The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1874-10-18


Raging like wounded lion, and with words
half choked with fury, he rushed up to Decon-
inck while his Butchers, easily comprehend
ing the cause of his sudden movement, broke
their ranks. and followed him in wild disorder
" Slayl slay!" was the savage outcry ;
death to the traitor death to Decopinckw
Not small was the peril in which the Dean
of the Cloth workers now stood. Nevertheless.
he saw the furious crowd approach without
the slightest mark of terror upon his counte.
nance; its expression, indeed, was rather that
of deep compassion. With folded arms he ooly
awaited the onset of the Butchers, while ever
from out that raging thropg arose the terrible
cry Death to the traitor T'-already was the
axe close to the great leaders head, and still
he kept his ground unnoved, like some giant
oak which deies the utmost violence of the
storm. From the bastion on which he was
standing he TRANQUILITY looked down upon the
frantic maltitude. q ruler might look from
his judgment-seat upon his people.
Suddenly remarkable change came over
the countenance of Breydel he seemed as
though paraly zed, and his axe fell powerless at
his side. Seized with an irresistible admira-
tion of the courage of the man whose counsels
he abhorred, he thrust aside the foremost of
the guildsmen, whose axe was already raised
over the head of the Dean, and that so roughly
that tho stall lwart butcher measured his lenpth
along the rampsrts.
Hold, my men hold I" he exclaimed in a
voice of thunder, while at tie same time he
placed himself in front of the Dean and
swinging bis heavy axe arouhd him, he warded
off the attacks of his comrades. The latter,
perceiving the intentions of their chief, i'm
mediately lowered their arms, and with threat
ening murmurs awaited the event.
Meanwhile q fresh incident occurred, which
greatly assisted Breydel in quelling the tumult
which he had raised, by drawing on the atten-
tion of the excited crowd to another quarter
herald from the French lines made his ap-
pearance at the foot of the rampant on which
the occurrencesjust narrated were taking place.
and with the usual forms made proclamation
as follows:
" In the name of our mighty prince, Philip
| of France, you, rebellious subjects, are sum
| moned by my general, De Chatillon, to surren-
der this city to his mercy and you are warned
| that if within the space of one quarter of an
hour you have not answered to this summons,
the force of the stormipg- engines shall over
| throw your walls, and every thing shall be de-
stroyed with fire and sword"
AS soon as this summons was heard the ey es
of all were turned with one accord on Decon-
inck, if seeking counsel of him on whom
they had SO lately glared in mprderous rage
Brey del himself looked at his friend with an
inquiring gaze but all in vain. Neither to
him to the rest did the Dean give utter
ance to single word he stood looking on in
silence, and with air of unooncern, as though
in, ;rko
passing around him.
Well Deconinck, what is your advice ~
asked Breydel at length.
"That We surrender" CALMLY replied the
Clothworker.
At this the Butchers began to give signs of
another outbnrst; but a commanding gesture
from their Dean speedily restored them to or
der, and Breydel resumed:
"What, then, do you really feel 80 sure that,
with all our efforts, we cannot hold out against
the foe,-that no courage, no resolution can
save usi Oh, that should see this day" |"
Aud as he thus spoke, the deep grief of his
heart plainly display ed itself upon his features
Even as his eyes had lig hted up with ardor for
the fight, so now was their fury quenched and
his countenance darkened.
AT last Deconinck, raising his voice SO as to
be heard by all around him, addressed them
thus:
Bear witness, all of you, that in what
advise 1 have no other motive than true and
honest love to my country. For the sake of
my native city, have exposed myself to your
mad fury for that same sake am ready to
die upon the scaffold that our enemies shall
raise for mo. deem it my sacred duty to save
this pearl of Flanders; cry me down as a trai-
tor, and hesp curses upon my name if you will, |
nothing shall turn me aside from my noble
purpose. For the last time 1 repeat it, our
duty now Is to surrender"
During this address BreydelPs counteuance
had exhibited, to an attentive observer, an in
cesssnt play of passion; wrath, indignation,
sadness, seemed in turn to move hun. The
convulsive twitching of his stalwart limbs
told plainly of the storm W hich ragged within,
and the struggle which it cost him to restrain
it; and now, with the word surrender sonnd-
inc onca aOnin in hia aar an tbo,.L 4