112 Hans Brinker

heard my grandfather speak of Briinings. He is never tired of
telling us of the great engineer: how good he was, and how
learned ; and how, when he died, the whole country seemed
to mourn as for a friend. He belonged toa great many learned
societies, and was at the head of the State Department, in-
trusted with the care of the dikes, and other defences against
the sea. There’s no counting the improvements he made in
dikes and sluices and water-mills, and all that kind of thing.
We Hollanders, you know, consider our great engineers as
the highest of public benefactors. Briinings died years ago:
they ’ve a monument to his memory in the cathedral of Haar-
lem. I have seen his: portrait; and I tell you, Ben, he was
right noble-looking. No wonder the castle looks so stiff and
proud! It is something to have given shelter to such a
man!”

“Yes, indeed!” said Ben. I wonder, Van Mounen,
whether you or I will ever give any old building a right to feel
proud. Heigho! there’s a great deal to be done yet in this
world; and some of us who are boys now will have to do it.
Look to your shoe-latchet, Van; it’s unfastened.”