From both sides, under Capizucca and Aquila on the one band, and under Alexander on the other, the entrenchments of the patriots were at last assaulted, and as the royalists fell thick and fast beneath the breast-work which they were storming, their comrades clambered upon their bodies, and attempted, from such vantage-ground, to effect an entrance.  Three times the invaders were beaten back with heavy loss, and after each repulse the attack was renewed with fresh vigour, while within the entrenchments the pioneers still plied the pick and shovel, undismayed by the uproar around them.

A fourth assault, vigorously made, was cheerfully repelled by the Antwerpers and Hollanders, clustering behind their breast-works, and looking steadily into their enemies’ eyes.  Captain Heraugiere—­of whom more was to be heard one day—­had led two hundred men into action, and now found himself at the head of only thirteen.  The loss had been as severe among many other patriot companies, as well as in the Spanish ranks, and again the pikemen of Spain and Italy faltered before the iron visages and cordial blows of the Hollanders.

This work had lasted a good hour and a half, when at last, on the fifth assault, a wild and mysterious apparition renewed the enthusiasm of the Spaniards.  The figure of the dead commander of the old Spanish Legion, Don Pedro Pacchi, who had fallen a few months before at the siege of Dendermonde was seen charging in front of his regiment, clad in his well-known armour, and using the gestures which had been habitual with him in life.  No satisfactory explanation was ever made of this singular delusion, but it was general throughout the ranks, and in that superstitious age was as effective as truth.  The wavering Spaniards rallied once more under the guidance of their phantom leader, and again charged the breast-work of the patriots.  Toralva, mounting upon the back of one of his soldiers, was first to vault into the entrenchments.  At the next instant he lay desperately wounded on the ground, but was close followed by Capizucca, sustained by a determined band.  The entrenchment was carried, but the furious conflict still continued.  At nearly the same moment, however, several of the patriot vessels were observed to cast off their moorings, and to be drifting away from the dyke.  A large number of the rest had been disabled by the hot fire, which by Alexander’s judicious orders had been directed upon the fleet.  The ebbing tide left no choice to the commander of the others but to retreat or to remain and fall into the enemy’s hands, should he gain the day.  Had they risked the dangerous alternative, it might have ensured the triumph of the whole enterprise, while their actual decision proved most disastrous in the end.