aking
Carl's meaning. "Who doubts it? No fellow with a spark of manhood in him
would refuse to let in two good skaters just because they were poor!"

Carl wheeled about savagely. "Not so fast, master! And I'd thank you
not to put words in other people's mouths. You'd best not try it again."

"Ha, ha!" laughed little Voostenwalbert Schimmelpenninck, delighted at
the prospect of a fight, and sure that, if it should come to blows, his
favorite Peter could beat a dozen excitable fellows like Carl.

Something in Peter's eye made Carl glad to turn to a weaker offender. He
wheeled furiously upon Voost.

"What are you shrieking about, you little weasel? You skinny herring
you, you little monkey with a long name for a tail!"

Half a dozen bystanders and byskaters set up an applauding shout at this
brave witticism; and Carl, feeling that he had fairly vanquished
his foes, was restored to partial good humor. He, however, prudently
resolved to defer plotting against Hans and Gretel until some time when
Peter should not be present.

Just then, his friend, Jacob Poot, was seen approaching. They could not
distinguish his features at first, but as he was the stoutest boy in the
neighborhood, there could be no mistaking his form.

"Hello! Here comes Fatty!" exclaimed Carl. "And there's someone with
him, a slender fellow, a stranger."

"Ha! ha! That's like good bacon," cried Ludwig. "A streak of lean and a
streak of fat."

"That's Jacob's English cousin," put in Master Voost, delighted at being
able to give the information. "That's his English cousin, and, oh, he's
got such a funny little name--Ben Dobbs. He's going to stay with him
until after the grand race."

All this time the boys had been spinning, turning, rolling, and doing
other feats upon their skates, in a quiet way, as they talked, but now
they stood still, bracing themselves against the frosty air as Jacob
Poot and his friend drew near.

"This is my cousin, boys," said Jacob, rather out of breath. "Benjamin
Dobbs. He's a John Bull and he's going to be in the race."

All crowded, boy-fashion, about the newcomers. Benjamin soon made up his
mind that the Hollanders, notwithstanding their queer gibberish, were a
fine set of fellows.

If the truth must be told, Jacob had announced his cousin as Penchamin
Dopps, and called his a Shon Pull, but as I translate every word of the
conversation of our young friends, it is no more than fair to mend their
little attempts at