crack, and farther progress was impossible. We now 45
returned, made a wide circuit across the Segwaertway, and through this
canal here, where there was hard fighting, to North-Aa. The Zoetermeer
Lake now lay behind us, but the water became too shallow and we could get
no farther. Have you seen the great Ark of Delft? It's a huge vessel,
moved by wheels, by which the water is thrust aside. You'll be delighted
with it. At last the Lord gave us the storm and the spring-tide. Then the
vessels had the right depth of water. There was warm work again at the
Kirk-way, but the day before yesterday we reached Lammen. Many a brave
man has fallen on both sides, but at Lammen every one expected the worst
struggle to take place. We were going to attack it early this morning,
but when day dawned everything was unnaturally quiet in the den, and
moreover, a strange stillness prevailed. Then we thought: Leyden has
surrendered; starvation conquered her. But it was nothing of the sort!
You are people of the right stamp, and soon after a lad about as large as
one of you, came to our vessel and told us he had seen a long procession
of lights move out of the fort during the night and march away. At first
we wouldn't believe him, but the boy was right. The water had grown too
hot for the crabs, and the lights the lad saw were the Spaniards' lunts.
Look, children, there is Lammen--"

Adrian had gone close to the map with his companions and now interrupted
the Beggar by laughing loudly.

"What is it, curly-head?" asked the latter.

"Look, look!" cried the boy, "the great General Valdez has immortalized
himself here, and there is his name too. Listen, listen! The rector would
hang a placard with the word donkey round his neck, for he has written:
'Castelli parvi! Vale civitas, valete castelli parvi; relicti estis
propter aquam et non per vim inimicorum!' Oh! the donkey 'Castelli
parvi!'"

"What does it mean?" asked the Beggar.

"Farewell, Leyden, farewell, ye little 'Castelli;' ye are abandoned on
account of the waves, and not of the power of the enemy. 'Parvi
Castelli!' I must tell mother that!"

On Monday, William of Orange entered Leyden, and went to Herr von
Montfort's house. The people received their Father William with joy, and
the unwearied champion of liberty, in the midst of the exultation and
rejoicing that surrounded him, labored for the future prosperity of the
city. At a later period he rewarded the faithful endurance of the