hans brinker-第41节

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ottage。

〃This　ysbreeker　is　just　the　thing；　Mother；〃　said　Hans；　striking　many　a　vigorous　blow；　〃but　the　ground　has　set　so　firm　it'll　be　a　fair　match　for　it。〃

〃Never　fear；　Hans；〃　she　answered；　watching　him　eagerly。　　〃Here；　let　me　try　awhile。〃

They　soon　succeeded　in　making　an　impression。　　One　opening　and　the　rest　was　not　so　difficult。

Still　they　worked　on；　taking　turns　and　whispering　cheerily　to　one　another。　　Now　and　then　Dame　Brinker　stepped　noiselessly　over　the　threshold　and　listened；　to　be　certain　that　her　husband　slept。

〃What　grand　news　it　will　be　for　him；〃　she　said；　laughing；　〃when　he　is　strong　enough　to　bear　it。　　How　I　should　like　to　put　the　pouch　and　the　stocking；　just　as　we　find　them；　all　full　of　money；　near　him　this　blessed　night；　for　the　dear　man　to　see　when　he　wakens。〃

〃We　must　get　them　first；　Mother；〃　panted　Hans；　still　tugging　away　at　his　work。

〃There's　no　doubt　of　that。　　They　can't　slip　away　from　us　now；〃　she　answered；　shivering　with　cold　and　excitement　as　she　crouched　beside　the　opening。　　〃Like　enough　we'll　find　them　stowed　in　the　old　earthen　pot　I　lost　long　ago。〃

By　this　time　Hans；　too；　began　to　tremble；　but　not　with　cold。　　He　had　penetrated　a　foot　deep　for　quite　a　space　on　the　south　side　of　the　tree。　　At　any　moment　they　might　come　upon　the　treasure。　　Meantime　the　stars　winked　and　blinked　at　each　other　as　if　to　say；　〃Queer　country；　this　Holland！　　How　much　we　do　see；　to　be　sure！〃

〃Strange　that　the　dear　father　should　have　put　it　down　so　woeful　deep；〃　said　Dame　Brinker　in　rather　a　provoked　tone。　　〃Ah；　the　ground　was　soft　enough　then；　I　warrant。　　How　wise　of　him　to　mistrust　Jan　Kamphuisen；　and　Jan　in　full　credit　at　the　time。　　Little　I　thought　that　handsome　fellow　with　his　gay　ways　would　ever　go　to　jail！　　Now；　Hans；　let　me　take　a　turn。　　It's　lighter　work；　d'ye　see；　the　deeper　we　go？　　I'd　be　loath　to　kill　the　tree；　Hans。　　Will　we　harm　it；　do　you　think？〃

〃I　cannot　say；〃　he　answered　gravely。

Hour　after　hour；　mother　and　son　worked　on。　　The　hole　grew　larger　and　deeper。　　Clouds　began　to　gather　in　the　sky；　throwing　elfish　shadows　as　they　passed。　　Not　until　moon　and　stars　faded　away　and　streaks　of　daylight　began　to　appear　did　Meitje　Brinker　and　Hans　look　hopelessly　into　each　other's　faces。

They　had　searched　the　ground　thoroughly；　desperately；　all　round　the　tree；　south；　north；　east；　west。　　THE　HIDDEN　MONEY　WAS　NOT　THERE！




Glimpses



Annie　Bouman　had　a　healthy　distaste　for　Janzoon　Kolp。　　Janzoon　Kolp；　in　his　own　rough　way；　adored　Annie。　　Annie　declared　that　she　could　not　〃to　save　her　life〃　say　one　civil　word　to　that　odious　boy。　　Janzoon　believed　her　to　be　the　sweetest；　sauciest　creature　in　the　world。　　Annie　laughed　among　her　playmates　at　the　comical　flapping　of　Janzoon's　tattered　and　dingy　jacket；　he　sighed　in　solitude　over　the　floating　grace　of　her　jaunty　blue　petticoat。　　She　thanked　her　stars　that　her　brothers　were　not　like　the　Kolps；　and　he　growled　at　his　sister　because　she　was　not　like　the　Boumans。　　His　presence　made　her　harsh　and　unfeeling；　and　the　very　sight　of　her　made　him　gentle　as　a　lamb。　　Of　course　they　were　thrown　together　very　often。　　It　is　thus　that　in　some　mysterious　way　we　are　convinced　of　error　and　cured　of　prejudice。　　In　this　case；　however；　the　scheme　failed。　　Annie　detested　Janzoon　more　and　more　at　each　encounter；　and　Janzoon　liked　her　better　and　better　every　day。

