hans brinker-第21节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
run； he was startled by the sound of trickling water。 Whence did it come？ He looked up and saw a small hole in the dike through which a tiny stream was flowing。 Any child in Holland will shudder at the thought of A LEAK IN THE DIKE！ The boy understood the danger at a glance。 That little hole； if the water were allowed to trickle through； would soon be a large one； and a terrible inundation would be the result。
〃Quick as a flash； he saw his duty。 Throwing away his flowers； the boy clambered up the heights until he reached the hole。 His chubby little finger was thrust in； almost before he knew it。 The flowing was stopped！ Ah！ he thought； with a chuckle of boyish delight； the angry waters must stay back now！ Haarlem shall not be drowned while I am here！
〃This was all very well at first； but the night was falling rapidly。 Chill vapors filled the air。 Our little hero began to tremble with cold and dread。 He shouted loudly； he screamed； 'Come here！ come here！' but no one came。 The cold grew more intense； a numbness； commencing in the tired little finger； crept over his hand and arm； and soon his whole body was filled with pain。 He shouted again； 'Will no one come？ Mother！ Mother！' Alas； his mother； good； practical soul； had already locked the doors and had fully resolved to scold him on the morrow for spending the night with blind Jansen without her permission。 He tried to whistle。 Perhaps some straggling boy might heed the signal； but his teeth chattered so； it was impossible。 Then he called on God for help。 And the answer came； through a holy resolution： 'I will stay here till morning。'〃
〃Now； Jenny Dobbs；〃 said the teacher。 Jenny's eyes were glistening； but she took a long breath and commenced。
〃The midnight moon looked down upon that small； solitary form； sitting upon a stone； halfway up the dike。 His head was bent but he was not asleep； for every now and then one restless hand rubbed feebly the outstretched arm that seemed fastened to the dikeand often the pale； tearful face turned quickly at some real or fancied sounds。
〃How can we know the sufferings of that long and fearful watchwhat falterings of purpose； what childish terrors came over the boy as he thought of the warm little bed at home； of his parents； his brothers and sisters； then looked into the cold； dreary night！ If he drew away that tiny finger； the angry waters； grown angrier still； would rush forth； and never stop until they had swept over the town。 No； he would hold it there till daylightif he lived！ He was not very sure of living。 What did this strange buzzing mean？ And then the knives that seemed pricking and piercing him from head to foot？ He was not certain now that he could draw his finger away； even if he wished to。
〃At daybreak a clergyman； returning from the bedside of a sick parishioner； thought he heard groans as he walked along on the top of the dike。 Bending； he saw； far down on the side； a child apparently writhing with pain。
〃'In the name of wonder； boy；' he exclaimed； 'what are you doing there？'
〃'I am keeping the water from running out；' was the simple answer of the little hero。 'Tell them to come quick。'
〃It is needless to add that they did come quickly and that〃
〃Jenny Dobbs；〃 said the teacher； rather impatiently； 〃if you cannot control your feelings so as to read distinctly； we will wait until you recover yourself。〃
〃Yes； sir！〃 said Jenny； quite startled。
It was strange； but at that very moment； Ben； far over the sea； was saying to Lambert； 〃The noble little fellow！ I have frequently met with an account of the incident； but I never knew； till now； that it was really true。〃
〃True！ Of course it is；〃 said Lambert。 〃I have given you the story just as Mother told it to me； years ago。 Why； there is not a child in Holland who does not know it。 And； Ben； you may not think so； but that little boy represents the spirit of the whole country。 Not a leak can show itself anywhere either in its politics； honor； or public safety； that a million fingers are not ready to stop it； at any cost。〃
〃Whew！〃 cried Master Ben。 〃Big talking that！〃
〃It's true talk anyway；〃 rejoined Lambert； so very quietly that Ben wisely resolved to make no further comment。
On the Canal
