"
"I find that he is guilty of an act of gross treason and treachery. For
such there is but one punishment--death." And the six citizens all gave
the same decision.
"You are found guilty of this foul crime," the governor said, "and are
sentenced to death. In half an hour you will be hung in the market-
place, as a punishment to yourself and a warning to other traitors, if
such there be in this town of Sluys. As to you, young sirs, you have
rendered a great service to the town, and have shown a discernment
beyond your years. I thank you in the name of the city and of its
garrison, and also in that of the States, whose servant I am."
A guard of armed citizens were now called in, the prisoner was handed
to them, and orders given to their officer to carry the sentence into
effect. A statement of the crime of the prisoner, with the names of
those who had acted as his judges, and the sentence, was then drawn
out, signed by the governor, and ordered by him to be affixed to the
door of the town-hall. The two lads, finding that they were no longer
required, hastened back to their quarters, having no wish to be present
at the execution of the unhappy wretch whose crime they had been the
means of detecting.
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