"But," he continued, "the pastor comes with Heins to-morrow or the next day; and you could go home with them, instead of having only your old woman to talk to in the trekschuit." "The pastor will talk to you instead of to me," replied Gertrude, with a smile; "and that will be better for you than parting with three friends at one time." "But you have never seen the rush-planting here," exclaimed Luc. "We all came too late for the spring planting; and now, you are going away before the autumn one. I do not know whether they will let me plant any this year; but last year, they would not allow any children to go nearer than the top of the dyke. Just as if we should pull any up!" The imputation of pulling up reeds from the dykes was repelled as indignantly by a Dutchman, woman, or child, in those days, as a charge of sheep-stealing would now be in this country. Such an act was death, according to the old Dutch law, and the entire nation was educated to regard it with disgust and horror. Christian told how he was laid on the edge of the dyke, and saw gangs of men and women at work on the slope, planting the reeds with which the banks were bristled, in order that the sand which was washed up by the sea should be retained till it hardened into an outer coating of the mound. If Gertrude would stay, perhaps Heins would take the whole party out in a boat, to see from the bay the people at work all along the dyke, while the sea washed their very feet.--Mrs. Snoek thought it a still better reason for Gertrude's remaining that Amsterdam was now in its least healthy state. She would find the canals very offensive, after the air of the open sea, to which she had been accustomed of late. In another month they would be cleared out, and then all would be safe till the next season's hot weather. Katrina, who was waiting,--that is, sitting at work in the window till she should be wanted,--put in an observation that the waters round Winkel had never been fresher than now. The late high seas had filled the channel between the inner and the sea-dyke, and all the mills had been in full activity for some days. The apothecary was of opinion that there would be less ague at Winkel this autumn than for many seasons past. So saying, Katrina looked out, to see how all the mills within view appeared to be alive, their sails swinging, and their machinery, open towards the water, whirling and twisting, as if by some self-moving power. She did not draw in her head immediately; and Luc would have hastened to see what it was that attracted her attention, but that grace had not yet been said. "Kaatje, what is the matter?" asked her mistress, as she saw the work drop from the maid's hands. "Christ, have pity! the dyke has burst!" exclaimed Katrina. "The flood comes pouring----Mercy! how it sweeps in by the peat-field!" "The peat-field! Then we are lost," cried Gertrude. "Where----" "Mother!" said Christian, "say grace, and let us go."