been making inquiries in all
directions, but not a person has been able to give me the wished-for
information."

While the Vrouw went off to prepare supper for the Count and Baron, they
seated themselves at a table in the neat little guest room to wait for
it. Directly afterwards in came one of the bakers' boys, demanding
payment for the pies and tarts, the puddings and flour, injured and
scattered by the Baron.

"Pay you for getting in my way and causing me to fall over your
abominable basket, to the great injury of my waistcoat and shirt-front,
breeches and coat; not to speak of the undignified position I was
compelled to assume amid the jeers and laughter of the surrounding
populace!" exclaimed the Baron, eyeing the small baker's boy.

"I am told by my master to demand payment, and payment he says he must
have," answered the small baker's boy.

"Our wisest course will be to pay the demand made on us, and I would
advise you in future not to tumble into a baker's basket if you can help
it," said the Count.

The Count, who was always open-handed, paid the demand made on the
Baron, to the infinite satisfaction of the small baker's boy. The
Baron's spirits revived after he had done justice to the supper prepared
by the kind-hearted Vrouw.

"In what direction shall we next bend our steps?" asked the Count.

"I have a fancy to visit the province of Guelderland, the region of
roses; and afterwards Friesland, celebrated throughout Holland for the
beauty of its fair dames and its ancient and interesting cities,"
answered the Baron.

"How shall we travel?" asked the Count.

"I have been giving the matter my earnest consideration," answered the
Baron, "and I have arrived at the conclusion that the easiest, the
pleasantest, if not the most expeditious, mode of travelling will be by
_Trek-Schuit_, or canal-boat, where we can sit at our ease or sleep and
eat while we are dragged smoothly on over the placid water."

"Certainly, the idea is an excellent one," said? the Count, who was
always ready to do what the Baron proposed.

Accordingly the next morning, as the _Trek-Schuit_ was passing the
village, they took their seats on board, and proceeded on their journey.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

The _Trek-Schuit_ is a long canal-boat, divided into two compartments,
forming a first and second class, and is drawn by a trotting horse along
the towing-path. It contains seats well cushioned for sleeping, a table
for meals, and