"What shall we do with ourselves, my dear Stilkin?" exclaimed Count
Funnibos, yawning and stretching out his legs and arms, which were of
the longest.
"Do! why, travel," answered Baron Stilkin, with a smile on his genial
countenance.
"Travel! what for?" asked the Count, yawning again.
"To see the world, to be sure," answered the Baron.
"The world! why, don't we see it by looking out of the window?" asked
the Count.
"That's what many people say, and fancy they know the world when they
have looked out of their own windows," observed the Baron.
"Ah, yes, perhaps you are right: you always are when I happen to be
wrong, and you differ from me--unless you are wrong also," replied the
Count. "But where shall we go?"
"Why, round the world if we want to see it;--or as far round as we can
get," said the Baron, correcting himself; "and then we shall not have
seen it all."
"When shall we start?" asked the Count, brightening up; "next year?"
"Next fiddlesticks! this afternoon, to be sure. Don't put off till
to-morrow what can be done to-day, still less till next year. What's to
hinder us? We have no ties."
"Yes, there are my neck-ties to come from the laundress," said the
Count, who was addicted to taking things literally; "and I must procure
some new shoe-ties."
"Never mind, I'll get them for you in good time," said the Baron. "You
have plenty of money, so you can pay for both of us, which will simplify
accounts."
"Yes, to be sure, I hate complicated accounts," remarked the Count, who
thought the Baron the essence of wisdom, and that this was an especially
bright idea. "And what luggage shall we require?"
"Let me see: you have two valises--one will do for you and the other for
me," said the Baron, putting his fore-finger on his brow in a thoughtful
manner. "All, yes; besides the ties you will require a shirt-collar or
two, a comb to unravel those hyacinthine locks of yours, a pair of
spectacles, and a toothpick. It might be as well also to take an
umbrella, in case we should be caught out in the rainy season."
"But shouldn't I take my slippers?" asked the Count.
"What a brilliant idea!" exclaimed the Baron. "And that reminds me that
you must of course take your seven-league boots."
"But I have only one pair, and if I put them on I shall be unable to
help running away from you, and we could no longer be called travelling
companions."
"Ah, yes, I foresaw that difficulty from the first," observed the Baron.
"But, my dear Funnibos, I never allow difficulties to stand in my way.
I've thought of a plan to overcome that one. You shall wear one boot
and I'll wear the other, then hand in hand we'll go along across the
country almost as fast as you would alone."
"Much faster--for I should to a certainty lose my way, or stick in a
quagmire," observed the Count.
"Then all our arrangements are made," said the Baron. "I'll see about
any other trifles we may require. Now let us pack up."
"You have forgotten my ties," observed the Count.
"Ah, yes, so I had," observed the Baron, and he hurried off to the
laundress for them. He soon returned, and the valises being filled and
strapped up, the Baron tucked one under each arm.
"Stop," said the Count, "I must give directions to my housekeeper about
the management of my castle and estates during my absence."
"Tell her to bolt the windows and lock all the doors of the castle, so
that no one can get in; and as for the estates, they won't run away,"
said the Baron.
"Thank you for the bright idea; I'll act upon it," answered the Count.
"Still, people do lose their estates in some way or other. How is
that?"
"Because they do not look properly after them," answered the Baron.
"But mine are secured to my heirs," said the Count.
"Then they cannot run away unless your heirs run also, therefore pray
set your mind at rest on that score; and now come along." The Baron as
he spoke took up the two portmanteaus, which were patent Lilliputians,
warranted to carry any amount of clothing their owners could put into
them, and they set off on their travels.
"In what direction shall we go?" asked the Count.
"That must depend upon circumstances," answered the Baron. "Wherever
the wind blows us."
"But suppose it should blow one day in one direction and another in the
opposite, how shall we ever get to the end of our voyage?" inquired the
Count, stopping, and looking his companion in the face.
"That puzzles me, but let us get on board first, and see how things turn
out," observed the Baron. "Ships do go round the world somehow or
other, and I suppose if they do not find a fair wind in one place they
find it another."
"But how are they to get to that other place?" asked the Count, who was
in an inquisitive mood.
"That's what we are going to find out," observed the Baron.
"But must we go by sea?" asked the Count. "Could not we keep on the
land, and then we shall be independent of the wind?"
"My dear Count, don't you know that we cannot possibly get round the
world unless we go by sea?" exclaimed the Baron. "I thought that you
had received a better education than to be ignorant of that fact."
