XXXVIII
THE THOUSAND GUILDERS
None seeing the humble supper eaten in the Brinker cottage that nightwould have dreamed of the dainty fare hidden away near by. Hans andGretel looked rather wistfully toward the cupboard as they drank theircupful of water and ate their scanty share of black bread; but even inthought they did not rob their father.
"He relished his supper well," said Dame Brinker nodding sidewise towardthe bed, "and fell asleep the next moment--Ah, the dear man will befeeble for many a day. He wanted sore to sit up again, but while I madeshow of humoring him, and getting ready, he dropped off. Remember that,my girl, when you have a man of your own (and many a day may it bebefore that comes to pass), remember you can never rule by differing;'humble wife is husband's boss----' Tut! tut! never swallow such amouthful as that again, child; why, I could make a meal off of two suchpieces. What's in thee, Hans? One would think there were cob-webs on thewall."
"Oh, no, mother, I was only thinking----"
"Thinking, about what? Ah, no use asking," she added in a changed tone."I was thinking of the same a while ago--well, well--It's no blame if we_did_ look to hear something by this time about the thousand guilders;but, not a word--no--it's plain enough he knows naught about them."
Hans looked up anxiously, dreading lest his mother should growagitated, as usual, when speaking of the lost money; but she wassilently nibbling her bread and looking with a doleful stare toward thewindow.
"Thousand guilders," echoed a faint voice from the bed. "Ah, I am surethey have been of good use to you, vrouw, through the long years whileyour man was idle."
The poor woman started up. These words quite destroyed the hope that oflate had been glowing within her.
"Are you awake, Raff?" she faltered.
"Yes, Meitje, and I feel much better. Our money was well saved, vrouw, Iwas saying. Did it last through all these ten years?"
"I--I--have not got it, Raff, I----" She was going to tell him the wholetruth, when Hans lifted his finger warningly and whispered:
"Remember what the meester told us; the father must not be worried."
"Speak to him, child," she answered, trembling.
Hans hurried to the bedside.
"I am glad you are feeling better," he said, leaning over his father;"another day will see you quite strong again."
"Aye, like enough. How long did the money last, Hans? I could not hearyour mother. What did she say?"
"I said, Raff," stammered Dame Brinker in great distress, "that it wasall gone."
"Well, well, wife, do not fret at that; one thousand guilders is not sovery much for ten years, and with children to bring up; but it hashelped to make you all comfortable. Have you had much sickness tobear?"
"N-no," sobbed Dame Brinker lifting her apron to her eyes.
"Tut--tut, woman, why do you cry?" said Raff, kindly; "we will soon fillanother pouch, when I am on my feet again. Lucky I told you all about itbefore I fell."
"Told me what, man?"
"Why, that I buried the money. In my dream just now, it seemed I hadnever said aught about it."
Dame Brinker started forward. Hans caught her arm.
"Hist! mother," he whispered, hastily leading her away, "we must be verycareful." Then while she stood with clasped hands waiting in breathlessanxiety, he once more approached the cot. Trembling with eagerness hesaid:
"That was a troublesome dream. Do you remember _when_ you buried themoney, father?"
"Yes, my boy. It was before daylight on the same day I was hurt. JanKamphuisen said something, the sundown before, that made me distrust hishonesty. He was the only one living besides mother who knew we had saveda thousand guilders--so I rose up that night and buried themoney--blockhead that I was ever to suspect an old friend!"
"I'll be bound, father," pursued Hans in a laughing voice, motioning tohis mother and Gretel to remain quiet--"that you've forgotten where youburied it."
"Ha! ha! not I, indeed--but good-night, my son, I can sleep again."
Hans would have walked away, but his mother's gestures were not to bedisobeyed--so he said gently:
"Good-night, father. Where did you say you buried the money? I was onlya little one then."
"Close by the willow sapling behind the cottage," said Raff Brinkerdrowsily.
"Ah, yes. North side of the tree, wasn't it, father?"
"No, the south side. Ah, you know the spot well enough, you rogue--likeenough you were there when your mother lifted it. Now, son--easy--shiftthis pillow--so. Good-night."
"Good-night, father!" said Hans, ready to dance for joy.
* * * * *
The moon rose very late that night, shining in, full and clear, at thelittle window; but its beams did not disturb Raff Brinker. He sleptsoundly, so did Gretel. As for Hans and his mother, they had somethingelse to do.
After making a few hurried preparations, they stole forth with brightexpectant faces, bearing a broken spade and a rusty implement that haddone many a day's service when Raff was a hale worker on the dykes.
It was so light out of doors they could see the willow tree distinctly.The frozen ground was hard as stone, but Hans and his mother wereresolute. Their only dread was that they might disturb the sleepers inthe cottage.
"This ysbrekker is just the thing, mother," said Hans striking many avigorous blow--"but the ground has set so firm it'll be a fair match forit."
"Never fear, Hans," she answered, watching him eagerly; "here, let metry a while."
They soon succeeded in making an impression; one opening, and the restwas not so difficult.
Still they worked on, taking turns and whispering cheerily to oneanother. Now and then Dame Brinker stepped noiselessly over thethreshold and listened, to be certain that her husband slept.
"What grand news it will be for him," she said, laughing, "when he isstrong enough to bear it. How I should like to put the pouch and thestocking, just as we find them, all full of money, near him this blessednight, for the dear man to see when he wakens."
"We must get them, first, mother," panted Hans, still tugging away athis work.
"There's no doubt of that. They can't slip away from us now," sheanswered, shivering with cold and excitement, as she crouched beside theopening. "Like enough we'll find them stowed in the old earthen pot Ilost long ago."
By this time Hans, too, began to tremble, but not with cold. He hadpenetrated 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, "Queercountry, this Holland! How much we do see to be sure!"
"Strange that the dear father should have put it down so woeful deep,"said Dame Brinker, in rather a provoked tone. "Ah, the ground was softenough then, I warrant. How wise of him to mistrust Jan Kamphuisen, andJan in full credit at the time. Little I thought that handsome fellowwith his gay ways would ever go to jail! Now, Hans, let me take aturn--it's lighter work, d'ye see? the deeper we go. I'd be loath tokill the tree, Hans--will we harm it, think you?"
"I cannot say," he answered, gravely.
Hour after hour, mother and son worked on. The hole grew larger anddeeper. Clouds began to gather in the sky, throwing elfish shadows asthey passed. Not until moon and stars faded away and streaks of daylightbegan to appear, did Meitje Brinker and Hans look hopelessly into eachother's face.
They had searched thoroughly, desperately, all round the tree; south,north, east, west. _The hidden money was not there!_