Page:The silent prince - a story of the Netherlands (IA cu31924008716957).pdf/39



market-place was a dark, heaving sea of humanity—soldiers, priests, magistrates, courtiers, countrymen and townsmen, who had gathered by common consent about a space which had been cleared of snow. Look where you would, there was nothing to be seen but heads. All eyes were fixed with curiosity on the open square, with its significant stake, its iron chains and heaps of faggots. Men were jostled and buffeted in their desire to see the awful spectacle. Silence reigned supreme. It was like the ominous stillness which precedes the thunder-storm.

Soon from out the gloomy prison came the soldiers, who conducted their victim to the place of execution. The unfortunate man was gagged, yet no one could help seeing that he was a terrified and unwilling actor in this tragedy. As he neared the market-place, the silence was broken by groans and hisses, and cries of “Coward!” “Renegade!” burst spontaneously from a hundred throats.

Just at this moment the crowd parted, to make 33