Up and down the canal within the space of a half mile they skated, exerting their racing powers to the utmost. Often the swiftest among them was seen to dodge from under the very nose of some pompous lawgiver or doctor who, with folded arms, was skating leisurely toward the town; or a chain of girls would suddenly break at the approach of a fat old burgomaster who, with gold-headed cane poised in air, was puffing his way to Amsterdam. Equipped in skates wonderful to behold, with their superb strappings and dazzling runners curving over the instep and topped with gilt balls, he would open his fat eyes a little if one of the maidens chanced to drop him a curtsy but would not dare to bow in return for fear of losing his balance.
Not only pleasure seekers and stately men of note were upon the canal. There were workpeople, with weary eyes, hastening to their shops and factories; market women with loads upon their heads; peddlers bending with their packs; bargemen with shaggy hair and bleared faces, jostling roughly on their way; kind-eyed clergymen speeding perhaps to the bedsides of the dying; and, after a while, groups of children with satchels slung over their shoulders, whizzing past, toward the distant school. One and all wore skates except, indeed, a muffled-up farmer whose queer cart bumped along on the margin of the canal.
Before long our merry boys and girls were almost lost in the confusion of bright colors, the ceaseless motion, and the gleaming of skates flashing back the sunlight. We might have known no more of them had not the whole party suddenly come to a standstill[35] and, grouping themselves out of the way of the passersby, all talked at once to a pretty little maiden, whom they had drawn from the tide of people flowing toward the town.
Oh, Katrinka! they cried in one breath, have you heard of it? The race we want you to join!
What race? asked Katrinka, laughing. Dont all talk at once, please, I cant understand.
Everyone panted and looked at Rychie Korbes, who was their acknowledged spokeswoman.
Why, said Rychie, we are to have a grand skating match on the twentieth, on Mevrouw[36] van Glecks birthday. Its all Hildas work. They are going to give a splendid prize to the best skater.
Yes, chimed in half a dozen voices, a beautiful pair of silver skates perfectly magnificent with, oh! such straps and silver bells and buckles!
WHO said they had bells? put in a small voice of the boy with the big name.
I say so, Master Voost, replied Rychie.
So they have; No, Im sure they havent; OH, how can you say so?; Its an arrow; And Mynheer van Korbes told MY mother they had bells came from the excited group, but Mynheer Voostenwalbert Schimmelpenninck essayed to settle the matter with a decisive Well, you dont any of you know a single thing about it; they havent a sign of a bell on them, they
Oh! oh! and the chorus of conflicting opinions broke forth again.
The girls pair is to have bells, interposed Hilda quietly, but there is to be another pair for the boys with an arrow engraved upon the sides.
THERE! I told you so! cried nearly all the youngsters in one breath.
Katrinka looked at them with bewildered eyes.
Who is to try?[37] she asked.
All of us, answered Rychie. It will be such fun! And you must, too, Katrinka. But its schooltime now, we will talk it all over at noon. Oh! you will join, of course.
Katrinka, without replying, made a graceful pirouette and laughing out a coquettish, Dont you hear the last bell? Catch me! darted off toward the schoolhouse standing half a mile away on the canal.
All started, pell-mell, at this challenge, but they tried in vain to catch the bright-eyed, laughing creature who, with golden hair streaming in the sunlight, cast back many a sparkling glance of triumph as she floated onward.
Beautiful Katrinka! Flushed with youth and health, all life and mirth and motion, what wonder thine image, ever floating in advance, sped through one boys dreams that night! What wonder that it seemed his darkest hour when, years afterward, thy presence floated away from him forever.
Hans and Gretel Find a Friend
At noon our young friends poured forth from the schoolhouse, intent upon having an hours practice upon the canal.
They had skated but a few moments when Carl Schummel said mockingly to Hilda, Theres a pretty pair just coming upon the ice! The little ragpickers![38] Their skates must have been a present from the king direct.
They are patient creatures, said Hilda gently. It must have been hard to learn to skate upon such queer affairs. They are very poor peasants, you see. The boy has probably made the skates himself.
Carl was somewhat abashed.
Patient they may be, but as for skating, they start off pretty well, only to finish with a jerk. They could move well to your new staccato piece, I think.
