CHAPTER XIX.
THE CRUISE IN THE LITTLE STEAMER.
"What's the use, Stockwell?" said Sanford, as the absentees seatedthemselves on the train for Malmoe, under the charge of the headsteward. "Blaine got his despatch from the principal last night, buthe didn't say a word to us till this morning. He's playing a sharpgame."
"That's so," replied Stockwell. "He don't mean to trust us out ofsight again."
"Don't say a word to any fellow," whispered the coxswain. "You and Iwill fight it out on our own hook."
"I understand. It is plain enough that Blaine regards us as runaways,and I suppose the principal will do the same."
"Very likely; and when we get to Russia, all we shall have to do willbe to count our fingers in the steerage, while the rest of the fellowsare seeing the Russians," continued Sanford, who now appeared toregard "the independent excursion without running away" as a failure."We shall not even see anything more of Stockholm. I don't like theidea."
"Well, what are you going to do about it?" asked Stockwell.
"At the first chance we will leave this train, and make our way backto Stockholm," whispered Sanford. "There is a steamer to St.Petersburg twice a week, and we have money enough to carry usthrough."
"Right; I am with you."
"We will take Ole, if you like, to do the talking for us."
"I don't object."
The train stopped at Katherineholm about half past nine. The boys hadtaken nothing but the Swedish early breakfast of coffee and a biscuit,and the head steward allowed them to have a more substantial meal,each paying for himself. They entered the restaurant, where, on alarge table in the centre of the room, were great dishes of broiledsalmon and veal cutlets, with high piles of plates near them. Eachpassenger helped himself at these dishes, and then seated himself atone of the little tables. When he had finished his salmon, he helpedhimself to veal cutlets; beer and coffee were served by the waiters.Sanford and Stockwell hurried through the meal, and went to thecounter where the woman received payment. She asked them some questionand they were obliged to call Ole, to know what she said. She asked ifthey had had beer or coffee, which was extra, the meal being one and ahalf rix dalers. She gave them a tin check; for at this place theyseemed to be sharper than the Swedes usually are, and the check was toenable them to get out of the restaurant. A man at the door receivedit, and no one was allowed to pass without it; and thus none couldleave without paying for the meal.
"Finished your breakfast, Ole?" said Sanford, carelessly.
"Yes; and that salmon was very good."
"First rate. Come with us, Ole," added the coxswain, as he led the wayout of the restaurant.
The trio entered the station, and as no one followed them, they leftby the front door. Dodging behind the buildings, they soon cleared thestation. Taking the public road, they walked for half an hour at arapid pace, and then halted to consider the situation. The train hadgone, for they had heard its departure; but whether Mr. Blaine hadgone or not was an open question.
"What next?" said Sanford, as he seated himself at the side of theroad.
"Take the train back to Stockholm," replied Stockwell.
"Perhaps Blaine did not go on, after he missed us."
"Of course he did. But whether he did or not, the train has gone, andhe cannot take us to Copenhagen. If we find him at the station, why,we took a little walk, and lost the train, you know."
"That's played out," replied Sanford. "We have missed the train toomany times, already. What time does the next one return to Stockholm?"
"I don't know. Let's go back to the station."
This course was adopted, and on their arrival they learned that theycould return to Stockholm at half past two in the afternoon. The manin charge said that the gentleman with the young men had been lookingfor them. Sanford replied, through Ole, that they had lost the train,but would return to Stockholm, and start again the next morning.After dining in the restaurant, the runaways--as they certainly werenow, if not before--departed, and arrived at their destination inabout three hours. They immediately went to the office on the quay,and learned that a steamer would leave for St. Petersburg at twoo'clock on Friday morning.
"Can we engage places now?" asked Sanford,--for the clerk in chargespoke English.
"Certainly."
"We will take three places in one room," added the coxswain.
"Have you passports?" asked the clerk.
"No, sir."
"We cannot sell you tickets then."
"Not without passports?" exclaimed Sanford, appalled at this newdifficulty.
"No; and passports must be _vise_ by the Russian consul before we canissue a ticket."
"We are down then," added the coxswain. "My passport is on board ofthe ship."
"So is mine," added Stockwell.
"And I never had any," said Ole.
The party left the steamer's office, and were unable to devise anymeans of overcoming the obstacle. They went to the Hotel Rydbergagain, and consulted the porter, who had been very kind to thembefore. This functionary is entirely different in European hotelsfrom those of the same name in the United States. He stands at theentrance, usually dressed in uniform, to answer all inquiries ofguests, and to do all that is required of the clerks in Americanhotels. He assured the anxious inquirers that, even if they got intoRussia, their passports would be immediately demanded, and that no onecould remain in any city there over night without one. The Americanminister in Stockholm would give them the required documents.
"But Ole, here, is a Norwegian," suggested Sanford.
"No matter. Have him put into your passport as your courier orservant."
"All right; we will see him to-morrow," replied the coxswain; and theproblem seemed to be solved.
The next day they went to the American legation, but the minister hadgone to Upsala for a week, and the secretary declined to issue thepassports, because the boys could not prove that they were citizens ofthe United States. Vexed and discouraged, they wandered about the citytill Friday noon, when an English steamer came into port. They stoodon the quay, watching the movements of the passengers as they landed.They had almost concluded to take a steamer to Stettin, Luebeck, orsome other port in Germany; but Russia was a strange land, and theywere not willing to abandon the idea of seeing its sights.
"I wonder whether this steamer goes any farther," said Stockwell.
"I don't know," added Sanford.
"Perhaps she goes to St. Petersburg. It may be her officers are not soparticular about the confounded passports."
"But you can't stay in Russia over night without one, even if you getthere."
"The American minister will fit us out with them. I expect to find aletter of credit in St. Petersburg, and that will prove that I am anAmerican."
"Let us go on board of the steamer and ascertain where she is going,"continued Sanford, as he led the way across the plank, which had beenextended from the deck to the stone pier.
