Page:Augusta Seaman--Jacqueline of the carrier pigeons.djvu/219

Rh plight to my stubbornness. But while I live, I swear I will not open the gates!”

When Jan somewhat refreshed, had finished his meal and rose to start for home. Van der Werf offered to accompany him a way, saying he wanted no breakfast himself  and must be at the statehouse early. Together they went out, the burgomaster supporting the old man’s feeble steps as tenderly as a son might have assisted his father. Not many rods behind them, two or three malcontents, well-known for having always  leaned toward the opinions of the Glippers, began to follow the magistrate, muttering  remarks of no very pleasant nature. Jan the fiery, turned about once and rebuked  them:

“Hold thy tongue, Janus de Vries! And thou, Pieter Brouwer, hast thou not thyself  been fed from the burgomaster’s own  kitchen! I know all about thee! Who art thou to utter complaint!”