Hilda laughed pleasantly and left him. After joining a small detachment of the racers and sailing past every one of them, she halted beside Gretel, who, with eager eyes, had been watching the sport.
What is your name, little girl?
Gretel, my lady, answered the child, somewhat awed by Hildas rank, though they were nearly of the same age, and my brother is called Hans.
Hans is a stout fellow, said Hilda cheerily, and seems to have a warm stove somewhere within him, but YOU look cold. You should wear more clothing, little one.
Gretel, who had nothing else to wear, tried to laugh as she answered, I am not so very little. I am past twelve years old.
Oh, I beg your pardon. You see, I am nearly fourteen, and so large for my age that other girls seem small to me, but that is nothing. Perhaps you will shoot up far above me yet, but not unless you dress more warmly, though. Shivering girls never grow.
Hans flushed as he saw tears rising in Gretels eyes.
My sister has not complained of the cold, but this is bitter weather, they all say. And he looked sadly upon Gretel.
It is nothing[39], said Gretel. I am often warm too warm when I am skating. You are good, jufvrouw[40], to think of it.
No, no, answered Hilda, quite angry at herself. I am careless, cruel, but I meant no harm. I wanted to ask you I mean, if And here Hilda, coming to the point of her errand, faltered before the poorly clad but noble-looking children she wished to serve.
What is it, young lady? exclaimed Hans eagerly. If there is any service I can do, any
Oh, no, no, laughed Hilda, shaking off her embarrassment. I only wished to speak to you about the grand race. Why do you not join it? You both can skate well, and the ranks are free[41]. Anyone may enter for the prize.
Gretel looked wistfully at Hans, who, tugging at his cap, answered respectfully.
Ah, jufvrouw, even if we could enter, we could skate only a few strokes with the rest. Our skates are hard wood, you see holding up the sole of his foot but they soon become damp, and then they stick and trip us.
Gretels eyes twinkled with fun as she thought of Hanss mishap in the morning, but she blushed as she faltered out timidly, Oh, no, we cant join, but may we be there, my lady, on the great day to look on?
Gretels eyes twinkled with fun as she thought of Hanss mishap in the morning, but she blushed as she faltered out timidly, Oh, no, we cant join, but may we be there, my lady, on the great day to look on?
Certainly, answered Hilda, looking kindly into the two earnest faces and wishing from her heart that she had not spent so much of her monthly allowance for lace and finery. She had but eight kwartjes[42] left, and they would buy but one pair of skates, at the furthest.
Looking down with a sigh at the two pairs of feet so very different in size, she asked:
Which of you is the better skater?
Gretel, replied Hans promptly.
Hans, answered Gretel in the same breath.
Hilda smiled.
I cannot buy you each a pair of skates, or even one good pair, but here are eight kwartjes. Decide between you which stands the best chance of winning the race, and buy the skates accordingly. I wish I had enough to buy better ones. Good-bye! And, with a nod and a smile, Hilda, after handing the money to the electrified Hans, glided swiftly away to rejoin her companions.
Jufvrouw! Jufvrouw van Gleck! called Hans in a loud tone, stumbling after her as well as he could, for one of his skate strings was untied.
Hilda turned and, with one hand raised to shield her eyes from the sun, seemed to him to be floating through the air, nearer and nearer.
We cannot take this money, panted Hans, though we know your goodness in giving it.
Why not, indeed? asked Hilda, flushing.
Because, replied Hans, bowing like a clown but looking with the eye of a prince at the queenly girl, we have not earned it.
Hilda was quick-witted. She had noticed a pretty wooden chain upon Gretels neck.
Carve me a chain, Hans, like the one your sister wears.
That I will, lady, with all my heart. We have whitewood in the house, fine as ivory; you shall have one tomorrow. And Hans hastily tried to return the money.
No, no, said Hilda decidedly. That sum will be but a poor price for the chain.[43] And off she darted outstripping the fleetest among the skaters.
Hans sent a long, bewildered gaze after her; it was useless, he felt, to make any further resistance.
It is right, he muttered, half to himself, half to his faithful shadow, Gretel. I must work hard every minute, and sit up half the night if the mother will let me burn a candle, but the chain shall be finished. We may keep the money, Gretel.
