250 Hans Brinker

made no further reply. Possibly he was scant of breath at
the time.

“¢ Now, Penchamin, vat you do mit youself? Get so hot
as a fire-brick: dat ish no goot,” was Jacob’s plaintive
comment.

“ Nonsense!” answered Ben. “This frosty air will cool
me soon enough. I am not tired.”

** You are beaten, though, my boy,”. said Lambert, in Eng-
lish, “and fairly too. How will it be, 1 wonder, on the day
of the grand race?”

Ben flushed; and as he sailed off, looking back rather
wearily, he gave a proud, defiant laugh, as if to say, —

“This was mere pastime. I’m determined to beat then,
come what may.”