This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1883 edition. Excerpt: …prevent their own friends from entering, as they could not possibly distinguish friends from foes in the darkness. Reluctantly the young men yielded, and waited as patiently as they could for morning light. Some returned home, but the greater number remained, crouching for warmth around the dying beacon fires. Gabrielle and Mayken refused to leave Kanau. So the three sat without exchanging a word, until Mayken fell asleep with her head against the parapet. The other two sat silent. Slowly the gray dawn broke and the mist lifted. The watching figures on the walls looked haggard and worn in the cold light. Anxiously every eye was turned towards the Spanish camp; but they could see no signs of the past struggle, if there had been one. Captain Ripperda and Kanau stood conversing in low tones, unwilling that Gabrielle should overhear their ominous whispers; when suddenly the commander felt a touch on his shoulder, and turning quickly, perceived Peter Hasselaer. It needed no words to tell that he had brought bad news. His face showed that before he spoke. A few fugitives from the scattered armament had managed to enter the city, and brought tidings, worse in truth than the worst anticipations of the Haarlemers. The troops had been intercepted and destroyed almost to a man, the supplies captured, and Batenburg, with half a dozen men, had only just managed to make good his retreat by his better knowledge of the country. Thus all hopes of help for weeks, perhaps months, was cut off. Is he killed? said a voice behind Peter. They all startled, as Gabrielle’s wild, white face met their gaze, horror-stricken to think that she must have heard everything. Let us hope for the best, Frau De Koning, said Peter, trying to speak cheerfully;…
