e had boldly charged her with the deed,
and she, knowing well that all her little savings had been spent in the
purchase, had not had the face to deny it. Through the fairy godmother,
too, he had been rendered amply able to buy them back again. Therefore
Hans is to be in the race. Carl is more indignant than ever about it,
but as three other peasant boys have entered, Hans is not alone.

Twenty boys and twenty girls. The latter, by this time, are standing
in front, braced for the start, for they are to have the first "run."
Hilda, Rychie, and Katrinka are among them--two or three bend hastily to
give a last pull at their skate straps. It is pretty to see them stamp,
to be sure that all is firm. Hilda is speaking pleasantly to a graceful
little creature in a red jacket and a new brown petticoat. Why, it is
Gretel! What a difference those pretty shoes make, and the skirt and the
new cap. Annie Bouman is there, too. Even Janzoon Kolp's sister has
been admitted, but Janzoon himself has been voted out by the directors,
because he killed the stork, and only last summer was caught in the act
of robbing a bird's nest, a legal offence in Holland.

This Janzoon Kolp, you see, was--There, I cannot tell the story just
now. The race is about to commence.

Twenty girls are formed in a line. The music has ceased.

A man, whom we shall call the crier, stands between the columns and the
first judges' stand. He reads the rules in a loud voice: "The girls and
boys are to race in turn, until one girl and one boy have beaten twice.
They are to start in a line from the united columns, skate to the
flagstaff line, turn, and then come back to the starting point, thus
making a mile at each run."

A flag is waved from the judges' stand. Madame van Gleck rises in her
pavilion. She leans forward with a white handkerchief in her hand. When
she drops it, a bugler is to give the signal for them to start.

The handkerchief is fluttering to the ground! Hark!

They are off!

No. Back again. Their line was not true in passing the judges' stand.

The signal is repeated.

Off again. No mistake this time. Whew! How fast they go!

The multitude is quiet for an instant, absorbed in eager, breathless
watching.

Cheers spring up along the line of spectators. Huzza! Five girls are
ahead. Who comes flying back from the boundary mark? We cannot tell.
Something red, that is all. There is a blue spot flitting near it, and
a dash of yellow nearer still.