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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Eric, by Mrs. S. B. C. Samuels
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Eric
+       or, Under the Sea
+
+Author: Mrs. S. B. C. Samuels
+
+Release Date: October 18, 2008 [EBook #26952]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ERIC ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Roger Frank, Juliet Sutherland and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Froll's Antics.--Page 54.]
+
+
+
+
+[Illustrated title plate: Springdale Stories. Illustrated. ERIC. Lee &
+Shepard; BOSTON.]
+
+
+
+
+THE SPRINGDALE STORIES.
+
+ERIC;
+
+OR,
+UNDER THE SEA.
+
+BY
+MRS. S. B. C. SAMUELS,
+
+AUTHOR OF "ADELE," "HERBERT," "NETTIE'S TRIAL,"
+"JOHNSTONE'S FARM," "ENNISFELLEN."
+
+BOSTON
+LEE AND SHEPARD PUBLISHERS
+CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM NEW YORK
+
+
+
+
+Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870,
+BY LEE AND SHEPARD,
+In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
+
+Electrotyped at the
+Boston Stereotype Foundry.
+
+
+
+
+AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED
+
+TO
+
+FRANK EDWARD SAMUELS.
+
+
+
+
+THE SPRINGDALE STORIES.
+
+COMPLETE IN SIX VOLUMES,
+
+1. ADELE.
+2. ERIC.
+3. HERBERT.
+4. NETTIE'S TRIAL.
+5. JOHNSTONE'S FARM.
+6. ENNISFELLEN.
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+The story of the travels of Eric and his friends on the continent of
+Europe will, I trust, be interesting to my young readers. Many of the
+incidents described are actual facts, and the descent of Eric, in diving
+armor, to the bottom of the sea, will be found to possess some items which
+will be worth remembering.
+
+The sights, sounds, and sensations which I have described, are such as any
+submarine diver of experience has seen, heard, and felt, and therefore
+will be instructive in a certain way.
+
+The finding a box of gold by the divers is not of often occurrence,
+although valuables are reclaimed from the ocean in this manner
+occasionally.
+
+The lesson taught by Eric's honesty in trying to find the owner of the
+money, and its influence on his accusers, when he is unjustly accused of
+theft, will be worthy of attention to all my young friends who have a name
+to make.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+CHAPTER                                          PAGE
+     I.  Leaving the Castle.                        9
+    II.  "The Hague."                              23
+   III.  The City.                                 30
+    IV.  Allan's Story.                            39
+     V.  "Seeing the Elephant."                    50
+    VI.  A Dutch City.                             62
+   VII.  Under the Sea.                            70
+  VIII.  Thrilling Experience.                     92
+    IX.  Uncle John.                              106
+     X.  Strasbourg.                              120
+    XI.  Eric in Trouble.                         135
+   XII.  "A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed."   145
+  XIII.  The Real Thief.                          153
+   XIV.  Percy, Beauty, and Jack.                 159
+    XV.  The Last.                                167
+
+
+
+
+ERIC.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+LEAVING THE CASTLE.
+
+
+Olendorf is not far from Hamburg. The broad and sparkling Elbe washes it
+on the western side, and with the rugged mountains and the weird grand,
+old forests upon the north and east, seem to shut the little town quite in
+from the outer world; yet Olendorf had been an important place and on
+account of its grand old fortress, Castle Wernier, was a bone of
+contention throughout the French and German wars; and between the French,
+who were resolute to hold the fortress, and the barons of Wernier, who
+were equally resolute to regain it, the castle suffered severely; and
+when, long years after, peace was declared, the last baron of Wernier
+died, and the castle came into the possession of Adele Stanley, his great
+granddaughter, it was merely a grand old ruin.
+
+Adele's father rebuilt the tower and a couple of wings, and furnished all
+the habitable rooms, intending to have his little Adele and Herbert spend
+their childhood there. But while Adele was yet almost a baby, her kind
+father died. Then she lost her mother, and was for a long time a wanderer
+among strangers in a foreign land; and the old castle had been
+uninhabited, except by Gretchen, the gardener's wife, and the owls in its
+dark turrets. Now, however, the long windows were thrown open to the fresh
+breezes and sunshine; merry laughter rang up from the garden; children's
+voices echoed among the ruins, and children's feet danced through the long
+corridors, keeping time to the music of the happy voices.
+
+Adele and Herbert Stanley were at the castle with their young guests from
+New York--Eric and Nettie Hyde. They had spent the summer months there;
+"the happiest months in their lives," they all declared. Now, alas! the
+merry season was drawing to a close. Adele was to go to her grandfather's
+home in England, Herbert to school at Eton, Nettie with her mother to New
+York, and Eric was to travel in Holland and the German states with his
+uncle, Dr. Ward, and his cousin, Johnny Van Rasseulger.
+
+Such a busy day as it was to be! But just now all care was forgotten, even
+to the regret at parting, in watching the absurd freaks of little Froll,
+the monkey. Her real name was Frolic; but who ever heard children call a
+pet by its real name?
+
+Mrs. Hyde called to Nettie, requesting her to do an errand. At the sound
+of her voice Nettie ran towards her, exclaiming,--
+
+"O, mamma! Adele has given us such a splendid present, to take home with
+us!"
+
+"What is it, my dear?"
+
+"I love it so dearly! It's--it's--"--here Nettie's voice trembled a
+little, and her heart knew its own misgivings--"it's--Froll, mamma, the
+little darling!"
+
+"And who _is_ Froll, the little darling!"
+
+"That dear little monkey," answered Nettie, pointing to Froll, now close
+at hand.
+
+"O," exclaimed Mrs. Hyde, retreating hastily, "I dislike monkeys, and I
+cannot have one travelling with me."
+
+"But, mamma--" said Nettie, piteously.
+
+"You need not think of it, my dear; it is quite impossible," was the
+decided reply, to Nettie's disappointment.
+
+"But may not Eric take her?"
+
+"Uncle Charlie must decide that question: if he has no objections to
+travelling with an animal that is never out of mischief, I suppose Eric
+may take charge of her."
+
+"But then, mamma, Eric will be gone a whole long year--"
+
+"And as you have lived nine whole long years," interrupted her mother,
+smiling, "without a monkey, or a desire for one, don't you think you could
+survive the separation?"
+
+Nettie didn't then think she could; but a while after, when Froll chased
+her with a paint-brush dripping wet with red paint, and then completely
+spoiled a pretty landscape view that Herbert was painting for her, she
+changed her mind, and decided that a voyage from Hamburg to New York with
+such an uncontrollable creature would be, to say the least, inconvenient.
+
+To be sure, papa was to meet them at the Hague, and he might be willing to
+look to her safe transportation across the Atlantic; but she had not much
+faith in this argument, and, making a virtue of necessity, resigned
+herself with becoming grace to her mother's wishes.
+
+Looking back upon the pleasant summer months at Castle Wernier, the
+children thought time had never gone so quickly. They were soon to be
+parted from each other, and their pleasant German home and every object
+took a new interest to them.
+
+"The value of a thing is never known till we have lost it," Herbert said,
+sorrowfully, thinking how lonely Adele and he would become when parted
+from their companions.
+
+"Nor how dear a place an old castle is, until we are forced to leave it,"
+said Eric.
+
+"I remember thinking once," said Nettie, "that this place was horrible. It
+was when we were all so frightened about the ghost."
+
+"And all the time I was the ghost," Adele added; "and I used to think it
+very hard that I couldn't speak to you, not knowing that I was frightening
+you all out of your wits."
+
+"I suppose more than half the ghosts we read about are only people walking
+in their sleep, as Adele did," said Herbert.
+
+"Of course," said Nettie; "but if we stay here all day, talking about
+ghosts, what will become of our pets and toys?"
+
+As Herbert and Adele were to start for their home in England when Mrs.
+Hyde and her children left the castle, all their pets were to be disposed
+of among the gardener's children, that is, all but Froll, for Eric was
+sure that uncle Charlie would not object to having the little creature for
+a travelling companion; and as Mrs. Hyde would not allow Nettie to take
+her with her, Froll was to make the tour of Germany with Dr. Ward and the
+boys.
+
+There were the pony, and the rabbits, and the canary bird, of all which
+Gretchen's children were to take the utmost care, until the dear
+_Fraulien_ and the young _Herr_ should come again. And many and loud were
+the expressions of affectionate regret at the children's departure, oddly
+intermingled with exclamations of delight at the appearance of numerous
+toys, which Mrs. Nichols and Mrs. Hyde had decided must be left over from
+the packing.
+
+Then the garden must be visited in every nook and corner. Particular
+directions must be left with Hans concerning their choice flowers and
+favorite plants.
+
+And then there was the grand event of the day--the packing up of their own
+individual treasures, in the shape of books and toys. They worked hard all
+day, and were very proud of their work when all was accomplished; but, in
+the dead of night, when they were fast in the "Land o' Nod," old mauma,
+who was prowling around the trunks and hampers to see if all were secure,
+seemed rather suspicious of one, and knelt down on the floor to examine
+it, giving it a little shake, by way of test.
+
+"Dear heart alive!" she exclaimed; "just you look here, missis, please.
+All those little flimpsy toys and things to bottom, an' the heavy book
+stuck in any ways to top, an' all of 'em jolting roun' like anything!"
+
+Poor tired Mrs. Hyde could not help smiling, as she leaned wearily over
+the two hampers the children had filled, and gave directions to mauma and
+Gretchen about repacking them.
+
+The two women soon accomplished what it had taken the children all day to
+perform; and to their faithful exertions was owing the safe arrival at
+Fifth Avenue and Ennisfellen of the toys.
+
+Early in the morning the children were aroused to prepare for their
+journey. They were all in high spirits, and thought dressing and
+breakfasting by candle-light the "greatest fun in the world;" though it is
+doubtful if they would have held to their opinion had the practice been
+continued permanently.
+
+"Nobody wants breakfast so early," Nettie said, as she laughed and talked
+in excitement.
+
+"I'm sure nobody wants to lunch on the train," shouted Eric, across the
+hall.
+
+"The train, indeed! Why, we shall be aboard the steamer at noon. I like to
+travel on these European steamers," Nettie called back.
+
+"I am so glad we are all to travel together to the Hague," said Adele's
+sweet voice. "How quickly you dress, Nettie! But where _can_ my other boot
+be?"
+
+"I'm sure I don't know; let's look for it. Here 'tis."
+
+"No; that's your own."
+
+"Sure enough; and I've been all this time doing up yours. Shouldn't wonder
+if we did miss the train. And it's in a knot, and I can't untie it. Mauma,
+mauma, bring another light here, quick! and you'd better hurry, Adele."
+
+"Nettie, did you mean the train was in a knot?" called Herbert.
+
+"No, it's _not_," said Nettie, quickly; and then they all laughed merrily.
+For, though Nettie's remark was not particularly brilliant, there was
+enough in it to amuse the happy, excited hearts around her.
+
+The breakfast received a very slight share of attention. The boys were
+constantly running below to "see after the horses," and Nettie was dancing
+about, in everybody's way, assuring them all that they would certainly
+lose the train, and begging Adele, for her own safety, to keep close to
+her, and not to be nervous on any account.
+
+"I know somebody will forget something!" she exclaimed for the fiftieth
+time. "Be sure, all of you, to remember."
+
+"Not to forget," interrupted Eric, mischievously.
+
+"The carriage has come to the door, Herr Von Nichols!" Gretchen announced,
+through her tears.
+
+All the Werniers, the ancient holders of the castle, had been Herr Vons;
+and as Mrs. Nichols was a Wernier, Gretchen had adopted the villagers'
+fashion of bestowing the title upon the husband.
+
+The servants were in the hall, sorrowfully awaiting the departure of their
+kind patrons.
+
+"Good by! Good by!" the children shouted; while the mournful group bade
+them "God speed."
+
+"Who's forgotten anything?" said Nettie, crowding into a corner of the
+carriage.
+
+"I think you have, my dear," answered her mother. "Where is your sacque?"
+
+Nettie looked quite dismayed.
+
+"O, I packed it, mamma. I forgot I was to wear this dress."
+
+There was a general consternation at this confession, until mauma drew the
+missing article from under her shawl.
+
+"Here 'tis, Miss Nettie. I 'spects you'd want it."
+
+"I'm ever so much obliged to you, mauma," said Nettie, eagerly seizing the
+sacque, and putting herself into it, while Mrs. Hyde rewarded the faithful
+old colored woman with a grateful smile.
+
+"I was so busy remembering for the others, mamma," Nettie said,
+apologetically.
+
+"Perhaps it would be as well for you to attend more particularly to
+yourself, my dear," was her mother's mild rebuke.
+
+Mr. Nichols and the boys were busy stowing boxes and parcels in various
+hidden compartments of the carriage. Just as Mr. Nichols announced that
+they were ready to start, Eric thrust his head in at the door, exclaiming,
+funnily,--
+
+"Mamma, Nettie is so anxious, suppose you all just feel inside your
+bonnets, to make sure that your heads are here?"
