hans brinker-第25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！



〃What？〃

〃Why；　the　warming　pan。　　It's　full　of　hot　ashes；　she's　been　heating　our　beds。〃

〃Oh；　a　warming　pan；　eh！　　Much　obliged　to　her；　I'm　sure；〃　said　Ben；　too　sleepy　to　make　any　further　comment。

Meantime；　Ludwig　still　talked　of　the　picture　that　had　made　such　a　strong　impression　upon　him。　　He　had　seen　it　in　a　shop　window　during　their　walk。　　It　was　a　poorly　painted　thing；　representing　two　men　tied　back　to　back；　standing　on　shipboard；　surrounded　by　a　group　of　seamen　who　were　preparing　to　cast　them　together　into　the　sea。　　This　mode　of　putting　prisoners　to　death　was　called　voetspoelen；　or　feet　washing；　and　was　practiced　by　the　Dutch　upon　the　pirates　of　Dunkirk　in　1605；　and　again　by　the　Spaniards　against　the　Dutch；　in　the　horrible　massacre　that　followed　the　siege　of　Haarlem。　　Bad　as　the　painting　was；　the　expression　upon　the　pirates'　faces　was　well　given。　　Sullen　and　despairing　as　they　seemed；　they　wore　such　a　cruel；　malignant　aspect　that　Ludwig　had　felt　a　secret　satisfaction　in　contemplating　their　helpless　condition。　　he　might　have　forgotten　the　scene　by　this　time　but　for　that　ill…looking　man　by　the　fire。　　Now；　while　he　capered　about；　boylike；　and　threw　himself　with　an　antic　into　his　bed；　he　inwardly　hoped　that　the　voetspoelen　would　not　haunt　his　dreams。

It　was　a　cold；　cheerless　room；　a　fire　had　been　newly　kindled　in　the　burnished　stove　and　seemed　to　shiver　even　while　it　was　trying　to　burn。　　The　windows；　with　their　funny　little　panes；　were　bare　and　shiny；　and　the　cold　waxed　floor　looked　like　a　sheet　of　yellow　ice。　　Three　rush…bottomed　chairs　stood　stiffly　against　the　wall；　alternating　with　three　narrow　wooden　bedsteads　that　made　the　room　look　like　the　deserted　ward　of　a　hospital。　　At　any　other　time　the　boys　would　have　found　it　quite　impossible　to　sleep　in　pairs；　especially　in　such　narrow　quarters；　but　tonight　they　lost　all　fear　of　being　crowded　and　longed　only　to　lay　their　weary　bodies　upon　the　feather　beds　that　lay　lightly　upon　each　cot。　　Had　the　boys　been　in　Germany　instead　of　Holland；　they　might　have　been　covered；　also；　by　a　bed　of　down　or　feathers。　　This　peculiar　form　of　luxury　was　at　that　time　adopted　only　by　wealthy　or　eccentric　Hollanders。

Ludwig；　as　we　have　seen；　had　not　quite　lost　his　friskiness；　but　the　other　boys；　after　one　or　two　feeble　attempts　at　pillow　firing；　composed　themselves　for　the　night　with　the　greatest　dignity。　　Nothing　like　fatigue　for　making　boys　behave　themselves！

〃Good　night；　boys！〃　said　Peter's　voice　from　under　the　covers。

〃Good　night；〃　called　back　everybody　but　Jacob；　who　already　lay　snoring　beside　the　captain。

〃I　say；〃　shouted　Carl　after　a　moment；　〃don't　sneeze；　anybody。　　Ludwig's　in　a　fright！〃

〃No　such　thing；〃　retorted　Ludwig　in　a　smothered　voice。　　Then　there　was　a　little　whispered　dispute；　which　was　ended　by　Carl　saying；　〃For　my　part；　I　don't　know　what　fear　is。　　But　you　really　are　a　timid　fellow；　Ludwig。〃

