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by the fire。 Now； while he capered about； boylike； and threw himself with an antic into his bed； he inwardly hoped that the voetspoelen would not haunt his dreams。
It was a cold； cheerless room； a fire had been newly kindled in the burnished stove and seemed to shiver even while it was trying to burn。 The windows； with their funny little panes； were bare and shiny； and the cold waxed floor looked like a sheet of yellow ice。 Three rush…bottomed chairs stood stiffly against the wall； alternating with three narrow wooden bedsteads that made the room look like the deserted ward of a hospital。 At any other time the boys would have found it quite impossible to sleep in pairs； especially in such narrow quarters； but tonight they lost all fear of being crowded and longed only to lay their weary bodies upon the feather beds that lay lightly upon each cot。 Had the boys been in Germany instead of Holland； they might have been covered； also； by a bed of down or feathers。 This peculiar form of luxury was at that time adopted only by wealthy or eccentric Hollanders。
Ludwig； as we have seen； had not quite lost his friskiness； but the other boys； after one or two feeble attempts at pillow firing； composed themselves for the night with the greatest dignity。 Nothing like fatigue for making boys behave themselves！
〃Good night； boys！〃 said Peter's voice from under the covers。
〃Good night；〃 called back everybody but Jacob； who already lay snoring beside the captain。
〃I say；〃 shouted Carl after a moment； 〃don't sneeze； anybody。 Ludwig's in a fright！〃
〃No such thing；〃 retorted Ludwig in a smothered voice。 Then there was a little whispered dispute； which was ended by Carl saying； 〃For my part； I don't know what fear is。 But you really are a timid fellow； Ludwig。〃
Ludwig grunted sleepily； but made no further reply。
It was the middle of the night。 The fire had shivered itself to death； and； in place of its gleams； little squares of moonlight lay upon the floor； slowly； slowly shifting their way across the room。 Something else was moving also； but the boys did not see it。 Sleeping boys keep but a poor lookout。 During the early hours of the night； Jacob Poot had been gradually but surely winding himself with all the bed covers。 He now lay like a monster chrysalis beside the half…frozen Peter； who； accordingly； was skating with all his might over the coldest； bleakest of dreamland icebergs。
Something else； I say； besides the moonlight； was moving across the bare； polished floormoving not quite so slowly； but quite as stealthily。
Wake up； Ludwig！ The voetspoelen is growing real！
No。 Ludwig does not waken； but he moans in his sleep。
Does not Carl hear itCarl the brave； the fearless？
No。 Carl is dreaming of the race。
And Jacob？ Van Mounen？ Ben？
Not they。 They； too； are dreaming of the race； and Katrinka is singing through their dreamslaughing； flitting past them； now and then a wave from the great organ surges through their midst。
Still the thing moves； slowly； slowly。
Peter！ Captain Peter； there is danger！
Peter heard no call； but in his dream； he slid a few thousand feet from one iceberg to another； and the shock awoke him。
Whew！ How cold he was！ He gave a hopeless； desperate tug at the chrysalis in vain。 Sheet； blanket； and spread were firmly wound around Jacob's inanimate form。
Clear moonlight； he thought。 We shall have pleasant weather tomorrow。 Halloo！ What's that？
He saw the moving thing； or rather something black crouching upon the floor； for it had halted as Peter stirred。
He watched in silence。
Soon it moved again； nearer and nearer。 It was a man crawling upon hands and feet！
The captain's first impulse was to call out； but he took an instant to consider matters。
The creeper had a shining knife in one hand。 This was ugly； but Peter was naturally self…possessed。 When the head turned； Peter's eyes were closed as if in sleep； but at other times； nothing could be keener； sharper than the captain's gaze。
Closer； closer crept the robber。 His back was very near Peter now。 The knife was laid softly upon the floor。 One careful arm reached forth stealthily to drag the clothes from the chair by the captain's bedthe robbery was commenced。
Now was Peter's time！ Holding his breath； he sprang up and leaped with all his strength upon the robber's back； stunning the rascal with the force of the blow。 To seize the knife was but a second's work。 The robber began to struggle； but Peter sat like a giant astride the prostrate form。
〃If you stir；〃 said the brave boy in as terrible a voice as he could command； 〃stir but one inch； I will plunge this knife into your neck。 Boys！ Boys！ Wake up！〃 he shouted； still pressing down the black head and holding the knife at pricking distance。 〃Give us a hand！ I've got him！〃
The chrysalis rolled over； but made no other sign。
〃Up； boys！〃 cried Peter； never budging。 〃Ludwig！ Lambert！ Donder！ Are you all dead？〃
Dead？ Not they！ Van Mounen and Ben were on their feet in an instant。
〃Hey！ What now？〃 they shouted。
〃I've got a robber here；〃 said Peter coolly。 〃Lie still； you scoundrel； or I'll slice your head off！ Now； boys； cut out your bed cordplenty of timehe's a dead man if he stirs。〃
Peter felt that he weighed a thousand pounds。 So he did； with that knife in his hand。
The man growled and swore but dared not move。
Ludwig was up by this time。 He had a great jackknife； the pride of his heart； in his breeches pocket。 It could do good service now。 They bared the bedstead in a moment。 It was laced backward and forward with a rope。
〃I'll cut it；〃 cried Ludwig； sawing away at the knot。 〃Hold him tight； Peter！〃
〃Never fear！〃 answered the captain； giving the robber a warning prick。
The boys were soon pulling at the rope like good fellows。 It was out at lasta long； stout piece。
〃Now； boys；〃 commanded the captain； 〃lift up his rascally arms！ Cross his hands over his back！ That's rightexcuse me for being in the waytie them tight！〃
〃Yes； and his feet too； the villain！〃 cried the boys in great excitement； tying knot after knot with Herculean jerks。
The prisoner changed his tone。
〃Ohoh！〃 he moaned。 〃Spare a poor sick manI was but walking in my sleep。〃
〃Ugh！〃 grunted Lambert； still tugging away at the rope。 〃Asleep； were you？ Well； we'll wake you up。〃
The man muttered fierce oaths between his teeth； then cried in a piteous voice； 〃Unbind me； good young masters！ I have five little children at home。 By Saint Bavon I swear to give you each a ten…guilder piece if you will but free me！〃
〃Ha！ ha！〃 laughed Peter。
〃Ha！ ha！〃 laughed the other boys。
Then came threats； threats that made Ludwig fairly shudder； though he continued to bind and tie with redoubled energy。
〃Hold up； mynheer housebreaker；〃 said Van Mounen in a warning voice。 〃That knife is very near your throat。 If you make the captain nervous； there is no telling what may happen。〃
The robber took the hint； and fell into a sullen silence。
Just at this moment the chrysalis upon the bed stirred and sat erect。
〃What's the matter？〃 he asked； without opening his eyes。
〃Matter！〃 echoed Ludw