inker, with an unlighted candle in her hand, was rushing
about the room, crying, "Hans! Hans! Where's your hat? Oh, the meester!
Oh the meester!"

"Birmingham! Higgs!" exclaimed Hans. "Did you say Higgs? We've found
him! I must be off."

"You see, young masters." The dame was panting, at the same time
snatching Hans's hat from the bed, "you see--we know him. He's our--no,
he isn't. I mean--oh, Hans, you must go to Amsterdam this minute!"

"Good night, mynheers," panted Hans, radiant with sudden joy.
"Good night. You will excuse me, I must go.
Birmingham--Higgs--Higgs--Birmingham." And seizing his hat from his
mother and his skates from Gretel he rushed from the cottage.

What could the boys think, but that the entire Brinker family had
suddenly gone crazy!

They bade an embarrassed "Good evening," and turned to go. But Raff
stopped them.

"This Thomas Higgs, young masters, is a--a person."

"Ah!" exclaimed Peter, quite sure that Raff was the most crazy of all.

"Yes, a person. A--ahem--a friend. We thought him dead. I hope it is the
same man. In England, did you say?"

"Yes, Birmingham," answered Peter. "It must be Birmingham in England."

"I know the man," said Ben, addressing Lambert. "His factory is not four
miles from our place. A queer fellow--still as an oyster--doesn't seem
at all like an Englishman. I've often seen him--a solemn-looking chap,
with magnificent eyes. He made a beautiful writing case once for me to
give Jenny on her birthday. Makes pocketbooks, telescope cases, and all
kinds of leatherwork."

As this was said in English, Van Mounen of course translated it for the
benefit of all concerned, noticing meanwhile that neither Raff nor his
vrouw looked very miserable, though Raff was trembling and the dame's
eyes were swimming with tears.

You may believe that the doctor heard every word of the story, when
later in the evening he came driving back with Hans. "The three young
gentlemen have been gone some time," Dame Brinker said, "but like
enough, by hurrying, it would be easy to find them coming out from the
lecture, wherever that was."

"True," said Raff, nodding his head. "The vrouw always hits upon the
right thing. It would be well to see the young English gentleman,
mynheer, before he forgets all about Thomas Higgs. It's a slippery name,
d'ye see? One can't hold it safe a minute. It come upon me sudden and
strong as a pile driver, and my boy writ it down. Aye, mynheer, I'd
haste to t