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〃Well；〃　replied　Ben　thoughtfully；　〃Van　der　Werf　is　one　of　my　heroes。　　We　all　have　our　historical　pets；　you　know；　but　I　really　think　the　siege　of　Haarlem　brought　out　a　braver；　more　heroic　resistance　even；　than　the　Leyden　one；　besides；　they　set　the　Leyden　sufferers　an　example　of　courage　and　fortitude；　for　their　turn　came　first。〃

〃I　don't　know　much　about　the　Haarlem　siege；〃　said　Lambert；　〃except　that　it　was　in　1573。　　Who　beat？〃

〃The　Spaniards；〃　said　Ben。　　〃The　Dutch　had　stood　out　for　months。　　Not　a　man　would　yield　nor　a　woman；　either；　for　that　matter。　　They　shouldered　arms　and　fought　gallantly　beside　their　husbands　and　fathers。　　Three　hundred　of　them　did　duty　under　Kanau　Hesselaer；　a　great　woman；　and　brave　as　Joan　of　Arc。　　All　this　time　the　city　was　surrounded　by　the　Spaniards　under　Frederic　of　Toledo；　son　of　that　beauty；　the　Duke　of　Alva。　　Cut　off　from　all　possible　help　from　without；　there　seemed　to　be　no　hope　for　the　inhabitants；　but　they　shouted　defiance　over　the　city　walls。　　They　even　threw　bread　into　the　enemy's　camps　to　show　that　they　were　not　afraid　of　starvation。　　Up　to　the　last　they　held　out　bravely；　waiting　for　the　help　that　never　could　comegrowing　bolder　and　bolder　until　their　provisions　were　exhausted。　　Then　it　was　terrible。　　In　time；　hundreds　of　famished　creatures　fell　dead　in　the　streets；　and　the　living　had　scarcely　strength　to　bury　them。　　At　last　they　made　the　desperate　resolution　that；　rather　than　perish　by　lingering　torture；　the　strongest　would　form　a　square；　placing　the　weakest　in　the　center；　and　rush　in　a　body　to　their　death；　with　the　faint　chance　of　being　able　to　fight　their　way　through　the　enemy。　　The　Spaniards　received　a　hint　of　this；　and　believing　that　there　was　nothing　the　Dutch　would　not　dare　to　do；　they　concluded　to　offer　terms。〃

〃High　time；　I　should　think。〃

〃Yes；　with　falsehood　and　treachery　they　soon　obtained　an　entrance　into　the　city；　promising　protection　and　forgiveness　to　all　except　those　whom　the　citizens　themselves　would　acknowledge　as　deserving　of　death。〃

〃You　don't　say　so！〃　said　Lambert；　quite　interested。　　〃That　ended　the　business；　I　suppose。〃

〃Not　a　bit　of　it；〃　returned　en；　〃for　the　Duke　of　Alva　had　already　given　his　son　orders　to　show　mercy　to　none。〃

〃Ah！　　That　was　where　the　great　Haarlem　massacre　came　in。　　I　remember　now。　　You　can't　wonder　that　the　Hollanders　dislike　Spain　when　you　read　of　the　way　they　were　butchered　by　Alva　and　his　hosts；　though　I　admit　that　our　side　sometimes　retaliated　terribly。　　But　as　I　have　told　you　before；　I　have　a　very　indistinct　idea　of　historical　matters。　　Everything　is　confusionfrom　the　flood　to　the　battle　of　Waterloo。　　One　thing　is　plain；　however；　the　Duke　of　Alva　was　about　the　worst　specimen　of　a　man　that　ever　lived。〃

〃That　gives　only　a　faint　idea　of　him；〃　said　Ben；　〃but　I　hate　to　think　of　such　a　wretch。　　What　if　he　HAD　brains　and　military　skill；　and　all　that　sort　of　thing！　　Give　me　such　men　as　Van　der　Werf；　and　What　now？〃

〃Why；〃　said　Van　Mounen；　who　was　looking　up　and　down　the　street　in　a　bewildered　way。　　〃We've　walked　right　past　the　museum；　and　I　don't　see　the　boys。　　Let　us　go　back。〃




