do for you?"

"Well, look here," put in Helmar, "we want a small single sail boat.
Not a new one--anything will do. We are going for a trip down the
river, but in case of accidents we want to buy it. Can you find us
one?"

"Ach, mein tear young frients, I have de very ting, but how much
vill you pay?"

"We are not particularly flush," said Mark, who was appointed chief
haggler. "Where's the boat, and how much do you want for it?"

"De poat is in de water, but I vill hab it prought to de
landing-stage for you to zee."

A boatman was sent out to bring in the boat in question, and after a
careful scrutiny the trio of adventurers decided it would do, and
determined to purchase it, if they could get it at a fair price.

The process of beating the Jew down was no easy task, but Mark
seemed quite equal to the wiles of the Israelite, and eventually the
bargain was struck, the purchase effected, and the money handed
over.

"It's all right enough," said Mark, as they waited whilst the old
Jew went to his office to write out the receipt; "the old man is a
hard nut to crack, but he's honest, and the boat that he has sold us
looks all he has represented it."

Old Jacob soon returned, and the boat was duly handed over.

For the next two or three hours the process of stocking the craft
with provisions was gone through, and it was late at night when
everything was in readiness for the start. The three companions
slept aboard, and at daylight the next morning cast off their
moorings and started on their career in the world.

When they said good-bye to Vienna, it was a bright spring morning,
and their feelings were in accord with the fresh appearance of the
world. No thoughts or anticipations of how their varying fortunes
might be marred troubled for one instant their youthful minds. Their
hearts were full of hope and the overweening vanity and
self-confidence of their years. The East, to them, was paved with
gold. Troubles looked like the necessary things to be combatted
fearlessly to reach the success that must await them beyond; life,
indeed, was one rosy, golden, glorious dream. The stern realities
were to come: when their fortitude would be tried, when all that was
manly, or otherwise, in them would be brought out, and they would
show of what manner of stuff they were made.

The first two or three weeks of the journey passed uneventfully, the
wind was in the right direction, and they glided smoothly along the
water