d it would thereby have remained the executioner's head
quarters as before. I have therefore preserved you for greater things,
which, now that you are so well upon your legs again, we may soon see.'

Alf looked inquiringly at his friend, and suffered himself to be led by
him back to his own sitting room and to be seated upon a stool.

'The affairs of Munster stand badly,' said Hanslein. 'The famine
increases, and I see the moment very near when the unhappy people will
be driven to despair. Succor is not to be expected. At Bolswart in
Friesland, the strongest power of the anabaptists had been collected,
and would soon have marched to our aid; but the governor of Friesland
surrounded the place with his forces, and after four assaults forced
it, putting almost the whole population to the sword. In Amsterdam, von
Kempen and von Seelen have done their best to bring us aid. As the
council and chief burghers of the cross-guild retired from the
council-room, our people stormed the city hall, overpowered all who
opposed them, and the burgomasters, Peter Colyn and Simon Bute, were
left dead upon the spot; but the burgomaster Goswin Rekalf collected
the citizens, a severely contested battle ensued, and our people were
slain, or taken and executed, including poor Kempen, who had caused
himself to be declared bishop of Amsterdam. Seelen exposed himself upon
the tower of the city hall, where he was afterwards shot down and fell
dead upon the market place. With him expired our last hope.'

'Oh God, will these horrors never end?' sighed Alf, casting his eyes
toward heaven.

'Here probably soon,' said Hanslein; 'but it will be a fearful end. The
city must shortly surrender, and then the lord bishop Franciscus may
not treat us more mildly than king Johannes has hitherto done. I have
least reason to hope for pardon then, and have therefore determined to
go back to my old master immediately. I have discovered a place through
which an escape from the city can be made. By the same way I trust I
can lead the troops of the enemy into Munster, and with this secret I
intend to purchase my peace with the bishop. Will you make the
experiment with me this night? The sentinels now upon the night posts
sleep away their hunger and will not hinder us.'

'My father's house is a house of prayer,' said Alf, after musing a long
time; 'but you have made it a den of murderers. Yes, the originally
pure doctrine of the anabaptists might perhaps have been a