"He says it is not Jacob's fault that the money is lost—that he did it for the best, when he proposed that Van Holp should put all of our money into his purse."
"Is that all?" said Ludwig dismally; "he need not have made such a fuss in just saying that. How much money have we lost?"
"Don't you remember?" said Peter. "We each put in exactly ten guilders. The purse had sixty guilders in it. I am the stupidest fellow in the world; little Schimmelpenninck would have made you a better captain. I could pommel myself for bringing such a disappointment upon you."
"Do it then," growled Carl. "Pooh," he added, "we all know it was an accident, but that doesn't help matters. We must have money, Van Holp—even if you have to sell your wonderful watch."
"Sell my mother's birthday present! Never! I will sell my coat, my hat, anything but my watch."
"Come, come," said Jacob pleasantly, "we are making too much of this affair. We can go home and start again in a day or two."
"You may be able to get another ten-guilder piece," said Carl, "but the rest of us will not find it so easy. If we go home, we stay home, you may depend."
Our captain, whose good-nature had not yet forsaken him for a moment, grew indignant.
"Do you think I will let you suffer for my carelessness," he exclaimed. "I have three times sixty guilders in my strong box at home!"
"Oh, I beg your pardon," said Carl, hastily, adding in a surlier tone, "well, I see no better way than to go back hungry."