e quick.
He will not wait a whole week and our father dying, the good meester is
so kind."

"SO KIND!" echoed Peter in astonishment. "Why, he is known as the
crossest man in Holland!"

"He looks so because he has no fat and his head is busy, but his heart
is kind, I know. Tell the meester what I have told you, mynheer, and he
will come."

"I hope so, Hans, with all my heart. You are in haste to turn homeward,
I see. Promise me that should you need a friend, you will go to my
mother in Broek. Tell her I bade you see her. And, Hans Brinker, not as
a reward, but as a gift, take a few of these guilders."

Hans shook his head resolutely.

"No, no, mynheer. I cannot take it. If I could find work in Broek or
at the South Mill, I would be glad, but it is the same story
everywhere--'Wait until spring'".

"It is well you speak of it," said Peter eagerly, "for my father needs
help at once. Your pretty chain pleased him much. He said, 'That boy
has a clean cut; he would be good at carving.' There is to be a carved
portal to our new summer house, and father will pay well for the job."

"God is good!" cried Hans in sudden delight. "Oh, mynheer, that would
be too much joy. I have never tried big work, but I can do it. I know I
can."

"Well, tell my father you are the Hans Brinker of whom I spoke. He will
be glad to serve you."

Hans stared in honest surprise.

"Thank you, mynheer."

"Now, captain," shouted Carl, anxious to appear as good humored as
possible, by way of atonement, "here we are in the midst of Haarlem,
and no word from you yet. We await your orders, and we're as hungry as
wolves."

Peter made a cheerful answer, and turned hurriedly to Hans.

"Come, get something to eat, and I will detain you no longer."

What a quick, wistful look Hans threw upon him! Peter wondered that he
had not noticed before that the poor boy was hungry.

"Ah, mynheer, even now the mother may need me, the father may be
worse--I must not wait. May God care for you." And, nodding hastily,
Hans turned his face homeward and was gone.

"Come, boys," sighed Peter, "now for our tiffin!"

Homes

It must not be supposed that our young Dutchmen had already forgotten
the great skating race which was to take place on the twentieth. On the
contrary, they had thought and spoken of it very often during the day.
Even Ben, though he had felt more like a traveler than the rest, had
never once, through all the sight-seeing, lost a ce