or, The Silver Skates 11g

pression, he added, “ But it is Hans who can help Mynheer van
Holp this time.”

“ How?” asked Peter, making, in his blunt Dutch way, no
attempt to conceal his surprise.

“ By giving you this, mynheer ;” and Hans held forth the
missing purse.

“Hurrah!” shouted the boys, taking their cold hands from
their pockets to wave them joyfully in the air. But Peter
said, “I thank you, Hans Brinker!” in a tone that made
Hans feel as if the king had bowed to him.

The shout of the delighted boys reached the muffled ears of
the fine young gentleman, who, under a full pressure of pent-up
wrath, was skating toward Amsterdam. A Yankee boy would
have wheeled about at once, and hastened to satisfy his curi-
osity. But Carl only halted, and, with his back toward his
party, wondered what on earth had happened. ‘There he
stood, immovable, until, feeling sure that nothing but the pros-
pect of something to eat could have made them hurrah so
heartily, he turned, and- skated slowly toward his excited
comrades.

Meantime Peter had drawn Hans aside from the rest.

“ How did you know it was my purse?” he asked.

“ You paid me three guilders yesterday, mynheer, for mak-
ing the whitewood chain, telling me that I must buy skates.”

“ Yes, I remember.”

“¢] saw your purse then: it was of yellow leather.”

“¢ And where did you find it to-day?”

“¢I left my home this morning, mynheer, in great trouble ;
and, as I skated, I took no heed, until I stumbled against some
lumber, and, while I was rubbing my knee, I saw your purse,
nearly hidden under a log.”