Ludwig　grunted　sleepily；　but　made　no　further　reply。


It　was　the　middle　of　the　night。　　The　fire　had　shivered　itself　to　death；　and；　in　place　of　its　gleams；　little　squares　of　moonlight　lay　upon　the　floor；　slowly；　slowly　shifting　their　way　across　the　room。　　Something　else　was　moving　also；　but　the　boys　did　not　see　it。　　Sleeping　boys　keep　but　a　poor　lookout。　　During　the　early　hours　of　the　night；　Jacob　Poot　had　been　gradually　but　surely　winding　himself　with　all　the　bed　covers。　　He　now　lay　like　a　monster　chrysalis　beside　the　half…frozen　Peter；　who；　accordingly；　was　skating　with　all　his　might　over　the　coldest；　bleakest　of　dreamland　icebergs。

Something　else；　I　say；　besides　the　moonlight；　was　moving　across　the　bare；　polished　floormoving　not　quite　so　slowly；　but　quite　as　stealthily。

Wake　up；　Ludwig！　　The　voetspoelen　is　growing　real！

No。　　Ludwig　does　not　waken；　but　he　moans　in　his　sleep。

Does　not　Carl　hear　itCarl　the　brave；　the　fearless？

No。　　Carl　is　dreaming　of　the　race。

And　Jacob？　　Van　Mounen？　　Ben？

Not　they。　　They；　too；　are　dreaming　of　the　race；　and　Katrinka　is　singing　through　their　dreamslaughing；　flitting　past　them；　now　and　then　a　wave　from　the　great　organ　surges　through　their　midst。

Still　the　thing　moves；　slowly；　slowly。

Peter！　　Captain　Peter；　there　is　danger！


Peter　heard　no　call；　but　in　his　dream；　he　slid　a　few　thousand　feet　from　one　iceberg　to　another；　and　the　shock　awoke　him。

Whew！　　How　cold　he　was！　　He　gave　a　hopeless；　desperate　tug　at　the　chrysalis　in　vain。　　Sheet；　blanket；　and　spread　were　firmly　wound　around　Jacob's　inanimate　form。

Clear　moonlight；　he　thought。　　We　shall　have　pleasant　weather　tomorrow。　　Halloo！　　What's　that？

He　saw　the　moving　thing；　or　rather　something　black　crouching　upon　the　floor；　for　it　had　halted　as　Peter　stirred。

He　watched　in　silence。

Soon　it　moved　again；　nearer　and　nearer。　　It　was　a　man　crawling　upon　hands　and　feet！

The　captain's　first　impulse　was　to　call　out；　but　he　took　an　instant　to　consider　matters。

The　creeper　had　a　shining　knife　in　one　hand。　　This　was　ugly；　but　Peter　was　naturally　self…possessed。　　When　the　head　turned；　Peter's　eyes　were　closed　as　if　in　sleep；　but　at　other　times；　nothing　could　be　keener；　sharper　than　the　captain's　gaze。

Closer；　closer　crept　the　robber。　　His　back　was　very　near　Peter　now。　　The　knife　was　laid　softly　upon　the　floor。　　One　careful　arm　reached　forth　stealthily　to　drag　the　clothes　from　the　chair　by　the　captain's　bedthe　robbery　was　commenced。

Now　was　Peter's　time！　　Holding　his　breath；　he　sprang　up　and　leaped　with　all　his　strength　upon　the　robber's　back；　stunning　the　rascal　with　the　force　of　the　blow。　　To　seize　the　knife　was　but　a　second's　work。　　The　robber　began　to　struggle；　but　Peter　sat　like　a　giant　astride　the　prostrate　form。

〃If　you　stir；〃　said　the　brave　boy　in　as　terrible　a　voice　as　he　could　command；　〃stir　but　one　inch；　I　will　plunge　this　knife　into　your　neck。　　Boys！　　Boys！　　Wake　up！〃　he　shouted；　still　pressing　down　the　black　head　and　holding　the　knife　at　pricking　distance。　　〃Give　us　a　hand！　　I've　got　him！〃

The　chrysalis　rolled　over；　but　made　no　other　sign。

〃Up；　boys！〃　cried　Peter；　never　budging。　　〃Ludwig！　　Lambert！　　Donder！　　Are　you　all　dead？〃

Dead？　　Not　they！　　Van　Mounen　and　Ben　were　on　their　feet　in　an　instant。

〃Hey！　　What　now？〃　they　shouted。

〃I've　got　a　robber　here；〃　said　Peter　coolly。　　〃Lie　still；　you　scoundrel；　or　I'll　slice　your　head　off！　　Now；　boys；　cut　out　your　bed　cordplenty　of　timehe's　a　dead　man　if　he　stirs。〃