"Ah, yes, to be sure, when I have condescended to look at a map, I have
observed that there are two great oceans, dividing the continent of
America from Europe on one side, and Asia on the other, but I had
forgotten it at the moment. However, is it absolutely necessary to go
all the way round the world? Could we not on this excursion just see a
part of it, and then, if we like our expedition, we can conclude it on
another occasion."
"But how are we to see the world unless we go round it?" exclaimed the
Baron, with some asperity in his tone. "That is what I thought we set
out to do."
"Ah, yes, my dear Baron, but, to tell you the truth, I do not feel quite
comfortable at the thoughts of going so far," said the Count, in a
hesitating tone. "Could not we just see one country first, then
another, and another, and so on? We shall know far more about them than
if we ran round the globe as fast as the lightning flashes, or bullet or
arrow flies, or a fish swims; or you may choose any other simile you
like to denote speed," observed the Count. "In that case we should only
see things on our right hand, and on our left, and I do not think we
should know much about the countries towards either of the Poles."
"Your remark exhibits a sagacity for which I always gave you credit,"
observed the Baron, making a bow to his friend. "But I tell you what,
if we stop talking here we shall never make any progress on our journey.
Let us go down to the quay and ascertain what vessels are about to
sail, and we can accordingly take a passage on board one of them."
"We could not well take a passage on board two," observed the Count.
"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the Baron; "very good, very good; but come along,
my dear fellow; stir your stumps, as the English vulgarly express it;
let us be moving; _Allons donc_, as a Frenchman would say." And arm in
arm the two travellers proceeded to the quay. On reaching it they
observed an individual of rotund proportions, with a big apron fastened
up to his chin, seated on the end of a wall smoking a long clay pipe,
and surrounded by chests, bales, casks, and packages of all
descriptions. He looked as if he was lord of all he surveyed: indeed
there was no other individual in sight except a person coming up some
steps from the river and bringing several buckets suspended from a stick
over his shoulders, but he was evidently a hewer of wood and a drawer of
water, and therefore of no account in the eyes of the burly gentleman.
"Friend," said the Baron, making a bow to the latter individual, "can
you inform me where we shall find a vessel about to sail round the
world, and when she is likely to proceed on her voyage?"
The latter individual took a sidelong glance at the Baron, and then at
the Count, and blew a puff of smoke, but made no answer.
"The poor man is perhaps deaf," suggested the Count. Whereon the Baron
in louder tones exclaimed, "Can you tell me, friend,"--the burly
individual blew another cloud of smoke--"where shall we find a vessel
about to sail round the world, and when she commences her voyage?"
continued the Baron.
The burly individual opened his eyes as wide as his fat cheeks would
allow him, then blew a fresh cloud of smoke, and with the end of his
pipe, evidently not wishing to fatigue himself by speaking, pointed
along the quay, where the masts of numerous vessels could be seen
crowded together.
"Thank you, friend," said the Count, making a bow, for he always piqued
himself on his politeness. The Baron felt angry at not having his
question answered more promptly, and only gave a formal nod, of which
the burly individual took not the slightest notice.
The two travellers continued on, picking their way among the casks,
cases, bales, packages and anchors, and guns stuck upright with their
muzzles in the ground, and bits of iron chain and spars, and broken
boats, and here and there a capstan or a windlass, tall cranes, and all
sorts of other articles such as encumber the wharves of a mercantile
seaport. As they went along the Baron asked the same question which he
had put to the burly individual of several other persons whom he and his
friend encountered; some laughed and did not take the trouble of
replying, others said that there were vessels of all sorts about to sail
to various lands, but whether they were going round the world was not
known to them.
"We must make inquiries for ourselves," said the Baron. "Remember that
those who want a thing go for it, those who don't want it stay at home;
now, as we do want to know where those ships are about to sail to, we
must go."
"But, my dear Baron, a dreadful thought has occurred to me. I quite
forgot to speak to Johanna Klack, my estimable and trustworthy
housekeeper, to give her directions as to her proceedings during my
absence. I really think I must go back, or she will not know what to
do."
