"But, Master Deconinck, what have we done? What else than defend our life and property, and uphold the right of our lawful prince? For myself, I feel that I have nothing either to be sorry for or ashamed of; and I hope my ax hasn't yet struck its last blow. But, after all, Master Peter, I will not find fault with anything you say or do, though I confess I do not understand you; your thoughts are beyond the ken of mortal man, and that is the truth of it."
"Well, in part you are right; there is something behind more than you know of yet, and that is the knot I am just going to unravel. I know, Master Jan, that you have always thought me too patient and slow of action; but listen now to what I have been doing while you were risking all on a piece of useless vengeance. I have found means to acquaint our rightful lord. Count Guy, with our plans for the liberation of our country, and he has been pleased to-confirm them with his princely approbation. So now, my friend, we are no longer rebels, but the generals of our lawful sovereign."
"Oh, master!" interrupted Breydel, in a tone of enthusiasm; "now I understand you; now indeed I thank you! How proudly does my heart beat at that honorable title! Yes, now I feel myself a true and worthy soldier; ay, and the French dogs shall feel it too!"
"Of this authority," continued Deconinck, "I have secretly availed myself for the purpose of inviting all the friends of the country to a general rising. This effort has been attended with the fullest success; and at the earliest call every city of Flanders will pour forth its levy of brave Clawards, as if they sprang forth out of the ground."
Here, in a transport of feeling, he pressed Breydel's hand, while for a moment his voice faltered with emotion: "And then, my noble friend, shall the sun of freedom rise again for Flanders, and not one living Frenchman shall be left for him to shine upon. Then, too, for very terror of our further vengeance, they will give us back our Lion. And we—we, the men of Bruges, shall have done this—shall have delivered our country! Does not your spirit swell within you at so proud a thought?"
In a transport of delight Breydel threw his arms around Deconinck's neck. "My friend! my friend!" he exclaimed. "How sweetly do your words fall upon my ear; a joy possesses me such as I never felt before. See, Master Peter, at this moment I would not change my name of Fleming even for the crown of Philip the Fair himself!"
"But, Master Breydel, you do not yet know the whole. The young Guy of Flanders and Count John of Namur are to be with us; Sir John Borluut is to bring up the men of Ghent; at Oudenarde there is the noble Arnold; at Alost Baldwin of Paperode. Sir John of Renesse has promised to come and aid us with all his vassals from Zeeland, and several other distinguished nobles will do the like. What say you now to my patience?"
"I can only marvel at you, my friend, and thank God from my heart that He has given you such wisdom. Now it is all over with the Frenchmen; I would not give six groats for the life of the longest liver among them!"
"To-day, at nine o'clock in the morning," continued Deconinck, "the Flemish chiefs meet to appoint the day for action. The young Lord Guy remains with us, and takes the command; the rest return to their domains in order to have their vassals in readiness. It would be well that you too should be at the meeting, that you may not through ignorance disconcert the measures that may be adopted. Will you, then, accompany me to the White Thicket in the Valley?"
"As you will, master; but what will our comrades say to our leaving them?"
"That I have provided for. They are prepared for my temporary absence, and Dean Lindens will for the present take the command. He is to proceed with our people to Damme, and there to wait for us. Come, let us start without further delay; for the day is beginning to break."
The Dean of the Clothworkers had taken care to have horses in readiness. Breydel in haste gave the necessary orders to his men, and the two friends set off together. There was but little opportunity for conversation during their hasty journey; nevertheless, Deconinck found time, in reply to Breydel's questions, to explain to him in brief terms the proposed scheme of general liberation. After an hour's sharp riding, they at last perceived the shattered towers of a ruined castle peeping out from among the trees.
"That is Nieuwenhove, is it not?" inquired Breydel, "where the Lion made such havoc of the French?"
"Yes; a little farther, and we are at the White Thicket."
"It must be acknowledged that our noble lord has not got his name for nothing; for a true lion he is when once the sword is in his hand."
These words were hardly out of Breydel's mouth, when they arrived at the spot on which the battle had been fought for the rescue of Matilda; there lay the corpses of the slain still weltering in their blood.
"Frenchmen!" muttered Deconinck as he rode by; "come on, master, we have no time to lose."
Breydel looked with fierce delight upon
