“Certainly.” Greusel pulled forth his wallet, poured out the gold, and Roland took charge of it.
“And you, Ebearhard? How are you off for funds?”
“I possess twenty-five thalers.”
“May I borrow from you as well?”
“Oh, yes.”
“I was thinking,” continued the young man, as he put away the gold, “that this committee idea of the men has merits of its own; therefore I have formed myself into a committee, appointed, not elected, and will make the disbursements. How much money does our company possess?”
“Not a stiver, so far as I can learn.”
“Ah, in that case there is little use in my attempting a collection. Now, as I was saying, Greusel, if anything happens to me, you carry on the enterprise along the lines I have laid down. The first thing, of course, is to reach Assmannshausen.”
“Nothing can happen to you before we arrive there,” hazarded Greusel.
“I’m not so sure. The sun is very powerful to-day, and should it beat me down, let me lie where I fall, and allow nothing to interrupt the march. Once at Assmannshausen, you two must keep a sharp lookout up the river. When you see the barge, gather your men and lead them up to it. It is to await us about half a league above Assmannshausen.”