206 Hans Brinker

minerals, precious stones and other natural specimens; but,
as they were not learned men, they could only walk about
and stare, enjoy the little knowledge of natural history they
possessed, and wish with all their hearts they had acquired
more. Even the skeleton of the mouse puzzled Jacob.
What wonder! He was not used to seeing the cat-fearing
little creatures running about in their bones; and how could
he ever have imagined their necks to be so queer?

Besides the Museum of Natural History, there was St.
Peter’s Church to be visited, containing Professor Luzac’s
Memorial, and Boerhaave’s Monument of white and black
marble, with its urn and carved symbols of the four ages of
life, and its medallion of Boerhaave, adorned with his favorite
motto, Simplex sigillum vert.” hey also obtained admittance
to a tea-garden, which in summer was a favorite resort of the
citizens, and, passing naked oaks and fruit-trees, ascended a
high mound which stood in the centre. This was the site of
a round tower, now in ruins, said by some to have been built
by Hengist, the Anglo-Saxon king, and by others to have been
the castle of one of the ancient counts of Holland.

As the boys walked about on the top of its stone wall, they
could get but a poor view of the surrounding city. The
tower stood higher, when, more than two centuries ago, the
inhabitants of beleaguered Leyden shouted to the watcher on
its top their wild, despairing cries, “Is there any help?”
“ Are the waters rising?” ‘What do you see?”

And for months he could only answer, “No help. I see
around us nothing but the enemy.”

Ben pushed these thoughts away ; and, resolutely looking
down into the bare tea-garden, filled it in imagination with
gay summer groups. He tried to forget old battle-clouds, and