, my
friends and I do."

The landlord was in a quandary. Ordinarily he would have sided with the
burgomaster of Masolga, but there were several considerations which made
him pause. In the first place, he did not like the burgomaster, for he
was very dictatorial and few things at the inn suited him and his party;
in the second place, the foreigners usually paid liberally for what they
got, generous "tips" were not withheld; and lastly, and this was equally
important, the landlord had once refused a man a room when he was by law
entitled to accommodations and he had been fined for the offense. He did
not want to be dragged into court again, for his license might possibly
be taken from him.

"He pays for the rooms, I am helpless," said the landlord, taking up the
thalers. "I will see to it that you are not molested by any one," he
added, gravely.

At this the burgomaster stormed and raved, calling Granbury Lapham a
number of hard names. The Englishman would not stand such insults, and
rushing up he caught the Norwegian official by the arm.

"Stop!" he cried. "Any more such words, and I will knock you down. My
friends and I did not come here to be insulted. We are gentlemen, and we
expect to be treated as such. Landlord, I look to you for protection
while under your roof."

"There must be no quarreling here," said the landlord. "The law does not
allow it." He paused for an instant. "I will show you gentlemen to your
rooms." He turned to the burgomaster of Masolga. "Your fire shall be
attended to immediately."

"I shall remember this!" cried the burgomaster, quivering with rage. "I
shall remember it! I shall never come here again!" And he stormed from
the room.

"He is a very passionate man," said the landlord, when he was alone with
our friends. "I do not care if he stays away. He is poor pay and he
wants too much for his money."

"We shall pay you well if you treat us fairly," answered Granbury
Lapham, and slipped an extra thaler into the inn-keeper's ready hand.

"Depend upon me to do my best, sir," was the quick answer, and then the
travelers were shown to two connecting rooms, plainly but comfortably
furnished. One had a broad fireplace, and in this a roaring fire was
soon blazing. That there might be no further trouble they were served
with supper in a private dining-room; so they saw practically nothing
more of the hot-headed and unreasonable burgomaster of Masolga.

"We have to thank you for getting thro