d the Count.

"That depends upon the example you set them," answered the ancient
fisherman.

"Ah, yes; I must see about it, then," said the Count. "I don't know
that as yet I have ever done anything very industrious. Perhaps, like
me, they will become great travellers."

"Perhaps, my dear Count, the less you say about it the better, at
present," observed the Baron. "We have not proceeded very far on our
voyage round the world. In the meantime, I will thank our hostess for
another cup of her excellent tea."

As there seemed no probability of the storm abating, the Count and the
Baron accepted the invitation given them by the ancient fisherman and
his dame, to spend the night in their cottage. They had no beds to
offer, but they had comfortable arm-chairs, pipes, tobacco, and a
blazing fire.

"We might be worse off," observed the Baron, as he extended his legs and
folded his arms to sleep.

It being impossible to reach the mainland without a boat, the Baron
suggested, that after their experience, it would be safer to have one of
their own than to entrust themselves again to strangers, and the Count
agreeing, they settled to buy one. The next morning, therefore, after
breakfast, having wished their ancient host and hostess farewell, and
the Count having slipped a coin into the hand of the latter as a
remembrance, they purchased a boat, which the ancient fisherman
recommended, and helped them to launch: they then together set forth to
prosecute their travels.

Neither of them were very expert navigators, though the ancient
fisherman gave them a shove off to assist them in their progress, which
was remarkably slow. Sometimes they rowed one way, and sometimes
another, and the boat consequently went round and round.

"You pull too hard," cried the Count.

"You don't pull hard enough," answered the Baron. "That is the reason
we don't go as straight as we should."

"Then perhaps if you take the two oars we shall go straighter," said the
Count.

To this the Baron objected, as he had no desire to undertake all the
labour of the voyage. Somehow or other they managed, notwithstanding,
to get to a distance from Marken: perhaps the tide was carrying them
along in the direction of the Helder; that this was the case, however,
did not occur to them. They saw the land clearly enough stretching out
to the westward: there lay Monnickendam, there Edam, and, further to the
south, Uitdam. "Experience makes perfect:" a