Page:Augusta Seaman--Jacqueline of the carrier pigeons.djvu/123

 HE message brought by the pigeon proved to be word direct from the  Prince of Orange himself to the people of  Leyden. He implored them to take courage, and explained what means he had taken to effect their relief. The plan was what Gysbert had suspected, but was of even wider scope. Not only had all the dykes been ruptured and the water had begun to rise upon the Land-scheiding, but also the Prince had  been rapidly collecting provisions in all the  principal cities and towns near by and was loading them on a fleet of vessels ready to  sail across the land to Leyden when the flood  would permit. Thus the same waters that were to rout the Spanish army were to bear  life and food to the suffering city. It was