The boys went upon the hurricane deck, where they had seen an officerwho looked as though he might be the captain.
"Do you go to St. Petersburg, captain?" asked the coxswain.
"No; we return to London, touching only at Copenhagen," replied theofficer.
"That's too bad!" exclaimed Stockwell.
"So it is," said a tall man, who had followed the runaways up thesteps from the lower deck. "But you are not going to St. Petersburgwithout the rest of us--are you?"
Sanford was startled, and turning sharp around, saw Peaks, who hadcome out of the cabin as the boys stepped on board. He had followedthem to the hurricane deck, and suspecting that something was wrong,he had waited till the coxswain's question betrayed their intention.
"No, we are not going to St. Petersburg; we are waiting for the ship,"replied Sanford, recovering his self-possession in an instant.
"O, you are? All right, then. But the last I heard of you was, thatyou were all on your way to Copenhagen to join the ship," added theboatswain.
"So we were, Mr. Peaks; but after we had taken breakfast at a stationon the railroad, we went to have a little walk, and see something ofthe country. We thought we had time enough, but the train--confoundit!--went off without us. We were terribly provoked, but we couldn'thelp ourselves, you know; so we made our way back to this city."
"I think you must have been very badly provoked," said Peaks.
"O, we were,--honor bright."
"But you thought you would go over to St. Petersburg before the shiparrived?"
"Certainly not; we had no idea of going to St. Petersburg."
"And that's the reason you asked whether this steamer was goingthere,--because you hadn't any idea of going."
"We know very well that we can't go to St. Petersburg without ourpassports, which are on board of the ship," protested Sanford.
"Yes, I understand; but who is this?" asked Peaks, as he glanced atOle.
"That's Ole Amundsen; don't you remember him?"
"I think I do. And he is on a lark with you."
"We are not on a lark. We have been trying with all our might to findthe ship, for the last fortnight; and we are bound to do so, or die inthe attempt," said Stockwell.
"And Ole has been with you all the time?"
"Yes, sir; we couldn't have done anything without him."
"And would have been on board the ship long ago, if you hadn't hadhim to speak the lingo for you."
"When we tell you our story, you will see that we have done our bestto find the ship."
"I don't know that I care to hear any more of your story; it's toomuch story for me, and you can tell it to Mr. Lowington, who will behere by to-morrow, I think. Very likely you can take me to a goodhotel."
"Yes, sir; we are staying at the Hotel Rydberg, which is the best inStockholm."
"Heave ahead, then."
The runaways led the way.
"Do you talk the Swedish lingo, Ole?" asked the boatswain.
"Yes, sir."
"Where did you stow yourself, when we went into Christiansand?"
"In the second cutter, sir," replied the waif, laughing.
"Exactly so; you were to go with her crew when they left."
"No, sir; I didn't know a single one of them."
"What did you hide for, then?"
"Because I didn't want the pilot to see me."
"Why not?" asked the boatswain.
But this was as far as Ole would go in that direction. Neither man norboy could extort from him the secret he so persistently retained. Ashort walk brought the party to the Hotel Rydberg.
"This gentleman wants a room," said Sanford to the porter.
"No. 29," said the man, calling a servant. "Did you get yourpassports, young men?"
Sanford drew back, and made energetic signs to the porter to keepstill; but the official failed to understand him.
"No; they haven't got them yet," replied Peaks. "The fact is, all thepassports are on board the ship."
"But the young gentlemen were very anxious to obtain new ones, so thatthey could go to St. Petersburg. They intended to leave by thismorning's steamer, but no tickets can be had without passports."
Both Sanford and Stockwell shook their heads to the stupid porter, whowas remarkably intelligent on all other points; but somehow he did notsee them, or could not comprehend them.
"It's too bad about those passports--isn't it, my lads?" laughedPeaks, turning to the runaways. "Here's more proof that you hadn't theleast idea of going to St. Petersburg."
"I was very sorry for the young gentlemen, and did the best I couldfor them," added the gentlemanly porter.
"No doubt you did; and I'm very much obliged to you for the troubleyou took," replied the good-natured boatswain.
"No. 29, sir?" interposed the servant, with the key in his hand.
"Ay, ay, my hearty. But, young gentlemen, I want to save you from anymore terrible disappointments and awful vexations in finding the ship.I'm going up to my bunk, and if I don't find you here when I comedown, I shall call on the American consul, and ask him to put thepolice on your track. You shall find the ship this time, or perish inthe attempt, sure."
"Here's a go!" exclaimed Stockwell, as the servant conducted theboatswain up the stairs to his chamber.
"What did you say anything to him about the passports for?" snappedSanford to the porter.
The official in uniform by this time understood the matter, andapologized, promising to make it all right with the tall gentleman,and to swear that not a word had been said to him or any one elseabout passports. It was his business to please everybody, and hisperquisites depended upon his skill in doing so.
"What did Peaks mean about police?" said Sanford, as the trio seatedthemselves near the front door of the hotel.
"He means what he says; confound him, he always does!" repliedStockwell. "He intends to treat us as runaway seamen, and have usarrested if we attempt to leave."
"We are trapped," muttered Sanford. "What's Peaks doing up here?"
"I don't know, unless he is looking for us."
"It makes no difference now. We are caught, and we may as well makethe best of it."
"It's all up with us," added the coxswain. "Peaks knows what he isabout, and there isn't much chance of getting the weather-gage ofhim."
The boatswain came down in a short time. He was cool and good-natured,and knew exactly how to deal with the parties in hand.
"Now, young gentlemen, if you are going to Russia, don't let medetain you. If you wish to go any where else, I shall not meddlemyself. I shall let the American consul attend to the matter. I havebusiness here, and I can't keep an eye on you. But if you want to befair and square, and not break your hearts because you can't find theship, just be in sight when I want to know where you are."
