Page:Augusta Seaman--Jacqueline of the carrier pigeons.djvu/173

Rh a note wrapped round his leg, addressed to Adrian Van der Werf. Jacqueline made all haste to carry this to the statehouse, for it  now devolved upon her to be the bearer of  these messages when they arrived. The burgomaster welcomed her kindly:

“Good-morning, Juffrouw Jacqueline! Hast heard any news from thy brother yet?”

“Nay,” answered the girl shaking her head sadly. “But I have here another message for you, Mynheer Van der Werf. It has but just come by a pigeon.”

“Thanks, thanks!” he said, opening it eagerly. Then with sparkling eyes he cried:

“Ah, this is excellent, excellent news! Admiral Boisot with his fleet manned by the Beggars of the Sea, has arrived out of Zeeland, and is already entering the Rhine over  the broken dykes. He cannot be ten miles from the city! Praise God, praise God!” He turned to Jacqueline for an answering  enthusiasm, but found to his surprise that the