“Amen,” responded Johannes.
“Do you mean to keep this promise throughout?” Wienersdorf asked.
“By the sacred Lady of Scherpenheuvel,” answered the Walloon.
“We can now welcome you into our brotherhood. Each of us must do his best to promote the success of our enterprise. Our motto must be ‘Every one for everybody.’ By-the-bye, [[32]]Johannes, how are we now situated in respect to provisions?”
Johannes explained that there were deposited with Baba Poetjieng five bags of rice, each weighing one hundred and twenty-five pounds.
“But we are surely not expected to live on rice?” asked Schlickeisen.
“Certainly not,” answered Johannes. “What am I providing dried fish for? The Chinaman supplies us with salt, pepper and curry. We shall also have a barrel of salt beef and pork. Don’t imagine, however, that you are going to fare as at your mother’s table. It is enough that we shall not know want. What troubles me most is the drinking water. Supposing each man to need three pints a day that will make for a month’s voyage eighty gallons or eight barrels of ten gallons each. These will take up considerable space and greatly diminish our comforts.”
“Do you mean to carry water for the whole journey?”
“Well, it would be the best plan, but I am afraid it is impracticable. I therefore propose to ship only two barrels.”
“That is decidedly too little,” said Schlickeisen; “that is only half a pint per day.”