hans brinker-第23节

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Ludwig　and　Lambert　shouted　in　concert；　〃Wine！　　Wine！　　Who　has　wine？〃

A　sleepy…headed　Dutchman　began　to　fumble　mysteriously　under　the　heaviest　of　blue　jackets；　saying　as　he　did　so；　〃Not　so　much　noise；　young　masters；　not　so　much　noise！　　The　boy　was　a　fool　to　faint　like　a　girl。〃

〃Wine；　quick！〃　cried　Peter；　who；　with　Ben's　help；　was　rubbing　Jacob　from　head　to　foot。

Ludwig　stretched　forth　his　hand　imploringly　toward　the　Dutchman；　who；　with　an　air　of　great　importance；　was　still　fumbling　beneath　the　jacket。

〃DO　hurry！　　He　will　die！　　Has　anyone　else　any　wine？〃

〃He　IS　dead！〃　said　an　awful　voice　from　among　the　bystanders。

This　startled　the　Dutchman。

〃Have　a　care！〃　he　said；　reluctantly　drawing　forth　a　small　blue　flask。　　〃This　is　schnapps。　　A　little　is　enough。〃

A　little　WAS　enough。　　The　paleness　gave　way　to　a　faint　flush。　　Jacob　opened　his　eyes；　and；　half　bewildered；　half　ashamed；　feebly　tried　to　free　himself　from　those　who　were　supporting　him。

There　was　no　alternative；　now；　for　our　party　but　to　have　their　exhausted　comrade　carried；　in　some　way；　to　Leyden。　　As　for　expecting　him　to　skate　anymore　that　day；　the　thing　was　impossible。　　In　truth；　by　this　time　each　boy　began　to　entertain　secret　yearnings　toward　iceboats；　and　to　avow　a　Spartan　resolve　not　to　desert　Jacob。　　Fortunately　a　gentle；　steady　breeze　was　setting　southward。　　If　some　accommodating　schipper　would　but　come　along；　matters　would　not　be　quite　so　bad　after　all。

Peter　hailed　the　first　sail　that　appeared。　　The　men　in　the　stern　would　not　even　look　at　him。　　Three　drays　on　runners　came　along；　but　they　were　already　loaded　to　the　utmost。　　Then　an　iceboat；　a　beautiful；　tempting　little　one；　whizzed　past　like　an　arrow。　　The　boys　had　just　time　to　stare　eagerly　at　it　when　it　was　gone。　　In　despair；　they　resolved　to　prop　up　Jacob　with　their　strong　arms；　as　well　as　they　could；　and　take　him　to　the　nearest　village。

At　that　moment　a　very　shabby　iceboat　came　in　sight。　　With　but　little　hope　of　success　Peter　hailed　at　it；　at　the　same　time　taking　off　his　hat　and　flourishing　it　in　the　air。

The　sail　was　lowered；　then　came　the　scraping　sound　of　the　brake；　and　a　pleasant　voice　called　from　the　deck；　〃What　now？〃

〃Will　you　take　us　on？〃　cried　Peter；　hurrying　with　his　companions　as　fast　as　he　could；　for　the　boat　as　〃bringing　to〃　some　distance　ahead。　　〃Will　you　take　us　on？〃

〃We'll　pay　for　the　ride！〃　shouted　Carl。

The　man　on　board　scarcely　noticed　him　except　to　mutter　something　about　its　not　being　a　trekschuit。　　Still　looking　toward　Peter；　he　asked；　〃How　many？〃

〃Six。〃

〃Well；　it's　Nicholas's　Dayup　with　you！　　Young　gentleman　sick？〃　　He　nodded　toward　Jacob。

〃Yesbroken　down。　　Skated　all　the　way　from　Broek；〃　answered　Peter。　　〃Do　you　go　to　Leyden？〃

〃That's　as　the　wind　says。　　It's　blowing　that　way　now。　　Scramble　up！〃

Poor　Jacob！　　If　that　willing　Mrs。　Poot　had　only　appeared　just　then；　her　services　would　have　been　invaluable。　　It　was　as　much　as　the　boys　could　do　to　hoist　him　into　the　boat。　　All　were　in　at　last。　　The　schipper；　puffing　away　at　his　pipe；　let　out　the　sail；　lifted　the　brake；　and　sat　in　the　stern　with　folded　arms。