"We shall be right on your heels all the time, Mr. Peaks. If you don'tobject, we will go with you. We know the way round Stockholm, and willhelp you all we can," said Stockwell.
"That's sensible."
"We will show you out to the Djurgarden," added Sanford.
"Never mind the shows. I want Ole to talk for me, and I don't objectto your company," replied the boatswain.
"I beg your pardon, sir," said the porter, presenting himself to Peaksat this moment. "I made a bad mistake. It was not these younggentlemen who wanted the passports. It was another party."
"Exactly. I understand," replied the boatswain, turning to the boyswith a significant smile on his bronzed face.
"They were waiting for you, and were very anxious to join their ship."
"It was very kind of them to wait for me, when they hadn't the leastidea I was coming. All right, my hearty; you needn't trouble yourselfto smooth it over. How much did you pay him for those lies, Sanford?"
"Not a cent, sir!"
"Never mind; don't bother your heads any more about it. I understandthe matter now as well as I shall after you have explained it for aweek," answered Peaks, as he left the hotel, followed by thediscomfited trio.
The boatswain did not deem it expedient to explain to them hisbusiness in Stockholm. He found people enough who spoke English, sothat he was able to dispense with the services of Ole as interpreter.He ascertained that no such vessel as the Rensdyr had yet arrived, andsatisfied with this information, he went out to the Djurgarden withhis charge, dined at Hasselbacken, and made himself quite comfortable.
After breakfast the next morning, with Ole's assistance, he charteredone of the little steamers, which was about the size of the ship'ssecond cutter, and, taking the trio with him, sailed out towards theBaltic.
"Where are you going, Mr. Peaks?" asked Sanford, deeply mystified bythe movements of the boatswain.
"I'm going to make a trip down to the Baltic, to see what I can see,"replied Peaks.
"Are you going for the fun of it?"
"Well, that depends upon how you view it. I suppose you are going forthe fun of it, whether I am or not."
"But we would like to know what is up," added Sanford.
&n
bsp; "Young gentlemen should not be inquisitive," laughed the old salt.
"Because, if you are going out to meet the ship, in order to put us onboard--"
"I'm not going for any such purpose," interposed the boatswain. "Ishouldn't take all that trouble on your account."
"But where are you going?"
"That's my affair, my lad."
"We don't mean to give you any trouble on our account," said Sanford,who could not readily dispossess himself of the belief that theexpedition was to put his party on board of the ship when she hove insight.
"Of course you don't, my tender lambs. You have been so anxious tofind the ship, and get on board, it would be cruel to suspect you ofany mischief," laughed Peaks.
"But, honor bright, Mr. Peaks, whatever we intended, we are ready nowto do just what you say, and return to the ship as soon as we can."
"You are all nice boys. You have had a good time, and I think youought to be satisfied."
"We are satisfied; but I suppose we shall have no liberty again, afterwe go on board."
"Perhaps you will; the principal isn't hard with the boys when theycome right square up to the mark; but you can't humbug him."
"But, honestly, Mr. Peaks, we tried to find the ship, and--"
"There, there, lads," interposed the boatswain, "I don't believe youwill have any liberty."
"Why not?"
"Because you want to humbug the principal; and me, too--but that's noaccount. If you want to make the best of it, toe the mark. Don't haveany lies in your heart or on your tongue. Tell the whole truth, andyou will make more by it; but tell the truth whether you make anythingor not."
"You won't believe anything we say," protested Sanford.
"Of course I won't, when you are lying. I call things by their rightnames."
"We didn't stave the boat at Christiansand."
"Yes, you did," replied Peaks, plumply.
"If you think so, it's no use talking."
"Certainly not; don't talk, then."
Sanford was not prepared for so grave a charge as that of causing theaccident to the second cutter; and if the principal was of the samemind as the boatswain, the case would go hard with the runaways. Thecoxswain and Stockwell went into the bow of the little steamer todiscuss their situation, which they did very earnestly for a couple ofhours.
"There's the ship!" exclaimed Sanford, as he identified the YoungAmerica, half a mile distant, leading the squadron into the harbor ofStockholm.
"So it is; now we are in for it. Peaks has come out here with us tomake sure that we don't get away from him," added Stockwell.
"If I had known as much last night as I know now, I would have clearedout, in spite of consul and police. If we are to be charged withsmashing the second cutter, we shall not go on shore again thissummer."
"That's so. But this boat is not headed for the ship. Peaks don't seeher."
"Yes, he does; there isn't a craft of any sort within five miles of usthat he don't see."
"There's the ship, Mr. Peaks," shouted Stockwell.
"I see her."
But the boatswain continued on his course, paying no attention to theship. The squadron disappeared among the islands, and the steamer wentout into the Baltic, keeping well in towards the shore. When any smallschooner appeared, he ran up and examined her very carefully,overhauling three in this manner in the course of the forenoon. Atnoon the boatswain piped all hands to dinner, for he had procured asupply of provisions at the hotel. Though he had chartered the steamerwith Ole acting as an interpreter, he gave no hint of his plans orpurposes. He made signs to the helmsman where to go, and occasionallygave directions through Ole.
The fourth small schooner that he examined proved to be the Rensdyr,and Peaks identified her by seeing Clyde Blacklock, who stood on theforecastle, looking out for the approaches to Stockholm. Possibly hehad seen the Young America, which passed the schooner, though a miledistant.
"Lay her alongside that small vessel," said Peaks to Ole.
"That one!" exclaimed Ole, whose brown face seemed to grow pale, as helooked at the Rensdyr.
"That's what I say, my lad."
The waif actually trembled; but he spoke to the helmsman, whoimmediately put the boat about, and headed her towards Stockholm.
"No," said Peaks, sternly. "That vessel."