He　killed　a　stork；　the　wicked　old　wretch！　she　would　say　to　herself。

She　knows　I　am　strong　and　fearless；　thought　Janzoon。

How　red　and　freckled　and　ugly　he　is！　was　Annie's　secret　comment　when　she　looked　at　him。

How　she　stares　and　stares！　thought　Janzoon。　　Well；　I　am　a　fine；　weather…beaten　fellow；　anyway。

〃Janzoon　Kolp；　you　impudent　boy；　go　right　away　from　me！〃　Annie　often　said。　　〃I　don't　want　any　of　your　company。〃

Ha！　　Ha！　laughed　Janzoon　to　himself。　　Girls　never　say　what　they　mean。　　I'll　skate　with　her　every　chance　I　can　get。

And　so　it　came　to　pass　that　the　pretty　maid　would　not　look　up　that　morning　when；　skating　homeward　from　Amsterdam；　she　became　convinced　that　a　great　burly　boy　was　coming　down　the　canal　toward　her。

Humph！　if　I　look　at　him；　thought　Annie；　I'll

〃Good　morrow；　Annie　Bouman；〃　said　a　pleasant　voice。

How　a　smile　brightens　a　girl's　face！

〃Good　morrow；　Master　Hans；　I　am　right　glad　to　meet　you。〃

How　a　smile　brightens　a　boy's　face！

〃Good　morrow；　again；　Annie。　　There　has　been　a　great　change　at　our　house　since　you　left。〃

〃How　so？〃　she　exclaimed；　opening　her　eyes　very　wide。

Hans；　who　had　been　in　a　great　hurry　and　rather　moody；　grew　talkative　and　quite　at　leisure　in　Annie's　sunshine。

Turning　about；　and　skating　slowly　with　her　toward　Broek；　he　told　the　good　news　of　his　father。　　Annie　was　so　true　a　friend　that　he　told　her　even　of　their　present　distress；　of　how　money　was　needed　and　how　everything　depended　upon　his　obtaining　work；　and　he　could　find　nothing　to　do　in　the　neighborhood。

All　this　was　not　said　as　a　complaint　but　just　because　she　was　looking　at　him　and　really　wished　to　know。　　He　could　not　speak　of　last　night's　bitter　disappointment；　for　that　secret　was　not　wholly　his　own。

〃Good…bye；　Annie！〃　he　said　at　last。　　〃The　morning　is　going　fast；　and　I　must　haste　to　Amsterdam　and　sell　these　skates。　　Mother　must　have　money　at　once。　　Before　nightfall　I　shall　certainly　find　a　job　somewhere。〃

〃Sell　your　new　skates；　Hans？〃　cried　Annie。　　〃You；　the　best　skater　around　Broek！　　Why；　the　race　is　coming　off　in　five　days！〃

〃I　know　it；〃　he　answered　resolutely。　　〃Good…bye！　　I　shall　skate　home　again　on　the　old　wooden　ones。〃

Such　a　bright　glance！　　So　different　from　Janzoon's　ugly　grinand　Hans　was　off　like　an　arrow。

〃Hans；　come　back！〃　she　called。

Her　voice　changed　the　arrow　into　a　top。　　Spinning　around；　he　darted；　in　one　long；　leaning　sweep；　toward　her。

〃Then　you　really　are　going　to　sell　your　new　skates　if　you　can　find　a　customer？〃

〃Well；　Hans；　if　you　ARE　going　to　sell　your　skates；〃　said　Annie；　quite　confused；　〃I　mean　if　youwell；　I　know　somebody　who　would　like　to　buy　them；　that's　all。〃