+
+"Don't detain us, Eric," his mother said, smiling at the frank, joyous
+face.
+
+"All right, mamma. This is my load: let me see,--Mrs. Hyde, Adele, Nettie,
+and mauma. Go ahead, Carl."
+
+The coachman drew up his reins, and the spirited horses, after curvetting
+and prancing for an instant, dashed down the avenue, Adele's and Nettie's
+white handkerchiefs floating on the breeze, in a last adieu to Wernier.
+
+They were followed immediately by another carriage, containing Mr. and
+Mrs. Nichols and the boys; and, except for the group of sorrowing
+servants, watching the fast-disappearing carriages, Castle Wernier was
+left alone.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+"THE HAGUE."
+
+
+                "The sun rode high, the breeze was free,
+                  High dashed the diamond spray,
+                And proudly o'er the dark blue sea
+                  The steamer ploughed her way."
+
+Aboard of the Hague, the children, watching the distant spires and domes
+of Hamburg "melt into air" as the vessel bore, with almost imperceptible
+motion rapidly towards the North Sea, began to realize that they would see
+no more of Wernier. And though their sorrow but faintly came home to them,
+they were sad and thoughtful.
+
+Adele whispered mournfully to Herbert, "O, let us go below! It is so like
+going out in the Europa, with dear mamma, before she died in the wreck. O,
+Herbie, I cannot bear the cruel, cruel sea. Take me below."
+
+So Herbert and Adele went to the cabin, and Eric suggested to Nettie that
+they should follow.
+
+"No," said Nettie, "I like to stay here. Eric, see that boy look at you; I
+think he wants to speak."
+
+Eric looked around, and saw a boy of his own age steadfastly regarding
+him. When he caught Eric's eye, he bowed and hastened forward, holding out
+his hand.
+
+"Eric Hyde?" he said.
+
+"Yes," said Eric. "Do you know me?"
+
+"I never _saw_ you before; but I know you, for all that," said the boy.
+
+"How?" said Eric, astonished, and interested, too.
+
+"I knew you by your voice. I used to live next door to you in New York. I
+was blind then, and auntie sent me out to Hamburg, to the famous oculist
+Dr. Francis. He has given me my sight, and I am going home alone. Auntie
+doesn't know about it yet; she only knows that the operation was performed
+two months ago, and that Dr. Francis had no doubt of its success. Won't
+she be surprised to see me walk into the parlor, and to hear the whole
+story from me?"
+
+"Hurrah!" cried Eric, excitedly, tossing his cap high in the air.
+
+"I remember you well," said Nettie; "I am Nettie Hyde. Don't you, Eric?"
+
+"Yes," said Eric. "I used to pity you so! Isn't it just jolly!"
+
+"Do you know," said the boy, whose name was Allan Ramsdell, "I never saw a
+steamer before to-day! I have been blind so long, ever since I was four
+years old. I've got the key of my state-room here, but I don't know where
+to go to look for the room."
+
+"I'll show you," volunteered Eric. "And, Nettie, if you will go down for
+Adele and Herbie, we'll go all over the steamer."
+
+Nettie ran quickly into the cabin, eager to impart the news of their new
+acquaintance. Mrs. Hyde was glad of anything that would interest Adele,
+and urged her to go upon deck with Herbert. Mr. Nichols was resting from
+the fatigue of the ride. Mrs. Nichols, always feeble, did not feel equal
+to the exertion of climbing the companion way, the stairs from the upper
+deck to the cabin, and Mrs. Hyde wished to remain with her; so the
+children began their exploring expedition alone.
+
+The great steamship was now out in the blue sea. The wide decks were
+gradually being cleared of passengers as they sought their narrow
+state-rooms, and as the children were quiet and orderly, no one interfered
+with them.
+
+"This is the dining-hall," announced Eric, as the five heads peered in at
+the door of a long saloon, where tables were ranged for the accommodation
+of the passengers.
+
+Behind this saloon was the kitchen, a hot, steaming place, where men,
+mostly cooks, in dirty white jackets, rushed helter-skelter into each
+other and around the room.
+
+"Too many cooks spoil the broth," said Herbert, in an undertone, which
+remark so tickled the others that they all ran off laughing, till they met
+a stout, dignified "yellow man," holding the store-room keys, and wearing
+a cleaner jacket than the others. He was the steward, and, being cross,
+scolded the children roundly for getting in his way. In the lower cabin
+were the steerage passengers. These had no saloon with tables arranged for
+their accommodation. They ate plain bean soup from tin mugs, and hard ship
+biscuit from their hands, and their table was a long board, let down from
+above by ropes. They stood around the board while eating, and when the
+meal was finished, the temporary table was drawn up out of the way.
+
+By the time these observations had been made Mrs. Hyde joined them; and
+after speaking kind congratulations to Allan, and inviting him to attach
+himself to their party, she warned the children of the approach of dinner,
+and requested them to prepare for it.
+
+Allan was very grateful to Mrs. Hyde for her kindness, and thanked her
+politely. He travelled with her to his aunt's door, and was such a
+gentlemanly, companionable boy that they all became very much attached to
+him. It would be pleasant to take the trip from Hamburg to the western
+coast with our party; but that is impossible, as Eric has considerable
+journeying to do in another direction, and we are to accompany him. But
+the voyage was a pleasant one, and the children saw and learned many new
+and wonderful things before they reached their destination. We must not
+forget that little Froll left Hamburg snugly packed in a cage, and
+intrusted to mauma's care for the voyage. She was quite a favorite aboard
+the vessel, and made much merriment by her absurd pranks, and at Hague was
+safely landed, and transported to the hotel.
+
+At Hague, too, the Hydes and Allan Ramsdell left the vessel, after a
+sorrowful parting with Mr. and Mrs. Nichols and Herbert and Adele.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+THE CITY.
+
+
+It would seem strange to us to hear our native city called "the Boston,"
+and stranger still to hear the staid old capital called by more names than
+one.
+
+Eric, and Allan, and Nettie were quite confused in the capital of Holland
+by the variety of names given it.
+
+"Hague," "The Hague," and "La Haye" they had heard, but upon their arrival
+they found its inhabitants calling it "_Gravenhaag_," which, Mrs. Hyde
+explained, meant "The Count's Meadow."
+
+"What a comical place!" Nettie exclaimed, as they glided along through
+"canal streets" to the hotel. "Mamma, if our streets were like these,
+wouldn't you fret for our precious necks every time we looked out of a
+window? And I don't suppose you would ever let us go out to play, for fear
+we'd drown."
+
+"Still, it is very pleasant gliding under these shady trees; and if you
+look about, my dear, you will see there are also carriage roads, with
+sidewalks."
+
+"Yes," said Eric; "we've passed several."
+
+"I like these boat roads best," said Allan, "they are so novel."
+
+"Where are we going, mamma?" asked Nettie, "and how far?"
+
+"To the _Vyverberg House_, my dear. I do not know the distance."
+
+"Is it a mile?" asked Eric, of the boatman.
+
+He shook his head, saying, "_Nein_."
+
+But you are not to think that he meant nine miles, for "_nein_" is German
+for "no."
+
+The Vyverberg House was at the north end of Gravenhaag; so our friends had
+a fine view of the town, and learned much of its history from the sober
+old boatman, who, very fortunately for them, spoke English well.
+
+He pointed out the moat, which surrounded the city and formed its
+principal defense, and the drawbridges which crossed the moat.
+
+"How different from Hamburg!" said Eric. "There, a strong wall fortified
+the town, and most of its streets are now built upon its old walls of
+fortification."
+
+"The canals were similar to these," said his mother. "You did not notice
+those particularly, because you always rode in Mr. Nichols's carriage."
+
+"But this is a much better looking town than Hamburg, mamma."
+
+"Yes, indeed; the buildings are much handsomer here," she assented.
+
+"O, how lovely!" "How splendid!" cried Nettie and Allan in a breath, as
+they came upon a fine open space, ornamented with a lake, and wooded
+island in its centre.
+
+"This is the Vyverberg," the boatman said.
+
+"Mamma, how good of you to bring us here!" cried the children; "it is
+perfectly splendid!"
+
+Well might they say so. The square containing the lovely lake and island
+was surrounded by the handsomest and chief public edifices of the city,
+the finest one of them all being the former palace of Prince Maurice, now
+the National Museum, celebrated for its gallery of pictures.
+
+The Royal Museum and other famous buildings were there; but that to which
+our party's attention was most closely drawn was the hotel.
+
+It stood facing the lake, a broad, comfortable-looking brick building,
+with heavy balconies, and frowning eaves and ornamental stucco work
+surrounded its doorways and windows. Between it and the avenue lay a
+beautiful garden, and just beyond the building was a small shady grove.
+
+"Mamma," exclaimed Nettie, "I _do_ think the Germans and Dutch have the
+most exquisite gardens in the world."
+
+"They are certainly very beautiful," said Mrs. Hyde. "Here in Holland
+great attention is paid to the culture of flowers. Indeed, some of the
+finest varieties are raised here, and Holland bulbs are among our choicest
+varieties."
+
+"Mrs. Hyde, I suppose I am very stupid," said Allan, blushing, "but I do
+not know what 'bulbs' are."
+
+"No, indeed, Allan; you show great good sense in asking about whatever you
+do not understand. That is the way to learn. Bulbous plants are those
+which have a round root, and produce very few leaves; they are such as the
+tulip, hyacinth, crocus, and others. They are nearly all ornamental and
+beautiful from the very large size and brilliant color of their flowers.
+Holland tulips were once so much in demand as to bring almost fabulous
+prices. A gentleman in Syracuse gave a valuable span of horses, and
+another exchanged his farm, for a bed of the tulip bulbs."
+
+"Thank you, ma'am," said Allan. "It is very interesting. When I am a man I
+think I will be a florist. I am very fond of flowers; they were a great
+comfort to me when I was blind."
+
+As Allan ceased speaking, the boat stopped, and they were landed upon a
+short flight of stone steps. Eric gave directions for the baggage, and
+then all proceeded to the hotel.
+
+A carriage was approaching them quite rapidly, and Nettie suddenly, with a
+cry of joy, sprang forward, directly in the way of the horses. If Allan
+had not, at the risk of serious injury to himself, immediately sprung
+after her and drawn her back, she would have been run over.
+
+"Let go of me, Allan; O, let me go! It is papa!" cried Nettie.
+
+A gentleman in the carriage stopped the horses, and leaned anxiously
+forward.
+
+"Is the little girl hurt?" he asked of Allan, in German.
+
+Poor Allan did not understand him, and could not answer. But there was no
+need, for in another instant, exclaiming, "Why, 'tis my own little girl!"
+the gentleman leaped from the carriage, and Nettie was in her father's
+arms.
+
+Meanwhile Mrs. Hyde and Eric, who had been separated by carriages from
+them, and had only seen Nettie spring before the horses, and Allan go
+after her, were very much frightened. They now appeared upon the scene,
+and finding the child sobbing in a gentleman's arms, concluded, of course,
+that she was hurt.
+
+"My darling!" cried poor Mrs. Hyde, in agony, "O, is she hurt, sir?"
+
+"No, ma'am," said Allan, "she is not hurt, at all!"
+
+"Alice!" said Mr. Hyde to his wife.
+
+He had but just landed from the American steamer, and was on his way to
+the hotel, not knowing of the arrival of "The Hague," when he first saw
+Nettie and Allan. He was overjoyed to find his family thus unexpectedly.
+
+"O, Eric, Eric! I am so glad!" she exclaimed, in relief; "but Nettie!"
+
+"My little rash, excitable Nettie is safe and sound in papa's arms," he
+said. But the tremor in his voice showed how nearly Nettie had escaped
+severe injury. "Eric, my boy," he added, "have you no word for papa?"
+
+Eric, white and faint, could not speak a word, but clasped his father's
+hand convulsively.
+
+"And where is my daughter's brave protector and deliverer?" Mr. Hyde
+asked, looking around for Allan.
+
+The boy, who had bashfully retreated behind Mrs. Hyde, was brought forward
+and introduced as "our neighbor the blind boy, whose sight is now
+restored."
+
+"He is travelling home with us," Mrs. Hyde added, when her husband had
+warmly thanked him.
+
+Quite a crowd had collected around our travellers, and so eagerly and
+sympathetically inquired what had happened, that Mr. Hyde was obliged to
+tell them, briefly, the incident, as he led the way to the Vyverberg
+House.
+
+It was but a few steps, and they were soon in the hotel, where the words
+of congratulation floated after them from the crowd; and presently a
+hearty cheer followed, when the good Hollanders understood that the little
+American _Fraulien_ had found her father.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+ALLAN'S STORY.
+
+
+Poor Nettie was mortified enough by the result of her impulsive act. She
+was quite frightened by the crowd, and their joyous cheering filled her
+with terror, for she did not understand that these honest, kindly people
+were filled with joy because a little girl's heart was made happy.
