irm ground, a nice easy
chaise on four wheels, steady horses, and an experienced coachman, and I
can enjoy travelling. But here we are at Nighterecht, a pleasant,
rural-looking place. It boasts of an inn, though not a large one, but
we can enjoy the primitive simplicity of the inhabitants."

On reaching the inn, having announced themselves, they were received by
the landlady with all the courtesy and respect due to persons of their
exalted rank.

"We must ask you, good Vrouw, to direct us to any objects worthy of
inspection in this neighbourhood, that we may visit them while you are
preparing dinner," said the Baron.

"Objects worthy of inspection," said the Vrouw; "there are the houses,
and the fields, and the canals, we have two--one passing close to the
village, the other a little way in the rear--and five windmills, all in
sight without the trouble of going in search of them. We expect that
there will be something too which will take place to interest your
lordships this afternoon. A stranger arrived this morning with a cart
containing a large cask, the contents of which he proposes to exhibit to
all those who will pay him a guilder each; the guilders are to remain
with him, the contents of the cask are to be divided among the
spectators. You will, of course, Mynheers, remain to witness the
spectacle, and to enjoy the benefits which may be derived from the
contents of the cask. Some say it is full of one thing, some of
another, but no one knows what. Notices have been sent round in all
directions, and we expect to have a numerous gathering, which will, at
all events, prove profitable to my establishment."

The Count and the Baron, not being hurried, agreed to remain. As soon
as dinner was over they observed a number of persons collecting under
the trees in front of the inn, which stood, as the landlady assured
them, on the top of a mountain, though the descent to the canal was
scarcely more than twenty feet, comparing it with the level region
around. In a short time a burly individual appeared, and, with the aid
of two or three others, placed a huge cask on a central spot under the
trees with the head facing down the hill. He then forthwith took his
seat astride on the top of it.

"Now, noble Mynheers and lovely Vrouws, you have come to see something
very wonderful; but before I exhibit the mystery I must request you to
hand me in the guilders, for unless I obtain a sufficient number the
cask remains