"Some neighbor returning late from Malines," exclaimed Father VanHove, yawning. "It does not concern us."

But his wife was already out of bed, and at the window. Thehorsemen were now plainly visible, riding like the wind, and asthey whirled by the houses their shout thrilled through the quietstreets of the village: "Burghers, awake! Awake! Awake!"