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〃Ya！ yait ish no goot to sheerto make te noise for dat。 You vill shee old Van der Does's likeness mit te Stadhuis。〃
〃See old Van der Does？ I thought it was Van der Werf's picture they had there。〃
〃Ya；〃 responded Jacob； 〃Van der Werfvell； vot of it！ Both ish just ash goot〃
〃Yes； Van der Does was a noble old Dutchman； but he was not Van der Werf。 I know he defended the city like a brick； and〃
〃Now vot for you shay dat； Penchamin？ He no defend te city mit breek； he fight like goot soltyer mit his guns。 You like make te fun mit effrysinks Tutch。〃
〃No！ No！ No！ I said he defended the city LIKE a brick。 That is very high praise； I would have you understand。 We English call even the Duke of Wellington a brick。〃
Jacob looked puzzled； but his indignation was already on the ebb。
〃Vell； it ish no matter。 I no tink； before； soltyer mean breek； but it ish no matter。〃
Ben laughed good…naturedly； and seeing that his cousin was tired of talking in English； he turned to his friend of the two languages。
〃Van Mounen； they say the very carrier pigeons that brought news of relief to the besieged city are somewhere here in Leyden。 I really should like to see them。 Just think of it！ At the very height of the trouble； if the wind didn't turn and blow in the waters； and drown hundreds of Spaniards and enable the Dutch boats to sail in right over the land with men and provisions to the very gates of the city。 The pigeons； you know； did great service； in bearing letters to and fro。 I have read somewhere that they were reverently cared for from that day； and when they died； they were stuffed and placed for safekeeping in the town hall。 We must be sure to have a look at them。〃
Van Mounen laughed。 〃On that principle； Ben； I suppose when you go to Rome you'll expect to see the identical goose who saved the capitol。 But it will be easy enough to see the pigeons。 They are in the same building with Van der Werf's portrait。 Which was the greater defense； Ben； the siege of Leyden or the siege of Haarlem？〃
〃Well；〃 replied Ben thoughtfully； 〃Van der Werf is one of my heroes。 We all have our historical pets； you know； but I really think the siege of Haarlem brought out a braver； more heroic resistance even； than the Leyden one； besides； they set the Leyden sufferers an example of courage and fortitude； for their turn came first。〃
〃I don't know much about the Haarlem siege；〃 said Lambert； 〃except that it was in 1573。 Who beat？〃
〃The Spaniards；〃 said Ben。 〃The Dutch had stood out for months。 Not a man would yield nor a woman； either； for that matter。 They shouldered arms and fought gallantly beside their husbands and fathers。 Three hundred of them did duty under Kanau Hesselaer； a great woman； and brave as Joan of Arc。 All this time the city was surrounded by the Spaniards under Frederic of Toledo； son of that beauty； the Duke of Alva。 Cut off from all possible help from without； there seemed to be no hope for the inhabitants； but they shouted defiance over the city walls。 They even threw bread into the enemy's camps to show that they were not afraid of starvation。 Up to the last they held out bravely； waiting for the help that never could comegrowing bolder and bolder until their provisions were exhausted。 Then it was terrible。 In time； hundreds of famished creatures fell dead in the streets； and the living had scarcely strength to bury them。 At last they made the desperate resolution that； rather than perish by lingering torture； the strongest would form a square； placing the weakest in the center； and rush in a body to their death； with the faint chance of being able to fight their way through the enemy。 The Spaniards received a hint of this； and believing that there was nothing the Dutch would not dare to do； they concluded to offer terms。〃
〃High time； I should think。〃
〃Yes； with falsehood and treachery they soon obtained an entrance into the city； promising protection and forgiveness to all except those whom the citizens themselves would acknowledge as deserving of death。〃
〃You don't say so！〃 said Lambert； quite interested。 〃That ended the business； I suppose。〃
〃Not a bit of it；〃 returned en； 〃for the Duke of Alva had already given his son orders to show mercy to none。〃
〃Ah！ That was where the great Haarlem massacre came in。 I remember now。 You can't wonder that the Hollanders dislike Spain when you read of the way they were butchered by Alva and his hosts； though I admit that our side sometimes retaliated terribly。 But as I have told you before； I have a very indistinct idea of historical matters。 Everything is confusionfrom the flood to the battle of Waterloo。 One thing is plain； however； the Duke of Alva was about the worst specimen of a man that ever lived。〃
〃That gives only a faint idea of him；〃 said Ben； 〃but I hate to think of such a wretch。 What if he HAD brains and military skill； and all that sort of thing！ Give me such men as Van der Werf； and What now？〃
〃Why；〃 said Van Mounen； who was looking up and down the street in a bewildered way。 〃We've walked right past the museum； and I don't see the boys。 Let us go back。〃
Leyden
The boys met at the museum and were soon engaged in examining its extensive collection of curiosities； receiving a new insight into Egyptian life； ancient and modern。 Ben and Lambert had often visited the British Museum； but that did not prevent them from being surprised at the richness of the Leyden collection。 There were household utensils； wearing apparel； weapons； musical instruments； sarcophagi； and mummies of men； women； and cats； ibexes； and other creatures。 They saw a massive gold armlet that had been worn by an Egyptian king at a time when some of these same mummies； perhaps； were nimbly treading the streets of Thebes； and jewels and trinkets such as Pharaoh's daughter wore； and the children of Israel borrowed when they departed out of Egypt。
There were other interesting relics； from Rome and Greece； and some curious Roman pottery which had been discovered in digging near The Haguerelics of the days when the countrymen of Julius Caesar had settled there。 Where have they not settled？ I for one would hardly be astonished if relics of the ancient Romans should someday be found deep under the grass growing around the Bunker Hill monument。
When the boys left this museum； they went to another and saw a wonderful collection of fossil animals； skeletons； birds； minerals； precious stones； and other natural specimens； but as they were not learned men； they could only walk about and stare； enjoy the little knowledge of natural history they possessed； and wish with all their hearts they had acquired more。 Even the skeleton of the mouse puzzled Jacob。 What wonder？ He was not used to seeing the cat…fearing little creatures running about in their bonesand how could he ever have imagined their necks to be so queer？
Besides the Museum of Natural History； there was Saint Peter's Church to be visited； containing Professor Luzac's memorial； and Boerhaave's monument of white and black marble； with its urn and carved symbols of the four ages of life； and its medallion of Boerhaave； adorned with his favorite mott