Once more the Count and the Baron were in the country. As yet they had
made but little progress in their journey round the world, but they were
not disheartened.
"We shall do it in time," remarked the Count. "And it strikes me that
if we were to put on my seven-league boots we should go much faster."
"But, my dear Count, have you seen them lately?" asked the Baron. "A
dreadful idea has occurred to me. I am afraid that I left one of them
on board of the _Golden Hog_, and if she has gone to the bottom your
seven-league boot has gone also, and with only one it is very clear that
we shall not go ahead with the desirable rapidity."
"Then I suspect we must do without them," said the Count, who always
took matters easily. "We must depend upon our own legs and such means
of conveyance as present themselves. With the help of the railways,
steamboats, trackboats, and horse carriages, we may still manage to get
along. By-the-by, could we not manage to engage a balloon? We might
get over the country at greater speed than even with my seven-league
boots."
"We should not see much of it in that way, I suspect," observed the
Baron.
"Oh, yes! A fine bird's-eye view, such as an eagle enjoys," exclaimed
the Count.
"I decidedly object to aerial travelling," said the Baron. "It does not
suit my figure, and I always feel giddy if I look down from a height.
Sailing on the treacherous ocean is bad enough, and even railways are
not altogether satisfactory. Give me the firm 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 closed."
The people were flocking in from all parts, for at that time of the
evening they had nothing in particular to do. The Count and the Baron
drew near. The burly personage astride of the cask continued his
address, while two or three attendants who had come with him went round
to collect the coin.
"You will understand, brave Hollanders, that any one who is disposed to
give two guilders or three guilders is welcome to do so, and will, I
hope, reap a proportionate reward," he cried out at the top of his
voice.
The Count, who had become much interested, wondering what was coming out
of the cask, proposed putting in five guilders.
"As you like," observed the Baron, "but it is wise, as a rule, to know
what you are going to get for your money, and I suggest that we promise
the individual on the cask an ample reward should we be satisfied. It
would be as well not to pay more than anybody else."
"But then we can scarcely claim the privilege of standing in the front
rank," observed the Count. "Come, he shall have two guilders."
"As you like, it will save me the necessity of putting my hand in my
purse," said the Baron.
The attendants having collected all the money they were likely to get,
the individual on the cask, in a sonorous voice, announced his intention
of exhibiting its contents. For some time past there had been strange
noises proceeding from it, the cause of which no one could understand.
"Are you prepared to see what you shall see?" cried the stout
individual, riding astride on the cask. "Make ready, then. One, two,
three;" and by some contrivance or other, he suddenly caused the head of
the cask to fall out to the ground, when a chorus of mews and feline
shrieks and cries as if long pent up burst forth, followed by an
avalanche of cats with labels fixed to their tails; who, gazing for a
moment at the assemblage, dashed frantically forward, some in one
direction, some in another, blinded by the light suddenly let in on
their eyes: one made a rush at the Baron, and had almost seized his
chin, while her claws stuck into his shirt-front before he could knock
her off; another made a dash at the Count, who fled precipitately. Each
cat, perhaps with the impression that she was ascending a tree, sprang
first at one of the bystanders, and then at another; and then, if driven
aside, dashed frantically forward down the slope, upsetting half a dozen
of the spectators as they endeavoured to make their escape.
"I told you, Mynheers and lovely Vrouws, that I should astonish you,"
exclaimed the stout individual on the cask. "Each of you shall be
welcome to the cats you can catch." A few boys and girls, who seemed to
consider it great fun, made chase after the cats. The Count and the
Baron, and not a few other persons, being considerably irate at the hoax
that had been practised upon them, turned furiously towards the burly
individual, who still kept his seat on the cask.
"How dare you sit there laughing at us!" exclaimed one.
"You impudent fellow! you deserve to be ducked in the canal," cried
another.
"You will only receive your due if we kick you out of the village,"
cried a third.
"A very proper way to treat him," exclaimed a fourth.
"Then let us begin!" exclaimed a fifth.
The stout individual, finding the tide of public favour had decidedly
turned against him, leaped off his cask, and fought his way through the
angry crowd, who had, fortunately for him, been somewhat dispersed by
the cats. Some tried to catch him, others tried to trip him up; but he
was a stout fellow, and was not to be easily caught. Dodging in and out
among them, till seeing a narrow lane which no one at the moment was
guarding, he dashed down it, hoping to make his escape from the village;
but instead of leading him to the outside, as he had hoped, it conducted
him to the very centre. On he ran, followed by the whole crowd, the
Count and Baron joining in the hue and cry. The village resounded with
shouts of "Stop thief! stop thief!" but these only made the burly
individual run the faster. A few of the inhabitants had made a short
cut, hoping to meet him in front; but they only arrived in time to catch
him by the skirts of his coat, which gave way as he sprang by them;
several others made a grab at him, some at the collar, some on one side,
some on the other, till the coat was reduced to shreds, when slipping
his arms out of it he again sprang forward. The Count and the Baron,
who had been rushing on with the crowd, were by some means or other
separated. The Count having lost sight of the chase, thinking after all
that it was no business of his, returned to his inn. It would have been
well for the Baron if he had done the same; but as he was running on at
a more rapid rate than he was wont to move, he tripped and fell; the
rest of those engaged in the pursuit, in their eagerness scarcely
perceiving what had happened, passed him by, leaving him to regain his
legs as best he could. As soon as he had got up, he went on again at
less speed, and in a more cautious manner.
