212 Hans Brinker

frantically they whirl their great arms ! — just the thing to excite
the crazy knight to mortal combat. It bewilders one to look
at them. Help me to count all those we can see, Van
Mounen. I want a big item for my note-book.” And after
a careful reckoning, superintended by all the party, Master
Ben wrote in pencil, “« Saw, Dec. — 184-, ninety-eight wind-
mills within full view of Leyden.”

He would have been glad to visit the old brick mill in
which the painter Rembrandt was born; but he abandoned
the project upon learning that it would take them out of their
way. Few boys as hungry as Ben was by this time would
hesitate long between Rembrandt’s home a mile off, and tiffin
close by. Ben chose the latter.

After tiffin, they rested a while, and then — took another,
which, for form’s sake, they called dinner. After dinner the
boys sat warming themselves at the inn, —all but Peter, who
occupied the time in another fruitless search for Dr. Boekman.

This over, the party once more prepared for skating.
They were thirteen miles from the Hague, and not as fresh
as when they had left Broek early on the previous day. But
they were in good spirits, and the ice was excellent.