those other fellows was born."

On one subject, however, they both agreed: that the art of curing and
pickling herrings was discovered by William Beukles of Holland, and
that the country did perfectly right in honoring him as a national
benefactor, for its wealth and importance had been in a great measure
due to its herring trade.

"It is astonishing," said Ben, "in what prodigious quantities those fish
are found. I don't know how it is here, but on the coast of England, off
Yarmouth, the herring shoals have been known to be six and seven feet
deep with fish."

"That is prodigious, indeed," said Lambert, "but you know your herring
is derived from the German heer, an army, on account of a way the fish
have of coming in large numbers."

Soon afterward, while passing a cobbler's shop, Ben exclaimed, "Halloo!
Lambert, here is the name of one of your greatest men over a cobbler's
stall! Boerhaave. If it were only Herman Boerhaave instead of Hendrick,
it would be complete."

Lambert knit his brows reflectively, as he replied, "Boerhaave,
Boerhaave! The name is perfectly familiar; I remember, too, that he was
born in 1668, but the rest is all gone, as usual. There have been so
many famous Hollanders, you see, that it is impossible for a fellow to
know them all. What was he? Did he have two heads? Or was he one of your
great, natural swimmers like Marco Polo?"

"He had FOUR heads," answered Ben, laughing, "for he was a great
physician, naturalist, botanist, and chemist. I am full of him just now,
for I read his life a few weeks ago."

"Pour out a little, then," said Lambert, "only walk faster or we shall
lose sight of the other boys."

"Well," resumed Ben, quickening his pace and looking with great interest
at everything going on in the crowded street, "this Dr. Boerhaave was a
great anspewker."

"A great WHAT?" roared Lambert.

"Oh, I beg pardon. I was thinking of that man over there with the cocked
hat. He's an anspewker, isn't he?"

"Yes. He's an aanspreeker, if that is what you mean to say. But what
about your friend with the four heads?"

"Well, as I was going to say, the doctor was left a penniless orphan at
sixteen without education or friends--"

"Jolly beginning!" interposed Lambert.

"Now, don't interrupt. He was a poor friendless orphan at sixteen, but
he was so persevering and industrious, so determined to gain knowledge,
that he made his way, and in time became one of the most learned men of
Eur