Page:The silent prince - a story of the Netherlands (IA cu31924008716957).pdf/271

 There were few who spoke such words of power to the dying. Under the light of a pure gospel her whole nature seemed at rest.

But while the bloody hand of war held the city in its grasp, another grim foe threatened Leyden, namely, famine. The city had been but scantily stocked with provisions at the outset, and the citizens had immediately been put upon short rations. Two of the three months allotted them by the Prince had now expired. Bread was a thing of the past, and malt cakes were used as a substitute. Horse-flesh was the only meat available, and of these provisions only a scanty allowance was apportioned each one.

From his bed of sickness in Rotterdam, where the Prince of Orange languished with a fever, the devoted patriot dictated encouraging messages, which were delivered to the citizens of Leyden either by carrier pigeons or by swift couriers, called "jumpers."

"We are straining every nerve to help you," he wrote. "All Holland is exerting herself to save you. An army can accomplish nothing in your extremity. Our hope is from the sea."

The Prince held the cities of Delft and Rotterdam, and between these the fortress of Polderwaert. This gave him control of the dykes in this vicinity. William felt confident that the only salvation for Leyden lay in piercing the dykes and flooding the