about ship!"

The mate, the one-eyed mariner, and the small ship's boy started up at
their Captain's call. The helm was put down, the jib-sheet let fly, and
the galiot, after exhibiting some doubt as to whether she would do as
was wished, came slowly round, her head pointing to the eastward.

"Why, what has become of the wind?" asked the Count, his visage
brightening.

"The sea is much more quiet than it was, because we have just got under
the land. See that bank away to windward, that keeps it off us. We
shall soon be running up the Maas."

In a few minutes the water became perfectly smooth, the Count and Baron
recovered their spirits, and in a short time they arrived off a seaport
town on the right bank of the Maas.

"There's nothing very grand to boast of," observed the Count, as he
surveyed it through his binoculars.

"It has a history, notwithstanding," observed the skipper. "It was here
the first successful blow was struck for liberty, by those daring
fellows `The Beggars of the Sea,' under their gallant leader De la
Marck. It is a town of pilots and fishermen, and as brave sailors as
ever explored the ocean. Here, also, were born our gallant admirals Van
Tromp and De Witt, and its harbour is as fine a one as any along the
coast. Say what you like, Mynheers, Brill has as good a right to be
proud of itself as many a place with greater pretensions. Do you feel
disposed to go on shore and survey its advantages?"

"Thank you," said the Baron, "taking all things into consideration, we
will remain where we are; dinner will soon be ready, I think; our
appetites are wonderfully sharpened by the sea air, and, remembering the
store of provender you brought on board, it would be a bad compliment to
you not to stay and help you consume it."

"Ja, ja," said the skipper, "do as you please, I am happy to have your
company."

The Baron, at all events, did ample justice to the skipper's dinner, and
all three spent the remainder of the day on deck, puffing away with
their long pipes in their mouths, till it was difficult to say whether
they or the galley fire forward sent forth the thickest wreaths.
Notwithstanding this, the Baron declared that he was perfectly ready for
supper at the usual hour, after which the two passengers turned into
their berths and went to sleep. They were awakened by finding the
vessel once more pitching and tumbling about, and, thinking that
something was about to happen, they crawled u