What a good little lady! cried Gretel, clapping her hands with delight. Oh! Hans, was it for nothing the stork settled on our roof last summer? Do you remember how the mother said it would bring us luck and how she cried when Janzoon Kolp shot him? And she set it would bring him trouble. But the luck has come to us at last! Now, Hans, if the mother sends us to town tomorrow, you can buy the skates in the marketplace.
Hans shook his head. The young lady would have given us the money to buy skates, but if I EARN it, Gretel, it shall be spent for wool. You must have a warm jacket.
Oh! cried Gretel in real dismay, not buy the skates? Why, I am not often cold! Mother says the blood runs up and down in poor childrens veins, humming, I must keep em warm! I must keep em warm.
Oh, Hans, she continued with something like a sob, dont say you wont buy the skates. It makes me feel just like crying. Besides, I want to be cold. I mean, Im real, awful warm so now!
Hans looked up hurriedly. He had a true Dutch horror or tears, of emotion of any kind, and most of all, he dreaded to see his sisters blue eyes overflowing.
Now, mind, cried Gretel, seeing her advantage, Ill feel awful if you give up the skates. I dont want them. Im not so stingy as that[44]; but I want YOU to have them, and then when I get bigger, theyll do for me oh count the pieces, Hans. Did you ever see so many!
Hans turned the money thoughtfully in his palm. Never in all his life had he longed so intensely for a pair of skates, for he had known of the race and had fairly ached for a chance to test his powers with the other children. He felt confident that with a good pair of steel runners he could readily outdistance most of the boys on the canal. Then, too, Gretels argument was plausible. On the other hand, he knew that she, with her strong but lithe little frame, needed but a weeks practice on good runners to make her a better skater than Rychie Korbes or even Katrinka Flack. As soon as this last thought flashed upon him, his resolve was made. If Gretel would not have the jacket, she should have the skates.
No, Gretel, he answered at last, I can wait. Someday I may have money enough saved to buy a fine pair. You shall have these.
Gretels eyes sparkled, but in another instant she insisted, rather faintly, The young lady gave the money to YOU, Hans. Id be real bad to take it.
Hans shook his head resolutely as he trudged on, causing his sister to half-skip and half-walk in her effort to keep beside him[45]. By this time they had taken off their wooden rockers and were hastening home to tell their mother the good news.
Oh! I know! cried Gretel in a sprightly tone. You can do this. You can get a pair a little too small for you, and too big for me, and we can take turns and use them. Wont that be fine? Gretel clapped her hands again.
Poor Hans! This was a strong temptation, but he pushed it away from him, brave-hearted fellow that he was.
Nonsense, Gretel. You could never get on with a big pair. You stumbled about with these, like a blind chicken, before I curved off the ends. No, you must have a pair to fit exactly, and you must practice every chance you can get, until the twentieth comes. My little Gretel shall win the silver skates.
Gretel could not help laughing with delight at the very idea.
Hans! Gretel! called out a familiar voice.
Coming, Mother!
They hastened toward the cottage, Hans still shaking the pieces of silver in his hand.
On the following day there was not a prouder nor a happier boy in all Holland than Hans Brinker as he watched his sister, with many a dexterous sweep, flying in and out among the skaters who at sundown thronged the canal. A warm jacket had been given her by the kindhearted Hilda, and the burst-out shoes had been cobbled into decency[46] by Dame Brinker. As the little creature darted backward and forward, flushed with enjoyment and quite unconscious of the many wondering glances bent upon her, she felt that the shining runners beneath her feet had suddenly turned earth into fairyland while Hans, dear, good Hans! echoed itself over and over again in her grateful heart.
By den donder![47] exclaimed Peter van Holp to Carl Schummel, but that little one in the red jacket and patched petticoat skates well. Gunst![48] She has toes on her heels and eyes in the back of her head! See her! It will be a joke if she gets in the race and beats Katrinka Flack, after all.
Hush! not so loud! returned Carl, rather sneeringly. That little lady in rags is the special pet of Hilda van Gleck. Those shining skates are her gift, if I make no mistake.
So! so! exclaimed Peter with a radiant smile, for Hilda was his best friend. She has been at her good work there too! And Mynheer van Holp, after cutting a double figure eight on the ice, to say nothing of a huge P, then a jump and an H, glided onward until he found himself beside Hilda.