hans brinker-第14部分

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　　Look　to　your　shoe　latchet；　Van。　　It's　unfastened。




A　Catastrophe



It　was　nearly　one　o'clock　when　Captain　van　Holp　and　his　command　entered　the　grand　old　city　of　Haarlem。　　They　had　skated　nearly　seventeen　miles　since　morning　and　were　still　as　fresh　as　young　eagles。　　From　the　youngest　（Ludwig　van　Holp；　who　was　just　fourteen）　to　the　eldest；　no　less　a　personage　than　the　captain　himself；　a　veteran　of　seventeen；　there　was　but　one　opinionthat　this　was　the　greatest　frolic　of　their　lives。　　To　be　sure；　Jacob　Poot　had　become　rather　short　of　breath　during　the　last　mile　of　two；　and　perhaps　he　felt　ready　for　another　nap；　but　there　was　enough　jollity　in　him　yet　for　a　dozen。　　Even　Carl　Schummel；　who　had　become　very　intimate　with　Ludwig　during　the　excursion；　forgot　to　be　ill…natured。　　As　for　Peter；　he　was　the　happiest　of　the　happy　and　had　sung　and　whistled　so　joyously　while　skating　that　the　staidest　passersby　had　smiled　as　they　listened。

〃Come；　boys！　　It's　nearly　tiffin　hour；〃　he　said　as　they　neared　a　coffeehouse　on　the　main　street。　　〃We　must　have　something　more　solid　than　the　pretty　maiden's　gingerbread〃and　the　captain　plunged　his　hands　into　his　pockets　as　if　to　say；　〃There's　money　enough　here　to　feed　an　army！〃

〃Halloo！〃　cried　Lambert。　　〃What　ails　the　man？〃

Peter；　pale　and　staring；　was　clapping　his　hands　upon　his　breast　and　sides。　　He　looked　like　one　suddenly　becoming　deranged。

〃He's　sick！〃　cried　Ben。

〃No；　he's　lost　something；〃　said　Carl。

Peter　could　only　gasp；　〃The　pocketbook　with　all　our　money　in　itit's　gone！〃

For　an　instant　all　were　too　much　startled　to　speak。

Carl　at　last　came　out　with　a　gruff；　〃No　sense　in　letting　one　fellow　have　all　the　money。　　I　said　so　from　the　first。　　Look　in　your　other　pocket。〃

〃I　did。　　It　isn't　there。〃

〃Open　your　underjacket。〃

Peter　obeyed　mechanically。　　He　even　took　off　his　hat　and　looked　into　it；　then　thrust　his　hand　desperately　into　every　pocket。

〃It's　gone；　boys；〃　he　said　at　last　in　a　hopeless　tone。　　〃No　tiffin　for　us；　nor　dinner；　either。　　What　is　to　be　done？　　We　can't　get　on　without　money。　　If　we　were　in　Amsterdam；　I　could　get　as　much　as　we　want；　but　there　is　not　a　man　in　Haarlem　from　whom　I　can　borrow　a　stiver。　　Doesn't　one　of　you　know　anyone　here　who　would　lend　us　a　few　guilders？〃

Each　boy　looked　into　five　blank　faces。　　Then　something　like　a　smile　passed　around　the　circle；　but　it　got　sadly　knotted　up　when　it　reached　Carl。

〃That　wouldn't　do；〃　he　said　crossly。　　〃I　know　some　people　here；　rich　ones；　too；　but　father　would　flog　me　soundly　if　I　borrowed　a　cent　from　anyone。　　He　has　'An　honest　man　need　not　borrow'　written　over　the　gateway　of　his　summer　house。〃

〃Humph！〃　responded　Peter；　not　particularly　admiring　the　sentiment　just　at　that　moment。

The　boys　grew　desperately　hungry　at　once。

〃It　wash　my　fault；〃　said　Jacob；　in　a　penitent　tone；　to　Ben。　　〃I　say　first；　petter　all　de　boys　put　zair　pursh　into　Van　Holp's　monish。〃

〃Nonsense；　Jacob。　　You　did　it　all　for　the　best。〃

Ben　said　this　in　such　a　sprightly　tone　that　the　two　Van　Holps　and　Carl　felt　sure　that　he　had　proposed　a　plan　that　would　relieve　the　party　at　once。

〃What？　what？　　Tell　us；　Van　Mounen；〃　they　cried。

〃He　says　it　is　not　Jacob's　fault　that　the　money　is　lostthat　he　did　it　for　the　best　when　he　proposed　that　Van　Holp　should　put　all　of　our　money　into　his　purse。〃

〃Is　that　all？〃　said　Ludwig　dismally。　　〃He　need　not　have　made　such　a　fuss　in　just　saying　THAT。　　How　much　money　have　we　lost？〃

