“We must have counsel with our brother Gueux,” says ’t Hoen. “Come with me. You can skate, First of the English?”
“Very well,” answers Guy. “Will the ice hold?”
“Yes, infantry now, by night accursed Spanish cannon.”
So buckling on sharp iron Friesland skates, the two fly over the smooth frozen Zuyder Zee, and in a few seconds are at the vessels of the Gueux. Here holding quick consultation, the captains decide to fight it out to the death together, no matter what force is brought against them; surrender would be suicide.
A few minutes more and they make up their minds just how to do this fighting, and electing Guy commander-in-chief, he takes action very quickly. In five [[176]]minutes not only the crew of the Dover Lass are on the ice, but the crews of the other Gueux vessels, amounting in all to about five hundred men, and are working for their lives with ice picks, crowbars, ice saws and any and every implement they can use, cutting a passage around the three Gueux vessels and a water lane from the Dover Lass to bring her up to them.
By almost superhuman exertions, in something like three hours they have not only got the Dover Lass in company with the other Gueux vessels, but have cut out the ice immediately surrounding them, making the vessels float as in a little inland lake, though surrounded by an impenetrable floe.
Next getting the four vessels in the form of a parallelogram, they lash them stem and stern all round—making the broadside of each ship one side of a floating citadel. Then putting out grappling irons and small anchors set in the ice, to which are attached cables they moor their ships strongly to prevent drifting against the ice and giving chance for boarding.
“Pardieu!” exclaims Oliver. “This is a new idea. They can’t get at us.”
“Not a man of them can board our ships if our cables hold so as to prevent drift and we can keep the ice broken,” answers Guy.
At this work they all set themselves, toiling watch and watch and finding it tremendous labor, for the cold still continues, and the ice grows thicker and more resisting.