+
+Her parents talked to her kindly and seriously of the necessity of
+learning to govern her impulsiveness, and Nettie promised; but, alas! the
+promise was broken again and again, until she learned by hard and terrible
+experience to be a careful, thoughtful child. She now found that she had
+spoiled every one's pleasure for the day.
+
+Her mother suffered from a nervous headache, brought on by the fright and
+excitement. Her father was obliged to leave, when they were comfortably
+established in the hotel, in order to transact some important business,
+and had taken Eric with him, starting immediately after their dinner.
+
+When he went off with Eric, Mrs. Hyde went to her room to lie down,
+forbidding Nettie to leave the parlor, that she might feel assured of the
+child's safety.
+
+Allan had a letter to write to Dr. Francis and his friends in Hamburg; so
+Nettie was obliged to amuse herself.
+
+She obtained permission from her mamma to take Froll out upon the balcony,
+and played with her for a little while quite happily. But by and by Froll
+spoiled all the fun; for she _would_ climb up the blinds and mouldings to
+the utmost limit of her chain, which was just long enough to admit of her
+reaching the window-sill and thrusting her head into the room where Mrs.
+Hyde lay. Now, Mrs. Hyde was really afraid of Froll, and these
+performances were not calculated to cure her headache. She spoke to Nettie
+once or twice from the room; but finding the monkey's visits repeated, she
+sent Allan down to tell Nettie that, if Froll came up to her window again,
+she must return to her cage, and Nettie to the parlor.
+
+"I won't let her go up again," said Nettie. "Now, Froll, be good; _do_
+climb down the other way, after this cake. See, Frolic, see!" and she
+threw a little fruit cake over the railing.
+
+Quick as a flash, Froll went after it; so very quickly, as to pull the end
+of the chain from Nettie's hand.
+
+Before the child had time to think, the mischievous monkey had seized the
+cake, and was travelling quickly up the blinds and moulding, over the
+sill, and, as Nettie drew a frightened breath, in at the window.
+
+"O, dear!" said Nettie; "now I'll have to be punished. It's silly of mamma
+to be so easily frightened."
+
+Her mamma, meanwhile, had just fallen into a doze. The rattling of the
+chain startled her; she opened her eyes, and saw the ugly little black
+monkey perched close beside her. She was quite startled, and very angry
+with Nettie, of course: after securing the monkey safely in her cage, she
+called Nettie to her, and speaking quite severely, told her to return to
+the parlor, to sit down on the lounge, and neither to rise from it, nor
+touch anything, until her father and Eric came home. Poor Nettie! It was
+very dull indeed for her, and before long she was sobbing quite bitterly.
+
+Meanwhile Allan finished his letter, and took up his cap, meaning to take
+a walk around the square. Looking into the parlor, and seeing Nettie's
+distress, he resolved to give up his walk and to comfort Nettie.
+
+"I wouldn't cry, Nettie," he said, so softly and kindly that she stopped
+crying, and looked up at him. "I will stay with you now. I've written my
+letter."
+
+Nettie's face lighted up instantly, but fell again as she exclaimed,--
+
+"But it is not fair, Allan: you told Eric you should take a walk; mamma is
+very unkind and unjust, too! I could not help Froll's going up that
+time."
+
+"O, Nettie," said Allan, "don't ever speak so of your mother, so kind and
+good. My mamma is dead, Nettie; and if yours should ever be laid away in
+the cold, cold ground, you would feel so dreadfully to think you had
+wronged her!"
+
+Nettie was crying again.
+
+"I _do_ love mamma, and it was very bad of me to speak so; but, O, dear! I
+never _do_ do anything right. I don't see why I can't be good, like
+Adele."
+
+"I know what makes Adele so good and gentle," said Allan. "She loves the
+Lord, and tries to please him."
+
+"But _I can't_!" said Nettie, piteously.
+
+"O, yes, you can, Nettie. Every one can."
+
+"Grown-up people can, I know."
+
+"And children too," said Allan, earnestly. "Let me tell you a story auntie
+used to tell me, when I was blind."
+
+Nettie assented, and Allan repeated the story of "Little Cristelle,"
+unconscious, the while, that he was fulfilling the teaching of song in
+ministering to Nettie.
+
+         "Slowly forth from the village church,
+           The voice of the choristers hushed overhead,
+         Came little Cristelle. She paused in the porch,
+           Pondering what the preacher had said.
+
+         "'_Even the youngest, humblest child_
+           _Something may do to please the Lord._'
+         'Now what,' thought she, and half sadly smiled,
+           'Can I, so little and poor, afford?'
+
+         "'_Never, never a day should pass,_
+           _Without some kindness kindly shown_,'
+         The preacher said. Then down to the grass
+           A skylark dropped, like a brown-winged stone.
+
+         "'Well, a day is before me now;
+           Yet what,' thought she, 'can I do, if I try?
+         If an angel of God would show me how!
+           But silly am I, and the hours they fly.'
+
+         "Then the lark sprang, singing, up from the sod,
+           And the maiden thought, as he rose to the blue,
+         'He says he will carry my prayer to God;
+           But who would have thought the little lark knew?'
+
+         "Now she entered the village street
+           With book in hand and face demure;
+         And soon she came, with sober feet,
+           To a crying babe at a cottage door.
+
+         "It wept at a windmill that would not move,
+           It puffed with its round red cheeks in vain;
+         One sail stuck fast in a puzzling groove,
+           And baby's breath could not stir it again.
+
+         "So baby beat the sail, and cried,
+           While no one came from the cottage door;
+         But little Cristelle knelt down by its side,
+           And set the windmill going once more.
+
+         "Then baby was pleased, and the little girl
+           Was glad, when she heard it laugh and crow,
+         Thinking, 'Happy windmill that has but to whirl
+           To please the pretty young creature so!'
+
+         "No thought of herself was in her head,
+           As she passed out at the end of the street,
+         And came to a rose tree, tall and red,
+           Drooping and faint with summer heat.
+
+         "She ran to a brook that was flowing by,
+           She made of her two hands a nice round cup,
+         And washed the roots of the rose tree high,
+           Till it lifted its languid blossoms up.
+
+         "'O, happy brook!' thought little Cristelle;
+           'You have done some good this summer's day:
+         You have made the flowers look fresh and well.'
+           Then she rose, and went on her way.
+
+         "But she saw, as she walked by the side of the brook,
+           Some great rough stones, that troubled its course,
+         And the gurgling water seemed to say, 'Look!
+           I struggle, and tumble, and murmur hoarse.
+
+         "'How these stones obstruct my road!
+           How I wish they were off and gone!
+         Then I would flow, as once I flowed,
+           Singing in silvery undertone.'
+
+         "Then little Cristelle, as bright as a bird,
+           Put off the shoes from her young, white feet;
+         She moves two stones, she comes to the third;
+           The brook already sings, 'Thanks! Sweet! Sweet!'
+
+         "O, then she hears the lark in the skies,
+           And thinks, 'What is it to God he says?'
+         And she tumbles and falls, and cannot rise,
+           For the water stifles her downward face.
+
+         "The little brook flows on as before,
+           The little lark sings with as sweet a sound,
+         The little babe crows at the cottage door,
+           And the red rose blooms; but Cristelle lies drowned!
+
+         "Come in softly; this is the room.
+           Is not that an innocent face?
+         Yes, those flowers give a faint perfume:
+           Think, child, of heaven, and our Lord his grace.
+
+         "Three at the right, and three at the left,
+           Two at the feet, and two at the head,
+         The tapers burn; the friends bereft
+           Have cried till their eyes are swollen and red.
+
+         "Who would have thought it, when little Cristelle
+           Pondered on what the preacher had told?
+         But the wise God does all things well,
+           And the fair young creature lies dead and cold!
+
+         "Then the little stream crept into the place,
+           And rippled up to the coffin's side,
+         And touched the corpse on its pale round face,
+           And kissed the eyes till they trembled wide,--
+
+         "Saying, 'I am a river of joy from Heaven;
+           You helped the brook, and I help you;
+         I sprinkle your brows with life-drops seven;
+           I bathe your eyes with healing dew.'
+
+         "Then a rose branch in through the window came,
+           And colored her lips and cheeks with red;
+         'I remember, and Heaven does the same,'
+           Was all that the faithful rose branch said.
+
+         "Then a bright, small form to her cold neck clung;
+           It breathed on her till her breast did fill,
+         Saying, 'I am a cherub fond and young,
+           And I saw who breathed on the baby's mill.'
+
+         "Then little Cristelle sat up and smiled,
+           And said, 'Who put these flowers in my hand?'
+         And rubbed her eyes--poor innocent child--
+           Not being able to understand.
+
+         "But soon she heard the big bell of the church
+           Give the hour; which made her say,
+         'Ah! I have slept and dreamt in this porch.
+           It is a very drowsy day!'"
+
+"O," said Nettie, drawing a long, deep breath, "I think, Allan, that it's
+the most beautiful story I ever heard. Do you know who wrote it?"
+
+"No," said Allan. "I used to think it was auntie's own; but I asked her
+once, and she said, 'O, no, indeed!' and that she did not know who wrote
+it, but thought it was a translation from the German."
+
+"Adele would have liked that so much!" said Nettie thoughtfully, "and she
+would have been just like little Cristelle, too."
+
+"Yes," said Allan, "I think she would; and that would have been because
+both of them were trying to please the Lord. Don't you see, Nettie?"
+
+"But after all, Allan, it is not a true story."
+
+"It's an allegory," said Allan. "It means that if we do every little
+simple kindness for the sake of helping others and pleasing the Lord, that
+we shall be children of the Lord, and live in heaven with him."
+
+"Then, Allan, you are one of the 'children of the Lord;' for you do kind,
+generous things all the time, and--"
+
+"No, no, Nettie," said Allan, hastily interrupting her. "I am very
+selfish, and I have to try very hard, and pray to the Lord Jesus to help
+me to be good."
+
+"But you _do_ give up for the sake of others, you know; now this
+afternoon--"
+
+"I am having a delightful time, and enjoying myself hugely," said Allan,
+interrupting her again, and laughing merrily. "I'll go and get my
+checker-board, and we'll have a game."
+
+Thus, thanks to the kind-hearted Allan, the afternoon wore pleasantly
+away, and when Mrs. Hyde and Eric returned, Allan and Nettie were both
+very happy, and in the midst of an exciting game. Mrs. Hyde had slept off
+her headache, and was giving orders for tea on the balcony, to the
+children's intense satisfaction.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+"SEEING THE ELEPHANT."
+
+
+"'You must wake and call me early, call me early, mother dear,'" sang
+Nettie, as she leaned over the balcony railing, gazing out upon the lovely
+lake and island before them; for Mr. Hyde had explained that, as his time
+was exceedingly limited, he could allow them only three days to explore
+Havenhaag, and at the end of that time they must leave for New York.
+
+"So we will begin with the Royal Museum to-morrow morning," he added; "and
+all who are up in good season can take a trip with me, in one of those
+shallops, around the lake."
+
+After the children had retired, Mr. and Mrs. Hyde held a consultation
+about Eric. They expected the arrival of Dr. Ward and their nephew daily,
+and were in hopes of seeing them before the steamer should sail. But there
+was just a chance that the doctor might be delayed at Paris; and if it
+should so happen, what would Eric do?
+
+His parents were unwilling to disappoint him by taking him to New York
+without making the desired tour of Germany; and they disliked the idea of
+leaving him, a young boy of thirteen, alone in a strange place.
+
+But his father at length decided to let him remain at the Vyverberg House,
+in case the doctor should be detained until after they had sailed.
+
+Eric was a thoughtful, reliable boy, and old enough, his father said, to
+learn to depend upon himself.
+
+Mrs. Hyde felt some misgivings as to this course at first; but her
+confidence in Eric was so great, that she soon consented to it, and having
+once decided in favor of the plan, she would let no thought of it trouble
+her.
+
+You may be sure that the three children did not need an "early call" in
+the morning, for they were up and dressed with the daylight, having a romp
+on their balcony with Froll, who frightened several of the occupants of
+adjacent rooms by trying to get in at their windows.
+
+Nettie told Eric how Froll had got her into disgrace, the day before, by
+the same trick.
+
+"I think," said Eric, "that she must once have belonged to an
+organ-grinder, and have been taught to climb up for money."
+
+"Very likely," said Allan. "But you had better break her of the trick.
+People, as a general thing, are not fond of the sudden appearance of a
+black monkey at their chamber windows."
+
+"Here's papa!" cried Nettie. "Now for our sail!"
+
+"Isn't Mrs. Hyde coming?" Allan asked.
+
+"Here she is! Good morning, mamma, and--O, Eric, mind Froll!" cried
+Nettie; but too late, for Froll had darted from him, and gone in at an
+open window above.
+
+There was a breathless silence.
+
+Mr. and Mrs. Hyde were very much annoyed, and the children were alarmed
+for the safety of their pet.
+
+While they were momentarily expecting a scream of terror from the occupant
+of the room, Froll reappeared at the window, and, with a grin and chatter
+of defiance, tumbled out, and clambered down towards the children, with a
+pair of gold-rimmed eye-glasses in her hand. A night-capped head, thrust
+out after her, was withdrawn again hastily, as its owner's eyes
+encountered those of Mrs. Hyde.