〃Don't　you　remember？〃　said　Peter。　　〃We　each　put　in　exactly　ten　guilders。　　The　purse　had　sixty　guilders　in　it。　　I　am　the　stupidest　fellow　in　the　world；　little　Schimmelpenninck　would　have　made　you　a　better　captain。　　I　could　pommel　myself　for　bringing　such　a　disappointment　upon　you。〃

〃Do　it；　then；〃　growled　Carl。　　〃Pooh；〃　he　added；　〃we　all　know　that　it　was　an　accident；　but　that　doesn't　help　matters。　　We　must　have　money；　Van　Holpeven　if　you　have　to　sell　your　wonderful　watch。〃

〃Sell　my　mother's　birthday　present！　　Never！　　I　will　sell　my　coat；　my　hat；　anything　but　my　watch。〃

〃Come；　come；〃　said　Jacob　pleasantly；　〃we　are　making　too　much　of　this　affair。　　We　can　go　home　and　start　again　in　a　day　or　two。〃

〃YOU　may　be　able　to　get　another　ten…guilder　piece；〃　said　Carl；　〃but　the　rest　of　us　will　not　find　it　so　easy。　　If　we　go　home；　we　stay　home；　you　may　depend。〃

Our　captain；　whose　good　nature　had　not　yet　forsaken　him　for　a　moment；　grew　indignant。

〃Do　you　think　that　I　will　let　you　suffer　for　my　carelessness？〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃I　have　three　times　sixty　guilders　in　my　strong　box　at　home！〃

〃Oh；　I　beg　your　pardon；〃　said　Carl　hastily；　adding　in　a　surlier　tone；　〃Well；　I　see　no　better　way　than　to　go　back　hungry。〃

〃I　see　a　better　plan　than　that；〃　said　the　captain。

〃What　is　it？〃　cried　all　the　boys。

〃Why；　to　make　the　best　of　a　bad　business　and　go　back　pleasantly　and　like　men；〃　said　Peter；　looking　so　gallant　and　handsome　as　he　turned　his　frank　face　and　clear　blue　eyes　upon　them　that　they　caught　his　spirit。

〃Ho　for　the　captain！〃　they　shouted。

〃Now；　boys；　we　may　as　well　make　up　our　minds；　there's　no　place　like　Broek；　after　alland　that　we　mean　to　be　there　in　two　hours。　　Is　that　agreed　to？〃

〃Agreed！〃　cried　all　as　they　ran　to　the　canal。

〃On　with　your　skates！　　Are　you　ready？　　Here；　Jacob；　let　me　help　you。〃

〃Now。　　One；　two；　three；　start！〃

And　the　boyish　faces　that　left　Haarlem　at　that　signal　were　nearly　as　bright　as　those　that　had　entered　it　with　Captain　Peter　half　an　hour　before。




Hans



〃Donder　and　Blixin！〃　cried　Carl　angrily；　before　the　party　had　skated　twenty　yards　from　the　city　gates；　〃if　here　isn't　that　wooden…skate　ragamuffin　in　the　patched　leather　breeches。　　That　fellow　is　everywhere；　confound　him！　　We'll　be　lucky；〃　he　added；　in　as　sneering　a　tone　as　he　dared　to　assume；　〃if　our　captain　doesn't　order　us　to　halt　and　shake　hands　with　him。〃

〃Your　captain　is　a　terrible　fellow；〃　said　Peter　pleasantly；　〃but　this　is　a　false　alarm；　Carl。　　I　cannot　spy　your　bugbear　anywhere　among　the　skaters。　　Ah；　there　he　is！　　Why；　what　is　the　matter　with　the　lad？〃

Poor　Hans！　　His　face　was　pale；　his　lips　compressed。　　He　skated　like　one　under　the　effects　of　a　fearful　dream。　　Just　as　he　was　passing；　Peter　hailed　him：

〃Good　day；　Hans　Brinker！〃

Hans's　countenance　brightened　at　once。　　〃Ah；　mynheer；　is　that　you？　　It　is　well　we　meet！〃

〃Just　like　his　impertinence；〃　hissed　Carl　Schummel；　darting　scornfully　past　his　companions；　who　seemed　inclined　to　linger　with　their　captain。

〃I　am　glad　to　see　you；　Hans；〃　responded　Peter　cheerfully；　〃but　you　look　troubled。　　Can　I　serve　you？〃

〃I　have　a　trouble；　mynheer；〃　answered　Hans；　casting　down　his　eyes。　　Then；　lifting　them　again　with　almost　a　happy　expression；　he　added；　〃But　it　is　Hans　who　can　help　Mynheer　van　Holp　THIS　time。〃

〃How？〃　asked　Peter；　making；　in　his　blunt　Dutch　way；　no　attempt　to　conceal　his　surprise。

