e 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, eagerly--and 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