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fast as he could to where his brother was playing。
There was the tiniest little hole in the bank。
Just an air…hole。 A drop of water bubbled
slowly through。
〃It is a hole in the dike！〃 cried Hans。 〃What
shall we do？〃
He looked all round； not a person or a house
in sight。 He looked at the hole； the little
drops oozed steadily through； he knew that
the water would soon break a great gap；
because that tiny hole gave it a chance。 The
town was so far awayif they ran for help it
would be too late； what should he do？ Once
more he looked； the hole was larger； now； and
the water was trickling。
Suddenly a thought came to Hans。 He stuck
his little forefinger right into the hole； where it
fitted tight； and he said to his little brother；
〃Run； Dieting！ Go to the town and tell the
men there's a hole in the dike。 Tell them I will
keep it stopped till they get here。〃
The little brother knew by Hans' face that
something very serious was the matter； and he
started for the town； as fast as his legs could
run。 Hans； kneeling with his finger in the hole；
watched him grow smaller and smaller as he got
farther away。
Soon he was as small as a chicken； then he
was only a speck； then he was out of sight。
Hans was alone； his finger tight in the bank。
He could hear the water； slap； slap； slap； on
the stones； and deep down under the slapping
was a gurgling； rumbling sound。 It seemed
very near。
By…and…by； his hand began to feel numb。 He
rubbed it with the other hand； but it got colder
and more numb； colder and more numb； every
minute。 He looked to see if the men were
coming； the road was bare as far as he could
see。 Then the cold began creeping； creeping；
up his arm； first his wrist； then his arm to the
elbow； then his arm to the shoulder； how cold
it was！ And soon it began to ache。 Ugly
little cramp…pains streamed up his finger； up
his palm； up his arm； till they reached into his
shoulder； and down the back of his neck。 It
seemed hours since the little brother went away。
He felt very lonely； and the hurt in his arm
grew and grew。 He watched the road with all
his eyes； but no one came in sight。 Then he
leaned his head against the dike； to rest his
shoulder。
As his ear touched the dike； he heard the
voice of the great sea； murmuring。 The sound
seemed to say；
〃I am the great sea。 No one can stand
against me。 What are you； a little child； that
you try to keep me out？ Beware！ Beware！〃
Hans' heart beat in heavy knocks。 Would
they never come？ He was frightened。
And the water went on beating at the wall；
and murmuring； 〃I will come through； I will
come through； I will get you； I will get you；
runrunbefore I come through！〃
Hans started to pull out his finger； he was so
frightened that he felt as if he must run for ever。
But that minute he remembered how much
depended on him； if he pulled out his finger； the
water would surely make the hole bigger； and
at last break down the dike； and the sea would
come in on all the land and houses。 He set his
teeth； and stuck his finger tighter than ever。
〃You shall NOT come through！〃 he whispered；
〃I will NOT run！〃
At that moment； he heard a far…off shout。
Far in the distance he saw a black something on
the road； and dust。 The men were coming！ At
last； they were coming。 They came nearer； fast；
and he could make out his own father； and the
neighbours。 They had pickaxes and shovels；
and they were running。 And as they ran they
shouted； 〃We're coming； take heart； we're
coming！〃
The next minute； it seemed； they were there。
And when they saw Hans； with his pale face；
and his hand tight in the dike； they gave a great
cheer；just as people do for soldiers back from
war； and they lifted him up and rubbed his
aching arm with tender hands； and they told him
that he was a real hero and that he had saved
the town。
When the men had mended the dike； they
marched home like an army； and Hans was
carried high on their shoulders； because he was
a hero。 And to this day the people of Haarlem
tell the story of how a little boy saved the dike。
THE LAST LESSON＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from the French of Alphonse Daudet。
Little Franz didn't want to go to school； that
morning。 He would much rather have played
truant。 The air was so warm and still；you
could hear the blackbird singing at the edge of
the wood； and the sound of the Prussians drilling；
down in the meadow behind the old sawmill。
He would SO much rather have played truant！
Besides； this was the day for the lesson in the
rule of participles； and the rule of participles in
French is very； very long； and very hard； and it
has more exceptions than rule。 Little Franz
did not know it at all。 He did not want to go
to school。
But； somehow； he went。 His legs carried him
reluctantly into the village and along the street。
As he passed the official bulletin…board before
the town hall； he noticed a little crowd round it；
looking at it。 That was the place where the
news of lost battles； the requisition for more
troops； the demands for new taxes were posted。
Small as he was； little Franz had seen enough to
make him think； 〃What NOW； I wonder？〃 But
he could not stop to see； he was afraid of being
late。
When he came to the school…yard his heart
beat very fast； he was afraid he WAS late； after
all； for the windows were all open； and yet he
heard no noise；the schoolroom was perfectly
quiet。 He had been counting on the noise and
confusion before school；the slamming of desk
covers； the banging of books； the tapping of the
master's cane and his 〃A little less noise； please；〃
to let him slip quietly into his seat unnoticed。
But no； he had to open the door and walk up
the long aisle； in the midst of a silent room； with
the master looking straight at him。 Oh； how hot
his cheeks felt； and how hard his heart beat！
But to his great surprise the master didn't scold
at all。 All he said was； 〃Come quickly to your
place； my little Franz； we were just going to
begin without you！〃
Little Franz could hardly believe his ears；
that wasn't at all the way the master was accustomed
to speak。 It was very strange！ Somehow
everything was very strange。 The room
looked queer。 Everybody was sitting so still； so
straightas if it were an exhibition day； or
something very particular。 And the master
he looked strange； too； why； he had on his fine
lace jabot and his best coat； that he wore only
on holidays； and his gold snuff…box in his hand。
Certainly it was very odd。 Little Franz looked
all round； wondering。 And there in the back of
the room was the oddest thing of all。 There； on
a bench； sat VISITORS。 Visitors！ He could not
make it out； people never came except on great
occasions；examination days and such。 And it
was not a holiday。 Yet there we