He pointed to her, and Ole spoke again to the steersman, but withoutany better result. The boatswain was not to be thwarted. Goingforward, he took the little wheel into his own hands, and headed thesteamer towards the Rensdyr. Indicating by his signs what he wanted,the man at the helm seemed to be quite willing to obey orders when heknew what was wanted.
"Don't go to that vessel, Mr. Peaks," cried Ole, in an agony ofterror.
"Why, my lad, what's the matter with you?"
"That's the Rensdyr!"
"I know it."
"He will kill me," groaned Ole.
"Who will?"
"Captain Olaf."
"Well, who's he?"
"He is the captain of the Rensdyr. He will kill me."
"No, he won't, my hearty. You shall have fair play. Who is he?"
"My step-father, Olaf Petersen. He beat me and starved me, and I ranaway from the Rensdyr in the boat."
"O, ho! The story is out--is it?"
"That's the whole truth, sir; it is, Mr. Peaks," protested Ole. "Don'tgo to her!"
"Don't you be alarmed. You shall have fair play," added the stoutboatswain, as the steamer ran alongside the schooner, and the man atthe bow made her fast.
BOARDING THE RENSDYR. Page 344.]
Peaks was on her deck in another instant, and had Clyde by the collar.
"I want you, my lad," said he.
"Let me alone!" cried the Briton, who had not recognized his tyranttill he was in his grasp, for the simple reason that he did not expectto see him at that time and place.
"No use to kick or yell, my jolly Briton. I never let go," added theboatswain.
At this moment there was a yell from the steamer. Captain Olaf nosooner discovered his lost step-son, than he sprang upon him like atiger. Ole howled in his terror. Peaks dragged Clyde on board thesteamer, and tossing him on the seat at the stern, turned hisattention to the skipper of the schooner.
"Steady! hold up, my hearty," said he, pulling the old Norwegian fromhis prey.
"My boy! My son! He steal my boat, and leave me," said Olaf,furiously.
"He says you didn't treat him well; that you starved and beat him."
"I'll bet Ole told the truth," interposed Clyde, who seemed suddenlyto have laid aside his wrath. "Captain Olaf is a brute."
"How's that, my lad? Do you know anything about it?" asked Peaks.
"I know the skipper is the ugliest man I ever met in my life,"answered Clyde.
"Won't you except me, my bold Briton?"
"No; I paid my passage, and haven't had enough to eat to keep soul andbody together. Besides that, he tried to make me work, and I did dosome things. If I had been obliged to stay on board another day, Ishould have jumped overboard," continued Clyde. "I begin to think Iwas a fool for leaving the ship."
"I began to think so at the first of it," added Peaks.
"Ole is my son; I must have him," growled the skipper.
"I have nothing to do with Ole; he may go where he pleases," said theboatswain.
Olaf spoke to his step-son in his own language, and for a few momentsthe dialogue between them was very violent.
"Cast off, forward, there; give them the Swedish of that, Ole,"shouted Peaks.
"Must I go on board of the Rensdyr?" asked the trembling waif.
"Do just as you please."
"Then I shall stay, and go to the ship."
"No, he shall not; he shall come with me," said Olaf, making a springat Ole.
But Peaks, who had promised to see fair play, interfered, and with nomore force than was necessary, compelled the skipper to return to theschooner. The steamer shoved off, and amid the fierce yells of Olaf,steamed towa
rds Stockholm. As she went on her way, Ole told his story.At the death of his father, who was the master of a small vessel, hehad gone to England with a gentleman who had taken a fancy to him, andworked there a year. The next summer he had accompanied his employerin an excursion through Norway, and found his mother had married OlafPetersen. She prevailed upon him to leave his master, and he went tosea with her husband. Then his mother died, and the skipper abusedhim to such a degree, that he determined to leave the vessel. Olaf hadtwice brought him back, and then watched him so closely, that he couldfind no opportunity to repeat the attempt when the Rensdyr was inport.
On the day before the ship had picked him up, Olaf had thrashed himsoundly, and had refused to let him have his supper. Olaf and his mandrank too much finkel that night, and left Ole at the helm. Early inthe evening, he lashed the tiller, and taking to the boat, with thenorth star for his guide, pulled towards the coast of Norway. Beforemorning he was exhausted with hunger and fatigue. He had lost one oarwhile asleep, and the other was a broken one. At daylight he sawnothing of the Rensdyr, and feeling tolerably safe, had gone to sleepagain, when he was awakened by the hail from the ship.
"But why did you leave the ship?" asked Peaks.
"Because I was afraid of the pilot. I thought he and other peoplewould make me go back to Olaf."
"Olaf has no claim upon you. He is neither your father nor yourguardian."
"I was afraid."
"Where was your vessel bound?"
"To Bremen, where she expected to get a cargo for Copenhagen. Isuppose she found another cargo there for Stockholm."
"I don't blame you, Ole, for leaving him," said Clyde. "Olaf is theworst man I ever saw. When he got drunk, he abused me and the men. Ihad to keep out of his way, or I believe he would have killed me,though I was a passenger, and paid my fare."
At three o'clock in the afternoon, the little steamer ran alongsidethe ship, and the party went on board, though the principal and allthe officers and crew were on shore.
CHAPTER XX.
STOCKHOLM AND ITS SURROUNDINGS.
After the professor's lecture on board of the ship, the students werepiped to dinner. According to his usual custom, Paul Kendall, with hislady, took rooms at the hotel, and in this instance his example wasfollowed by Shuffles. Dr. Winstock and Captain Lincoln had alreadyaccepted an invitation from Paul to spend the afternoon with him in aride through the city; and as soon as the boats landed at the quay,they hastened to keep the appointment, while the students scatteredall over the city to take a general view.
"Well, Paul, how do you find the hotel?" asked the doctor, when theparty were seated in the carriage.
"Very good; it is one of the best hotels I have seen in Europe."
"It has an excellent location, but I think there was no such hotelwhen I was here before, and I staid at the Hoetel Kung Carl."
