Could they have seen him as he read his promised chapter, and knelt to commit himself to God, or afterwards, falling asleep, his last thought of the kindness of the people around him, their own sleep would have been far lighter, and their prayers would have blessed the good foreigners. CHAPTER VIII. THRILLING EXPERIENCE. Early in the morning they went to Amsterdam, or Amsteldamme, as the Germans call it, because it controls the tides of the Amstel River. The city of Amsteldamme is situated on a marsh, and all its houses and buildings are erected on piles, which are driven from forty to fifty feet into the earth. "How many canals!" was Eric's first remark, when he obtained a good view of the city. "Yes," said Mr. Lacelle. "When I was a boy, I counted the bridges across the canals, and there were two hundred and fifty. The city is divided by the canals into ninety islands. Those high walls were once ramparts, but have since been converted into public walks. They are planted with trees, and make excellent promenades." "But suppose there should be another war," said Eric; "what would their defence be?" "They could easily flood the surrounding country." "What splendid streets these are!" said Eric, as they passed through one and another with rows of beautiful shade trees, handsome little stone bridges, broad, clean pavements, and long lines of elegant mansions. They were indeed very beautiful streets, not easily to be surpassed in all Europe. "I should think," said Eric, thoughtfully, "that there would be danger to the people here in having so much water in their town. Do the dikes ever give way?" "Very seldom. The people watch them very faithfully, and whenever a break is discovered it is instantly repaired. There is a very interesting story connected with the dikes of Holland, which I will tell you, to show you what great service a little boy did his country. "The little hero, Peter Daik, was on his way home, one night, from a village to which he had been sent by his father on an errand, when he noticed the water trickling through a narrow opening in the dike, built up to keep out the sea. "He stopped, and thought of what would happen if the hole were not closed. "He knew--for he had often heard his father tell of the sad disasters which had come from small beginnings--how, in a few hours, the opening would become bigger, and let in the mighty mass of water pressing on the dike, until, the whole defence being washed away, the rolling, dashing, angry sea would sweep on to the next village, destroying life and property, and everything in its way. Should he run home and alarm the villagers? It would be dark before they could arrive; and the hole, even then, might be so large as to defy all attempts to close it. What could he do to prevent such terrible ruin--he, only a little boy?