+
+Saucy Froll perched herself upon the top of the parlor blind, stuck the
+glasses upon her nose, and peered down at the children, who greeted this
+manoeuvre with an irresistible burst of laughter, in which their father
+and mother joined.
+
+The owner of the glasses again thrust his head out at the window, minus
+the nightcap this time, and seeing the monkey, laughed as heartily as the
+others.
+
+Leaning forward, he could reach the chain, which he caught; and then Froll
+was made to surrender her plunder; after which she was committed to her
+cage in disgrace.
+
+The sail on the lake was delightful. The water was as smooth as glass, the
+air fresh and cool, and the little island in the lake's centre was crowded
+with song birds, whose sweet, merry notes rang musically over the water,
+and were echoed back from the shore.
+
+After breakfast they prepared to visit the places of interest in
+"Gravenhaag."
+
+Mr. Hyde led the way to the National Museum, occupying the Prince Maurice
+palace--an elegant building of the seventeenth century. Numerous guides
+offered their services, and when one had been engaged, our party followed
+him up a broad, solid stairway to the famous picture gallery. Most of the
+paintings were old pieces of the German masters, and did not interest the
+children so much as their parents, for they were too young to appreciate
+them. But in one of the rooms almost entirely covering one end, was a
+grand picture, so vivid and natural that Nettie was quite startled by it
+at first. It was a picture of a young bull spotted white and brown, a cow
+lazily resting on the grass before it, a few sheep in different attitudes,
+and an aged cowherd leaning upon a fence. The background of the picture
+was a distant landscape, and all the objects were life-size.
+
+"That picture is Paul Potter's Bull--a highly prized work of art," said
+Mr. Hyde. "When the French invaded Holland, Napoleon ordered it to Paris,
+to be hung in the Louvre."
+
+"I suppose it didn't go, as it's here now," remarked Allan.
+
+"Yes, it was carried there, and excited much admiration. But when Holland
+was free of the French, and Germany victorious, the painting was
+reclaimed."
+
+The children could have staid, gazing with delight upon it, for a much
+longer time than was allowed them. The guide soon led the way to the Royal
+Museum of Curiosities, and they reluctantly followed. The collection of
+curiosities was in the lower part of the building, and here they saw all
+kinds of Chinese and Japanese articles, which, the guide informed them,
+was the largest and best collection of the kind in the world.
+
+There was enough here to interest our young folks, and old folks, too.
+
+All kinds of merchandise and manufactures, and most interesting and
+complicated toys, model cities, barges gayly-colored and filled with tiny
+men at work on tinier oars, pagodas, shops, temples, huts, houses,
+vehicles, and men, women, and children in every variety of costume,
+engaged in every conceivable employment.
+
+So fascinating was this Museum that the entire morning was most agreeably
+spent in it; and there was but just time, before leaving it, to look into
+the historical department, where were many objects of interest, and among
+other things the armor and weapons of De Ruyter, the famous admiral. At
+any other time these would have possessed great interest for the boys; but
+now they rather slighted them for the unique toys of China and Japan.
+
+After their dinner and a half hour's rest, the children paid a visit to
+the king's palace; for Gravenhaag, you must know, is the favorite
+residence of the king and court.
+
+Nettie and the boys walked very carefully, and held themselves very
+properly, such a thing as a visit to the king's palace not being a daily
+event with them. Although she would not have missed going for anything,
+Nettie was a little alarmed at their situation, as they drew near to the
+palace, a large Grecian building, with two wings, forming three sides of a
+square. She had an idea that whenever kings were displeased with people,
+they ordered their heads to be cut off; and she wondered if he _would_ be
+pleased to have their party looking at his possessions. Her fears were
+groundless, however.
+
+As they reached the square, they saw, near the entrance to the palace, a
+fine-looking man, well dressed and gentlemanly, who smiled kindly at the
+children, and, seeing their eager scrutiny of the palace, politely invited
+them to enter it.
+
+The boys were delighted, but Nettie declared that she was afraid of the
+king.
+
+"O, the king will not trouble you, my little maid," said the stranger, in
+excellent English: "walk in, walk in!"
+
+He held out his hand to Nettie, and was such a kind, pleasant-looking man,
+that Nettie's fears vanished. She gave him her hand, and the two boys
+followed her into the palace. Yes, actually _into_ it, when, a few minutes
+before, she had hardly dared venture a terrified glance at the outside,
+and was momentarily expecting the stern command,--
+
+"Off with their heads!"
+
+Their new friend led them to a lovely garden, gave them flowers and fruit,
+and chatted gayly with them all the time. Then he took them to several
+apartments of the palace, and finally into the drawing-room.
+
+The children noticed that every one made a respectful bow to their kind
+escort, and concluded that he must be some great nobleman; but judge of
+their surprise, when they found themselves being presented by him to a
+beautiful, pale lady, quietly dressed in black.
+
+"Alicia, my dear," said their nobleman, still speaking in English, "I have
+brought these young American travellers to see you. My little friends," to
+the children, "yonder lady is the _Queen of Holland_."
+
+Wasn't _that_ enough to confuse the best bred child in the world?
+
+Poor Eric had a faint idea that he must kiss the queen's toe, as a mark of
+courtesy, and stepped forward, with a dizzy singing in his ears, to do so.
+But he was saved from such a ridiculous situation by the gentle queen, who
+smiled and extended her hand; then Eric thankfully remembered that it was
+the queen's hand and the pope's toe. So he bent gracefully forward and
+kissed Queen Alicia's white fingers.
+
+Allan, of course, did the same. And Nettie had no time to consider what
+she must do, for the queen had kissed her quite warmly at first, and their
+strange guide had drawn her to his knee.
+
+"Why did you fear the king, little maid?" he asked, so kindly that Nettie
+confessed her idea of majestic temperaments. How he laughed! and how the
+queen laughed, too!
+
+"Now, I suppose you will want to go to mamma," he said, soon afterwards;
+and giving them each a gold coin, added, "Keep these to remember me by,
+and you can tell your friends that the _King of Holland_ gave them to
+you."
+
+The children were perfectly amazed, and could not speak their thanks
+properly; but of this the king took no notice. He led them to the entrance
+on the street, and then kindly said, "Good by."
+
+Mr. and Mrs. Hyde, who had become quite anxious over their long delay,
+were much relieved to see the children come safely home just before
+tea-time. They were quite as much astonished, by the account of the visit,
+as our young folks had supposed they would be.
+
+Tea, on the balcony, and some quiet music in the evening, finished up the
+day; and when the tired children sought their pillows, they quickly fell
+asleep.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+A DUTCH CITY.
+
+
+It would take too long to mention all the sights seen and famous places
+visited by the travellers in Gravenhaag.
+
+They were admitted to the palace of the Prince of Orange, and saw his
+famous collection of paintings and chalk drawings. They went over the
+_Binnenhof_, which is a collection of ancient stone buildings, containing
+a handsome Gothic hall, and the prison in which Grotius and Barneveldt
+were confined, the churches, synagogues, and the royal library, and walked
+on the _Voorhout_, a beautiful promenade, with a fine, wide road lined
+with shade trees and furnished with benches, to the _Bosch_, a finely
+wooded park belonging to the King of Holland. In its centre, reached by
+winding walks among the trees and beautiful lakes, stands the _Huys in den
+Bosch_--house in the wood--the king's summer palace.
+
+After visiting all these places, and the printing establishments and iron
+foundery, Mr. Hyde, finding he had another day before the steamer sailed,
+took them all to Rotterdam. They went by railway to the city, and drove
+around it in an open carriage, like a barouche, which was waiting at the
+depot. Mr. Hyde, who had been there before, was quite familiar with the
+place. He ordered the coachman to drive through the High Street; and soon
+the children found themselves on a street considerably higher than the
+others, lined with shops, and looking very pleasant and busy. Mr. Hyde
+told them it was built upon the dam which prevented the Maas River from
+overflowing.
+
+"And this is the only street in Rotterdam," said he, "which has not a
+canal in its centre."
+
+[Illustration: The Queen of Holland.--Page 61.]
+
+When they had gone the length of High Street, they came to street after
+street, each having a canal in the middle, lined with trees on both sides,
+and exhibiting a medley of high gable fronts of houses, trees, and masts
+of shipping.
+
+"Dear me!" cried Nettie; "I wouldn't live in such a place for the world.
+It's pretty to look at; but think of having those ships going by right
+under the drawing-room windows. They make me giddy."
+
+"How many canals!" cried Allan. "They go lengthwise and crosswise through
+every street but the High."
+
+"And these clumsy bridges," said Nettie again, pointing to the drawbridges
+of white painted wood which they saw at every little distance; they were
+made of large, heavy beams overhead, and lifted by chains for the vessels
+to pass through.
+
+Under the trees, beside the canals, were yellow brick "sidewalks," as
+Nettie called them; but they were really quays, for the landing of goods.
+
+Between the trees and the houses, on a coarse, rough pavement, among
+carts, drays, and carriages, walked the foot passengers quite frequently.
+For though there were sidewalks close to the houses, little outbuildings
+and flights of steps to doorways were continually in the way, and it was
+"impossible for one to walk straight along, or at all fast, on any of
+them," as the children said.
+
+"Mamma," said Nettie, "I should think they would break their necks every
+minute. Just look at those canals, right in the street, and nothing to
+keep people from falling into them. What do they do in dark nights?"
+
+"How do they light the streets, papa?" asked Eric.
+
+"By oil lamps, hung on ropes from the houses to the trees," said Mr. Hyde.
+"They have gas on the High Street."
+
+Allan's attention had been attracted by some curious little structures
+outside the lower windows of several of the houses.
+
+"What are they?" he asked.
+
+"Looking-glasses," said Mr. Hyde.
+
+"Looking-glasses, papa! _Outside_ their windows?" exclaimed Nettie.
+
+"Yes, dear; they are hung so as to reflect the passing objects to the
+people inside."
+
+"Then they can see whatever is going on in the streets below, without
+coming to the windows," said Eric.
+
+"What a funny custom!" exclaimed Nettie, again.
+
+The only building they visited was the Church of St. Lawrence, where they
+saw the famous great organ, a splendid structure, larger than the great
+organs of Haarlem and Boston. It is one hundred and fifty feet high,
+mounted upon a colonnade fifty feet high, and has five thousand five
+hundred pipes.
+
+In the market-place they saw a statue of the great scholar Erasmus, and
+"the house where he was born," which is now, alas! a gin-shop. From the
+_Boomptjes_, a fine quay, planted with rows of beautiful trees, and
+surrounded by elegant, dark brick mansions, our party chartered a little
+sail boat, and went out upon the Maas.
+
+The beautiful, quiet Maas, with Rotterdam's green, woody banks in view;
+the blue, blue sky, seen clearly in the limpid waters; the steamers coming
+and going, and birds flying around, adding their sweet notes to nature's
+harmony--this beautiful picture was one remembered by the children all
+their lives. To-morrow's parting hung its shadow over them, and softened
+their hearts to the true beauty everywhere expressed.
+
+The sun had set when they reached the Vyverberg for the last time.
+
+"Mamma," said Eric, regretfully, "I almost wish I was going home with you
+all."
+
+"Uncle Charlie may come to-night," said his mother, cheerfully. "At any
+rate, he will soon come. You would then wish you had staid."
+
+"Yes, I know," said Eric. "But it is very hard to let you all go home
+without me, for all that."
+
+Very careful directions were given to Eric, and he was placed under the
+care of the landlord until he should hear from his uncle.
+
+The evening was very short to Eric, who lingered by his mother, and could
+not bear to leave her side, knowing he should see her no more for a long,
+long year.
+
+Long after Nettie and Allan had left them, he staid with his parents,
+listening to their last kind advice, and sending little loving messages to
+his cousins and schoolmates.
+
+In the morning he saw them off with a heavy heart. His father's last kind
+words, Allan's affectionate greeting, Nettie's tears, and his promise to
+his mother that he would remember his prayers and daily chapter in the
+Bible, and would try to make his travels a useful, profitable study, and
+to keep himself truthful, honest, and kind, were mixed up with a hearty,
+homesick longing to go after them. His eyes filled with tears as the
+stretch of water between him and his dear ones rapidly widened; he turned
+from the wharf with a sorrowful face, slowly and sadly retracing his steps
+to the hotel.
+
+"How dismal it will be! how lonely and dismal without them!" He thought
+and murmured sorrowfully,--
+
+                    "Alone, alone, all, all alone!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+UNDER THE SEA.
+
+
+Eric had been but a few minutes in the parlor at the hotel, and was trying
+to amuse himself with little Froll, when there came a tap upon the door,
+and the servant entered with a card.
+
+Eric read the name,
+
+                             EMIL LACELLE,
+
+and written underneath,
+
+                       _No. 365 Vyverberg House._
+
+"Who in the world," thought Eric, "is Emil Lacelle? and what did he send
+this to me for?"
