Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 396: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE CAPTAIN OF THE BURGHER GUARDS. 389 reducing their allowance of food. God knows I pity the poor creatures, but what can I do?” “ And yet you satisfied them, for they dispersed in silence,” suggested one of the councilmen. “ Aye, I offered them my body to appease their hunger; but told them that as long as I lived Leyden would never surrender.” “Nor as long as I remain in command here,” added the gallant Van der Does. “You express our sentiments, gentlemen,” said the councilman who had already spoken. “ Indeed, it is on this very question of resistance that we need the burgomaster’s advice.” Van der Werf mounted the steps of the little platform at one end of the apartment reserved for the chief magistrate of the city, and here he sat down in a great high backed chair of carved oak to preside at the conference his coming had interrupted. “You may proceed, gentlemen,” he said. “I am listening.” The commandant was the first to speak. “T have come here this morning,” he began, “to Jay before your honora- ble body the exact condition of the forces under my command, and to implore your assistance. When the Spanish general, Valdez, first appeared before this city, on the twenty sixth of May last, he brought with him eight thousand Walloons and Germans. To oppose this formidable force Leyden could mus- ter but one small corps of Zealanders, and five companies of the Burgher Guard. The command of this little asmy was given to me. As it was far from being sufficient to man the ramparts, I enlisted, with your permission, a supplementary force of citizens, whom I drilled in the art of war, until it be- came as capable and as valiant as any body of troops in the enemy’s camp. “ But my little army has been sadly reduced by pestilence and constant warfare until it is again a mere handful of warriors, while the army of Valdez has been daily increased to over ten thousand men. Indeed, 1f Valdez should attempt to carry the city by storm now, it would be impossible to resist him successfully. I ask, therefore, for a proclamation making it obligatory upon every citizen capable of bearing arms to take an active part in the defense of the city.” “ Your request shall be complied with,” said the burgomaster with em- phasis. The commandant bowed his acknowledgments and sat down. A venerable councilm4n, Jan Fruytiers by name, now arose and addressed the burgomaster in tones that trembled with emotion. “On my way to the town hall this morning,” he said, “ I observed that everywhere want is showing its teeth like a dog. I encountered squads of sol- diers clad in rags. The faces of all were black, sunken, and overgrown with beard. Their legs were weak under them, and involuntarily came the ques- tion, What will become of these hitherto victorious men a week or two hence ? “TI passed through a square. It was in ruins, and covered over with mounds of freshly raised earth—the graves of the dead. I passed by groups of haggard men and women, and weeping children—all mere skeletons, with GOHMGOOO YN| CO