ed, but of this
fidgetty sea which rolls and tumbles her about so thoughtlessly, to say
the best of it."

"But are you aware, Count," said the skipper, "that the Zuyder Zee can
roll and tumble in no gentle fashion? For your sakes it is to be hoped
that we shall not have a storm till you land safely in Amsterdam."

"Then I sincerely pray that the winds may be in a gentle mood," said the
Count.

"And in the meantime, Captain Jan Dunck, I propose that we go down to
breakfast," said the Baron, who had showed signs of impatience for some
time past.

The Count and the Baron and the skipper sat down to breakfast. The two
latter did ample justice to the good things placed before them; but the
Count, after several heroic attempts to swallow a big sausage, had to
confess that his appetite had vanished, and that he thought that the
fresh air on deck would restore it. He there found the one-eyed mariner
steering.

"Oh tell me, brave sailor, when are we likely to get to the Helder?" he
asked in a tone which showed that he was but ill at ease.

"If you open your eyes wide enough, you will see it right ahead,"
answered the one-eyed mariner. "That point of land out there, that's
the Helder; we shall sail close to it, if the wind holds fair, and the
tide does not sweep us out again. There's water enough there to float a
seventy-four. On the other side is the island of Texel, and a very fine
island it is for sheep; many thousands live on it; and if you wish to
taste something excellent, I would advise you to obtain one of the green
cheeses which are made from the milk of the sheep living on the island."

"I will tell the Baron, who thinks more of eating than I do," answered
the Count. "But is that actually the Helder I see before me?"

"I told you it was," answered the one-eyed mariner, in a gruff tone, as
if he did not like to have his word doubted.

This was indeed joyful news to the Count, who already began to feel his
appetite returning; and he could not resist the temptation of shouting
through the skylight to the Baron, inviting him to come up and see the
place.

"Sit quiet till you have finished your breakfast, there will be time
enough then, and to spare," observed the skipper, who knew very well
that the tide was running out, and that the galiot could not stem it for
some time to come.

In half-an-hour after this the galiot began to move ahead, and arrived
off a huge sea wall, two hundred feet from the found