〃Whew！　　How　fast　we　go！〃　cried　Ben。　　〃This　is　something　like！　　Feel　better；　Jacob？〃

〃Much　petter；　I　tanks　you。〃

〃Oh；　you'll　be　as　good　as　new　in　ten　minutes。　　This　makes　a　fellow　feel　like　a　bird。〃

Jacob　nodded　and　blinked　his　eyes。

〃Don't　go　to　sleep；　Jacob；　it's　too　cold。　　You　might　never　wake　up；　you　know。　　Persons　often　freeze　to　death　in　that　way。〃

〃I　no　sleep；〃　said　Jacob　confidently；　and　in　two　minutes　he　was　snoring。

Carl　and　Ludwig　laughed。

〃We　must　wake　him！〃　cried　Ben。　　〃It　is　dangerous；　I　tell　youJacob！　　Ja…a…c〃

Captain　Peter　interfered；　for　three　of　the　boys　were　helping　Ben　for　the　fun　of　the　thing。

〃Nonsense！　　Don't　shake　him！　　Let　him　alone；　boys。　　One　never　snores　like　that　when　one's　freezing。　　Cover　him　up　with　something。　　Here；　this　cloak　will　do。　　Hey；　schipper？〃　and　he　looked　toward　the　stern　for　permission　to　use　it。

The　man　nodded。

〃There；〃　said　Peter；　tenderly　adjusting　the　garment；　〃let　him　sleep。　　He　will　be　as　frisky　as　a　lamb　when　he　wakes。　　How　far　are　we　from　Leyden；　schipper？〃

〃Not　more'n　a　couple　of　pipes；〃　replied　a　voice；　rising　from　smoke　like　the　genii　in　fairy　tales　（puff！　puff！）。　　〃Likely　not　more'n　one　an'　a　half〃puff！　puff！〃if　this　wind　holds。〃　　Puff！　puff！　puff！

〃What　is　the　man　saying；　Lambert？〃　asked　Ben；　who　was　holding　his　mittened　hands　against　his　cheeks　to　ward　off　the　cutting　air。

〃He　says　we're　about　two　pipes　from　Leyden。　　Half　the　boors　here　on　the　canal　measure　distance　by　the　time　it　takes　them　to　finish　a　pipe。〃

〃How　ridiculous。〃

〃See　here；　Benjamin　Dobbs；〃　retorted　Lambert；　growing　unaccountably　indignant　at　Ben's　quiet　smile。　　〃See　here；　you've　a　way　of　calling　every　other　thing　you　see　on　THIS　side　of　the　German　ocean　'ridiculous。'　　It　may　suit　YOU；　this　word；　but　it　doesn't　suit　ME。　　When　you　want　anything　ridiculous；　just　remember　your　English　custom　of　making　the　Lord　Mayor　of　London；　at　his　installation；　count　the　nails　in　a　horseshoe　to　prove　HIS　LEARNING。〃

〃Who　told　you　we　had　any　such　custom　as　that？〃　cried　Ben；　looking　grave　in　an　instant。

〃Why；　I　KNOW　it；　no　use　of　anyone　telling　me。　　It's　in　all　the　booksand　it's　true。　　It　strikes　me；〃　continued　Lambert；　laughing　in　spite　of　himself；　〃that　you　have　been　kept　in　happy　ignorance　of　a　good　many　ridiculous　things　on　YOUR　side　of　the　map。〃

〃Humph！〃　exclaimed　Ben；　trying　not　to　smile。　　〃I'll　inquire　into　that　Lord　Mayor　business　when　I　get　home。　　There　must　be　some　mistake。　　B…r…r…roooo！　　How　fast　we're　going。　　This　is　glorious！〃

It　was　a　grand　sail；　or　ride；　I　scarcely　know　which　to　call　it；　perhaps　FLY　would　be　the　best　word；　for　the　boys　felt　very　much　as　Sinbad　did　when；　tied　to　the　roc's　leg；　he　darted　through　the　clouds；　or　as　Bellerophon　felt　when　he　shot　through　the　air　on　the　back　of　his　winged　horse　Pegasus。

Sailing；　riding；　or　flying；　whichever　it　was；　everything　was　rushing　past；　backward；　and　before　they　had　time　to　draw　a　deep　breath；　Leyden　itself；　with　its　high；　peaked　roofs；　flew　halfway　to　meet　them。