Leyden



The　boys　met　at　the　museum　and　were　soon　engaged　in　examining　its　extensive　collection　of　curiosities；　receiving　a　new　insight　into　Egyptian　life；　ancient　and　modern。　　Ben　and　Lambert　had　often　visited　the　British　Museum；　but　that　did　not　prevent　them　from　being　surprised　at　the　richness　of　the　Leyden　collection。　　There　were　household　utensils；　wearing　apparel；　weapons；　musical　instruments；　sarcophagi；　and　mummies　of　men；　women；　and　cats；　ibexes；　and　other　creatures。　　They　saw　a　massive　gold　armlet　that　had　been　worn　by　an　Egyptian　king　at　a　time　when　some　of　these　same　mummies；　perhaps；　were　nimbly　treading　the　streets　of　Thebes；　and　jewels　and　trinkets　such　as　Pharaoh's　daughter　wore；　and　the　children　of　Israel　borrowed　when　they　departed　out　of　Egypt。

There　were　other　interesting　relics；　from　Rome　and　Greece；　and　some　curious　Roman　pottery　which　had　been　discovered　in　digging　near　The　Haguerelics　of　the　days　when　the　countrymen　of　Julius　Caesar　had　settled　there。　　Where　have　they　not　settled？　　I　for　one　would　hardly　be　astonished　if　relics　of　the　ancient　Romans　should　someday　be　found　deep　under　the　grass　growing　around　the　Bunker　Hill　monument。

When　the　boys　left　this　museum；　they　went　to　another　and　saw　a　wonderful　collection　of　fossil　animals；　skeletons；　birds；　minerals；　precious　stones；　and　other　natural　specimens；　but　as　they　were　not　learned　men；　they　could　only　walk　about　and　stare；　enjoy　the　little　knowledge　of　natural　history　they　possessed；　and　wish　with　all　their　hearts　they　had　acquired　more。　　Even　the　skeleton　of　the　mouse　puzzled　Jacob。　　What　wonder？　　He　was　not　used　to　seeing　the　cat…fearing　little　creatures　running　about　in　their　bonesand　how　could　he　ever　have　imagined　their　necks　to　be　so　queer？

Besides　the　Museum　of　Natural　History；　there　was　Saint　Peter's　Church　to　be　visited；　containing　Professor　Luzac's　memorial；　and　Boerhaave's　monument　of　white　and　black　marble；　with　its　urn　and　carved　symbols　of　the　four　ages　of　life；　and　its　medallion　of　Boerhaave；　adorned　with　his　favorite　motto；　Simplex　sigillum　veri。　　They　also　obtained　admittance　to　a　tea　garden；　which　in　summer　was　a　favorite　resort　of　the　citizens　and；　passing　naked　oaks　and　fruit　trees；　ascended　to　a　high　mound　which　stood　in　the　center。　　This　was　the　site　of　a　round　tower　now　in　ruins；　said　by　some　to　have　been　built　by　Hengist　the　Anglo…Saxon　king；　and　by　others　to　have　been　the　castle　of　one　of　the　ancient　counts　of　Holland。

As　the　boys　walked　about　on　the　top　of　its　stone　wall；　they　could　get　but　a　poor　view　of　the　surrounding　city。　　The　tower　stood　higher　when；　more　than　two　centuries　ago；　the　inhabitants　of　beleaguered　Leyden　shouted　to　the　watcher　on　its　top　their　wild；　despairing　cries；　〃Is　there　any　help？　　Are　the　waters　rising？　　What　do　you　see？〃

And　for　months　he　could　only　answer；　〃No　help。　　I　see　around　us　nothing　but　the　enemy。〃

Ben　pushed　these　thoughts　away　and；　resolutely　looking　down　into　the　bare　tea　garden；　filled　it　in　imagination　with　gay　summer　groups。　　He　tried　to　forget　old　battle　clouds；　and　picture　only　curling　wreaths　of　tobacco　smoke　rising　from　among　men；　women；　and　children　enjoying　their　tea　and　coffee　in　the　open　air。　　But　a　tragedy　came　in　spite　of　him。

Poot　was　bending　over　the　edge　of　the　high　wall。　　It　would　be　just　like　him　to　grow　dizzy　and　tumble　off。　　Ben　turned　impatiently　away。　　If　the　fellow；　with　his　weak　head；　knew　no　better　than　to　be　venturesome；　why；　let　him　tumble。　　Horror！　　What　mean　that　heavy；　crashing　sound？

Ben　could　not　stir。　　He　could　only　gasp。　　〃Jacob！〃

〃Jacob！〃　cried　another　startled　voice　and　another。　　Ready　to　faint；　Ben　managed　to　turn　his　head。　　He　saw　a　crowd　of　boys　on　the　edge　of　the　wall　opposite；　but　Jacob　was　not　there！

