ron eagerly.

"By a wonderful circumstance," answered the one-eyed mariner. "I
managed to get my hands free, and slipped my neck out of the noose, just
as I was on the point of being strangled. I held on to the boat,
however, and allowed myself to be dragged along at the stern. I knew
that if I had attempted to get in Captain Jan Dunck would very soon have
quieted me by a blow on my crown. At length I saw that we were passing
yonder island, and, silently letting go the rope, I swam towards it;
while he, unconscious of my escape, sailed on. I there landed, but it
is a barren spot, where neither food nor fresh water is to be obtained.
I thought that I should have perished; for after the strain on my throat
I felt dreadfully thirsty, and capable of drinking up the Zuyder Zee
itself, if it had been fresh water mixed with a due allowance of
schiedam. At length I observed your boat, noble gentlemen, drifting by;
I cannot compliment you by saying you were rowing, for you were going
round and round in all directions. I guessed that you were
land-lubbers--excuse my frankness--and that I might render you
assistance in return for the service you would do me by enabling me to
reach the shore. Not till you spoke, however, did I recognise you as my
late shipmates, and now Mynheers, the best thing you can do is to let me
take the oars and row steadily to the land; for, though hungry and
thirsty, I have still some strength left in my battered frame."

"By all means, worthy mariner, take the oars," said the Baron, handing
his to the sailor, while the Count followed his example. "We are
ourselves nearly starving, and will promise you the best supper to be
obtained wherever we may land, should we be fortunate enough to reach
some hospitable part of the globe."

The one-eyed mariner took the oars, and bending lustily to them, made
the boat move along very much faster than she had done since the Count
and the Baron had commenced their voyage.

"I was inclined, when we were rowing, to suppose that she was among the
slowest that ever floated, or that there was something the matter with
the oars," observed the Count.

"People are very apt to find fault with the tools they employ, instead
of laying the blame on themselves," remarked the Baron, sententiously.

The one-eyed mariner cocked his one eye, as much as to say, "You are
right, gentlemen;" but without speaking he rowed and rowed, now bending
forward, now leaning back with a