Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 400: 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. 393 assault by thousands. Moreover, they had chosen the lowest and weakest part of the wall for the attempt. Upon the ramparts stood but a few hundred emaciated, famished men, with torn coats, rusty weapons, shattered muskets in their hands, eager enough to give battle, but lacking the endurance to resist long. The lieutenant raised his eyes to heaven, and his lips moved in silent prayer. “ May God aid the cause of Holland this day! ” he muttered. Just then one of the Spanish officers was heard to shout out from the field below: | | ‘“ Now. men, on a run, on a run! ” Immediately the advancing columns rushed with all their impetus to the ramparts, under which refuge from the cannon could be found. In front ran a company of pioneers, with boards and timbers to span the moat; then came several regiments of halberdiers and pikemen, with long scaling ladders to mount the wall; the rear was brought up by a battalion of arquebusiers. After advancing a short distance, the latter halted and opened a galling fire upon the defenders to keep them from the edge of the ramparts. In the mean time the besieged were not idle. In tones that rang like a trumpet the commandant issued his orders. . The artillery began to vomit iron and fire; guns great and small roared along the ramparts, until the air was red and the daylight hidden in smoke. Yet for all this the Spaniards arrived at the moat and spanned it with their bridges. Many were slain before they reached the other side; but as fast as they fell into the ditch, others rushed forward to take their places. At last a number of scaling ladders were seen to tremble against the wall, and the enemy swarmed up them to the assault. Those who gained the top were immediately engaged in a deadly hand to hand combat with the defenders. Religious frenzy raged in the breasts of besiegers and besieged alike. Quarter was neither asked nor given. The rampart grew slippery with blood. Men grasped it, and the next moment slid back into the moat. The guns were now silent, yet the uproar Was so great that no word of com- mand could be heard—nothing but shouts of rage, shrieks of agony, oaths, imprecations, groans, all merged in a general and terrible pandemonium of sound. For a long time the brave Hollanders withstood that terrific onslaught ; but they had not the strength to hold out. Pushed from their places, con- stantly opposed to fresh combatants who came pouring up the ladders in a continuous stream to take the place of the slain, crushed with the weight of overwhelming numbers, they were gradually driven back. Yet they defended themselves with such fury that the.enemy fell around them by scores. “ Nothing but a miracle can save Leyden now,” cried the wretched Van der Werf. “And the miracle has come—look!” exclaimed the Seigneur of Nord- wyck, who was standing by his side. The burgomaster glanced in the direction indicated, and beheld a won- drous spectacle. ecomicbooks CO