphin; "'t is not a
knightly act thus to impeach the honor of a noble guest."

But now the Lord of Arkell had found his tongue.

"My lord prince," he said, bowing low with stately courtesy, "if, as
my lady mother and good Count William would force me, I am to be loyal
vassal to you, my lieges here, I should but follow where you dare to
lead. Go YOU into the lions' den, lord prince, and I will follow you,
though it were into old Hercules' very teeth."

It was a shrewd reply, and covered as good a "double-dare" as ever one
boy made to another. Some of the manlier of the young courtiers ind