+
+The waiter explained that the gentleman was waiting, in his room, up
+stairs; and Eric, with Froll on his shoulder, started for No. 365.
+
+The door stood open, disclosing a pleasant room, with various kinds of
+odd-looking armor lying around: seated by a table was a gentleman dressed
+in black, whom Eric recognized at once as the one whose glasses Froll had
+stolen.
+
+This gentleman was looking for Eric, and said at once, when he entered the
+room,--
+
+"I am pleased to see you, monsieur," and politely requested him to be
+seated.
+
+"Do you speak French?" he asked.
+
+"Not very well, sir," answered Eric.
+
+"German?" inquired the stranger.
+
+"Yes, sir," said Eric.
+
+"And English?"
+
+"Yes, sir; I am an American."
+
+"I am a Frenchman," said Mr. Lacelle. "I want you, if you please, to do me
+a little service."
+
+"I will do anything that I can for you," said Eric. "I am very much
+obliged to you already for being so good-natured about your glasses."
+
+"Do not mention it!" Mr. Lacelle exclaimed, with the natural politeness of
+a Frenchman. "I have taken quite a fancy to your playful little beast."
+And he coaxed the monkey to him, and gently stroked her soft hair.
+
+"What is it that I can do for you, sir?" asked Eric. He was beginning to
+like Mr. Lacelle very much.
+
+"I have a letter to write to America, and am not enough of an English
+scholar to undertake it. Now, therefore, if I tell to you that which I
+want written, would you be so very kind, if you please, as to write for
+me, it?"
+
+"Yes, indeed; with much pleasure," said Eric; thinking the while, "No
+wonder he does not like to undertake a letter in English, when he speaks
+the language so clumsily."
+
+Mr. Lacelle, still holding Froll, brought forward a traveller's
+writing-desk, filled with perfumed French paper, and then placing it
+before Eric, and saying politely, "At your convenience, _monsieur_," he
+reseated himself.
+
+Eric arranged the paper, took up a pen, and after writing the date, sat
+waiting for his instructions.
+
+"For example, what do you say to two gentlemen?" asked Mr. Lacelle.
+
+Eric was completely puzzled, and could only say, "Sir?"
+
+"Pardon me!" exclaimed the Frenchman, "to _one_ you would say 'sir;' but
+to two, would you say 'sirs'?"
+
+"Yes," answered Eric, but, recollecting some letters he had copied for his
+father, added, "O, no: it's _Messrs._"
+
+"Exactly!" said Mr. Lacelle. "I thank you. That is fine."
+
+He appeared quite relieved, and began dictating.
+
+                                     "The Vyverberg, at the Hague,
+                                          Holland, October 21, 186-.
+
+  "Messrs. Brown and Lang:
+
+  "I have given to myself the pleasure of examining the sunken yacht in
+  the Zuyder Zee; and my opinion it is, that that vessel is injured not
+  in the least, and that I can right her for the sum of two hundred
+  dollars.
+
+                               "Most respectfully to you, Messrs.,
+                                                     Emil Lacelle,
+                                                  _Submarine Diver._
+
+  "To Messrs. Brown and Lang,
+    New York City."
+
+"Is it quite correct English?" he asked, anxiously.
+
+Eric rewrote it, transposing some of the words. Mr. Lacelle was very
+grateful for the boy's assistance. He was by no means ignorant, but his
+knowledge of English was rather limited, and he was too sensitive to be
+willing to send off a peculiar letter.
+
+Mr. Lacelle's history would be very interesting, had we time to give it
+minutely; but there is only space to say that he was the younger son of a
+noble French family, whose circumstances during his youth were so
+unfortunate that he was thrown upon his own resources at a tender age, and
+had, by great energy and perseverance, become a wealthy and famous man.
+
+Eric knew that "sub" meant under, and "marine" the sea, but he did not
+understand exactly what it all meant; so he asked Mr. Lacelle, whose
+explanation and subsequent conversation, we will render in readable
+English.
+
+"A submarine diver is one who goes beneath the water of the sea:
+professionally he examines and clears harbors, removing obstructions, such
+as rocks, &c.; draws up sunken vessels, examines wrecks, and brings up
+from the depths of the ocean money, jewels, and articles of value."
+
+"But tell me," cried Eric, eagerly, "how does he breathe? what protects
+him in the water? how--"
+
+"I will tell you all about it," said Mr. Lacelle. "There are several
+divers here in the house. We are going to the Zuyder Zee, near Amsterdam,
+to-morrow, and you shall go too, if you wish."
+
+"O, thank you, sir," said Eric. "I would like to."
+
+"Meanwhile I will tell you," proceeded the diver. "We wear an armor such
+as this," he explained, pointing out the several pieces to Eric, as he
+noticed them. "In the first place an India-rubber suit like this. You will
+observe that it is made entirely water-proof, by being cemented down in
+the seams, wherever it is sewed."
+
+Eric looked with interest upon the clumsy-looking dress, which was made
+entirely whole, except the opening at the sleeves and neck, and was cut
+away above the shoulders, like a girl's low-necked dress, to admit the
+body of the wearer; the legs were footed off like stockings, and the
+wrists of the sleeves were terminated by tight, elastic rubber bands; a
+similar band surrounded the neck, which was also finished with a flap of
+white rubber facing.
+
+"You see," continued Mr. Lacelle, "we put ourselves into this suit,
+drawing it on from the top. It is perfectly water-tight. Upon our feet we
+wear shoes such as these," pointing to a pair of heavy leather shoes, with
+broad, high straps and buckles, and lead soles half an inch thick. "They
+weigh twenty-five pounds."
+
+"Why!" exclaimed Eric; "I should call that something of a load."
+
+"The weight is imperceptible in the water," the diver explained, and,
+showing Eric a couple of box-shaped canvas bags, added, "We wear these
+also, filled with weights, just above the waist, one before and one
+behind."
+
+"But you haven't told me yet how you breathe in the water," said Eric.
+
+"I am coming to that shortly. Upon our heads we wear a helmet, made of
+copper, completely covering head, face, and neck, and firmly inserted
+between the rubber facing and the tight band about the neck of the dress,
+just above the shoulders. To the back of the helmet is fastened a rubber
+hose, attached, above the water, to the pump, which keeps the diver
+supplied with air; and there is a glass window in the front. A half-inch
+rope, called the life-line, is securely adjusted to the diver, and by it
+he is lowered into or drawn from the water; and by it, also, he signals to
+those above for more air, for withdrawal, or anything he may require."
+
+"This helmet is heavy enough," said Eric, lifting and examining the
+curious structure. "There is a valve inside: what is that for?"
+
+"To let the air, which the diver breathes from his lungs, into the water,"
+Mr. Lacelle replied. "This machine in the case," pointing to a high
+black-walnut case, "is a three-cylinder air-pump; two men in the vessel,
+or on the shore, keep the pumps constantly in motion by means of the crank
+attached to the wheel."
+
+"Why do they have more than one pump?" Eric inquired.
+
+"One pump," answered Mr. Lacelle, "would not supply enough air; it would
+work like a water-pump, sending down the air by jerks, and the receiver
+would be exhausted between the supplies of air. Two pumps would send down
+the air puff-puff, like the pumps of a steam engine; but three pumps,
+constantly in motion, send down, through the hose, a steady and continuous
+stream of air, enabling the diver to breathe freely and fully."
+
+"And can you go down into any depth of water?" Eric asked, with intense
+interest.
+
+"Not lower than one hundred feet, usually, the pressure of the water is so
+great. I have been down one hundred and fifty-six feet below the surface;
+but that was something very remarkable."
+
+"And did you never have any hair-breadth escapes, or thrilling
+adventures?" inquired Eric.
+
+"No," answered the diver, with a slight laugh and shrug of the shoulders,
+"I never did, and never knew any one who did, although I have read of many
+such incidents, altogether too marvellous for belief. You see," he
+continued, "we know that the least carelessness would probably cost us our
+lives, and we are minutely accurate about all our equipments. And,"
+lowering his voice and speaking reverentially, "I always commit myself to
+the guidance and tender care of the good Shepherd.
+
+"'They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great
+waters,
+
+"'These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.
+
+"'They cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of
+their distress.'"
+
+Eric listened, and his respect and esteem for the diver grew tenfold
+more.
+
+Mr. Lacelle continued:--
+
+"It is a strange business. The danger fascinates some, but the peril is
+never lost sight of. I put on the helmet, for the first time, more than
+ten years ago; and yet I never resume it without a feeling that it may be
+the last time I shall ever go down. Of course one has more confidence
+after a while; but there is something in being shut up in an armor weighed
+down with a hundred pounds, and knowing that a little leak in your
+life-pipe is your death, that no diver can get rid of. And I do not know
+that I should care to banish the feeling, for the sight of the clear blue
+sky, the genial sun, and the face of a fellow-man after long hours among
+the fishes, makes you feel like one who has suddenly been drawn away from
+the grasp of death."
+
+"Were you ever in great danger?" asked Eric.
+
+"I think the most dangerous place I ever got into was going down to
+examine the propeller Comet, sunk off Toledo. In working about her bottom,
+I got my air-pipe coiled over a large sliver from the stoven hole, and
+could not reach it with my hands. Every time I sprang up to remove the
+hose, my tender would give me the 'slack' of the line, thus letting me
+fall back again. He did not understand his duties, and did not know what
+my signals on the life-line meant. It was two hours and a half before I
+was relieved, and there was not a moment that I was not looking to see the
+hose cut by the ragged wood. It's a strange feeling you have down there.
+You go walking over a vessel, clambering up her sides, peering here and
+there, and the feeling that you are alone makes you nervous and uneasy.
+
+"Sometimes a vessel sinks down so fairly, that she stands up on the bottom
+as trim and neat as if she rode upon the surface. Then you can go down
+into the cabin, up the shrouds, walk all over her, just as easy as a
+sailor could if she were still dashing away before the breeze. Only it
+seems quiet, so tomb-like; there are no waves down there--only a swaying
+back and forth of the waters, and a see-sawing of the ship. You hear
+nothing from above. The great fishes will come swimming about, rubbing
+their noses against your glass, and staring with a wonderful look into
+your eyes. The very stillness sometimes gives life a chill. You hear just
+a moaning, wailing sound, like the last notes of an organ, and you cannot
+help thinking of dead men floating over and around you.
+
+"A diver does not like to go down more than a hundred and twenty feet; at
+that depth the pressure is painful, and there is danger of internal
+injury. I can stay down, for five or six hours at a time, at a hundred and
+fifteen or twenty feet, and do a good deal of hard work. In the waters of
+Lake Huron the diver can see thirty or forty feet away, but the other
+lakes will screen a vessel not ten feet from you.
+
+"Up here you seldom think of accident or death, but a hundred feet of
+water washing over your head would set you to thinking. A little stoppage
+of the air-pump, a leak in your hose, a careless action on the part of
+your tender, and a weight of a mountain would press the life out of you
+before you could make a move. And you may 'foul' your pipe or line
+yourself, and in your haste bring on what you dread. I often get my hose
+around a stair or rail, and generally release it without much trouble; the
+bare idea of what a slender thing holds back the clutch of death off my
+throat makes a cold sweat start from every pore."
+
+"I suppose you find many beautiful things," said Eric.
+
+"I wish I could describe half the wonderful and beautiful things I find,"
+cried Mr. Lacelle.
+
+"There are flowers, the most exquisite that can be imagined; groves of
+coral, beautiful caverns, with floors of silver sand, spiral caves winding
+down, down, down, covered with beautiful, delicate plants, and leading to
+beds of smooth, hard sand, which shine like gold. Feathery ferns turn
+silver and crimson beneath your hand, and beautiful fish glide around you,
+or rest in the water, with no motion save the gentle pulsation of their
+gills as they breathe.
+
+"I have stood upon the bottom of the ocean, and gazed up, awe-stricken and
+bewildered, at the wonderful masses of coral above my head, resembling
+forests of monstrous trees, with gnarled and twisted branches intertwined;
+and when I have considered that it was all the work of insects so tiny
+that millions of them were working at my feet, and I could not see them, I
+have compared my own littleness in the universe with the wonderful work of
+the least of them, and have felt my own insignificance.
+
+"And curious things have happened, too. I was once examining an old wreck
+off South America. It was an old Spanish frigate, supposed to have
+valuable jewels and a large amount of money aboard.
+
+"I was walking over the wreck one day, and, being disappointed in not
+finding any treasure, was about returning, when I observed a curious heap
+of shells, close to one of the stanchions. I picked off a handful from the
+top of the heap, which was about two feet high, and regularly piled in a
+conical form, and seeing the shells were of a most beautiful pink color,
+and very delicate, I filled my pockets with them, and then, touching the
+life-lines, was pulled up.
+
+"The divers in my employ were delighted with them, and as they were just
+the right size for buttons, one of the boys went down, with a large bag,
+to bring off the rest.
+
+"I told him just where to find them; but when he came up, he declared
+there were none to be seen anywhere.
