General English Level 4 Version 2.1 © 2004 acl Pty Ltd GELEV4 Unit 04 Topic 04.doc He looked around frantically for someone to help, but it was getting late. Hans and his brother had been out playing for a long time and there was no one else around. In desperation, Hans put his finger into the hole - it just fitted and the water stopped coming through. He shouted to his brother, “Dieter, run home quickly and tell them to come at once because the water is coming through. Tell them I am trying to stop the water but they must hurry.” Dieter ran off and as soon as he had disappeared from sight, Hans felt very lonely. He knew he had to stop the water and stay at the dyke until help came. After a while, Hans felt his arm going numb with the cold. He rubbed it with his other hand but it didn't help. He felt tired and weak as he rested his head against the dyke, exhausted. As he heard the roar of the sea he remembered all the frightening sea stories his grandfather had told him. He felt terrified. He wanted to pull his finger out and run away but he realised the safety of the townspeople depended on him. He gritted his teeth and shouted loudly at the sea, “I will not let you break through the dyke!” His whole body felt very cold and he wanted to cry. He kept looking towards the town to see if anyone was coming. At last, he saw torch-light in the distance. The townsfolk were coming, carrying pick-axes and shovels. When at last they arrived, they worked all through the night to mend the dyke. When they had finished, exhausted but happy, the men cheered loudly and proclaimed Hans the Hero of Haarlem. Dictionary wash away to drip rub frantically numb roar slid (past simple of “to slide”) Vocabulary tag a children's running game chasing running and trying to catch something in desperation because you have no choice exhausted really tired he gritted his teeth he pressed his teeth together tightly proclaimed told everybody folk people 140