carved, but they led nowhere, and indeed no
one was seen to go in or out at them.

"I cannot stand this," said the Count. "Let us go back to the port."
Here a certain amount of trade was going on. Hoorn is engaged largely
in the curing of herrings; some vessels also were building, and it was
evident from the number of cheeses stacked up ready for exportation that
it must carry on a considerable commerce in that article. Floors above
floors were piled with round red cannon-balls, emitting an odour
powerful if not pleasant.

"After all, Hoorn is not so dead as I supposed," observed the Baron.

Finding the skipper they embarked.

"You intend, I hope, to land us at Amsterdam to-night," said the Count
to the skipper.

"Don't think there's the slightest chance of it," was the answer. "The
wind has fallen, it will be stark calm in a few minutes; for what I can
see it will be a calm all the night through and to-morrow also."

"Then I propose that we go to dinner," said the Baron. "I hope that it
will be ready soon."

"Dinner is it you want?" exclaimed the skipper. "What, did you not dine
at Hoorn?"

"Certainly not," said the Baron. "We were employed in seeing the town.
We fully expected that you would have had dinner ready on our return on
board. What has become of all the provisions you shipped, may I ask?"

"I landed them at Hoorn, where I took my own dinner," answered the
skipper. "You must manage to rough it on bread and cheese. There's not
much bread, but you may eat as much cheese as you like."

"This is abominable treatment, Captain Jan Dunck," exclaimed the Baron.
"I insist that you obtain provisions at the first place you can reach,
or else that you land us where we can obtain them. I am sure the Count
agrees with me."

"Ho, ho, ho!" laughed the skipper. "Who do you think is master of this
ship? Did you ever hear the old song?

"Mynheer Jan Dunck,
Though he never got drunk,
Sipped brandy and water gaily;
He quenched his thirst
With a quart of the first,
And a pint of the latter daily.

"That's just what I have been doing, although I'm as sober as a judge.
I am ready for anything. You want to be landed, do you? Suppose I put
you on shore on the island of Marken? It is not far off, and my boat
will carry you there. What then will you say for yourselves? It is
your own doing, remember."

"This treatment is abominable," exclaimed the Baron. "I appeal to your
crew for the