The Ferryman of Brill | Page 8

she
prayed that he might remain firm to the truth, and meet her in a more
glorious state of existence.
When Caspar Gaill found what had taken place, he was in despair. He
felt inclined to throw himself into the Meuse, and there end his life. He
accused himself, very justly, of having caused the destruction of one he
professed to love.
Might he yet do anything to save Gretchen? She might, perhaps, be got
off, though it was not likely that her father would be allowed to escape.
At first he thought of trying to get Father Quixada to plead for
Gretchen, but he shuddered when he remembered the character of the
man, and felt that even should the priest get her off, her condition
would possibly not be improved. At last he bethought himself of
consulting Peter Kopplestock. He had already told him of his love for
Gretchen, he might possibly induce the ferryman to assist in her

escape--no easy task, however, and one full of perils. Peter had not
before heard of the seizure of the merchant Hopper and his daughter.
He was naturally indignant in the extreme against all concerned.
"We must be cautious, however," he said at length, recovering his
calmness. "I tell you, however, Caspar Gaill, I believe you have had
something to do with it. You may be sorry now when it is too late.
However, you must now exert yourself. Your father and the Bishop of
Mons are old friends. You must endeavour to get the execution of these
people deferred for a few days. That will give me more time to devise a
scheme for their escape. A little bribery will probably have
considerable effect. You have plenty of wealth, expend it liberally in
this cause; you may thus somewhat repair the harm you have done."
Caspar promised to follow the advice of Peter, declaring that he would
spend every guilder he possessed to aid his object. Day after day passed
by, the accused refused to recant, and the Inquisitor declared that he
could not "longer delay affording the true Catholics in the place the
pleasure of seeing their Protestant fellow-citizens committed to the
flames."
Caspar bribed liberally as he promised, but though his money was
taken there was no good result. At length the day arrived when the
executions were to take place. A stage was erected with a gibbet on it
and huge casks of water. Below, on the solid ground, stakes with chains
were driven into the ground; while near the gibbet was a post with a
chain in which those who were to be mercifully strangled before being
thrown into the flames were to be placed. It was a fearful-looking
spectacle-- fearful from its very simplicity. There was no parade nor
decoration, nothing to conceal the naked horror of the work.
CHAPTER FOUR.
THE BEGGARS OF THE SEA--PETER CHERISHES NEW
HOPES--PETER IS SENT AS AN ENVOY FROM THE
ROVERS--THE EXECUTIONS ARE SUSPENDED, AND CASPAR
SENT TO TREAT WITH THE BEGGARS--CASPAR RESIGNS

GRETCHEN TO DIEDRICH--THE BEGGARS OF THE SEA
ATTACK BRILL--DIEDRICH VISITS THE
INQUISITION--FATHER QUIXADA ATTEMPTS TO KEEP HIS
PRISONERS, BUT IS DEFEATED--BRILL IS CAPTURED BY THE
PROTESTANTS--AND BECOMES THE CRADLE OF THE DUTCH
REPUBLIC.
Peter Kopplestock was in despair. He had in vain attempted to obtain
an interview with his young niece, or to send her any message. The
prisoners were so strictly watched that he was unable even to send her a
message. Her death and that of her worthy father seemed sealed. Peter
in despair returned to his post; it was time for him to be ready to ferry
passengers across the river. He had taken one party across, and was
returning once more to Brill, when down the river a fleet of several
large vessels was seen standing up towards the town. Peter watched
them with interest. That they were not merchant vessels, he was well
aware. They were not Spanish ships either. He came to the conclusion,
therefore, that they must be the Beggars of the Sea. Concealing his own
feelings, he informed his passengers, who wished to know his opinions.
They were the powerful fleet of those redoubted rovers, and there could
be little doubt that they had come up to attack Brill. By the time he had
fully worked upon the fears of his passengers, they arrived at the
landing-place on the side of the city. Instantly the whole party rushed
up towards the town, spreading the alarming information they had
received. He told them also that for their sakes he would venture down
the river, and try and ascertain more particulars. Some urged him not to
run so great a risk. He laughingly answered that it mattered little, that
they could but hang him if he was caught, and that many an