and there is the food by the way."

After much bargaining the price was settled at fifteen rix dollars,
both parties being satisfied with the bargain; the men because it
was more than twice the sum for which they would have been glad to
do it, at ordinary times; Fergus because he had still forty rix
dollars in his pocket, and had only bargained as he did in order
not to appear too anxious on the subject. The price was to include
the erection, at one end of the boat, of a snug cover of rushes for
his use.

He found, on going down to the shore three hours later, that the
boatmen were engaged in covering in the whole of the craft, with
the exception of a few feet at each end, with a roof of rushes. The
boat itself was some thirty-five feet in length and ten wide, with
straight sides and a general resemblance to a canal barge, save
that the beam was greater in comparison to the length. The roof was
high, and sloped sharply. A tall man could walk along in the
centre, while at the sides there was but three feet of height.

Hay and straw were extremely scarce, the whole supply of the
country having been stripped by the foraging parties; but bundles
of reeds had been thickly littered down, especially near the stern.

Shortly after his return, the landlord of the inn told him that, if
he did not want to take the horse with him, he would himself gladly
buy it.

"I have frequently to send to Prague for things for the inn; and
besides, I have to get provisions for people in the town. I sold my
best horse last autumn, to an officer whose charger had been
killed. Now that sledging has begun, I want one which can travel
fast and do the journey there in a day; so if you don't want to
take it, and will accept a reasonable price, I will buy it."

The offer was a welcome one. With two splendid horses at his
command--for he knew that good care would have been taken of the
one left in camp--a third would only have been in the way; and
this, although a good and useful beast, was scarce good-looking
enough for an officer on the marshal's staff. Therefore, after the
usual amount of bargaining, he parted with it for a fair price.

The next morning early he went on board, the servant of the inn
following with a great hamper of wine and provisions. He was glad
to see that a bright fire burned on an earthen hearth in the middle
of the boat; the smoke finding its way out, partly through a hole
cut in the thatch above it, partly by the open