ll means," said the Count, who, as it saved him the
trouble of thinking, was glad to receive suggestions regarding their
route. They accordingly went on board the steamer, which was already
pretty well filled with country people, butter-sellers, peddlers,
gardeners, and others, very clean and respectable and picturesque in
their costume. There was a vast amount of shouting and holloaing and
talking as the boat passed through a narrow lock, which conducted them
into the direct line of canal navigation to the place they purposed
visiting. As they glided on, they observed the banks on either side
lined with windmills; here and there were small houses painted green
with red roofs--indeed, red roofs were seen everywhere, like British
soldiers skirmishing, as the colour was toned down and mellowed by time
and weather. On and on they went, sometimes looking down from the canal
to the country below them, for the water was on a higher level than the
land.

"It would be an awkward business if a breach were to be made in the
banks, and the water were to run out over the country," observed the
Count.

"We take precautions against that, by making the banks broad and strong,
as you will observe," remarked their friend. "But such an event has
occurred more than once, sometimes by accident, and at others purposely,
to prevent the approach of an enemy, when in a few hours a whole
district has been laid under water."

"When that occurs, the fields and the orchards and the cottages of the
inhabitants must be destroyed," observed the Count.

"Undoubtedly," answered his companion. "But we Dutchmen are patriotic,
and willingly sacrifice our own interests for the good of the country;
besides which the chief sufferers have seldom been consulted--our
leaders have decided that it was necessary, and it has been done. In
this way Alkmaar was defended against the Spaniards, and Leyden was
relieved by a fleet of the `Beggars of the Sea,' which, sailing across
the submerged land, brought provisions and reinforcements to the
starving garrison."

League after league was passed over by this watery way; trees there
were, but they were scarcely of sufficient height to break the uniform
appearance of the level country.

"My dear Baron," said the Count, taking his friend by the button-hole,
"I have at length settled a point in my mind which has long puzzled me;
I have heard that philosophers differ as to whether the earth is round
or flat, an