When　the　city　came　in　sight；　it　was　high　time　to　waken　the　sleeper。　　That　feat　accomplished；　Peter's　prophecy　came　to　pass。　　Master　Jacob　was　quite　restored　and　in　excellent　spirits。

The　schipper　made　a　feeble　remonstrance　when　Peter；　with　hearty　thanks；　endeavored　to　slip　some　silver　pieces　into　his　tough　brown　palm。

〃Ye　see；　young　master；〃　said　he；　drawing　away　his　hand；　〃the　regular　line　o'　trade's　ONE　thing；　and　a　favor's　another。〃

〃I　know　it；〃　said　Peter；　〃but　those　boys　and　girls　of　yours　will　want　sweets　when　you　get　home。　　Buy　them　some　in　the　name　of　Saint　Nicholas。〃

The　man　grinned。　　〃Aye；　true　enough；　I've　young　'uns　in　plenty；　a　clean　boatload　of　them。　　You　are　a　sharp　young　master　at　guessing。〃

This　time　the　knotty　hand　hitched　forward　again；　quite　carelessly；　it　seemed；　but　its　palm　was　upward。　　Peter　hastily　dropped　in　the　money　and　moved　away。

The　sail　came　tumbling　down。　　Scrape；　scrape　went　the　brake；　scattering　an　ice　shower　round　the　boat。

〃Good…bye；　schipper！〃　shouted　the　boys；　seizing　their　skates　and　leaping　from　the　deck　one　by　one。　　〃Many　thanks　to　you！〃

〃Good…bye！　good…bHold！　　Here！　　Stop！　　I　want　my　coat。〃

Ben　was　carefully　assisting　his　cousin　over　the　side　of　the　boat。

〃What　is　the　man　shouting　about？　　Oh；　I　know；　you　have　his　wrapper　round　your　shoulders。〃

〃Dat　ish　true；〃　answered　Jacob；　half　jumping；　half　tumbling　down　upon　the　framework；　〃dat　ish　vot　make　him　sho　heavy。〃

〃Made　YOU　so　heavy；　you　mean；　Poot？〃

〃Ya；　made　you　sho　heavydat　ish　true；〃　said　Jacob　innocently　as　he　worked　himself　free　of　the　big　wrapper。　　〃Dere；　now　you　hands　it　mit　him；　straits　way；　and　tells　him　I　vos　much　tanks　for　dat。〃

〃Ho！　for　an　inn！〃　cried　Peter　as　they　stepped　into　the　city。　　〃Be　brisk；　my　fine　fellows！〃




Mynheer　Kleef　and　His　Bill　of　Fare



The　boys　soon　found　an　unpretending　establishment　near　the　Breedstraat　（Broad　Street）　with　a　funnily　painted　lion　over　the　door。　　This　was　the　Rood　Leeuw　or　Red　Lion；　kept　by　one　Huygens　Kleef；　a　stout　Dutchman　with　short　legs　and　a　very　long　pipe。

By　this　time　they　were　in　a　ravenous　condition。　　The　tiffin；　taken　at　Haarlem；　had　served　only　to　give　them　an　appetite；　and　this　had　been　heightened　by　their　exercise　and　swift　sail　upon　the　canal。

〃Come；　mine　host！　　Give　us　what　you　can！〃　cried　Peter　rather　pompously。

〃I　can　give　you　anythingeverything；〃　answered　Mynheer　Kleef；　performing　a　difficult　bow。

〃Well；　give　us　sausage　and　pudding。〃

〃Ah；　mynheer；　the　sausage　is　all　gone。　　There　is　no　pudding。〃

〃Salmagundi；　then；　and　plenty　of　it。〃

〃That　is　out　also；　young　master。〃

〃Eggs；　and　be　quick。〃

〃Winter　eggs　are　VERY　poor　eating；〃　answered　the　innkeeper；　puckering　his　lips　and　lifting　his　eyebrows。

〃No　eggs？　　Wellcaviar。〃

The　Dutchman　raised　his　fat　hands：

〃Caviar！　　That　is　made　of　gold！　　Who　has　caviar　to　sell？〃

Peter　had　sometimes　eaten　it　at　home；　he　knew　that　it　was　made　of　the　roes　of　the　sturgeon　and　certain　other　large　fish；　but　he　had　no　idea　of　its　cost。

〃Well；　mine　host；　what　have　you？〃

〃What　have　I？　　Ev