How to Tell Stories to Children, And Some Stories to Tell, page 140 by Sara Cone Bryant
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down under the slapping was a gurgling, rumbling sound. It seemed very near.
By-and-by, his hand began to feel numb. He rubbed it with the other hand; but it got colder and more numb, colder and more numb, every minute. He looked to see if the men were coming; the road was bare as far as he could see. Then the cold began creeping, creeping, up his arm; first his wrist, then his arm to the elbow, then his arm to the shoulder; how cold it was! And soon it began to ache. Ugly little cramp-pains streamed up his finger, up his palm, up his arm, till they reached into his shoulder, and down the back of his neck. It seemed hours since the little brother went away. He felt very lonely, and the hurt in his arm grew and grew. He watched the road with all his eyes, but no one came in sight. Then he leaned his head against the dike, to rest his shoulder.
As his ear touched the dike, he heard the voice of the great sea, murmuring. The sound seemed to say,--
"I am the great sea. No one can stand against me. What are you, a little child, that you try to keep me out? Beware! Beware!"
Hans' heart beat in heavy knocks. Would they never come? He was frightened.
And the water went on beating at the wall, and murmuring, "I will come through, I will come through, I will get you, I will get you, run--run--before I come through!"
Hans started to pull out his finger; he was so frightened that he felt as if he must run for ever. But that minute he remembered how much depended on him; if he pulled out his finger, the water would surely make the hole bigger, and at last break down the dike, and the sea would come in on all the land and houses. He set his teeth, and stuck his finger tighter than ever.
"You shall NOT come through!" he whispered, "I will NOT run!"
At that moment, he heard a far-off shout. Far in the distance he saw a black something on the road, and dust. The men were coming! At last, they were coming. They came nearer, fast, and he could make out his own father, and the