"This is a bath-house," said the _commissionnaire_, as the carriageturned the corner at the hotel, and he pointed to a large, squarebuilding, with a court-yard in the middle.
"That looks well for the cleanliness of the people, if they supportsuch fine establishments as that."
"Three classes of baths, sir," added Moeller, the guide. "In the firstclass you have a dressing-room, and an attendant to scrub you, andshowers, douches, and everything of the sort. This is Drottninggatan,the principal street of the city," added the man, as the carriageturned into another street.
"In other words, Queen Street," explained the surgeon.
"It is rather a narrow street for the principal one," said Paul.
"All the streets of Stockholm are narrow, or nearly all; and very fewof them have sidewalks."
"This street looks very much like the streets at home. The shops areabout the same thing. There's a woman in a queer dress," added CaptainLincoln.
"That's a Dalecarlian woman. They used to row the boats about thewaters of the city, coming down from Dalecarlia to spend the summerhere; but the little steamers have taken the business all away fromthem. They hired a boat for the season, and paid the owner one half ofthe fares."
"Their costume is rather picturesque," added Paul.
"But that woman is far from handsome," laughed Mrs. Kendall.
"None of them are pretty," replied the doctor.
The dress was a rather short petticoat, with a fanciful bodice, inwhich red predominated. Quite a number of them were seen by the partyduring their stay in Stockholm, but all of them had coarse featuresand clumsy forms.
The carriage returned to the centre of the city by another street,passing through Carl XIII. Torg, or square, where stands the statue ofthat king.
"There is the Cafe Blanche, where they have music every afternoon insummer, with beer, coffee, and other refreshments. The Swedes are veryfond of these gardens," said Moeller. "Here is the Hotel Rydberg. Thisis Gustaf Adolf Torget, and that is his statue."
Crossing the bridge to the little island in the stream, the carriagestopped, to enable the party to look down into the garden, which iscalled Stroemparterren, where a band plays, and refreshments aredispensed in the warm evenings of summer. Passing the immensepalace, the tourists drove along the Skeppsbron, or quay, which is theprincipal landing-place of the steamers. Crossing another bridge overthe south stream, or outlet of Lake Maeler, they entered the southernsuburb of the city, called Soedermalm. Ascending to the highest pointof land, the party were conducted to the roof of a house, where amagnificent view of the city and its surroundings was obtained.
"We will sit down here and rest a while," said the doctor, suiting theaction to the words. "This promontory, or some other one near it, wasformerly called Agne's Rock, and there is a story connected with it.Agne was the king of Sweden about 220 B.C. In a war with the Finns, hekilled their king, and captured his daughter Skiolfa. The princess,according to the custom of those days, became the wife, butpractically the slave, of her captor. She was brought to Sweden, whereAgne and his retainers got beastly drunk on the occasion ofcelebrating the memorial rites of her father. Skiolfa, with theassistance of her Finnish companions, passed a rope through themassive gold chain on the neck of the king, and hung him to a tree,beneath which their tent was pitched. Having avenged the death of herfather, the princess and her friends embarked in their boats, andescaped to Finland."
"They finished him, then," laughed Captain Lincoln. "But what sort ofboats had they?"
"I don't know," replied Dr. Winstock.
"Could they cross the Baltic in boats?"
"Yes. When you go to Finland you will find that the course will bethrough islands nearly all the way. There is no difficulty in crossingin an open boat."
"What is the population of Stockholm?" asked Paul.
"One hundred and thirty-five thousand," replied Moeller. "It wasfounded by King Birger in 1250."
"There is a monitor," said Paul, pointing to the waters nearCastelholmen, not far from the anchorage of the squadron.
"We have four in the Swedish navy, and Russia has plenty of them.Ericsson, who invented them, was a Swede, you know."
After the tourists had surveyed the panorama to their satisfaction,they descended, and entering the carriage, drove over to theRiddarholm, where the guide pointed out the church, the statue ofGustavus Vasa, the house of the Nobles, and other objects of interest.Returning to the quay, they stopped to look at the little steamerswhich were whisking about in every direction.
"That is the National Museum," said Moeller, pointing to a large andelegant building across the stream.
"I should like to sail in one of those little boats," said Mrs.Kendall.
"We can go over and back in ten minutes, if you like," added theguide.
"Let us go."
The party alighted from the carriage, and entered the little boat.
"How much did you pay, Paul?" asked Grace.
"The fare is no larger than the boat. It is three oere each person."
"How much is that?"
"Let me see; eight tenths of a cent, or less than a halfpenn
y,English."
The excursionists returned without landing.
"I should like to go again," said Grace. "It is delightful sailing insuch dear little steamers."
"If you please, we will ride over to the Djurgarden, and return by thesteamer, which will land us at the Stroemparterre," said the guide.
This proposition was accepted, and by a circuitous route they reachedthe place indicated, which, in English, is the Deer Garden. It is onan island, separated from the main land by a channel. The southernportion of it is a thickly-populated village, but the principal partof the island is laid out as a park, of which the people of Stockholmare justly proud. It was originally a sterile tract of land: the firstimprovements converted it into a deer park for the royal use; butGustaf III. and Charles (XIV.) John, as Bernadotte was styled,turned it into a public park. It is laid out in walks and avenuesbeautifully shaded with oaks and other trees. The land is undulating,and parts of it command splendid views of the islands and watercoursesin the vicinity. On the outskirts is an asylum for the blind and fordeaf mutes. Rosendahl, a country house, built by Charles John in 1830,and often occupied by him, is quite near the park.
