commenced the work himself, and then returned to set his army in battle
array. Two or three tide gates had been opened, two or three bridges had
been demolished, when Alva, riding in advance of his army, appeared
within a mile or two of Jemmingen. It was then eight o'clock in the
morning. The patriots redoubled their efforts. By ten o'clock the
waters were already knee high, and in some places as deep as to the
waist. At that hour, the advanced guard of the Spaniards arrived.
Fifteen hundred musketeers were immediately ordered forward by the Duke.
They were preceded by a company of mounted carabineers, attended by a
small band of volunteers of distinction. This little band threw
themselves at once upon the troops engaged in destroying the dykes. The
rebels fled at the first onset, and the Spaniards closed the gates.
Feeling the full importance of the moment, Count Louis ordered a large
force of musketeers to recover the position, and to complete the work of
inundation. It was too late. The little band of Spaniards held the post
with consummate tenacity. Charge after charge, volley after volley, from
the overwhelming force brought against them, failed to loosen the fierce
grip with which they held this key to the whole situation. Before they
could be driven from the dykes, their comrades arrived, when all their
antagonists at once made a hurried retreat to their camp.

Very much the same tactics were now employed by the Duke, as in the
engagement near Selwaert Abbey. He was resolved that this affair, also,
should be a hunt, not a battle; but foresaw that it was to be a more
successful one. There was no loophole of escape, so that after a little
successful baiting, the imprisoned victims would be forced to spring from
their lurking-place, to perish upon his spears. On his march from Reyden
that morning, he had taken care to occupy every farm-house, every
building of whatever description along the road, with his troops. He had
left a strong guard on the bridge at Reyden, and had thus closed