"I should like to see that fellow castigated," he said to himself.
"Never was served a more abominable trick. Where can he have gone? If
I don't make haste I shall not see what happens." He accordingly ran on
again; now he turned up one narrow lane, now down another, till he had
completely lost himself. "It cannot be a large place, however," he
thought, "and I shall easily find my way back to the inn. Ah! I think
I hear the shouts of the people."
He began to run on; presently he distinguished cries of, "There he is,
there he is! That must be he, just his size! Well catch him now!"
"I hope they will," thought the Baron, and on he went; but as he
happened to turn and glance over his shoulder, to his surprise, he saw
that the people were following him. "We shall have him now! we shall
have him now!" he heard the mob shouting. "That must be he! He is up
to all sorts of tricks. Take care he does not escape us. Stop thief!
stop thief!"
The Baron not liking the sounds, and fearing that there might be some
mistake, thought it best to keep ahead of the mob, and bolted down the
first opening he discovered. To his great satisfaction, at the further
end, he saw not only the inn, but the Count standing at the door of it.
The mob were close behind him, now excited more than ever by their
running, uttering all sorts of threats, and making unpleasant gestures
with their fists, sticks, and staves.
The Count looked astonished, scarcely comprehending what was happening.
Never had the Baron run so fast, puffing and blowing as he went, and
expecting every moment to drop from fatigue. Several persons were
collected about the door of the inn, who seemed to be amused at watching
him as he ran. At that moment two baker's boys, carrying between them a
large basketful of pies and cakes and loaves, and some paper bags of
flour, happened to be passing the inn door. The Baron, in his hurry not
seeing them, ran against the basket, when over he went with his legs in
the air, his arms and shoulders and the larger part of his body into the
very middle of the pies and cakes and bags of flour. The boys with
looks of alarm held on firmly to the handles, without making any attempt
to assist him, while he, overcome by his unusual exertions, was utterly
unable to help himself. The Count, for the moment, was too much
astonished to do anything, but stood with arms uplifted exclaiming, "My
dear Baron, what has happened? Do get out of that;" while other persons
who stood by only cruelly grinned at his misfortune. At length the
Count, recovering his presence of mind, descended the steps to the
assistance of the hapless Baron, who certainly was more frightened than
hurt, though covered from head to foot with flour and dough and the
contents of the meat pies and fruit tarts, producing an extraordinary
and ludicrous effect.
The mob, who had by this time come up, shouted, "We have him at last.
Now where shall we carry him to? What shall we do with him? He has
given us a pretty long chase, and deserves to be well ducked, or tarred
and feathered!"
"My dear people," exclaimed the Count, "you have made a mistake; this is
my friend, Baron Stilkin, who joined you in the chase of that roguish
fellow who let the cats out of the cask, and whom I am afraid you let go
as well as the cats."
The mob still insisted that the Baron was the man of whom they were in
chase, and it required all the Count's eloquence to persuade them to the
contrary; but his pitiable plight rather amused them than excited their
compassion. Some of them had even the cruelty to beg him to start
again, and give them another chase. At length the kind-hearted landlady
of the inn, coming out, begged him to enter, undertaking to wash his
waistcoat and shirt-front, and to put him to rights.
"Thanks, my good Vrouw, thanks; and if you will prepare some supper for
me, I shall be doubly grateful, for I am terribly hungry after my long
run," answered the Baron.
"First let me get off the paste and flour, jam and grease," said the
Vrouw, bringing a brush and a towel and water; and she rubbed and
scrubbed for some minutes with such good effect that the Baron's
garments were restored to their primitive lustre.
"And now my outward appearance has been polished up, pray look after the
interests of my inner man," said the Baron, placing his hands to his
heart. "I shall ever bear in mind the polite attention with which you
have treated me, though it will take some time to forget the want of
discernment your townsmen have exhibited in mistaking me for that
abominable cat-man. What could have induced him to play such a trick?"
The landlady admitted that she had met no one who could solve the
mystery.
"Nor have I," said the Count. "I have 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.