〃Not　Janzoon　Kolp？〃　asked　Hans；　flushing。

〃Oh；　no；〃　she　said；　pouting；　〃he　is　not　one　of　my　friends。〃

〃But　you　KNOW　him；〃　persisted　Hans。

Annie　laughed；　〃Yes；　I　know　him；　and　it's　all　the　worse　for　him　that　I　do。　　Now；　please；　Hans；　don't　ever　talk　any　more　to　me　about　Janzoon。　　I　hate　him！〃

〃Hate　him！　　YOU　hate　anybody；　Annie？〃

She　shook　her　head　saucily。　　〃Yes；　and　I'll　hate　you；　too；　if　you　persist　in　calling　him　one　of　my　friends。　　You　boys　may　like　him　because　he　caught　the　greased　goose　at　the　kermis　last　summer　and　climbed　the　pole　with　his　great；　ugly　body　tied　up　in　a　sack；　but　I　don't　care　for　such　things。　　I've　disliked　him　ever　since　I　saw　him　try　to　push　his　little　sister　out　of　the　merry…go…round　at　Amsterdam；　and　it's　no　secret　up　OUR　way　who　killed　the　stork　on　your　mother's　roof。　　But　we　mustn't　talk　about　such　a　bad；　wicked　fellow。　　Really；　Hans；　I　know　somebody　who　would　be　glad　to　buy　your　skates。　　You　won't　get　half　a　price　for　them　in　Amsterdam。　　Please　give　them　to　me。　　I'll　take　you　the　money　this　very　afternoon。〃

If　Annie　was　charming　even　when　she　said　HATE；　there　was　no　withstanding　her　when　she　said　PLEASE；　at　least　Hans　found　it　to　be　so。

〃Annie；〃　he　said；　taking　off　the　skates　and　rubbing　them　carefully　with　a　snarl　of　twine　before　handing　them　to　her；　〃I　am　sorry　to　be　so　particular；　but　if　your　friend　should　not　want　them；　will　you　bring　them　back　to　me　today？　　I　must　buy　peat　and　meal　for　the　mother　early　tomorrow　morning。〃

〃My　friend　WILL　want　them；〃　Annie　laughed；　nodding　gaily；　and　skated　off　at　the　top　of　her　speed。

As　Hans　drew　forth　the　wooden　〃runners〃　from　his　capricious　pockets　and　fastened　them　on　as　best　he　could；　he　did　not　hear　Annie　murmur；　〃I　wish　I　had　not　been　so　rude。　　Poor；　brave　Hans。　　What　a　noble　boy　he　is！〃　　And　as　Annie　skated　homeward；　filled　with　pleasant　thoughts；　she　did　not　hear　Hans　say；　〃I　grumbled　like　a　bear。　　But　bless　her！　　Some　girls　are　like　angels！〃

Perhaps　it　was　all　for　the　best。　　One　cannot　be　expected　to　know　everything　that　is　going　on　around　the　world。




Looking　For　Work



Luxuries　unfit　us　for　returning　to　hardships　easily　endured　before。　　The　wooden　runners　squeaked　more　than　ever。　　It　was　as　much　as　Hans　could　do　to　get　on　with　the　clumsy　old　things；　still；　he　did　not　regret　that　he　had　parted　with　his　beautiful　skates；　but　resolutely　pushed　back　the　boyish　trouble　that　he　had　not　been　able　to　keep　them　just　a　little　longer；　at　least　until　after　the　race。

Mother　surely　will　not　be　angry　with　me；　he　thought；　for　selling　them　without　her　leave。　　She　has　had　care　enough　already。　　It　will　be　full　time　to　speak　of　it　when　I　take　home　the　money。

Hans　went　up　and　down　the　streets　of　Amsterdam　that　day；　looking　for　work。　　He　succeeded　in　earning　a　few　stivers　by　assisting　a　man　who　was　driving　a　train　of　loaded　mules　into　the　city；　but　he　could　not　secure　steady　employment　anywhere。　　He　would　have　been　glad　to　obtain　a　situation　as　porter　or　errand　boy；　but　though　he　passed　on　his　way　many　a　loitering　shuffling　urchin；　laden　with　bundles；　there　was　no　place　for　him。　　Some　shopkeepers　had　just　supplied　themselves；　others　needed　a　trimmer；　more　lightly　built　f