ned to the others, and they
all decided to join the party. Sanford was not without a hope that
something would occur to prolong the "independent trip without running
away."

"How are you off for stamps?" asked Burchmore of the two who were by
this arrangement added to his party, for which he had thus far done
the financiering.

"We have a little Swedish money, and some sovereigns," replied Scott.

"But how many sovereigns? We may be prevented from joining the ship
for a few days, and we want to know where we are in money matters,"
interposed Sanford.

"We have enough to buy out one or two of these one-horse kingdoms,
like Denmark and Sweden. I have twenty sovereigns, and Laybold has
about a thousand," answered Scott.

"No I haven't," protested Laybold, laughing at the extravagance of his
friend. "I have only twenty-five sovereigns."

"And a letter of credit for a thousand more; so it's the same thing."

"No, no; knock off one cipher, Scott."

"Well, seeing it's you, I'll knock off just one; but not another to
please any fellow, even if he were my grandmother's first cousin,"
added Scott.

"There's some difference between a hundred and a thousand pounds,"
suggested Sanford.

"A slight difference," said Laybold.

"I don't expect any of us will live long enough to spend a hundred
pounds in this country, which is about eighteen hundred of these
tricks-bunker dollars, to say nothing of a thousand. Why, we paid only
three bunkers for two lodgings and two breakfasts. How's a fellow ever
to spend eighteen hundred bunkers? For my part, I think I'm lucky in
having less than four hundred of the things to get rid of."

"But you needn't feel under the necessity of spending all your money
in this country," laughed the cashier.

"My father promised to send me some more; but I hope he won't do it
till I get out of Sweden. If he does I shall be ruined. Here's poor
Laybold, with a letter of credit for a hundred pounds, besides
twenty-five in cash. I pity the poor fellow. It wouldn't be so bad in
London, where it costs a fellow from ten to twenty shillings a day to
breathe."

"I think I shall be able to survive," added Laybold.

"I hope so; but you ought to hear him talk about his bankers. Topsails
and topping-lifts! His bankers! Messrs. Pitchers Brothers & Co."

"No! Bowles Brothers & Co," interposed Laybold.

"It's all the same thing; there isn't much difference between bowls
and pitchers. One breaks as easy as th