Avontuurlĳke reys-togten van Johan Smith, in verscheyde gedeelten des werelds, begonnen in het jaar 1593 ... (1706) - Page 21

1593

Which Smith seeks to relieve by a military stratagem.

Kisell, General of the Archduke's Artillery, original: "Generaal van des Aards-Hertogs Artillery" knew that I had taught that Governor, his worthy friend, something through which I wished to undertake to make known to him that which I wanted him to know, and at the same time receive his answer in return, if he could only place me in a location where those in the city could see the light of a torch. Kisell, inspired by this strange invention which I proposed to him so clearly, gave me some guides who brought me immediately, on a dark night, to a high mountain where I displayed to those in the city 3 ignited torches, standing equally apart from one another. The Governor, immediately noticing this, understood and replied with 3 similar lights, placed in the same manner, by which each made known the other's meaning and intention. I, although I was 7 English miles away, made the words known to him: On Thursday night I shall attack from the East, upon the alarm you then make a sally. Ebersbaught replied: I shall, as also came to pass.

In what this stratagem consisted.

First, I wrote my intention very briefly, as has been seen. As I did so, I divided the Alphabet into 2 parts, thus:

A.	B.	C.	D.	E.	F.	G.	H.	I.	K.	L.
1.	1.	1.	1.	1.	1.	1.	1.	1.	1.	1.

M.	N.	O.	P.	Q.	R.	S.	T.	V.	W.	X.	Y.	Z.
2.	2.	2.	2.	2.	2.	2.	2.	2.	2.	2.	2.	2.

Its explanation.

The first part of the letters from A to L was signified by the showing and hiding of one light, and that as many times as there were letters from A to that letter which makes up the word. The other part of the letters, from M to Z, one shows by 2 lights in the same manner. The end of a word was signified by the showing of the 3 lights, each time...