Hollanders."

Jaqueline smiled approvingly, admiring, as she did, the enthusiasm of
the gallant boy, so consonant with her own feelings.

"I am much obliged to you for your readiness to accept my birds, and now
I must deliver a message I have brought from my father to the
burgomaster. My father desires to see him about the fortifications, and
as he bade me say that the matter is of importance, I ought to have
given it first."

The burgomaster had been so pre-occupied with his own thoughts that he
had not observed young Albert Van der Does, and now started as the boy
addressed him with that deference due to his age and rank.

"Tell your father that I will at once visit him. Although a man of
letters and devoted to study, I know that he possesses, among his other
talents, a military genius, which makes me value his opinion; say also
that it is the very subject which has been occupying my thoughts."

"My father is more out of spirits than I have ever seen him," said
Albert. "It is owing to a letter he lately received from a friend at
Utrecht, detailing an extraordinary circumstance which occurred in that
city some time ago. It is said that five soldiers of the Burgher Guard
were on their midnight watch, when, the rest of the sky being as dark as
pitch, they observed, directly over their heads, a clear space, equal in
extent to the length of the city, and of several yards in width.
Suddenly two armies, in battle array were seen advancing upon each
other; one moved rapidly up from the north-west, with banners waving,
spears flashing, trumpets sounding, accompanied by heavy artillery and
squadrons of cavalry; the other came slowly from the south-east. They
at length met and joined in a desperate conflict for a few moments; the
shouts of the combatants, the heavy discharge of cannon, the rattle of
musketry, the tramp of foot soldiers, the rush of cavalry, were
distinctly heard. The very firmament trembled with the shock of the
contending hosts, and was lurid with the fire of their artillery. Then
the north-western army was beaten back in disorder, but, rallying again,
formed into solid column, and once more advanced towards the
south-eastern army, which was formed into a closely-serried square, with
spears and muskets. Once more the fight raged, and the sounds were
heard as distinctly as before; the struggle was but short, the lances of
the south-eastern army snapped like hemp-sticks, and their firm columns
went