or, The Silver Skates 207

picture only curling wreaths of tobacco-smoke, rising from
among men, women and children enjoying their tea and
coffee in the open air. But a tragedy came in spite of him,

Poot was bending over the edge of the high wall. It would
be just like him to grow dizzy, and tumble off. Ben turned
impatiently away. If the fellow, with his weak head, knew
no better than to be venturesome, why, let him tumble.
Horror! what meant that heavy, crashing sound ?

Ben could not stir. He could only gasp, —

“ Jacob !”

“ Jacob! ”’ cried another startled voice, and another.

Ready to faint, Ben managed to turn his head. He saw a
crowd of boys on the
edge of the wall opposite ;
but Jacob was not there.

“Good Heavens!” he
cried, springing forward,
‘where is my cousin?”

The crowd parted. It
was only four boys, after
all. There sat Jacob in
their midst, holding his
fat sides, and laughing
heartily.

“Did I frighten you
all?” he said in his native
Dutch. ‘Well, I will
tell you how it was.
There was a big stone

 

‘©DID I FRIGHTEN YOU ALL?”

lying on the wall, and I put my foot out, just to push it a
little, you see; and, the first thing I knew, down went the