THE SECRET OF THE STATUE.
This matter of ammunition delays Guy in England several days. But the fleet little Dover Lass soon makes the trip to the Netherlands, carrying every inch of canvas she can show, and early in April Chester finds himself once more off the mouth of the Schelde, and sighting the town of Flushing is astounded but delighted to see the yellow, white and blue flag of Orange floating over the place.
“Zounds!” he cries to his first lieutenant, “the Gueux have landed and taken Flushing! There are two vessels sailing in with the flag of Orange at their peaks. Overhaul them and get me the news, Dalton.”
In the course of half an hour the Dover Lass comes alongside the vessels that are commanded by Captain De Ryk of Amsterdam. From him he learns that the Gueux have not only taken Flushing, but have taken Briel, a strongly fortified town upon the island of Voorne, where the Rhine estuary reaches the German ocean. Their success has been the spark to illuminate the patriotism of Holland and the Netherlands. Town after town is declaring for the Prince of Orange as the Staatholder of Philip Second, and against Alva, for curiously enough, such was the respect with which royalty was regarded at that time that Orange still announced himself as the vassal of the Spanish crown, though fighting against its sovereign with all his might of arm and strength of brain.
Curiously enough also the two vessels of De Ryk, having left England somewhat later than the rest of the Gueux, have on board five hundred stout English volunteers, who greet Guy with shouts of Saxon welcome. For Burleigh, pondering upon Elizabeth’s remarks, is anxious for his weazened head, and is now giving every aid in his power to this raid of the Beggars of the Sea.
So the Dover Lass and the two Gueux ships are wafted by light breezes toward Flushing quay. Just as they make landing there, a great commotion arises in the town. Some quarter of an hour before this they have noted a small pinnace with single mast and lateen [[124]]sail headed from the south, Antwerp-way, pass to the dock before them. From this three gentlemen in very fine clothes and with Spanish appearance have landed laughingly, and strolled up into the town.
Even as De Ryk and Chester step upon the quay, these three come running hurriedly from out the center of the place toward the dock, pursued by such a motley mob as quiet Flushing never saw before. It is as if two hundred priests and nuns, drunk with blood, were after them, for all these monks and nuns are brawny pirates, some having hassocks and cowls upon them, others wearing the robes of nuns. Their leader, fierce Dirk Duyvel himself, is habited as lady abbess, and all are armed to the teeth with pistol and pike or sword and arquebus.
“Down with the murderous Spanish!” cry some. “Hang them up on high, quick!” yell others. “Into the sea with Alva’s butchers!” is the shout of the rest, all this larded with fearful imprecations and terrible Dutch oaths.
Seeing their retreat to their boat cut off by De Ryk’s men, the leader of these three Spaniards comes speeding ahead of his foremost pursuers, and bowing before De Ryk takes off from his finger a gaudy signet ring, and presenting it to the Gueux captain, pants: “I—I surrender to you. I—I did not know this town was in possession of the—the rebels. By this ring guard me from sudden death. I am noble. I can pay a large ransom. I am Alva’s engineer.” He says this anxiously and breathlessly, for the crowd are upon him.
Guy now recognizes him with astonishment, as Paciotto, Alva’s great military engineer, whom he had seen at the Captain General’s side in Antwerp.