render us good service, he can run like a deer and leap
like a young calf. There are few who can dodge the Spaniards as he can,
and if we get shut up in the city, he will manage to get out again and
slip through their ranks so as to let the Prince know what we are
about."

"Berthold does not over-praise Hans Bosch," observed the captain. "I
commend him to your care, Burgomaster, while he remains in the city, and
he will be ready to make himself useful when his services are required."
It was the first evening since preparations for the defence were
commenced, that any of the inhabitants were able to take rest. Though
labourers were still employed on the works, they were nearly completed,
and Jaqueline felt that she might, without neglecting her self-imposed
duty, return home and resume her ordinary attire, so that she could
preside at her father's table. There were no guests besides Captain Van
der Elst and Albert--Berthold always resided with his uncle.

"Can you now remain with us?" asked the burgomaster of Captain Van der
Elst.

"Would that I could," answered Karl, his eyes turning for a moment
towards Jaqueline. "But our Prince requires my services and directed me
to return without delay, he has, as you know, but few officers. His
great object is forthwith to raise a force of sufficient strength to
drive the Spaniards from your gates; he did not inform me how it was to
be done, but it will be no easy task, for he has to garrison Rotterdam
and Delft, and to guard the immediate country. Were he to leave those
places unprotected, all might be lost."

"We will trust to his sleepless energy and determination, both to devise
and carry out a project for our relief," observed the burgomaster.

"An idea has occurred to me, Captain Van der Elst!" exclaimed Albert.
"I lately gave four beautiful carrier pigeons to the Vrouw Jaqueline,
and if she will consent to make them over to you, you can carry them
with you, and by their means inform us what progress the Prince is
making in his plans for our relief. Do you consent to give up your
pets, Vrouw Jaqueline?"

"Most willingly," she answered, "if Captain Van der Elst will undertake
the charge of the birds."

"I will tend them carefully, and trust that they may become the
messengers of happy news," he said, a smile for a moment lighting up his
countenance.

Albert proposed that they should at once visit the pigeons with Captain
Van der Elst, and instruct him how t