lf,
somebody would be sure to take them away from us."

"I suppose half a loaf _is_ better than no bread at all," complained
Merritt with vivid recollections of the fine mounts he and his chums had
sported on several occasions, notably when on the cattle ranch, and
following Mexican war trails.

"But _such_ a loaf!" sighed Tubby, as he ran his hand over the bony back
of the nearest quadruped, and wondered whether so weak looking a horse
could long survive under his rather heavy weight.

"They may turn out a heap better than they look," Rob told them.
"Sometimes it's the bony horses that can hold the pace in a grueling
journey. But, after all, it's a case of Hobson's choice with us; either
these nags, or walk."

"Whew! better close the bargain then, Merritt; that is, if you think you
can afford the price," Tubby hastened to say, for as may be easily
understood, he was not very much in love with protracted walks, not
having been built for a sprinter.

So Merritt bought four horses, and paid cash down for them, receiving a
regular bill of sale from the dealer, to show they were his property.
With them went old saddles and bridles, good enough for the purpose of
the three scouts, but not of a type calculated to incite anyone to steal
the same.

All that remained to be looked after now was that promised guide. If the
good burgomaster of Antwerp kept his promise, they expected to find a
native waiting at the hotel when they got back after their foray into
the limited horse market.

And sure enough they found a swarthy Belgian there who said he had been
engaged by the mayor to serve them. Merritt quickly made terms, for the
guide, besides being able to converse in French and Flemish, could
speak some English, and readily comprehended all that was said in that
tongue; especially when the subject of a money contract came under
consideration.

"There's nothing to detain us any longer, boys," remarked Merritt. "We
have made up a little pack apiece which we'd like to take along. We
travel light on this trip, you know; all but Tubby, and that's something
he always gets left on. The balance of our duffle the proprietor of the
hotel has promised to keep safely until we show up to claim it again."

"Small loss if we never see any of it again," Rob admitted. "At the same
time we hope to come back this way after we've run that person down, and
either recover the paper your grandfather wants, or learn that it's lost
for good."