Chapter 16

TIME: _the next morning._ PLACE: _the street near Peter's home._

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PETER. PETER'S MOTHER. PRINCE. SOLDIERS. PEOPLE.

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[_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._]

A SOLDIER. Hurrah for Peter!

A MAN. Hurrah for Peter!

SOLDIERS. Hurrah! Hurrah!

PEOPLE. Hurrah! Hurrah!

MOTHER. What is this? Why do you carry Peter?

PRINCE. Peter has saved us!

MOTHER. What do you mean?

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!

MOTHER. Ah, my Peter! My dear Peter!

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._]

SOLDIERS. Hurrah for Peter!

PEOPLE. Hurrah for Peter!

THE POT OF GOLD