194 Hans Brinker

XXIII

BEFORE THE COURT

OU may believe the landlord’s daughter bestirred herself

to prepare a good meal for the boys next morning.

Mynheer had a Chinese gong, that could make more noise

than a dozen of breakfast-bells. Its hideous reveille, clanging

through the house, generally startled the drowsiest lodgers into

activity ; but the maiden would not allow it to be sounded
this morning.

“Let the brave young gentlemen sleep,” she said to the
greasy kitchen-boy ; “they shall be warmly fed when they
waken.”

It was ten o’clock when Captain Peter and his band came
straggling down, one by one.

“ A pretty hour,” said mine host, grufly. “It is high time
we were before the court. Fine business this for a respectable
inn. You will testify truly, young masters, that you found
most excellent fare and lodgement at the Red Lion?”

“¢ Of course we will,” answered Carl, saucily, “and pleasant
company, too, though they visit at rather unseasonable hours.”

{?

A stare and a “ humph!” was all the answer mynheer made
to this; but the daughter was more communicative. Shaking
her ear-rings at Carl, she said sharply, —

“« Not so very pleasant, either, master traveller, if one could

Judge by the way you ran away from it!”