〃By　giving　you　THIS；　mynheer。〃　　And　Hans　held　forth　the　missing　purse。

〃Hurrah！〃　shouted　the　boys；　taking　their　cold　hands　from　their　pockets　to　wave　them　joyfully　in　the　air。　　But　Peter　said　〃Thank　you；　Hans　Brinker〃　in　a　tone　that　made　Hans　feel　as　if　the　king　had　knelt　to　him。

The　shout　of　the　delighted　boys　had　reached　the　muffled　ears　of　the　fine　young　gentleman　who；　under　a　full　pressure　of　pent…up　wrath；　was　skating　toward　Amsterdam。　　A　Yankee　boy　would　have　wheeled　about　at　once　and　hastened　to　satisfy　his　curiosity。　　But　Carl　only　halted；　and；　with　his　back　toward　his　party；　wondered　what　on　earth　had　happened。　　There　he　stood；　immovable；　until；　feeling　sure　that　nothing　but　the　prospect　of　something　to　eat　could　have　made　them　hurrah　so　heartily；　he　turned　and　skated　slowly　toward　his　excited　comrades。

In　the　meantime　Peter　had　drawn　Hans　aside　from　the　rest。

〃How　did　you　know　it　was　my　purse？〃　he　asked。

〃You　paid　me　three　guilders　yesterday；　mynheer；　for　making　the　whitewood　chain；　telling　me　that　I　must　buy　skates。〃

〃Yes；　I　remember。〃

〃I　saw　your　purse　then。　　It　was　of　yellow　leather。〃

〃And　where　did　you　find　it　today？〃

〃I　left　my　home　this　morning；　mynheer；　in　great　trouble；　and　as　I　skated；　I　took　no　heed　until　I　stumbled　against　some　lumber；　and　while　I　was　rubbing　my　knee　I　saw　your　purse　nearly　hidden　under　a　log。〃

〃That　place！　　Ah；　I　remember　now。　　Just　as　we　were　passing　it　I　pulled　my　tippet　from　my　pocket　and　probably　flipped　out　the　purse　at　the　same　time。　　It　would　have　been　gone　but　for　you；　Hans。　　Here〃pouring　out　the　contents〃you　must　give　us　the　pleasure　of　dividing　the　money　with　you。〃

〃No；　mynheer；〃　answered　Hans。　　He　spoke　quietly；　without　pretence　or　any　grace　of　manner；　but　Peter；　somehow；　felt　rebuked；　and　put　the　silver　back　without　a　word。

I　like　that　boy；　rich　or　poor；　he　thought　to　himself；　then　added　aloud；　〃May　I　ask　about　this　trouble　of　yours；　Hans？〃

〃Ah；　mynheer；　it　is　a　sad　case；　but　I　have　waited　here　too　long。　　I　am　going　to　Leyden　to　see　the　great　Dr。　Boekman。〃

〃Dr。　Boekman！〃　exclaimed　Peter　in　astonishment。

〃Yes；　mynheer；　and　I　have　not　a　moment　to　lose。　　Good　day！〃

〃Stay；　I　am　going　that　way。　　Come；　my　lads！　　Shall　we　return　to　Haarlem！〃

〃Yes；〃　cried　the　boys；　eagerlyand　off　they　started。

〃Now；〃　said　Peter；　drawing　near　Hans；　both　skimming　the　ice　so　easily　and　lightly　as　they　skated　on　together　that　they　seemed　scarcely　conscious　of　moving。　　〃We　are　going　to　stop　at　Leyden；　and　if　you　are　going　there　only　with　a　message　to　Dr。　Boekman；　cannot　I　do　the　errand　for　you？　　The　boys　may　be　too　tired　to　skate　so　far　today；　but　I　will　promise　to　see　him　early　tomorrow　if　he　is　to　be　found　in　the　city。〃

〃Ah；　mynheer；　that　would　be　serving　me　indeed；　it　is　not　the　distance　I　dread　but　leaving　my　mother　so　long。〃

〃Is　she　ill？〃

〃No；　mynheer。　　It　is　the　father。　　You　may　have　heard　it；　how　he　has　been　without　wit　for　many　a　yearever　since　the　great　Schlossen　Mill　was　built；　but　his　body　has　been　well　and　strong。　　Last　night　the　mother　knelt　upon　the　hearth　to　blow　the　peat　（it　is　his　only　delight　to　sit　and　watch　the　live　embers；　and　she　will　blow　them　into　a　blaze　every　hour　of　the　day　to　please　him）。　　Before　she　could　stir；　he　sprang　upon　her　like　a　giant　and　held　her　close　to　the　fire；　all　the　time　laughing　and　shaking　his　head。　　I　was　on　the　canal；　bu