306 Hans Brinker

&

like to put the pouch and the stocking, just as we find them,
all full of money, near him this blessed night, for the dear
man to see when he wakens !”

“We must get them, first, mother,” panted Hans, still tug-
ging away at his work.

“ There’s no doubt of that. They can’t slip away from
us, now,” she answered, shivering with cold and excite-
ment as she crouched beside the opening. “Like enough
we ’ll find them stowed in the old earthen pot I lost long
ago.”

By this time Hans, too, began to tremble, but not with
cold. He had penetrated a foot deep for quite a space on
the south side of the tree. At any moment they might
come upon the treasure.

Meantime the stars winked and blinked at each other as
if to say, “« Queer country, this Holland! How much we
do see, to be sure!”

“ Strange that the dear father should have put it down
so woful deep,” said Dame Brinker in a rather provoked
tone. Ah, the ground was soft enough then, I warrant.
How wise of him to mistrust Jan Kamphuisen, and Jan
in full credit at the time! Little I thought that hand-
some fellow with his gay ways would ever go to jail!
Now, Hans, let me take a turn. It’s lighter work, d’ ye
see, the deeper we go? I7’d be loath to kiil the tree,
Hans: will we harm it, think you?”

“‘T cannot say,” he answered gravely.

Hour after hour, mother and son worked on. The
hole grew larger and deeper. Clouds began to gather in
the sky, throwing elfish shadows as they passed. Not un-
til moon and stars faded away, and streaks of daylight be-