Part 105 (1/2)
”Then monseigneur pardons me?”
He nodded, and Goes went on.
”While I rowed in the dark with my oars wrapped in cloth, I heard a voice crying, 'Hola! bark, what do you want?' I thought it was to me that the question was addressed, and was about to reply something or other, when I heard some one cry behind me, 'Admiral's boat.'”
Monseigneur looked at the council.
”At the same moment,” continued Gues, ”I felt a shock; my bark was swamped, and I fell into the water, but the waves of the Scheldt knew me for an old acquaintance, and threw me up again. It was the admiral's boat taking M. de Joyeuse on board, and which had pa.s.sed over me; G.o.d only knows how I was not crushed or drowned.”
”Thanks, brave Goes, thanks,” said the Prince of Orange, putting a purse into his hand. However, the sailor seemed to wait for his dismissal from the stranger, who gave him a friendly nod, which he valued more than the prince's present.
”Well,” said monseigneur to the burgomaster, ”what do you say of this report? Do you still doubt that the French are preparing, and do you believe that it was to pa.s.s the night on board that M. de Joyeuse was leaving the camp for his s.h.i.+p?”
”But you are a diviner, then, monseigneur,” cried the bourgeois.
”Not more than Monseigneur the Prince of Orange, who is in all things of my opinion, I am sure. But I, like him, was well informed, and know well those on the other side, so that I should have been much astonished had they not attacked to-night. Then be ready, gentlemen, for if you give them time, the attack will be serious.”
”These gentlemen will do me the justice to own,” said the prince, ”that before your arrival I held exactly the same language to them that you now do.”
”But,” said the burgomaster, ”why does monseigneur believe that the attack is about to commence?”
”Here are the probabilities. The infantry is Catholic; it will fight alone; that is, on one side. The cavalry is Calvinist; they will fight alone on another side. The navy is under M. de Joyeuse, from Paris, who will take his share of the combat and the glory. That is three sides.”
”Then let us form three corps,” said the burgomaster.
”Make only one, gentlemen, with all your best soldiers, and leave any of whom you may be doubtful in close fight to guard your walls. Then with this body make a vigorous sally when Francois least expects it. They mean to attack; let them be forestalled, and attacked themselves. If you wait for their a.s.sault you are lost, for no one equals the French at an attack, as you, gentlemen, have no equals at defending your towns.”
The Flemings looked radiant.
”What did I say, gentlemen?” said William.
”It is a great honor,” said the unknown, ”to have been, without knowing it, of the same opinion as the greatest captain of the age.”
Both bowed courteously.
”Then,” continued the unknown, ”it is settled: you will make a furious sortie on the infantry and cavalry. I trust that your officers will so conduct it as to defeat your enemies.”
”But their vessels?” cried the burgomaster. ”The wind is northeast, and they will be in our city in two hours.”
”You have yourselves six old s.h.i.+ps and thirty boats at St. Marie; that is a mile off, is it not? That is your maritime barricade across the Scheldt.”
”Yes, monseigneur, that is so. How do you know all these details?”
Monseigneur smiled.
”I know them, as you see; it is there that lies the fate of the battle.”
”Then,” said the burgomaster, ”we must send aid to our brave seamen.”
”On the contrary, you may dispose otherwise of the 400 men who are there; twenty brave, intelligent, and devoted men will suffice.” The Antwerpians opened their eyes in surprise.