+
+"I was sure he had not followed my directions; so I went down again; and
+judge my surprise when I found he had spoken truly. _There was not one to
+be seen._ The little wretches, disgusted with the disturbance I created,
+had all crawled away."
+
+"How curious!" exclaimed Eric. "Could you not find any of them?"
+
+"Not a vestige of them."
+
+"It was singular--wasn't it?"
+
+"Yes. I have learned many singular things since I have gone under the sea.
+For instance, water is a very powerful conductor of sound, much more so
+than air. We often blast rocks under the water--"
+
+"How can you?" interrupted Eric. "What keeps the powder dry?"
+
+"We have water-proof charges prepared."
+
+"But how can you fire them under the water?" persisted Eric.
+
+"By electricity," responded Mr. Lacelle. "A report of blasting rock a
+little distance off, will scarcely disturb us upon the land; but under the
+water it is very different. We were once blasting rocks near the coast,
+and another party were at work three quarters of a mile from us.
+
+"Our charge was set, and ready to go off; I sent word to our distant
+neighbors that we were about to blast, and they had better come up until
+it was over. My courtesy was repaid by a very profane answer, accompanied
+with a request to 'blast away.'
+
+"So the charge was set off; and the unfortunate divers in the distance
+were hauled out of the water more dead than alive. I afterwards learned
+from them that the shock was tremendous."
+
+"When you blow up the rocks, do you place the charges under them?"
+inquired Eric.
+
+"O, no; that would have no effect: holes are drilled in the rock, and the
+charges placed within them."
+
+"And when the rocks are blown, what do you do with the pieces that come
+off?" asked Eric.
+
+"We grapple them with hooks and chains, and draw them to the surface."
+
+"It is very interesting, and I am very much obliged to you for telling me
+so much," said Eric. "I wish I could learn _all_ about it."
+
+"Well, my boy, you shall go with me to-morrow; and, if you're not afraid
+to venture, I'll take you down beneath the sea with me. It is quite safe
+near Amsterdam."
+
+"O, thank you, sir," said Eric, eagerly, grasping the kind Frenchman's
+hand.
+
+"I must go now to the palace," said Mr. Lacelle. "I have an engagement
+there. Will you do me the honor to amuse yourself here until I return?"
+
+"Thank you," said Eric again, with a joyous smile; for Mr. Lacelle's room
+was stored with 'curios' from the bottom of the sea, and Eric knew he
+could spend a long time very comfortably there.
+
+He was careful to secure Froll in her cage, that she might do no mischief;
+and then he had a thoroughly good time, examining the sea things; and as
+they were all labelled with name and date, and the place from which they
+were taken, he gained much useful information.
+
+Before night a letter came from his uncle, saying that Johnny was quite
+ill, and had been unable to travel to the Hague; but he was now so much
+better, that they would probably join Eric in a day or two.
+
+"I shan't mind waiting," said Eric to himself; "and there's nothing now to
+prevent my going to Amsterdam to-morrow; but I wish uncle Charlie could be
+with me too."
+
+Then he remembered that he had been left under the landlord's care, and
+must obtain his permission. So he sought him out, and made known his
+request.
+
+The landlord of the Vyverberg was a kind-hearted German. He was quite fond
+of his little American guest, and readily consented to his plan for the
+morrow, telling Eric that Monsieur Lacelle was a remarkable man, and he
+could not be in better hands.
+
+"I think this is just the jolliest country, and full of the jolliest
+people in the world," was Eric's mental comment before he fell asleep that
+night. Indeed, there are few people more kind-hearted, thoughtful, or
+hospitable than the Dutch and Germans.
+
+Eric's parents were anxiously wondering how their boy fared alone in
+Gravenhaag.
+
+Could they have seen him as he read his promised chapter, and knelt to
+commit himself to God, or afterwards, falling asleep, his last thought of
+the kindness of the people around him, their own sleep would have been far
+lighter, and their prayers would have blessed the good foreigners.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+THRILLING EXPERIENCE.
+
+
+Early in the morning they went to Amsterdam, or Amsteldamme, as the
+Germans call it, because it controls the tides of the Amstel River.
+
+The city of Amsteldamme is situated on a marsh, and all its houses and
+buildings are erected on piles, which are driven from forty to fifty feet
+into the earth.
+
+"How many canals!" was Eric's first remark, when he obtained a good view
+of the city.
+
+"Yes," said Mr. Lacelle. "When I was a boy, I counted the bridges across
+the canals, and there were two hundred and fifty. The city is divided by
+the canals into ninety islands. Those high walls were once ramparts, but
+have since been converted into public walks. They are planted with trees,
+and make excellent promenades."
+
+"But suppose there should be another war," said Eric; "what would their
+defence be?"
+
+"They could easily flood the surrounding country."
+
+"What splendid streets these are!" said Eric, as they passed through one
+and another with rows of beautiful shade trees, handsome little stone
+bridges, broad, clean pavements, and long lines of elegant mansions.
+
+They were indeed very beautiful streets, not easily to be surpassed in all
+Europe.
+
+"I should think," said Eric, thoughtfully, "that there would be danger to
+the people here in having so much water in their town. Do the dikes ever
+give way?"
+
+"Very seldom. The people watch them very faithfully, and whenever a break
+is discovered it is instantly repaired. There is a very interesting story
+connected with the dikes of Holland, which I will tell you, to show you
+what great service a little boy did his country.
+
+"The little hero, Peter Daik, was on his way home, one night, from a
+village to which he had been sent by his father on an errand, when he
+noticed the water trickling through a narrow opening in the dike, built up
+to keep out the sea.
+
+"He stopped, and thought of what would happen if the hole were not
+closed.
+
+"He knew--for he had often heard his father tell of the sad disasters
+which had come from small beginnings--how, in a few hours, the opening
+would become bigger, and let in the mighty mass of water pressing on the
+dike, until, the whole defence being washed away, the rolling, dashing,
+angry sea would sweep on to the next village, destroying life and
+property, and everything in its way. Should he run home and alarm the
+villagers? It would be dark before they could arrive; and the hole, even
+then, might be so large as to defy all attempts to close it. What could he
+do to prevent such terrible ruin--he, only a little boy?
+
+"I will tell what he did. He sat down on the bank of the canal, stopped
+the opening with his hand, and patiently awaited the passing of a
+villager. But no one came.
+
+"Hour after hour rolled slowly by; yet there sat the heroic boy in the
+cold and darkness, shivering, wet, and tired, but stoutly pressing his
+hand against the water that tried to pass the dangerous breach.
+
+"All night he staid at his post. At last morning broke, when a clergyman,
+walking up the canal, heard a groan, and looking around to see where it
+came from, seeing the boy, and surprised at his strange position,
+exclaimed with astonishment,--
+
+"'Why are you there, my child?'
+
+"'I am keeping back the water, sir, and saving the village from being
+drowned,' answered little Peter, with lips so benumbed with cold that he
+could hardly speak.
+
+"The astonished minister at once relieved him of his hard duty, and the
+poor little fellow had but just strength enough left to alarm the
+villagers, who flocked to the dike, and repaired the breach.
+
+"Heroic boy! What a noble spirit of self-devotion he had shown! resolving
+to brave all the fatigue, the danger, the cold and darkness, rather than
+permit the ruin which would come if he deserted his post.
+
+"There is a beautiful poem on the subject by Miss Carey. I will repeat a
+few of the last verses."
+
+Then Mr. Lacelle repeated in a clear, mellow voice, whose slight foreign
+accent lent it an additional charm to Eric's ear,--
+
+             "So faintly calling and crying
+               Till the sun is under the sea,--
+             Crying and moaning till the stars
+               Come out for company.
+             He thinks of his brother and sister,
+               Asleep in their safe, warm bed;
+             He thinks of his father and mother;
+               Of himself as dying--and dead;
+             And of how, when the night is over,
+               They must come and find him at last;
+             But he never thinks he can leave the place
+               Where duty holds him fast.
+
+             "The good dame in the cottage
+               Is up and astir with the light,
+             For the thought of her little Peter
+               Has been with her all the night.
+             And now she watches the pathway,
+               As yestereve she had done;
+             But what does she see so strange and black
+               Against the rising sun?
+             Her neighbors are bearing between them
+               Something straight to her door;
+             Her child is coming home, but not
+               As ever he came before.
+
+             "'He is dead!' she cries; 'my darling!'
+               And the startled father hears,
+             And comes and looks the way she looks,
+               And fears the thing she fears;
+             Till a glad shout from the bearers
+               Thrills the stricken man and wife--
+             'Give thanks, for your son has saved our land,
+               And God has saved his life!'
+             So there in the morning sunshine
+               They knelt about the boy,
+             And every head was bared and bent
+               In tearful, reverent joy.
+
+             "'Tis many a day since then; but still,
+               When the sea roars like a flood,
+             Their boys are taught what a boy can do
+               Who is brave, and true, and good;
+             For every man in that country
+               Takes his son by the hand,
+             And tells him of little Peter,
+               Whose courage saved the land.
+             They have many a valiant hero
+               Remembered through the years,
+             But never one whose name so oft
+               Is named with loving tears.
+             And his deed shall be sung by the cradle,
+               And told to the child on the knee,
+             So long as the dikes of Holland
+               Divide the land from the sea."
+
+They had now come to the Y, an inlet of the Zuyder Zee, where several of
+the men under Mr. Lacelle were at work.
+
+"Here we are," said Eric, gladly. "Here we are! Now for my 'thrilling
+experience,' as the newspapers say."
+
+There was a tent close by, into which they stepped to change their dress
+for the diver's costume.
+
+"Nobody would know me now, I am sure," said Eric to himself, when, with
+much difficulty, and considerable help from the attendants, he emerged
+from the tent arrayed in the suit. "I can hardly drag my feet along, they
+are so heavy; and I'm decidedly glad that my every-day hat is not like
+this helmet."
+
+Mr. Lacelle had given him particular directions about diving, and now the
+life-line and air-hose were adjusted, and the brave boy stood beside the
+professional diver, waiting for the descent.
+
+The signal was given, and soon Eric was going down underneath the blue,
+cold waves. He could not see Mr. Lacelle; it seemed as if he were never to
+stop going down: the water sang around his ears; and seeing nothing but
+water made him giddy and faint. He thought he must certainly smother, and,
+for an instant, was thoroughly afraid.
+
+Then he remembered that, at a single touch of the life-line, the men above
+would instantly draw him up, and, feeling quite at his ease again, began
+to look about him. To his great joy he saw the bottom, and was presently
+upon it, and walking towards Mr. Lacelle.
+
+Suddenly a sound like heavy peals of thunder reverberated through the
+water. At a motion from Mr. Lacelle, Eric looked quickly upward, and saw a
+school of tiny fish, darting with great velocity towards them, and several
+large fishes in pursuit of the little ones.
+
+On they came, straight towards Eric and Mr. Lacelle; but just before
+reaching them, they turned sharply off in the opposite direction; as they
+turned, the noise increased to a heavy peal, and ceased as they passed
+from sight.
+
+"How wonderful!" exclaimed Eric, involuntarily; and his voice sounded like
+roaring and screaming, though he had spoken quite softly.
+
+Mr. Lacelle then held at arm's length a small cartridge, which he
+signalled, by the lines, for the men above to ignite. Almost instantly it
+exploded. Eric was perfectly astounded by the effects of the report.
+
+It seemed as if huge rocks had fallen upon his helmet; and such a
+crashing, rending sound as accompanied the shock! It was quite as much as
+he was able to bear in the way of noise. Mr. Lacelle told him afterwards,
+that the noise of the report in the air would be no louder than that of a
+common fire-cracker.
+
+Eric hoped that Mr. Lacelle would make no more experiments in sound, and
+the diver did not seem at all anxious to do so.
+
+It was rather awe-inspiring, Eric thought, to be walking easily about at
+the bottom of the sea, knowing that around and above him lay the mighty
+element of death. And there, under the water, the eighth psalm came into
+his mind, and he realized its beauty as he had never been able to before.
+
+He walked around, picking up shells and curious plants, and being careful
+to keep near Mr. Lacelle, who was making some calculations about the
+building of a huge bridge, contemplated by the king. Several large fish
+swam lazily up to Eric, eyed him curiously, and let themselves be patted
+upon the back.
+
+"How amused Nettie would be!" he thought, and wished the huge fish were
+less inquisitive, as he did not particularly fancy them. He was quite
+interested in the flowers, which were as brilliant and beautiful as any
+upon the land, when suddenly he discovered a heap of shells quite similar
+to those which Mr. Lacelle had described the day before. He put several
+handfuls of them into his diver's basket, and then, moving off a few
+steps, he watched to see what they would do.
+
+When all was quiet, they moved slowly at first, then more rapidly, and all
+crawled away in the same direction.
+
+"That is very curious," thought Eric to himself. "I wish I knew what they
+are."
