s.

"Stand off, good people!" he cried. "Give him air!"

"Lay him down," called out a woman from the crowd.

"Stand him upon his feet," shouted another.

"Give him wine," growled a stout fellow who was driving a loaded sled.

"Yes! yes, give him wine!" echoed everybody.

Ludwig and Lambert shouted in concert, "Wine! Wine! Who has wine?"

A sleepy-headed Dutchman began to fumble mysteriously under the heaviest
of blue jackets, saying as he did so, "Not so much noise, young masters,
not so much noise! The boy was a fool to faint like a girl."

"Wine, quick!" cried Peter, who, with Ben's help, was rubbing Jacob from
head to foot.

Ludwig stretched forth his hand imploringly toward the Dutchman, who,
with an air of great importance, was still fumbling beneath the jacket.

"DO hurry! He will die! Has anyone else any wine?"

"He IS dead!" said an awful voice from among the bystanders.

This startled the Dutchman.

"Have a care!" he said, reluctantly drawing forth a small blue flask.
"This is schnapps. A little is enough."

A little WAS enough. The paleness gave way to a faint flush. Jacob
opened his eyes, and, half bewildered, half ashamed, feebly tried to
free himself from those who were supporting him.

There was no alternative, now, for our party but to have their exhausted
comrade carried, in some way, to Leyden. As for expecting him to skate
anymore that day, the thing was impossible. In truth, by this time each
boy began to entertain secret yearnings toward iceboats, and to avow a
Spartan resolve not to desert Jacob. Fortunately a gentle, steady breeze
was setting southward. If some accommodating schipper would but come
along, matters would not be quite so bad after all.

Peter hailed the first sail that appeared. The men in the stern would
not even look at him. Three drays on runners came along, but they were
already loaded to the utmost. Then an iceboat, a beautiful, tempting
little one, whizzed past like an arrow. The boys had just time to stare
eagerly at it when it was gone. In despair, they resolved to prop up
Jacob with their strong arms, as well as they could, and take him to the
nearest village.

At that moment a very shabby iceboat came in sight. With but little hope
of success Peter hailed at it, at the same time taking off his hat and
flourishing it in the air.

The sail was lowered, then came the scraping sound of the brake, and a
pleasant voice called from the deck, "What now?"

"Wil