"Don't you think it a funny thing that I, Cornelius Heemskerk, am
here?" he said to Paul.
"Why so, Mr. Heemskerk?" replied Paul politely. "Because I am a
Dutchman. I have the soul of an artist and the gentleness of a
baby. I, Cornelius Heemskerk, should be in the goot leetle
country of Holland in a goot leetle house, by the side of a goot
leetle canal, painting beautiful blue china, dishes, plates,
cups, saucers, all most beautiful, and here I am running through
the woods of this vast America, carrying on my shoulder a rifle
that is longer than I am, hunting the red Indian and hunted by
him. Is it not most rediculous, Mynheer Paul?"
"I think you are here because you are a brave man, Mr.
Heemskerk," replied Paul, "and wish to see punishment inflicted
upon those who have committed great crimes."
"Not so! Not so! replied the Dutchman with energy. "It is
because I am one big fool. I am not really a big enough man to
be as big a fool as I am, but so it is! so it is!" Shif'less
Sol regarded him critically, and then spoke gravely and with
deliberation: " It ain't that, Mr. Heemskerk, an' Paul ain't
told quite all the truth, either. I've heard that the Dutch was
the most powerfullest fightin' leetle nation on the globe; that
all you had to do wuz to step on the toe uv a Dutchman's wooden
shoe, an' all the men, women, an' children in Holland would jump
right on top o' you all at once.
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