"No, no, my dear Count, I cannot allow you to do so foolish an act. I
know Johanna Klack too well for that," said the Baron, with some
bitterness in his tone. "She'll not let you go away again; she'll talk
you to death with arguments against your going; she'll lock you up in
the blue room, or the brown room, or in the dungeon itself, and I shall
have to proceed alone. More than half the pleasure of the voyage will
be lost without your society; besides which, I have no money to pay for
my passage, for you will remember that you undertook to do that."
"Then, I will leave my portmanteau and my umbrella with you as a
security," said the Count, trying to get his arm free from that of his
friend.
"Ha, ha, ha! that will be no security at all," observed the Baron.
"Why, it would be the cause of my destruction. Just see how I should be
situated. Johanna Klack will shut you up, and you will disappear from
this sublunary world for a time, at all events. It is already known
that we set out on our travels. I shall be discovered with your
portmanteau as well as my own, and accused, notwithstanding my
protestations of innocence, of having done away with you, and before
Johanna Klack allows you to reappear I shall to a certainty be hung up
by the neck, or have my head chopped off, or be transported beyond seas.
Johanna Klack may be a very estimable and charming individual, but I
know her too well to trust her. Let her alone; she and your steward
being, as you say, thoroughly honest, will manage your affairs to your
satisfaction. When we are once away--two or three hundred miles off--
you can write and tell her that you are gone on your travels, and give
such directions as you may deem necessary. Come along, my dear fellow,
come along; I fear even now that she may have discovered our departure
and may consider it her duty to follow us."
"If she does, she had better look out for the consequences," said the
Baron to himself.
The Count yielded to his friend's arguments, and they continued their
course. As they reached the more frequented parts of the quay, where
the larger number of vessels were collected, they observed a party of
jovial sailors assembled in front of a wine-shop door; some were seated
at their ease on benches, either smoking or holding forth to their
companions, who were standing by listening. They looked perfectly happy
and contented with themselves. One lolling back with his legs stretched
out, who was evidently the orator of the party, and thought no small
beer of himself, was spinning an interesting yarn or making some amusing
jokes.
"Those are the sort of mariners I should like to sail with," observed
the Baron. "They are stout fellows, and probably first-rate seamen.
Let us draw near and hear what they are talking about."
The sailors took no notice of the Count and Baron as they approached.
"I tell you I've been to the North Sea and to the South Seas, to the Red
Sea and the Black Sea, and the Yellow Sea too, and crossed the Atlantic,
Pacific, and Indian Oceans scores of times; and I've sailed to the North
Pole and South Pole, and all the world round, and I have seen stranger
sights than have most men, from the day they were born to the day they
died. The strangest spectacle I ever beheld was once in the Indian
Ocean. We were sailing along with a fair breeze and studding sails set
below and aloft, when we saw coming towards us five water-spouts, just
like so many twisted columns: dark clouds seemed to come from the sky,
and piles of water rose out of the ocean. It was a bad look-out for us,
for we expected to have them aboard our ship, when they would have sent
her to the bottom in no time. But our skipper was not a man to be
daunted by difficulties. As soon as he saw them coming he ordered the
guns to be loaded and run out. As the first came near he fired, and
down fell the waterspout with a rushing sound into the ocean. `It is
your turn next,' he sang out, pointing a gun at another, which he
treated in the same fashion; but three came on together, when he blazed
away at them and all were knocked to pieces in a moment; and the ocean
was as calm as it had been before we saw them. You may well say that
was curious. I have heard of water-spouts doing much damage, but I
never saw a ship swamped by one."
The Count and Baron were much interested, and got still nearer, that
they might not lose a word.
"I told you, mates, that I had been to the North Pole and South Pole,
and I've seen wonderful sights there also. What do you think of an
iceberg a mile long, two or three hundred feet high? I have been among
such, and surrounded by them too, in a way which seemed as if it was
impossible we should ever get free again. When the sun is shining
they're beautiful to look at: some with great caverns below, with
icicles hanging down from the roof, and the top of the berg covered with
what one might fancy to be towers, steeples, and ruined castles and
arches, all glittering and shining just as if they were made of
alabaster and precious stones; and the sea a deep purple, or sometimes
blue, with streaks of yellow and red. You'd think it was cold enough
there, but the summer up in the North is one long day, with the sun in
the sky all the time; and I have known it pretty hot there--hot enough
to set the icebergs melting, and the water rushing down their sides in
fountains. Now and then, when the under part is worn away, they get
top-heavy, and over they go, just like a porpoise making a somersault.
