But fire soon burns out when the fuel is scant. Hans, conceiving that he had done his duty to the State of Holland, submitted to be bound, after knocking down his man. This left four men to two. Paul was overpowered in a moment; but Ten Eyck retreated to a corner, from which he menaced all who dared approach with the poker. This at first excited laughter on the part of the men, but soon turned to anger at his pertinacity. He stood near the fire and thrust the poker into the hot coals when it was likely to become cool. “This Dutchman is too hot,” said one of the men. “Let us cool him.” A large tub of dirty water stood in one corner of the room. Two of the men brought this and placed it in front of the obdurate Hollander. “Will you give up?” cried the leader. “Nein!” replied Ten Eyck. “Never so long as I pe shoost as I am.” “Lift her, boys!” was the order. The two men raised the tub from the floor. “One—two—three—and away!” The contents of the tub were discharged upon the person of Ten Eyck, cooling his ardor and poker at the same time. As he stood there, with the water running in streams from every angle upon his figure, the men threw themselves upon him, and tied him neck and heels. “That job is done,” said the leader. “Now, boys, follow me, but you, Seth Mather, had better stay with the prisoners.” One of the men sat down to keep guard, and the rest passed out into the open space within the works. The rest of the men stood there, waiting for the issue of the work upon the first house. The leader reported. “You have done well,” said Holmes. “Very well, indeed. Let us hail this house.” He approached the building in which Van Curter was, with the strongest party in the works. In answer to his hail, Van Curter himself came to the window. “Who is there?” he cried. “King George and Captain Holmes, of Windsor.” “To what am I to attribute the honor of this visit?” “To my ardent desire to return your late courteous visit to my quarters. It’s a reciprocation of favors. We Yankees never like to be in debt long for such things.” “Bah! you talk too much, like all Englishmen. Do you design to take this post?” “I do. I have now more men than you. Counting the wounded, those taken prisoners at the first rush, and those in yonder house, half your force is out of the battle. You have just seventeen men.” “You are well informed.” “I always aim to be so. Do you surrender?” “Give me an hour to consider?” “I will give you five minutes.” “Your demands are hard. What are your terms?” “You will find them easy. You shall have permission to march out under your own colors, with your arms and personal property. We want nothing but the House of Good Hope.” “We shall keep our colors?” “Yes, even to the red color of your noses.” “And our side-arms?” “Every thing that is Dutch.” “In short, all you demand is the surrender of the work itself?” “Precisely; clear out—that is all.”