304. ' Hans Brinker

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“ Tut — tut, woman, why do you cry?” said Raff, kindly.
«“ We will soon fill another pouch, when I am on my feet
again. Lucky I told you all about it before I fell.”

«“ Told me what, man?”

“ Why, that I buried the money. In my dream just now,
it seemed I had never said aught about it.”

Dame Brinker started forward. Hans caught her arm.

« Hist, mother!” he whispered, hastily leading her away:
“we must be very careful.” Then, while she stood with
clasped hands, waiting in breathless anxiety, he once more
approached the cot. Trembling with eagerness he said, —

«That was a troublesome dream. Do you remember when
you buried the money, father ?”

“Yes, my boy. It was before daylight on the same day I
was hurt. Jan Kamphuisen said something, the sundown
before, that made me distrust his honesty. He was the only
one living, besides mother, who knew we had saved a thousand
guilders: so I rose up that night, and buried the money.
Blockhead that I was, ever to suspect an old friend!”

“T°Il be bound, father,” pursued Hans, in a laughing voice,
mot onine to his mother and are to remain quiet, ‘ that
you ’’ve forgotten where you buried it.’

“Ha, ha! not I, indeed. But ae -night, my son, I can
sleep again.”

Hans would have walked away; but his mother’s gestures
were not to be disobeyed: so he said gently, —

“Good-night, father! Where did you say you buried the
money? I was only a little one then.”

“© Close by the willow- sapling behind the cottage,” said Raff
Brinker, drowsily.

“ Ah, yes! North side of the tree, wasn’t it, father?”