“I think I can go on a little longer,” said the Baron, who had attacked the second cheese.
“And I do not expect to leave off till midnight,” said the one-eyed mariner, helping himself to an additional slice. At last their meal came to a conclusion.
“Where are you bound for?” asked the Count of the skipper of the sloop.
“For Amsterdam,” answered the skipper.
“Then, Baron, don’t you think that it would be as well if we were to proceed on board this vessel, supposing the captain is willing to give us a passage?” said the Count.
“As to that, we might do worse,” answered the Baron. “We shall thus at all events accomplish our passage to Amsterdam by water as we intended, and the Zuyder Zee is not likely to prove as boisterous as the Northern Ocean.”
The skipper of the sloop having no objection to take the Count and the Baron, the arrangement was at once concluded.
“By-the-by, my friend,” said the Baron, “I hope you will manage to obtain some more nutritious and palatable provender than these red cheeses and hard biscuit for the voyage: they are all very well once in a way for supper, but I should not like to have nothing else to live on.”
The skipper promised to send to Yollendam, or if not to Edam, to obtain provisions for his passengers.
“And pray, Mynheers, what are you going to do with your boat,” asked the one-eyed mariner.