But the dragoons of Tilly still kept it in check with the same success and with the same firmness.
It was not long before the Count heard the increasing din of the approaching multitude, the first ranks of which rushed on with the rapidity of a cataract.
At the same time he observed the paper, which was waving above the surface of clenched fists and glittering arms.
"Halloa!" he said, rising in his stirrups, and touching his lieutenant with the knob of his sword; "I really believe those rascals have got the order." "Dastardly ruffians they are," cried the lieutenant.
It was indeed the order, which the burgher guard received with a roar of triumph.

They immediately sallied forth, with lowered arms and fierce shouts, to meet Count Tilly's dragoons.
But the Count was not the man to allow them to approach within an inconvenient distance.
"Stop!" he cried, "stop, and keep off from my horse, or I shall give the word of command to advance." "Here is the order!" a hundred insolent voices answered at once.
He took it in amazement, cast a rapid glance on it, and said quite aloud,-- "Those who have signed this order are the real murderers of Cornelius de Witt.

I would rather have my two hands cut off than have written one single letter of this infamous order." And, pushing back with the hilt of his sword the man who wanted to take it from him, he added,-- "Wait a minute, papers like this are of importance, and are to be kept." Saying this, he folded up the document, and carefully put it in the pocket of his coat.
Then, turning round towards his troop, he gave the word of command,-- "Tilly's dragoons, wheel to the right!" After this, he added, in an undertone, yet loud enough for his words to be not altogether lost to those about him,-- "And now, ye butchers, do your work!" A savage yell, in which all the keen hatred and ferocious triumph rife in the precincts of the prison simultaneously burst forth, and accompanied the departure of the dragoons, as they were quietly filing off.
The Count tarried behind, facing to the last the infuriated populace, which advanced at the same rate as the Count retired.
John de Witt, therefore, had by no means exaggerated the danger, when, assisting his brother in getting up, he hurried his departure.
Cornelius, leaning on the arm of the Ex-Grand Pensionary, descended the stairs which led to the courtyard.

At the bottom of the staircase he found little Rosa, trembling all over.
"Oh, Mynheer John," she said, "what a misfortune!" "What is it, my child ?" asked De Witt.
"They say that they are gone to the Town-hall to fetch the order for Tilly's horse to withdraw." "You do not say so!" replied John.

"Indeed, my dear child, if the dragoons are off, we shall be in a very sad plight." "I have some advice to give you," Rosa said, trembling even more violently than before.
"Well, let us hear what you have to say, my child.