cry--"The Hollander! Outstayed! Outstayed! Conquered is the accursed
Spaniard!"

Then Lysbeth knew that it was over, and again the faintness overpowered
her.



CHAPTER II

SHE WHO BUYS--PAYS

When Lysbeth's mind recovered from its confusion she found herself still
in the sledge and beyond the borders of the crowd that was engaged in
rapturously congratulating the winner. Drawn up alongside of the Wolf
was another sleigh of plain make, and harnessed to it a heavy Flemish
horse. This vehicle was driven by a Spanish soldier, with whom sat a
second soldier apparently of the rank of sergeant. There was no one
else near; already people in the Netherlands had learnt to keep their
distance from Spanish soldiers.

"If your Excellency would come now," the sergeant was saying, "this
little matter can be settled without any further trouble."

"Where is she?" asked Montalvo.

"Not more than a mile or so away, near the place called Steene Veld."

"Tie her up in the snow to wait till to-morrow morning. My horse is
tired and it may save us trouble," he began, then added, after glancing