88 Hans Brinker

mechanical toys that a Dutch youngster tumbles about in
stolid unconcern would create a stir in our patent-office. Ben
laughed outright at some of the mimic fishing-boats ; they
were so heavy and stumpy, so like the queer craft that he had
seen about Rotterdam. The tiny treéschuiten, however, only
a foot or two long, and fitted out complete, made his heart
ache, he so longed to buy one at once for his little brother in
England. He had no money to spare; for, with true Dutch
prudence, the party had agreed to take with them merely the
sum required for each boy’s expenses, and to consign the purse
to Peter for safe keeping. Consequently, Master Ben con-
cluded to devote all his energies to sightseeing, and to think
as seldom as possible of little Robby.

He made a hasty call at the marine school, and envied the
sailor-students their full-rigged brig, and their sleeping berths
swung over their trunks, or lockers. He hurried through pic-
ture-galleries with the boys, and
stared for full five minutes at the
famous picture of “ The Round
of the Night,” or, as many call it,
“ The Night Watch,” by Rem-
brandt, who spent many years of
his lifein Amsterdam. He peeped
into the Jews’ quarter of the city,
where the rich diamond-cutters
and squalid old-clothesmen dwell,
and wisely resolved to keep away
from it. He also enjoyed hasty
glimpses of the four principal ave-
nues of Amsterdam, — the Prinsen
SPIONNEN. Gracht, Keizers Gracht, Heeren