+
+When he moved again, something struck his foot. Looking quickly down
+through the window in his helmet, he saw a small, square box, made of tin,
+and fastened with a padlock. A key was in the lock, and Eric turned it and
+opened the box, wondering what it could contain. The lid flew back, and
+disclosed an inner cover, on which was painted a coat of arms, with the
+name "Arthur Montgomery" engraved beneath. A spring was visible, and,
+pressing it, Eric disclosed to his astonished vision a number of English
+sovereigns--gold coins worth about five dollars apiece.
+
+His first impulse was to show the prize to Mr. Lacelle, but he could not
+readily attract his attention. So, putting the box in his basket after
+safely locking it, he busied himself with gathering the beautiful flowers
+within his reach, and storing them in his basket to press for his mother.
+
+Suddenly he felt himself being drawn up slowly towards the surface, and,
+turning his head, saw that Mr. Lacelle was also ascending.
+
+He knew that they were being drawn up because Mr. Lacelle wished him to
+catch the return train to Gravenhaag, and had cautioned the men at the
+pumps not to let them remain under water more than half an hour; but he
+was extremely surprised to find that the time had passed.
+
+On reaching "terra firma," so much hurrying had to be done in changing his
+armor for more convenient land apparel, that he entirely forgot the box of
+money until seated beside Mr. Lacelle in the carriage. Then he showed it
+to him.
+
+"That _was_ a find, for so young a submarinist," said Mr. Lacelle. "It is
+yours, my boy; divers consider themselves entitled to all such
+unexpectedly discovered valuables."
+
+"But," said Eric, eagerly, "the owner's name is upon the box; and see!
+here is a letter addressed to 'Arthur Montgomery, Bart., Clone, Lancaster
+County, England.' I think I ought to return it."
+
+"Yes," said Mr. Lacelle, pleased with Eric's honesty, "conscientiously you
+ought; but you are not obliged to by law."
+
+"I would much rather," said Eric, earnestly. "Will you please to inquire
+about it, and see that it reaches the owner?" Mr. Lacelle promised, and,
+seeing Eric safely aboard the cars, bade him good by, and left for
+Amsteldamme.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+UNCLE JOHN.
+
+
+When Eric returned to Gravenhaag, whom should he see but his uncle, Mr.
+Van Rasseulger? And he being the last person in the world that Eric would
+have thought of meeting there, of course he was decidedly surprised.
+
+"Uncle John!" he exclaimed, joyfully. "Who would have thought of seeing
+you here?"
+
+"You wouldn't, I'll wager, young man, or you'd not have gone wild goosing
+it over the water at Amsterdam."
+
+"I've had a glorious time!" exclaimed Eric. "I've been walking upon the
+bottom of the Zuyder Zee."
+
+"It's high time somebody arrived to look after you."
+
+"But, uncle John, it was perfectly safe. Mr. Lacelle is an experienced
+diver; and the landlord under whose care papa left me gave me permission.
+Besides, nothing happened--"
+
+"How stout and healthy you have grown!" exclaimed Mr. Van Rasseulger,
+interrupting Eric. "If Johnny has improved as much as you have, I shall
+send him abroad frequently."
+
+"How is Johnny? He was ill when uncle Charlie wrote to me."
+
+"Ill!" exclaimed Johnny's fond papa, instantly growing anxious. "What did
+the doctor say, Eric?"
+
+"Only that I must wait here a day or two, until Johnny was well enough to
+come on."
+
+"And where were they when he wrote?"
+
+"At Paris," said Eric.
+
+"I meant to stay with you to-night," said his uncle; "but I believe I
+shall take the boat to Antwerp to-night, and catch the Express to Paris. I
+must look after my boy."
+
+"O, please take me with you," pleaded Eric. "Mr. Lacelle is going to stay
+at Amsterdam, and I shall be terribly lonesome here, all alone again."
+
+"Well, get your things together. Can you be ready in two hours?"
+
+"In ten minutes," cried Eric, gayly: "mamma did all my packing before she
+left. I've only to tumble a few things into my travelling-bag, and to feed
+myself and Froll."
+
+"The little monkey? I've made her acquaintance. We're quite good
+friends."
+
+"Uncle John, if you haven't seen the doctor or Johnny, how _did_ you find
+me?" said Eric, who had been puzzling himself with this question for some
+time.
+
+"Entirely by accident," replied his uncle. "I arrived here about two hours
+since, and, finding all your names on the register, supposed I had stepped
+right into a family party; but then I learned that your father and mother,
+and that bundle of mischief called Nettie, had gone home, and that
+_Mynheer_ Eric had gone to Amsteldamme to explore the mysteries of the
+bottom of the sea. I was so frightened that if there had been a chance of
+hitting you, I should have gone directly after you."
+
+"I wish you had," said Eric, "in time to have gone down into the water."
+
+Mr. Van Rasseulger, for all his talk about Eric's expedition, was heartily
+pleased with his brave little nephew, and was thinking to himself such an
+honest, energetic, courageous boy would make his way well in the world.
+
+Eric had no idea that he was a particularly interesting boy. He was large
+and strong for his age, easy in his manners, and had a frank, joyous
+countenance, surmounted by thick, brown, curly hair. His eyes were very
+honest eyes indeed, often opening wide in a surprised way, when they saw
+anything not quite right, and blazing and flashing upon the aggressor when
+they witnessed wrong, cruelty, or injustice. He had been brought up upon
+the creed, "First of all, _do right_; and _be a gentleman_." And being
+thoughtful, careful, and obedient, he was trusted and respected as few
+boys of his age rarely deserve to be.
+
+Of course he had his faults. No young lad is without them. But the
+difference between Eric and other boys was, that when he became conscious
+of a fault in his character, he immediately set about overcoming it, and
+therefore soon got rid of it. But he was obliged to keep a very careful
+watch over himself, for little faults creep into one's character faster
+than the little weeds spring up in the flower garden, and, like the weeds,
+too, if at once removed are almost harmless, but if allowed to spread and
+flourish they soon spoil the entire character, as the weeds spoil the
+garden.
+
+While we have been moralizing, Eric has eaten his supper, neatly packed up
+the few things left about, and, with Froll and his travelling-bag, starts
+from the Vyverberg for Paris.
+
+A very common-looking steamboat took them to Antwerp. There is not much to
+relate of their journey, for Eric's adventures had so tired him that he
+slept all the way, only awakening to take the cars at Antwerp, and rousing
+once again to know they were passing through Brussels, and to hear his
+uncle say that the finest altar in the world was in the cathedral there.
+They arrived at Paris about noon of the next day, and, after considerable
+trouble, found that Dr. Ward had taken rooms in a hotel in the _Place
+Vendome_, whither they at once repaired.
+
+Eric wanted to give his uncle and cousin a surprise. So Mr. Van Rasseulger
+did not send up their names, but they stole softly up the stairs, and
+opened the door.
+
+Johnny was alone, lying upon the floor, with a very fretful, discontented
+expression upon his countenance.
+
+He turned his head towards the door, and there, upon the threshold,
+blushing and laughing, stood Eric; and, better still, behind him was papa.
+The child uttered a joyful cry, and sprang into his father's arms, who
+hurried to meet him, exclaiming,--
+
+"My boy, my Johnny-boy, what is the matter?"
+
+"It's only the mumps," said Johnny, reassuringly, and holding out his hand
+to Eric. "O, ain't I glad you've come!" he added. "It's awful dull here,
+uncle Charlie is away at the hospital so much."
+
+"Well, how have you been, excepting the mumps?" inquired his father,
+relieved enough to find nothing serious the matter with his petted boy.
+
+"Bully!" exclaimed John, very improperly. "See how strong I'm getting,
+papa!" and he threw out his fist suddenly, giving his father a very
+uncomfortable punch in the side.
+
+"I'm glad you didn't illustrate on me," said Eric, laughing. "Uncle John,
+are you a tester?"
+
+"I'm an _at_testor, certainly," replied his uncle. "Johnny, if you
+demonstrate your power of strength so forcibly and practically, some one
+will apply oil of birch to you."
+
+"Then I'll be in first-rate running order," retorted Johnny, "and you'll
+have to take me to Strasbourg."
+
+"Indeed," said his father, "I think so."
+
+As they all sat, merrily talking, Dr. Ward returned, and was pleased and
+surprised enough to find his unexpected guests. His greeting was very
+cordial.
+
+Eric he was particularly glad to see; he had been worried about leaving
+him so long, alone, at the Hague; and Johnny had been too ill to travel or
+to be left with strangers, and Eric was too inexperienced, his uncle
+thought, to go from the Hague to Paris alone. So it was quite a relief to
+find him safely at hand.
+
+"And now," he said, after talking about home affairs for quite a while, "I
+see my way out of a dilemma. I have been anxious to attend two or three
+medical lectures at Heidelberg, and if you will look after the boys for a
+day or two, I can have my desire."
+
+"Certainly; I will for a day or two. At the end of that time I must go
+home. Here's this dutiful boy of mine, with never a word for mamma, Annie,
+or Adolphe.
+
+"Well," said Johnny, remonstrating, "you took me so by surprise, papa,
+that I forgot all about them."
+
+"Your filial affection must be strong," said his father, laughing at him.
+
+Johnny did not like this, and proposed to Eric to take a walk, and "see
+Paris."
+
+While they were gone, Mr. Van Rasseulger arranged with the doctor to meet
+them again at Heidelberg; meanwhile he would keep the boys with him for a
+week. They would leave Paris the next day, if John was well enough.
+
+Dr. Ward thought he would be.
+
+Mr. Van Rasseulger explained that he had been obliged to visit Rotterdam
+and Hague suddenly on business, and must go to Vienna, in Austria, and
+start for home, within a fortnight.
+
+"Don't neglect to take the boy to Munich, and show him to his grandfather;
+and don't forget your promise to 'make him as hearty and strong as Eric,'"
+he said.
+
+Poor little Johnny, in the interval between his own birth and that of his
+baby brother,--a space of seven years,--had been petted and pampered, and
+almost thoroughly spoiled. His temper had suffered with his constitution,
+and he became a delicate, sickly child. His parents, while living in New
+York, had lost three boys, and fearing to lose Johnny, too, had sent him
+to travel abroad, under Dr. Ward's care. Mr. Van Rasseulger was a native
+of Germany, and thought there was no air so invigorating as that breathed
+in on German soil. He had great hopes of its curing John's delicacy; and
+Dr. Ward thought that a strange country and traveller's hardships would be
+excellent aids in restoring the boy's natural health and good-nature.
+
+Meanwhile, Eric was seeing Paris under Johnny's guidance. To be sure, he
+could not see much in a day; but he took a look at the war column in the
+_Place Vendome_, saw the _Palace of the Tuileries_, the _Jardin des
+Plantes_, and entertained his little cousin with an account of his visit
+to the King of Holland, and his submarine diving, both of which Johnny
+thought very wonderful. Eric was not much concerned at seeing so little of
+Paris at the time, for he knew that the doctor intended to spend a month
+there, after visiting Munich. He bought a guide-book while out with
+Johnny, and then they returned to their rooms in time to see the doctor
+start for Heidelberg.
+
+"Eric," said Johnny, when Dr. Ward had gone, "I must show you the American
+railway here."
+
+"Why?" said Eric; "I'm sure that is the last thing I came to Paris to
+see."
+
+"Now," said Johnny, importantly, "I suppose you think you know just what
+it is; but you're quite as mistaken as if you were a donkey without
+ears."
+
+"John!" said his father, reprovingly.
+
+"That was only a 'simile,' papa," answered Johnny, roguishly, as he led
+Eric out again.
+
+Sure enough, when they reached the railway, Eric found that his idea of it
+had been far from correct.
+
+"It is nothing at all but an omnibus running upon rails," he said: "I
+don't see why they call it American."
+
+"It isn't anything like as nice as our street cars--is it?" answered
+Johnny, with a flourish of national pride quite pardonable in so young an
+American.
+
+Just then the conductor, supposing the two boys wished to be passengers,
+saluted them politely, exclaiming, "_Complete, complete!_" and the omnibus
+rolled off along the rails.
+
+"What did he mean?" asked Eric, quite puzzled.
+
+"He said the coach was full," Johnny replied. "They are never allowed to
+carry more passengers than there are seats for."
+
+"That is still less and less like an American railway," said Eric,
+laughing, and thinking of the crowded cars and overstrained horses he had
+so often seen and pitied, wearily perambulating the streets of New York.
+
+"Let's have some cake and coffee," Johnny proposed, as they were strolling
+towards home. "I think French coffee is hard to beat."
+
+"When I was your age," remarked Eric, "mamma almost decided to live in
+Paris; but I am very glad she did not, for I think New York a great deal
+nicer."
+
+Johnny led the way to a cafe--that is, a coffee-house,--and here they
+regaled themselves with rolls and delicious coffee.
+
+Eric was shocked to see Johnny appropriate a couple of cakes and two lumps
+of sugar, left over from their repast, and convey them to his pocket.
+
+"Why, Johnny!" he exclaimed, in a tone of mortification.
+
+"They all do so," said John, laughing. "A Frenchman thinks he has a right
+to everything that he pays for. Watch the others."
