Schwager--Wir Kommen nicht weiter."

The driver of the stuhl wagen skulled along until we arrived at the
beautiful, at a mile off, but the beastly, when close to, village of
Blankanese.

When the voiture stopped in the village, there seemed to be a
nonplusation, to coin a word for the nonce, between my friend and his
sisters. They said something very sharply, and with a degree of
determination that startled me. He gave no answer. Presently the
Amazonian attack was renewed.

"We shall go onboard," said they. "Very well," said he; "but have
patience, have patience!"

"No, no. Wann wird man sich einschiffen mussen?"

By this time we were in the heart of the village, and surrounded with a
whole lot, forty at the least, of Blankanese boatinen. We were not long
in selecting one of the fleetest--looking of those very fleet boats, when
we all trundled on board; and I now witnessed what struck me as being an
awful sign of the times. The very coachman of the stuhl wagen, after
conversing a moment with his master, returned to his team, tied the legs
of the poor creatures as they stood, and then with a sharp knife cut their
jugular veins through and through on the right side, having previously
reined them up sharp to the left, so that, before starting, we could see
three of the team, which consisted of four superb bays, level with the
soil and dead; the near wheeler only holding out on his fore--legs.

We shoved off at eleven o'clock in the forenoon; and after having twice