e were other interesting relics, from Rome and Greece, and some
curious Roman pottery which had been discovered in digging near The
Hague--relics 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 bones--and 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.