The party drove through the principal avenues of the garden, andstopped at the bust of Bellman, the great poet of Sweden, whosebirthday is annually celebrated here with music and festivities.Around the park are various tea-gardens, cafes, and other places ofamusement, including a theatre, circus, and opera-house for summeruse. There is an Alhambra, with a restaurant; a Tivoli, with aconcert-room; a Novilla, with a winter garden, and a concert hall forsummer. The tourists stopped at Hasselbacken, which is celebrated forits good dinners at moderate prices. The visitors seated themselves ina broad veranda, overlooking a garden filled with little tables, inthe centre of which was a kiosk for the music. The viands, especiallythe salmon, were very nice, and the coffee, as usual, was excellent.After dinner a short walk brought the party to the landing-place ofthe little steamers, where, paying eight oere, or about two cents,each, they embarked. The boat flew along at great speed for such asmall craft, whisked under the Skeppsholm bridge, and in a few momentslanded the tourists at the circular stone quay, which surrounds theStroemparterre. Paul and his lady walked to the hotel, and the doctorand the captain went to the Skeppsbron, where a boat soon conveyedthem to the ship.
Sanford and Stockwell had been on board several hours, and had hadtime to make up their minds in regard to their future course. They hadconsidered the advice of the boatswain, and finally concluded to adoptit. Clyde Blacklock was as tame as a parlor poodle. His experience inrunning away, especially after his three days on board of the Rensdyr,was far from satisfactory.
"I suppose I must go into that cage again," said he, when he went onboard.
"That depends on yourself," replied Peaks. "If you say that you don'tintend to run away again, we shall not put you in the brig."
"I think I won't," added Clyde.
"You think?"
"Well, I know I won't. I will try to do the best I can."
"That's all we ask," said Peaks. "You can say all this to theprincipal."
Mr. Lowington returned earlier than most of the ship's company, andPeaks reported to him immediately. The coxswain and his associate werecalled up first.
"We have come on board, sir," said Sanford, touching his cap.
"I see you have. You have been gone a long time, and I have been toldthat you had some difficulty in finding the ship," added theprincipal.
"We have concluded to tell the whole truth, sir," said Sanford,hanging his head.
"I am very glad to hear that."
"We didn't wish to find the ship."
"Can you explain the accident by which the second cutter was stove atChristiansand?"
"I did it on purpose; but no other fellow was to blame, or knewanything about it."
"I am astonished to think you should expose the lives of your crew, bypushing your boat right into the path of a steamer."
"I didn't do it, sir, till the steamer had stopped her wheels. Iwanted to get on board of her, and leave the ship. In Norway, Icheated the rest of the party, and led them out of the way."
"How could you do that?"
"I told Ole what to say."
"Then you wished to travel alone?"
"Yes, sir."
Sanford and Stockwell made a clean breast of it, explaining how theyhad lost trains and steamers, and thus avoided returning to the ship.
"Then Ole is a rogue as well as the rest of you, it seems."
"He did what I told him to do, and paid him for doing," repliedSanford.
"He is a runaway, too," interposed the boatswain, who proceeded totell the story of the waif. "The boy has suffered a good deal from theill-treatment of his step-father."
"I am sorry for him; but his character does not seem to be up to theaverage of that of his countrymen. I don't think we want him onboard," replied Mr. Lowington. "As you say this Olaf has no claim forhis services, we will see about him."
The Rensdyr had by this time arrived at the quay, and it was notbelieved that Captain Olaf would permit his step-son, whose servicesseemed to be of so much value to him, to escape without making aneffort to reclaim him. After all hands had returned from the shore, heput in an appearance, and seeing Peaks in the waist, directed hissteps towards him. The profusion of fine uniforms, the order anddiscipline that reigned on deck, and the dignified mien of theinstructors who were walking back and forth, seemed to produce animpression upon the mind of the rough skipper, for he took off hishat, and appeared to be as timid as though he had come into thepresence of the king.
"Good evening, Captain Olaf," said the boatswain.
"I want the boy Ole," replied the skipper, bowing, and returning thesalutation.
"You must talk with the principal about that."
"I don't understand."
Peaks conducted Olaf to the quarter-deck, where Mr. Lowington wasconversing with Mr. and Mrs. Kendall, who had come on board to visittheir old friends.
"This is the man that claims Ole," said the boatswain.
"I want the boy, sir," added Captain Olaf, bowing as gracefully as heknew how.
"If Ole chooses to go with you, he may go," replied the principal.
"He does not choose to go."
"I certainly shall not compel him to go," continued Mr. Lowington.
"I will make him go."
"I shall allow no violence on board of this ship."
"But he is my boy; the son of my wife that is dead."
"He is not your son, and you have no more claim on him than I have.The boy is an orphan. Have you been appointed his guardian?"
This question was out of Olaf's depth in the English language; but itwas translated into Danish by Professor Badois, and the skipper didnot pretend that he had any legal authority over the boy.
"But I have fed and clothed him, and he must work for me," said he.
"Ole says you did not feed him, and he had nothing but a few dirtyrags on when we picked him up. I have nothing to do with the matter.Ole is free to go or stay, just as he pleases," replied the principal,turning away from the skipper, to intimate that he wished to saynothing more about the matter.
"The boy is here, and I shall make him go with me," said Olaf, lookingugly enough to do anything.
Mr. Lowington glanced at Peaks, and appeared to be satisfied that noharm would come to Ole. Olaf walked back into the waist, and then tothe forecastle, glancing at every student he met, in order to identifyhis boy.
"See here, Norway; there comes your guardian genius," said Scott,who, with a dozen others, had gathered around the trembling waif,determined to protect him if their services were needed. "Bear a hand,and tumble down the fore-hatch. Herr Skippenboggin is after you."
Ole heeded this good advice, and followed by his supporters, hedescended to the steerage. Olaf saw him, and was about to descend theladder, when Peaks interfered.
"You can't go down there," said he, decidedly.
"I want the
boy," replied Olaf.
"No visitors in the steerage without an invitation."
"I will have Ole;" and the skipper began to descend.
"Avast, my hearty," interposed the boatswain, laying violent hands onOlaf, and dragging him to the deck.