Peter　felt　that　he　weighed　a　thousand　pounds。　　So　he　did；　with　that　knife　in　his　hand。

The　man　growled　and　swore　but　dared　not　move。

Ludwig　was　up　by　this　time。　　He　had　a　great　jackknife；　the　pride　of　his　heart；　in　his　breeches　pocket。　　It　could　do　good　service　now。　　They　bared　the　bedstead　in　a　moment。　　It　was　laced　backward　and　forward　with　a　rope。

〃I'll　cut　it；〃　cried　Ludwig；　sawing　away　at　the　knot。　　〃Hold　him　tight；　Peter！〃

〃Never　fear！〃　answered　the　captain；　giving　the　robber　a　warning　prick。

The　boys　were　soon　pulling　at　the　rope　like　good　fellows。　　It　was　out　at　lasta　long；　stout　piece。

〃Now；　boys；〃　commanded　the　captain；　〃lift　up　his　rascally　arms！　　Cross　his　hands　over　his　back！　　That's　rightexcuse　me　for　being　in　the　waytie　them　tight！〃

〃Yes；　and　his　feet　too；　the　villain！〃　cried　the　boys　in　great　excitement；　tying　knot　after　knot　with　Herculean　jerks。

The　prisoner　changed　his　tone。

〃Ohoh！〃　he　moaned。　　〃Spare　a　poor　sick　manI　was　but　walking　in　my　sleep。〃

〃Ugh！〃　grunted　Lambert；　still　tugging　away　at　the　rope。　　〃Asleep；　were　you？　　Well；　we'll　wake　you　up。〃

The　man　muttered　fierce　oaths　between　his　teeth；　then　cried　in　a　piteous　voice；　〃Unbind　me；　good　young　masters！　　I　have　five　little　children　at　home。　　By　Saint　Bavon　I　swear　to　give　you　each　a　ten…guilder　piece　if　you　will　but　free　me！〃

〃Ha！　ha！〃　laughed　Peter。

〃Ha！　ha！〃　laughed　the　other　boys。

Then　came　threats；　threats　that　made　Ludwig　fairly　shudder；　though　he　continued　to　bind　and　tie　with　redoubled　energy。

〃Hold　up；　mynheer　housebreaker；〃　said　Van　Mounen　in　a　warning　voice。　　〃That　knife　is　very　near　your　throat。　　If　you　make　the　captain　nervous；　there　is　no　telling　what　may　happen。〃

The　robber　took　the　hint；　and　fell　into　a　sullen　silence。

Just　at　this　moment　the　chrysalis　upon　the　bed　stirred　and　sat　erect。

〃What's　the　matter？〃　he　asked；　without　opening　his　eyes。

〃Matter！〃　echoed　Ludwig；　half　trembling；　half　laughing。　　〃Get　up；　Jacob。　　Here's　work　for　you。　　Come　sit　on　this　fellow's　back　while　we　get　into　our　clothes；　we're　half　perished。〃

〃What　fellow？　　Donder！〃

〃Hurrah　for　Poot！〃　cried　all　the　boys　as　Jacob；　sliding　quickly　to　the　floor；　bedclothes　and　all；　took　in　the　state　of　affairs　at　a　glance　and　sat　heavily　beside　Peter　on　the　robber's　back。

Oh；　didn't　the　fellow　groan　then！

〃No　use　in　holding　him　down　any　longer；　boys；〃　said　Peter；　rising；　but　bending　as　he　did　so　to　draw　a　pistol　from　the　man's　belt。　　〃You　see　I've　been　keeping　a　guard　over　this　pretty　little　weapon　for　the　last　ten　minutes。　　It's　cocked；　and　the　least　wriggle　might　have　set　it　off。　　No　danger　now。　　I　must　dress　myself。　　You　and　I；　Lambert；　will　go　for　the　police。　　I'd　no　idea　it　was　so　cold。〃

〃Where　is　Carl？〃　asked　one　of　the　boys。

They　looked　at　one　another。　　Carl　certainly　was　not　among　them。

〃Oh！〃　cr