accorded the privilege of a whole compartment. Due to this
fact they found room in which to stretch out as they slept. This
exceptional advantage was fully appreciated.

Toward morning the boys were awakened by the bustle surrounding the
arrival of the train at Utrecht. At this point another passenger was
thrust unceremoniously into the compartment. After performing this duty
the guard hastened away to perform similar services for others.

"Good morning, gentlemen," said the newcomer pleasantly.

"Top of the morning to you!" smiled Jimmie, rising and endeavoring to
smooth out the wrinkles in his uniform. "How's the weather outside?"

"Clearing rapidly, but there's promise of some wind," replied the
newcomer. "May I ask how far you are going?"

"New York!" declared Jimmie with a grin. "That is," his added, "if this
old ark holds together until we get to Amsterdam and we can find a ship
there. It would be just our luck to find the last canal boat gone!"

"Been having tough luck?" inquired the other solicitously.

"Rotten!" stated the boy. "How far do you go?" he asked.

"Amsterdam is my present destination," was the reply. "My name's
Mackinder--Robert Mackinder, and I'm trying to get out of this forsaken
country, don't you know. I'm in hopes I'll be able to find some craft
destined to a point where I'll be able to get home."

Introductions of the four lads followed. Mackinder proved himself an
entertaining talker. Listening to his tales of adventure in various lands
the boys were soon at ease. The man apparently had traveled over the
whole world for he seemed familiar with all lands.

"I say," declared Jimmie, as their new found friend concluded a tale of
privation through which he had passed in South Africa, "that story of
starvation reminds me that I am hungry. I haven't eaten in a week!"

"Jimmie, Jimmie!" cautioned Ned. "Get down to recent dates!"

"Well, it feels that way, anyhow," persisted the boy.

"Can you tell us where we'll be able to find a lunch counter?" asked Ned.
"We have nothing in our kits except some hard tack."

"There is no place short of Amsterdam where one can get anything like a
decent meal," replied Mackinder. "There I can show you the way to a
restaurant that is all right. It is not far from the docks."

"Then we'll get one good, solid, square meal!" shouted Jimmie.

"And after breakfast," put in Harry, "we'll go aboard the steamer and let
'em sail as soon as they like! What shal