〃Good　heavens！〃　he　cried；　springing　forward；　〃where　is　my　cousin？〃

The　crowd　parted。　　It　was　only　four　boys；　after　all。　　There　sat　Jacob　in　their　midst；　holding　his　sides　and　laughing　heartily。

〃Did　I　frighten　you　all？〃　he　said　in　his　native　Dutch。　　〃Well；　I　will　tell　you　how　it　was。　　There　was　a　big　stone　lying　on　the　wall　and　I　put　mymy　foot　out　just　to　push　it　a　little；　you　see；　and　the　first　thing　I　knew；　down　went　the　stone　all　the　way　to　the　bottom　and　left　me　sitting　here　on　top　with　both　my　feet　in　the　air。　　If　I　had　not　thrown　myself　back　at　that　moment；　I　certainly　should　have　rolled　over　after　the　stone。　　Well；　it　is　no　matter。　　Help　me　up；　boys。〃

〃You're　hurt！〃　said　Ben；　seeing　a　shade　of　seriousness　pass　over　his　cousin's　face　as　they　lifted　him　to　his　feet。

Jacob　tried　to　laugh　again。　　〃Oh；　noI　feels　a　little　hurt　ven　I　stant　up；　but　it　ish　no　matter。〃


The　monument　to　Van　der　Werf　in　the　Hooglandsche　Kerk　was　not　accessible　that　day；　but　the　boys　spent　a　few　pleasant　moments　in　the　Stadhuis　or　town　hall；　a　long　irregular　structure　somewhat　in　the　Gothic　style；　uncouth　in　architecture　but　picturesque　from　age。　　Its　little　steeple；　tuneful　with　bells；　seemed　to　have　been　borrowed　from　some　other　building　and　hastily　clapped　on　as　a　finishing　touch。

Ascending　the　grand　staircase；　the　boys　soon　found　themselves　in　a　rather　gloomy　apartment；　containing　the　masterpiece　of　Lucas　van　Leyden；　or　Hugens；　a　Dutch　artist　born　three　hundred　and　seventy　years　ago；　who　painted　well　when　he　was　ten　years　of　age　and　became　distinguished　in　art　when　only　fifteen。　　This　picture；　called　the　Last　Judgment；　considering　the　remote　age　in　which　it　was　painted；　is　truly　a　remarkable　production。　　The　boys；　however；　were　less　interested　in　tracing　out　the　merits　of　the　work　than　they　were　in　the　fact　of　its　being　a　triptychthat　is；　painted　on　three　divisions；　the　two　outer　ones　swung　on　hinges　so　as　to　close；　when　required；　over　the　main　portion。

The　historical　pictures　of　Harel　de　Moor　and　other　famous　Dutch　artists　interested　them　for　a　while；　and　Ben　had　to　be　almost　pulled　away　from　the　dingy　old　portrait　of　Van　der　Werf。

The　town　hall；　as　well　as　the　Egyptian　Museum；　is　on　the　Breedstraat；　the　longest　and　finest　street　in　Leyden。　　It　has　no　canal　running　through　it；　and　the　houses；　painted　in　every　variety　of　color；　have　a　picturesque　effect　as　they　stand　with　their　gable　ends　to　the　street；　some　are　very　tall　with　half　their　height　in　their　step…like　roofs；　others　crouch　before　the　public　edifices　and　churches。　　Being　clean；　spacious；　well…shaded；　and　adorned　with　many　elegant　mansions；　it　compares　favorably　with　the　finery　portions　of　Amsterdam。　　It　is　kept　scrupulously　neat。　　Many　of　the　gutters　are　covered　with　boards　that　open　like　trapdoors；　and　it　is　supplied　with　pumps　surmounted　with　shining　brass　ornaments　kept　scoured　and　bright　at　the　public　cost。　　The　city　is　intersected　by　numerous　water　roads　formed　by　the　river　Rhine；　there　grown　sluggish；　fatigued　by　its　long　travel；　but　more　than　one　hundred　and　fifty　stone　bridges　reunite　the　dissevered　streets。　　The　same　world…renowned　river；　degraded　from　the　beautiful；　free…flowing　Rhine；　serves　as　a　moat　from　the　rampart　that　surrounds　Leyden　and　is　crossed　by　drawbridges　at　the　imposing　gateways　that　give　access　to　the　city。　　Fine　broad　promenades；　shaded　by　noble　trees；　b