Bitts, the carpenter, and Leach, the sailmaker, placed themselvesbeside the boatswain, as the Norwegian picked himself up.
"You may leave the ship, now," said Peaks, pointing to theaccommodation stairs.
Olaf looked at the three stout men before him, and prudence triumphedover his angry passions.
"I will have the boy yet," said he, as he walked to the stairs,closely attended by the three forward officers.
He went down into his boat, declaring that he would seize upon Ole thefirst time he caught him on shore.
"Where is Clyde?" asked Mr. Lowington, as soon as the savage skipperhad gone.
"He is forward, sir; he behaves like a new man, and says he will notrun away," replied Peaks.
"Send him aft."
"Ay, ay, sir."
Clyde went aft. He was a boy of quick impulses and violent temper. Hehad been accustomed to have his own way; and this had done more tospoil him than anything else. He had to learn that there was a powergreater than himself, to which he must submit. He had twice run away,and failed both times. Three days of fear and absolute misery on boardof the Rensdyr had given him time to think. He determined, when hereached Stockholm, to return to his mother, and try to be a betterboy. Peaks, in the little steamer, had come upon him like a ghost. Hehad expected never again to see the ship, or his particular tormentor;and to have the latter appear to him in such an extraordinary mannerwas very impressive, to say the least. He realized that he mustsubmit; but this thought, like that of resistance before, was only animpulse.
Clyde submitted, and was even candid enough to say so to theprincipal, who talked to him very gently and kindly for an hour,pointing out to him the ruin which he was seeking.
"We will try you again, Clyde," said Mr. Lowington. "We will wipe outthe past, and begin again. You may go forward."
The next day was Sunday, and for a change, the officers and crews ofthe several vessels were permitted to land, and march to the Englishchurch in Stockholm. The neat and pleasant little church was crowdedto its utmost capacity by the attendance of such a large number. Mr.Agneau, the chaplain, was invited to take a part in the service, andas Mrs. Kendall, Mrs. Shuffles, and many of the ship's company weregood singers, the vocal music was better than usual.
On Monday morning commenced the serious business of sight-seeing inStockholm. The royal palace, one of the largest and finest in Europe,and the most prominent building in the city, was the first place to bevisited. It is four hundred and eighteen feet long, by three hundredand ninety-one wide, with a large court-yard in the middle, from whichare the principal entrances. The lower story is of granite; the restof brick, covered with stucco. The students walked through the vastnumber of apartments it contains; through red chambers, greenchambers, blue chambers, and yellow chambers, as they are designated,through the royal chapel, which is as large as a good-sized church,and through the throne-room, where the king opens the sessions of theDiet. Several were devoted to the Swedish orders of knighthood. Theceilings and walls of the state apartments are beautifully adornedwith allegorical and mythological paintings.
The chamber of Bernadotte, or Charles John, remains just as it wasduring his last sickness. On the bed lies his military cloak, whichhe wore in his great campaigns. His cane, the gift of Charles XIII.,stands in the room. The walls are covered with green silk, and adornedwith portraits of the royal family. The apartments actually occupiedby the present king were found to be far inferior in elegance to manyrepublican rooms. His chamber has a pine floor, with no carpet; butit looked more home-like than the great barn-like state-rooms. In aseries of small and rather low apartments are several collections ofcurious and antique articles, such as a collection of arms, includinga pair of pistols presented to the king by President Lincoln; and ofpipes, containing every variety in use, in the smoking-room. Theking's library looks like business, for its volumes seemed to be foruse rather than ornament. The billiard-room is quite cosy, and hischamber contains photographs of various royal personages, as thePrince of Wales, the Queen of England, and others, which look asthough the king had friends, and valued them like common people. Hismajesty paints very well for a king, and the red cabinet containspictures by him, and by Oscar I. The queen's apartments, as well asthe king's, seemed to the boys like a mockery of royalty, for theywere quite plain and comfortable. The entire palace contains fivehundred and eighty-three rooms.
The whole forenoon was employed in visiting the palace, and thestudents went on board the vessels to dinner. As the day was pleasant,a boat excursion to Drottningholm was planned, and the fourteen boatsof the squadron were soon in line. A pilot was in the commodore'sbarge, to indicate the course. Passing under the North Bridge, theexcursion entered the waters of the Maeler Lake. A pull of two hoursamong beautiful islands, covered with the fresh green of spring,through narrow and romantic passages, brought them to theirdestination. In some places, within five miles of Stockholm, thescene was so quiet, and nature so primitive, that the excursionistscould have believed they were hundreds of miles from the homes ofcivilization. Two or three of the islands had a house or two uponthem; but generally they seemed to be unimproved. The boats variedtheir order at the command of Commodore Cumberland, and when therewere any spectators, nothing could exceed their astonishment at thedisplay.
At Drottningholm, or Queen's Island, there is a fine palace, built bythe widow of Charles X., and afterwards improved and embellished bythe kings of Sweden. Attached to it is a beautiful garden, adornedwith fountains and statues. The party went through the palace, whichcontains a great many historical paintings, and some rooms fitted upin Chinese style. As the students were about to embark, a char-a-banc,a kind of open omnibus, drawn by four horses, drove up to the palace,and a plainly-dressed lady alighted. She stood on the portico, lookingat the students; and the pilot said she was the Queen Dowager, wife ofOscar I. Of course the boys looked at her with quite as much interestas she regarded them. The commodore called for three cheers for theroyal lady, who was the daughter of Eugene Beauharnais, andgranddaughter of the Empress Josephine. She waved her handkerchief inreturn for the salute, and the students were soon pulling down thelake towards Stockholm.
