The boys were back safe and sound; and they found all well at home. Even the sick lady at neighbor Van Stoepel's was out of danger.
But the next morning! Ah, how stupidly school-bells will ding-dong! ding-dong, when one is tired.
Ludwig was sure he had never listened to anything so odious. Even Peter felt pathetic on the occasion. Carl said it was a shame for a fellow to have to turn out when his bones were splitting—and Jacob soberly bade Ben "Goot-Pye!" and walked off with his satchel as if it weighed a hundred pounds.
FOOTNOTES:
[28] Ice-breaker—A heavy machine armed with iron spikes for breaking the ice as it is dragged along. Some of the small ones are worked by men—but the large ones are drawn by horses—sixty or seventy of which are sometimes attached to one Ysbreeker.
XXXII
THE CRISIS
While the boys are nursing their fatigue, we will take a peep into the Brinker cottage.