The skating season had commenced unusually early； our boys were by no means alone upon the ice。 The afternoon was so fine that men； women； and children； bent upon enjoying the holiday； had flocked to the grand canal from far and near。 Saint Nicholas had evidently remembered the favorite pastime； shining new skates were everywhere to be seen。 Whole families were skimming their way to Haarlem or Leyden or the neighboring villages。 The ice seemed fairly alive。 Men noticed the erect； easy carriage of women； and their picturesque variety of costume。 There were the latest fashions； fresh from Paris； floating past dingy； moth…eaten garments that had seen service through two generations； coal…scuttle bonnets perched over freckled faces bright with holiday smiles； stiff muslin caps with wings at the sides； flapping beside cheeks rosy with health and contentment； furs； too； encircling the whitest of throats； and scanty garments fluttering below faces ruddy with exercise。 In short； every quaint and comical mixture of dry goods and flesh that Holland could furnish seemed sent to enliven the scene。
There were belles from Leyden； and fishwives from the border villages； cheese women from Gouda； and prim matrons from beautiful country seats on the Haarlemmer Meer。 Gray…headed skaters were constantly to be seen； wrinkled old women with baskets upon their heads； and plump little toddlers on skates clutching at their mothers' gowns。 Some women carried their babies upon their backs； firmly secured with a bright shawl。 The effect was pretty and graceful as they darted by or sailed slowly past； now nodding to an acquaintance； now chirruping and throwing soft baby talk to the muffled little ones they carried。
Boys and girls were chasing each other and hiding behind the one…horse sleds that； loaded high with peat or timber； pursued their cautious way along the track marked out as 〃safe。〃 Beautiful； queenly women were there； enjoyment sparkling in their quiet eyes。 Sometimes a long file of young men； each grasping the coat of the one before him； flew by with electric speed； and sometimes the ice squeaked under the chair of some gorgeous old dowager； or rich burgomaster's lady； who； very red in the nose and sharp in the eyes； looked like a scare…thaw invented by old Father Winter for the protection of his skating grounds。 The chair would be heavy with foot stoves and cushions； to say nothing of the old lady。 Mounted upon shining runners； it slid along； pushed by the sleepiest of servants； who； looking neither to the right nor the left； bent himself to his task while she cast direful glances upon the screaming little rowdies who invariably acted as bodyguard。
As for the men； they were pictures of placid enjoyment。 Some were attired in ordinary citizen's dress； but many looked odd enough with their short woolen coats； wide breeches； and big silver buckles。 These seemed to Ben like little boys who had； by a miracle； sprung suddenly into manhood and were forced to wear garments that their astonished mothers had altered in a hurry。 He noticed； too； that nearly all the men had pipes as they passed him； whizzing and smoking like so many locomotives。 There was every variety of pipes； from those of common clay to the most expensive meerschaums mounted in silver and gold。 Some were carved into extraordinary and fantastic shapes； representing birds； flowers； heads； bugs； and dozens of other things； some resembled the 〃Dutchman's pipe〃 that grows in our American woods； some were red and many were of a pure； snowy white； but the most respectable were those which were ripening into a shaded brown。 The deeper and richer the brown； of course； the more honored the pipe； for it was proof that the owner； if honestly shading it； was deliberately devoting his manhood to the effort。 What pipe would not be proud to be the object of such a sacrifice！
For a while Ben skated on in silence。 There was so much to engage his attention that he almost forgot his companions。 Part of the time he had been watching the iceboats as they flew over the great Haarlemmer Meer （or lake）； the frozen surface of which was now plainly visible from the canal。 These boats had very large sails； much larger； in proportion； than those of ordinary vessels； and were set upon a triangular frame furnished with an iron 〃runner〃 at each cornerthe widest part of the triangle crossing the bow； and its point stretching beyond the stem。 They had rudders for guiding and brakes for arresting their progress and were of all sizes and kinds； from small； rough affairs managed by a boy； to large and beautiful ones filled with gay pleasure parties and manned by competent sailors； who； smoking their stumpy pipes； reefed and tacked and steered with great solemnity and precision。
Some of the boats were painted and gilded in gaudy style and flaunted gay pennons from their mastheads； others； white as snow； with every spotless sail rounded by the wind； looked like swans born