The next forenoon was devoted to the Royal Museum, which has beenrecently erected. It contains a vast quantity of Swedish antiquitiesand curiosities, with illustrations of national manners and customs.It contains specimens of the various implements used in the ages ofwood, stone, bronze, and iron, collections of coins and medals, armor,engravings, sculptures, and paintings, including a few works ofthe great masters of every school in Europe. The students wereparticularly interested in what Scott irreverently called the "OldClothes Room," in which were deposited in glass cases the garments andother articles belonging to the Swedish kings and queens, such as thecradle and toys of Charles XII., and the huge sword with which hedefended himself against the Turks at Bender; the sword of GustavusVasa; the costume of Gustaf III., which he wore when he was shot inthe opera-house by Ankarstroem; the baton of Gustaf Adolf, and thewatch of Queen Christina.
In the afternoon the students made an excursion by steamer toUlriksdal, the summer residence of Bernadotte, Oscar I., and of thepresent king. It is a beautiful place, and is filled with objects ofhistorical interest. The furniture is neat, pretty, and comfortable.The chamber of the king is the plainest of all, but the bed was usedby Gustaf II. in Germany. Every chair, table, and mirror has itshistory. There is a collection of beer mugs in one chamber, and ofpipes in another. The place is full of interest to the curious. In thewater in front of the palace were several gilded pleasure-boats, and afanciful steamer for the use of the royal family.
The steamer in which the party had gone to Ulriksdal was one of thelarger class, though the company was all
she could carry. She made herway through the several arms of the sea, between the islands, passingthrough two drawbridges. For the return trip four of the smallersteamers had been engaged, each of which would carry about fiftyboys. A short distance from the palace, the boats turned into a narrowstream, passing under bridges, in places so contracted that the enginehad to be stopped, and the banks were thoroughly washed. Then theyentered a lagoon, bordered with villas, and surrounded by pleasantscenery. Landing at a point in the northern suburb, most of thestudents walked through the city to the quay, though several omnibusesply between this point and the centre of the city.
The next day opened with a visit to Riddarholm. The church, orRiddarholmskyrkan, on this island, was formerly a convent, but is nowthe mausoleum of the most celebrated kings of Sweden. It was once aGothic structure; but the addition of several chapels on the sides,for monuments, has completely changed the appearance of the structure.It is remarkable for nothing except the tombs within it. Formerly itcontained a number of equestrian figures, clothed in armor, which wasvalued as relics of the ancient time, including that of Birger Jarl,the founder of the city, and of Charles IX.; but all these have beenremoved to the National Museum, which is certainly a more appropriateplace for them. On each side of the church are the sepulchral chapelsof Gustavus Adolphus, Charles XII., Bernadotte, and Oscar I. The QueenDesiree, wife of Bernadotte, and sister-in-law of Joseph Bonaparte,with others of the royal family, and some of the great captains of theThirty Years' War, are buried here. In the chapels of Gustavus andCharles XII. are placed many of the trophies of their victories, suchas flags, drums, swords, and keys.
The party then visited the Riddarhus, where the nobles meet, which isthe scene of several great historical events, and contains the shieldsof three thousand Swedish nobles. From this point the tourists went toMosebacke, a celebrated tea garden, on the high land in the southernsuburb, where they ascended to the roof of the theatre in order toobtain a view of the city and its surroundings.
On Thursday, the students made an excursion to Upsala, the ancientcapital of Sweden, which contains a fine old cathedral, where GustavusVasa and two of his wives are buried. His tomb was hardly moreinteresting to the Americans than that of Linnaeus, the great botanist,who was born in Upsala, and buried in this church. Other Swedish kingsare also buried here. The party visited the university, which containssome curious old books and manuscripts, such as an old Icelandic Edda;the Bible, with written notes by Luther and Melanchthon; the Journalof Linnaeus, and the first book ever printed in Sweden, in 1483. Thehouse of the great botanist and the botanical garden were notneglected. The tourists returned to Stockholm in a special steamer,through an arm of Lake Maeler, and landed at the Riddarholm. On Fridaysome of the students went to the Navy Yard, and on board of a monitor,while others wandered about the city and its suburbs.
After spending a week in the harbor, the voyagers felt that they hadseen enough of Sweden; and early on Saturday morning, with a pilot onboard of each vessel, the squadron sailed for the Aland Islands, inthe Baltic, where the principal decided to pass a week. The vesselslay in the channels between the islands, and the students attended tothe regular routine of study and seamanship. Occasional excursionswere made on shore, mostly at the uninhabited islands. Journals ofwhat had been seen in Norway, Denmark, and Sweden were written up; butthe students were very anxious to visit Russia.
Ole Amundsen was very careful to avoid his step-father while heremained in Stockholm. He hardly went on shore, so great was his dreadof the cruel skipper of the Rensdyr; and no one rejoiced more heartilythan he to leave the Swedish waters. Mr. Lowington did not desire toretain him on board; but the waif begged so hard to remain, and thestudents liked him so well, that he was finally engaged as anassistant steward in the steerage, at twelve dollars a month; but hemade double this sum, besides, out of the boys, by the exercise of hisgenius in mending clothes, cleaning shoes, and similar services, whichthe students preferred to pay for, rather than do themselves.
Clyde Blacklock kept his promise as well as he could, and soon learnedhis duty as a seaman. Though he certainly improved, his violent temperand imperious manners kept him continually in hot water. He could notforget his old grudge against Burchmore, and during an excursion onone of the Aland Islands, he attacked him, but was soundly thrashedfor his trouble, and punished on board when his black eye betrayedhim. While he is improving there is hope for him.
The runaways promised so much and behaved so well, that none of themwere punished as yet, though Sanford was deprived of his position ascoxswain of the second cutter; but whether they were to be allowed anyliberty in Russia, they were not informed.
At the close of the week among the islands, the squadron was headedfor Abo, in Finland, which is now a province of Russia; and what theysaw and did there, and in other parts of the vast empire, will berelated in NORTHERN LANDS, OR YOUNG AMERICA IN RUSSIA AND PRUSSIA.
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