It does not do to be near them on those occasions, for they'd send the
stoutest ship to the bottom in a moment; and even at a distance I have
known bits of ice come down on the deck big enough to crack a
blackamoor's head, though we were many fathoms off it.
"As I said, the summer is short, and that is the only time ships can
sail about, and make their way among the ice. Then comes the winter,
and terribly long that is; it lasts well-nigh ten months, and for all
that time the ship is shut up just as fast as if she was in a dock with
the entrance closed by stone. There she lies, housed over, with
topgallant-masts struck, and if it was not for the stoves below, which
must be kept alight at all hours of the day and night, people would be
frozen to death: I have heard, indeed, of a whole ship's company being
turned into ice. For many days during the time the sun is below the
horizon, and there is one long night; the stars, however, when the sky
is clear, shine brightly, and sometimes the Northern lights blaze up and
sparkle, and people can see their way over the ice, but it is not
pleasant travelling, and one has to wear wonderfully thick clothing, and
mits on the hands, and to cover up all but the eyes, nose, and mouth, or
a man would get frost--bitten very quickly. Then bears come prowling
about, and they are awkward customers to meet alone, for they have
powerful jaws and sharp claws, and one hug is enough to squeeze the
breath out of a person. They have carried off many a poor fellow who
has wandered away from his ship. Besides the bears there are Arctic
foxes, with white fur, and though they do not attack a fellow on his
feet with a thick stick in his hand, yet I do not know how they would
treat him if they found him lying down unable to defend himself.
"Sometimes ships, before they can get into harbour, are caught in the
ice, and have to pass the winter out in the sea, if they have time to
cut a dock before the ice presses on them. They may thus be tolerably
secure, but I have known ships to be crushed to atoms before they have
had time to do that, and their crews have had to get on board other
ships, or make for the land, and spend the winter there in snow huts; or
they have perished. Still, many people have passed two and three
winters together in the Arctic regions, and have kept their health and
been happy, when they have had sufficient firing and good food. On one
of those occasions I learned to read and write, which I did not know how
to do before, and much use it has been to me ever since.
"Then we had amusements of all sorts. We rigged a theatre on board, and
acted plays and recited, and had a masquerade, and funny sort of dresses
we appeared in. But we had work to do also; we had to build a wall of
snow round the ship, so that in cold weather we were protected from the
wind when we took our exercise, running round and round inside it. The
worst part of the business was the long night and the bitter cold, for
it was cold, I can tell you; and glad enough we were when we saw the sun
rising just above the hillocks of ice far away to the southward, and
though for some time it was for a very short period above the horizon,
yet day after day at noon it appeared higher and higher, and its rays
shed some warmth down upon us.
"Still the winter was not over, and our captain arranged to make some
journeys to explore the country. In that part of the world dogs are
often used to draw sleighs, but as we had no dogs we were compelled to
drag them ourselves, about five men to each sleigh, which is a sort of
long carriage without wheels, with iron runners like two skates placed
under it, and the goods lashed along on the top. We carried our
provisions, tents, and cooking utensils. When the ice was smooth it was
pretty easy travelling, but we often had to drag the sleighs up steep
places, over hillocks, and rough ground, and then it was heavy work, and
we could only make good a few miles a day.
"A man need be pretty strong and hardy to go through that sort of work.
At night we slept inside our tents, as close together as we could pack,
the only warmth we could obtain being from the spirit lamps we carried,
which served also to warm up our cocoa and cook our food. I was not
sorry when the journey was over, though we were merry enough during it.
At length we got out of harbour, but we had still not a few dangers to
encounter. Sometimes we were nearly driven on shore by the floes of ice
pressing on us; at others we ran a great risk of being nipped by getting
between two floes which approached each other; then there was the chance
of the icebergs falling down on us. We several times had to cut our way
with saws through the ice to get into open water. We were heartily glad
when we were free altogether, and sailing along with a fair wind over
the ocean to the southward, leaving the world of ice astern. However, I
should be ready to go again, and so would most fellows who were with me,
I have a notion."
"That's more than I should, after what I have heard," observed the Count
to the Baron. "I object excessively to take a trip to the North Pole,
wherever else we may go. I have no fancy, either, to be sent to the
bottom by a waterspout."
"Wherever we go we may expect to meet with some danger or other," said
the Baron. "It adds zest to the pleasure of travelling."
