“We can now welcome you into our brotherhood. Each of us must do his best to promote the success of our enterprise. Our motto must be ‘Every one for everybody.’ By-the-bye, Johannes, how are we now situated in respect to provisions?” Johannes explained that there were deposited with Baba Poetjieng five bags of rice, each weighing one hundred and twenty-five pounds. “But we are surely not expected to live on rice?” asked Schlickeisen. “Certainly not,” answered Johannes. “What am I providing dried fish for? The Chinaman supplies us with salt, pepper and curry. We shall also have a barrel of salt beef and pork. Don’t imagine, however, that you are going to fare as at your mother’s table. It is enough that we shall not know want. What troubles me most is the drinking water. Supposing each man to need three pints a day that will make for a month’s voyage eighty gallons or eight barrels of ten gallons each. These will take up considerable space and greatly diminish our comforts.” “Do you mean to carry water for the whole journey?” “Well, it would be the best plan, but I am afraid it is impracticable. I therefore propose to ship only two barrels.” “That is decidedly too little,” said Schlickeisen; “that is only half a pint per day.” “Listen. As long as we remain in the Lesser Dayak we need not touch our water. Nor shall we require to do so while on the coast of Borneo. We shall have to take refuge during the day in one of the many creeks in order to avoid the cruisers. Now there is no country in the world that has so many rivers opening into the sea as you find in the south of Borneo. Any of those streams will enable us to replenish our supply of water. We shall have to be careful crossing to Biliton, for there we shall be at sea. It is a little better on the north coast of Banca, but where we shall find water in abundance is on the eastern coast of Sumatra. Such streams as the Reteh and the Indragiri will furnish enough to allay our thirst.” “You are a born geographer,” said Wienersdorf, “and I raise my hat in respect to your knowledge.” “What do you mean by raising your hat? I see only a shabby service cap.” “Well let us say we raise our caps; but really your explanation was so excellent that I should like you to complete it.” “Yes,” said Johannes, “I know you are as inquisitive as the monkey. But come, what is it you wish to know?” “How long will the voyage from Borneo to Sumatra occupy?” “If the south-east monsoon continues until we reach Banca we may reckon our speed at twenty miles a day; but that will be too much to expect, so we will say fifteen miles a day. Thus the voyage, barring accidents, will take seven days.”