“You know what it will mean,” returned the Prince. “Ruin to many—villas, farms, pleasure gardens buried beneath the water—a sacrifice! I ask no light thing of you—but is it not better than foreign dominion?”
“We will set the example,” cried the burgomaster of Amsterdam.
The Deputies of Rotterdam and Gouda spoke in voices dry and choked—
“Our vote for that—rejection of the terms of France—and cut the dykes!”
William coloured brightly.
“Our troops are within the province of Holland, which will be turned into an island; but many of the enemy are on low ground, and nothing but a swift retreat will save them—they do not suspect us of this desperate course and will be utterly unprepared. I have the reports of the superintendents of the dykes.… A complete inundation would take five days,… When King Louis receives our refusal of his terms he will march immediately on Amsterdam and the Hague—and I see no way but to perish or open the sluices.”
He stooped and pulled some papers from the pocket of his mantle.
“M. de Witt suggested this at the beginning of the war as a possible resort—he had instructions drawn up and reports made—we thank his foresight that there is much done. There must be no delay now.
“I know the objections; what many of the magistrates will say. The hay stands, the corn is uncut, the cattle will starve without pasturage, the waters becoming foul may cause the plague—I have thought of it all.
“But there is no other way.