"I would rather avoid the zest," said the Count. "But shall we ask
these brave fellows what ship they belong to. Perhaps she's not going
to the North Pole or the Indian Seas on this occasion, and they
evidently form a sturdy crew. Will you speak to them or shall I?"
"I'll address them," said the Baron, and stepping up to the seamen, he
said--
"Brave sailors, I have heard the account your shipmate has been giving
you of his adventures, and as we are desirous of sailing round the
world, we should be glad to take a passage on board the ship to which
you belong."
"Unless you were to chop yourselves up into a good many portions you'd
find that a hard matter, master," answered one of the seamen. "We all
happen, do ye see, to belong to different ships, and some don't belong
to any ship at all, and when we do sail, the chances are we go to as
many parts of the world."
"Then, most gallant sailors, will you have the kindness to inform us
what ship is likely next to sail from this port, and whither is she
bound?" said the Baron.
"As to that, I heard old Jan Dunck, skipper of the galiot _Golden Hog_,
saying that he was about to sail for Amsterdam with the next tide. It
wants but an hour or so to that time, and if you look sharp about it you
may get on board and make your arrangements with him before he trips his
anchor," answered the sailor.
"Thanks, brave sailors, for the information you have afforded us," said
the Baron. "You will confer a further favour if you will show us where
the said galiot _Golden Hog_ lies at anchor. Among this vast fleet of
shipping we should otherwise have considerable difficulty in discovering
her, and my friend Count Funnibos will, I am sure, reward you
handsomely."
"Reward is neither here nor there, but I don't mind showing you old
Dunck's craft, if you will come along with me."
Thus saying, the sailor, getting up, put his hands in his pockets, and
led the way along the quay. On one side it was bordered by high houses,
with curious gables; the floors projecting one beyond the other, and
little terraces and balconies and excrescences of all sorts, carved and
painted in gay colours, and cranes and beams, with blocks and ropes
hanging from their ends. On the other side appeared a forest of masts,
yards, and rigging, rising out of vessels of all shapes and sizes, in
apparently such inextricable confusion that it seemed impossible they
should ever get free of each other, and float independently on the
ocean. On the opposite side was an old castle with four towers, looking
very glum and gloomy; and more vessels and boats below it, leaving the
centre of the river tolerably clear for other craft to pass up and down.
The sailor rolled along with an independent air, not looking to see
whether those he had offered to guide were following him; now and then,
when passing an old shipmate it might be, or other nautical
acquaintance, he gave a nod of recognition without taking his hands from
his pockets or his pipe from his mouth.
"Who have you got in tow there?" asked one or two.
"Don't know: they want to see the skipper, Jan Dunck, and I'm piloting
them to where his galiot lies."
"They look remarkably green, but they'll be done considerably brown
before old Dunck lands them," he said in an under tone, so that the
Count and Baron did not hear him. As they were going along the sailor
stopped suddenly, and pointed to a black-whiskered man, wearing a
tarpaulin hat on his head, with high boots, and a flushing coat.
"There's the skipper, Jan Dunck, and there's his craft just off the
shore. I'll tell him what you want, and wish you a good voyage," said
the seaman, who then went up to the skipper.
"If they pay for their passage, and do not complain of the roughness of
the sea, or blame me for it, I'll take them," said the skipper, eyeing
the Count and the Baron as he spoke.
The arrangement was soon concluded.
"But you promised that I should reward the sailor," observed the Count
to his friend.
"I will return him our profuse thanks. Such will be the most simple and
economical way of paying the debt," answered the Baron; and turning to
the seaman, he said, politely lifting his hat, "Most brave and gallant
mariner, Count Funnibos and Baron Stilkin desire to return you their
most profuse thanks for the service you have rendered them, in
conducting them this far on their journey, and making known to them
this, I doubt not, worthy, stout, and sturdy captain, with whom they are
about to commence their voyages over the treacherous ocean."
"That's neither here nor there; I was happy to do you a service and
you're welcome to it, only in future don't make promises which you
cannot pay in better coin than that you have treated me with; and so
good day, Count Fuddlepate and Baron Stickum, or whatever you call
yourselves," answered the sailor; who, sticking his pipe in his mouth,
which he had taken out to make this long speech, and putting his hands
in his pocket, rolled back to where he had left his companions, to whom
he failed not to recount the liberal treatment he had received in the
way of compliment from the two exalted individuals he had introduced to
Captain Jan Dunck.