142 _ Hans Brinker

descriptions of microscopes and telescopes too, — long before
either of those other fellows were-born.”

On one subject, however, they both agreed, — that the art of
curing and pickling herrings was discovered by William Beukles
of Holland, and that the country did perfectly right in honoring
him as a national benefactor; for its wealth and importance
had been, in a great measure, due to its herring-trade.

“Tt is astonishing,” said Ben, “in what prodigious quantities
those fish are found. I don’t know how it is here; but on
the coast of England, off Yarmouth, the herring-shoals have
been known to be six and seven feet deep with fish.”

“That 7s prodigious, indeed,” said Lambert ; “ but you know
your word ‘herring’ is derived from the German heer (an
army’) on account of a way the fish have of coming in
large numbers.”

Soon afterward, while passing a cobbler’s shop, Ben ex-
claimed, —

“Halloo, Lambert! here is the name of one of your great-
est men over a cobbler’s stall! — Boerhaave. If it were only
Herman Boerhaave, instead of Hendrick, it would be com-
plete —”

Lambert knit his brows reflectively, as he replied, —

“ Boerhaave, Boerhaave! The name is perfectly familiar.
I remember, too, he was born in 1668; but the rest is all
gone, as usual. There have been so many famous Hollanders,
you see, it is impossible for a fellow to know them all. What
was he? Did he have two heads? or was he one of your
great natural swimmers, like Marco Polo?”

“He had four heads,” answered Ben, laughing; “for he
was a great physician, naturalist, botanist and chemist. I am
full of him just now; for I read his life a few weeks ago.”