[_They go. Peter runs to the dike and looks at it carefully._]
PETER. Ah, I thought so! Here is a little hole! The water comes through it from the sea. Soon the hole will be larger. I must find stones and fill it.
Dear me! Dear me! I cannot find a single stone! What shall I do? The hole will grow larger and larger. The sea will come in and cover all the land. What shall I do? I cannot go and tell the people. That would take too long. What shall I do? What shall I do?
(_He thrusts his arm through the hole. He shivers._)
TIME: _the next morning._ PLACE: _the street near Peter's home._
PETER. PETER'S MOTHER. PRINCE. SOLDIERS. PEOPLE.
[_The_ MOTHER _stands in the door of her home looking up and down the street._]
MOTHER. He does not come! Well, I will go to Jacob's after him. I must teach him that he cannot stay away all night. I will punish him for what he has done.
[_Enter the_ PRINCE, SOLDIERS, _and_ PEOPLE. _Four soldiers carry_ PETER _on their shoulders._]
MOTHER. What is this? Why do you carry Peter?
PRINCE. He put his arm in a hole in the dike. All night long he stood there! All night long he kept out the sea! We found him there this morning. Poor little boy, he was so cold!
PRINCE. He is a brave boy. The king wants to see him and to thank him. Come, soldiers, to the king with Peter! Come, to the king! To the king!
[_They go with Peter on their shoulders._]
TIME: _one spring day._ PLACE: _the farmer's vineyard._
[_The_ THREE SONS _dig lazily among the vines._]
FIRST SON. Oh, I am tired of digging! Come, brothers, let us sit and talk!
SECOND SON. Father said we should dig at every vine. But I must say I am tired of it.
[_He throws down his spade and sits. The_ FARMER _enters. His sons do not see him._]
FIRST SON. Now I should like to go to war and ride a great white horse.
SECOND SON. I should like to be a prince. I would do nothing all day long but wear my golden crown.
THIRD SON. I want to find a purse of gold. I would never work again, I tell you!
FARMER. My sons, these vines have not been dug about. Come, do this work as I have told you.
(_The sons take up their spades, but unwillingly._)
Now listen: a pot of gold is hidden in this vineyard. It is buried deep beneath these vines.