Deconinck gave the necessary order to the subordinate officers; and immediately afterward was heard in loud, clear tones, the voice of Breydel:
"Butchers, face about, and then forward! keep your ranks, and be quick!"
Then, after personally superintending the execution of the maneuvre, he added:
"Now, Master Deconinck, I am at your orders."
"No, Master Breydel," replied the Dean of the Clothworkers, "now that you are here, you must take the command; you w411 make a better general than I shall."
Not a little pleased at this flattering recognition of his abilities, the Dean of the Butchers lost no time in taking possession of his office. "Butchers and Clothworkers, forward!" he thundered out; "steady, and not too fast!"
Upon this the Guildsmen set themselves in motion, the little army advanced steadily along the road, and in a short time reached St. Cross, where they found the women and children, with the baggage, awaiting their arrival. Singular, indeed, was the appearance presented by this confused encampment. A wide range of plain was thickly dotted with groups, each consisting of a single family. The night was so dark that it would have been impossible to distinguish objects beyond the distance of a few yards; but the numerous fires which already lighted up the scene showed the unfortunate wanderers crouching round them; or, in more extended circles, illuminated the remote background with their flickering glare. Sad and strange as was the sight presented to the eye, the sounds that struck upon the ear were not less wild and mournful. The cries of the children, the low wailings of the mothers, weighed upon the heart like the last sigh of a dying friend. But above the universal din might be heard the shouts of those who had strayed from their companions, or were calling to the missing ones; and louder and sharper still was the fierce barking of the dogs, faithfully keeping watch over their masters' households, or searching for them amid the confusion of the night.
On their arrival at St. Cross, Deconinck took Breydel apart into a house by the roadside, the owners of which received them with the greatest respect, and readily granted them a chamber for more private conference. Here, by the light of a small lamp, and with every precaution taken against their being overheard or interrupted, the Dean of the Clothworkers proceeded to inform his colleague as to what had taken place in the city during his absence.
"First," he began, "as to the cause of our flying from the city in the manner you see, and at this hour of the night: it is entirely owing to your breach of promise, and your imprudent proceedings at Male. No sooner were the flames of the burning castle seen from the city walls than the tocsin sounded in the streets, and immediately all the inhabitants flocked together in the utmost terror: for in these troublous times they ever have the fear of death before their eyes. Messire de Mortenay had his men under arms in the market-place; but only as a measure of precaution, for no one knew what was going on. At last, some of the French who had escaped from the burning castle came flying into the town, calling aloud for vengeance; then there was no possibility of keeping the troops in the city quiet, nothing would satisfy them but fire and sword, and Messire de Mortenay had to threaten them pretty sharply with the gallows in order to keep them within bounds. You may imagine that, in such a state of things, I had lost not a moment in summoning my Clothworkers together, that at least we might not fall without making a determined fight for it. Perhaps we might even have succeeded in driving the French out; but such a victory could only have damaged the cause, as I shall presently show you. Then I had an interview with Messire de Mortenay, under safe conduct, and obtained from him a pledge that the city should be respected on condition of our forthwith evacuating it. Any Clawards found in Bruges after sunrise will be hanged."
"What!" cried Breydel, not a little indignant at the cool tone in which his brother Dean recounted a capitulation which appeared to him so scandalous; "what! is it possible? let yourselves be turned out like a herd of sheep! Oh, if I had but been there! our Bruges should not have been—"
"Yes, indeed, if you had been there; know you what would have happened then? Bruges would have seen a night of fire and sword, and the morning sun would have risen upon a scene of carnage and desolation! Hear me out, my hasty friend, and, I know, in the end, you will say I was right. One thing is certain, that we men of Bruges can not accomplish our freedom alone; and do you not see that, as long as the other cities of the land lie bound hand and foot, the enemy has his strong places at our very gates? Besides, how can we think only of our city, and forget our country? No, all the Flemish towns must stand or fall together! I doubt not that you have often pondered over all this; only in the moment of action your spirit runs away with you, and you forget all difficulties. There is, however, another important point to be considered: pray answer me this question—who gave you and me the right to kill, burn, and destroy? Who has given us authority to do these things, which we shall one day have to answer for at the judgment-seat of God?"
"But, master," replied Breydel, with a somewhat displeased look, "I suspect you are trying to throw dust in my eyes with all these fine speeches of yours.
Who gave us a right to kill and burn, say you? And pray, who gave it to the Frenchmen?"
"Who? Why,
