66 : Hans Brinker

VIII
INTRODUCING JACOB POOT AND HIS COUSIN

ANS and Gretel had a fine frolic early on that St.
Nicholas Eve. There was a bright moon; and their
mother, though she believed herself to be without any hope
of her husband’s improvement, had been made so happy at
the prospect of the meester’s visit, that she had yielded to the
children’s entreaties for an hour’s skating before bed-time.

Hans was delighted with his new skates ; and, in his eager-
ness to show Gretel how perfectly they “ worked,” did many
things upon the ice that caused the little maid to clasp her
hands in solemn admiration. They were not alone, though
they seemed quite unheeded by the various groups assembled
upon the canal.

The two Van Holps and Carl Schummel were there, testing
their fleetness to the utmost. Out of four trials, Peter van
Holp had beaten three times. Consequently, Carl, never very
amiable, was in anything but a good humor. He had relieved
himself by taunting young Schimmelpenninck, who, being
smaller than the others, kept meekly near them, without feel-
ing exactly like one of the party. But now a new thought
seized Carl; or, rather, he seized the new thought, and made
an onset upon his friends.

“<I say, boys, let’s put a stop to those young rag-pickers
from the idiot’s cottage joining the race. Hilda must be crazy