+
+Eric looked around and saw several Frenchmen, who had finished their
+lunch, following John's example.
+
+"Well," said he, "if I should do that at Millard's, how they _would_ all
+stare!"
+
+Johnny was quite pleased with his own importance in being able to show
+Eric around the city, and proposed several places that they "ought to
+see." But the afternoon was waning, and a damp, chilly breeze sprang up,
+which Eric knew, from experience, was not at all good for the mumps. So he
+very prudently hurried Johnny home, holding forth Froll's loneliness as an
+additional inducement.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+STRASBOURG.
+
+
+"Uncle John," said Eric, the next morning, "do you think of going through
+Strasbourg, when we leave for Munich?"
+
+"No," said his uncle; "I have business to attend to on another route."
+
+"But, papa," expostulated Johnny, "we want to see the great clock in the
+Strasbourg Cathedral."
+
+"It will be impossible for me to go," Mr. Van Rasseulger said, very
+decidedly; but seeing that both the boys were greatly disappointed, he
+added, "If you could be a sober boy, Johnny, I might trust you alone with
+Eric, and you might go to Switzerland by the Strasbourg route, meeting me
+at Lucerne."
+
+"By ourselves? O, how jolly!" Johnny exclaimed, turning a somersault upon
+the floor.
+
+"But the question is, my boy, _Can_ I trust you?"
+
+"O, papa!"
+
+"I will consider it, John. I can trust Eric, but your inclinations are apt
+to be rather unsteady."
+
+That was certainly true, for Johnny's inclination just then was, back
+parallel with the floor, heels at a right angle with his head.
+
+"But I think I will try you," continued his father. "I shall put you under
+Eric's care, and require you to obey and refer to him. You may start
+to-morrow morning, which will give you time to spend a day and night at
+Strasbourg, and to meet me at Lucerne, on the evening of the day after
+to-morrow."
+
+"Hurrah! hurrah!" screamed Johnny, leaping to his feet, "hurrah for
+Strasbourg and its wonderful clock! Three cheers for--Good gracious!"
+
+The excited boy's exuberant spirits went up with Eric's guide-book to the
+ceiling of the room, and returned in bewilderment as the unfortunate book
+came down in a basin of water in which he had been sailing his magnetic
+ship.
+
+"An encouraging beginning that," remarked his father, gravely.
+
+"I didn't mean to, Eric," Johnny said quite meekly; "I guess 'twill dry in
+the sun."
+
+"Then you had better put it there," said Mr. Van Rasseulger; "you are
+tearing the leaves by holding the book in your wet hands." Johnny spread
+the guide-book upon a sunny window-seat, listening with interest to Eric's
+proposal.
+
+"I must study the route on the map down stairs; and if you are willing,
+uncle John, I will go out now with Johnny and get the tickets."
+
+"Certainly," said his uncle; "but my advice would be to study a dry
+guide-book and the map before getting the tickets; there may be a choice
+of routes."
+
+This was excellent advice, as the boys soon found. There were three
+routes, and some time elapsed before they decided upon one.
+
+At length they chose the shortest of all, as their time was limited and
+they wanted it all for Strasbourg. Their choice, therefore, fell upon the
+most direct route, it being straight across the country of France, and for
+a distance of about two hundred and fifty miles traversed by rail.
+
+They consulted with Monsieur Richarte, the landlord, and their uncle, and
+decided to take an early train on the following morning. A ride of eight
+hours would suffice for the journey, and their early start would enable
+them to have a few hours for sight-seeing in the day and twilight.
+
+But tourists should always allow for detention. For although Mr. Van
+Rasseulger saw them safely aboard the early train in the morning, an
+accident detained them at Vitry, and when they reached Strasbourg it was
+night--a dark, rainy, dismal night.
+
+They rode directly to the principal hotel, a large, roomy,
+comfortable-looking place, and immediately after supper proceeded to their
+room for the night.
+
+Before retiring, Johnny looked out from between the crimson window
+curtains, to see what he could of the city; but little was visible.
+Opposite the window was a little two-story house, with queer stagings
+about the chimneys. He called Eric to look at them, saying he guessed the
+chimneys were being rebuilt.
+
+"No, Johnny," said Eric. "You will find those stagings upon almost every
+house here. They are erected by the house-owners for the especial
+accommodation of storks that build in the chimneys and are the street
+scavengers of Strasbourg."
+
+"Are they?" said Johnny, sleepily; "well, let's go to bed." They were both
+very tired and sleepy boys, and prepared for a good night's rest.
+
+"I think I shall sleep well," Johnny remarked.
+
+"And I'm sure I shall," said Eric. "I've travelled nearly six hundred
+miles since night before last."
+
+But they were destined to disappointment, for from the large, open
+fireplace in the room there issued, all night long, a continuous wailing,
+moaning, rustling sound, caused by the wind; added to which were the
+dismal groanings of the old storks and piping of the young ones.
+
+It seemed to Eric that he had but just fallen asleep, when Johnny was
+shaking him and hallooing in his ear.
+
+"Eric! Eric! it's a splendid morning! Get up quick. I want to go out and
+see the sights. Hurry up!"
+
+"Yes," said Eric.
+
+Johnny scampered down stairs, and before long Eric joined him in the hall,
+where the impatient boy was walking on his hands, with his heels in the
+air, by way of diversion.
+
+"All ready?" he cried, and resumed a position more convenient and becoming
+for a promenade, as they started.
+
+They had a fine, breezy walk.
+
+Strasbourg is not far from the Rhine; and one of its tributaries, the
+graceful, sparkling _Ill_ River, which, as Johnny suggested, is a very
+_good_ stream, washes the city's walls and supplies it with water.
+
+This city is famous for its immense fortifications, its Minster, or
+Cathedral, and the Astronomical Clock of the Three Sages.
+
+Its form is triangular, and the entire city is enclosed by a bastioned
+line of ramparts and several outworks.
+
+There are seven entrance gates, and on the east side is a strong
+pentagonal or five-sided tower.
+
+There is a network of sluices, by which the surrounding country can be
+inundated. Strasbourg is one of the most important fortresses and arsenals
+of France, besides being its principal depot of artillery. It is
+pleasantly situated, but most of its streets are narrow, with lofty
+eaves-drooping houses.
+
+The boys were surprised to hear its inhabitants speaking German instead of
+French, but learned that the town was originally German, and was ceded to
+France in one of the Louis XIV. wars, when it became the capital of _Bas
+Rhin_, a division of France, on the eastern frontier.
+
+In many of the streets of Strasbourg are little wooden bridges, similar to
+canal bridges. These are built over the Ill, which intersects the city in
+all directions.
+
+When Eric and Johnny took their stroll, it was market-day, and, even at
+that early hour, the streets presented a lively scene.
+
+Carts and drays were the stalls in the open street, and people were buying
+and selling at a great rate.
+
+The fish stalls were surrounded by storks; but the people seemed to mind
+them no more than the birds minded the people. These storks are great
+favorites with Germans. In Strasbourg they are as tame as our domestic
+hens, and it is very comical to see them strutting importantly about, as
+if they had as good a right to the sidewalk as the other citizens.
+
+The boys returned to the hotel with ravenous appetites, but, hungry as
+they were, could not appreciate the described daintiness of a most
+apparently unpalatable pie, called _pate de foie gras_; so they were
+obliged to content themselves with other edibles and fragrant French
+coffee.
+
+"Now for the minster!" said Eric, as they arose from the table.
+
+"The _minister_?" exclaimed Johnny; "what for?"
+
+Eric laughed.
+
+"Not _minister_, but _minster_. A minster is a cathedral church."
+
+"I don't care much about the minster, then," said Johnny, running up
+stairs on all fours. "I've seen cathedrals till I'm sick of them. But this
+clock _is_ curious, and I'm anxious to see it."
+
+"Johnny," expostulated Eric, "walk properly. You ought to have been a
+monkey.--And that reminds me," he added, "I must feed Froll and fasten
+her, that she may do no mischief while we're at the cathedral."
+
+Little Froll received an ample breakfast, and her silver chain was
+securely fastened. Then the boys left her.
+
+When they had been gone a while, and her breakfast had disappeared, Froll
+became lonesome, and cast her eyes about to see with what mischief she
+might best employ herself. But thoughtful Eric had placed every temptation
+out of her reach.
+
+Meanwhile Eric and Johnny were viewing the wonders of the famous
+astronomical clock.
+
+This clock is in the Strasbourg Cathedral. It was built in the cathedral,
+before its completion, in the year 1439, and was invented by Isaac
+Habrecht, a Jewish astrologer.
+
+European clocks were first invented in the eleventh century, by the
+Saracens, and used principally for monasteries. They were very rude,
+simple affairs, and sometimes would only "go" when somebody pushed the
+pendulum, which was rather inconvenient than otherwise.
+
+So wise mathematicians tried to make improvements; and some succeeded,
+among whom was Isaac Habrecht, who, in the fourteenth century, invented
+the most wonderful clock in the world, and called it the "Clock of the
+Three Sages," because once in every hour the figures of the Three Kings of
+the Orient came out from a niche in its side, and made a reverential bow
+before an image of the Virgin Mary, seated just above the dial-plate, on
+the front of the clock.
+
+It is built of dark wood, gilded and carved, and is sixty feet high. In
+shape it is somewhat similar to a church, with a tower on either side of
+the entrance; and these towers of the clock are encircled by spiral
+staircases, which are used when repairs are necessary.
+
+When Isaac Habrecht invented this wonderful clock, he meant it to run
+forever, always displaying to the good people of Strasbourg the days of
+the month, places of the sun and moon, and other celestial phenomena; and
+while he lived it worked admirably: but when he had been dead a while, the
+clock stopped; and as nobody else understood its machinery, it had quite a
+vacation.
+
+After a while, however, the good people of Strasbourg took it in hand, and
+it was repaired and set going--only to stop again. Thus it went on until
+Napoleon's time.
+
+Strasbourg, originally a German town, was ceded to Louis XIV. in 1681; so
+the clock was French property, and Napoleon decided it must be brought to
+life again. Under the most skilful French and German machinists this
+repairing took place. It was eminently successful _this_ time, and, when
+completed, was a great improvement on the old clock.
+
+It will now give not only the time of Strasbourg, but of every principal
+city in the world; also the day of the week and month, the course of the
+sun and planets, and all the eclipses of the sun and moon, in their
+regular order.
+
+In an alcove, above the dial, is an image of the Saviour; and every day,
+at noon, figures of the twelve apostles march round it and bow, while the
+holy image, with uplifted hands, administers a silent blessing. A cock, on
+the highest point of the right hand tower, flaps his wings and crows three
+times; and when he stops, a beautiful chime of bells rings out familiar
+and very musical tunes.
+
+A figure of Time, in a niche on one side, strikes the quarter hours from
+twelve to one; and four figures--Childhood, Youth, Manhood, and Old
+Age--pass slowly before him. In a niche, on the other side is an angel
+turning an hour-glass. The clock is in the south transept of the
+cathedral.
+
+Persons travelling abroad usually take Strasbourg on their route, to visit
+its cathedral,--the spire of which is the highest in the world, being four
+hundred and sixty feet high,--and to see its wonderful astronomical
+clock.
+
+Eric and Johnny were very much pleased with the famous clock. The guide
+who explained and told its history to them was very good-natured, and even
+allowed them to ascend the tower of the cathedral, which, usually, is not
+allowable.
+
+Here they had a most magnificent view, which I cannot attempt to describe,
+and only advise you to go and see it for yourself.
+
+Before leaving the cathedral, they bought two photographs of the wonderful
+clock, intending to send them home, with a description of their visit to
+Strasbourg.
+
+By the time their explorations were finished, Johnny declared that he was
+so hungry, he could almost eat one of those goose pies. The morning was
+quite gone. It would soon be time to take the train for Lucerne, and they
+must have dinner.
+
+"Won't Froll be glad to see us back!" exclaimed Johnny, as they reached
+their room; "she doesn't like to be left alone."
+
+Eric had bought some nuts for the little creature, and went with them
+straightway to her cage.
+
+The cage was just as he left it; the silver chain was there, too, fastened
+to one of the bars and to the tiny collar; but the collar hung dangling at
+the end of the chain, and Froll was nowhere to be seen.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+ERIC IN TROUBLE.
+
+
+A thorough search was instantly made; but neither around the room, nor
+behind the furniture, nor upon the gallery roof, were any traces to be
+found of the lost Frolic.
+
+"It is too bad," cried Eric, in perplexity, while Johnny looked ready to
+cry. "We must speak to the landlord, and ask him what we are to do."
+
+Eric's German was by no means perfect; but he managed to make the
+good-natured landlord understand their trouble. He made inquiries of all,
+directly; but no one had seen the little monkey since the boys had left
+her. He did not think it at all likely that she had been stolen, for no
+one could get to the boys' room without being noticed by some of the
+servants, and he was quite sure that she would return safely to her
+comfortable quarters; so he advised the boys to leave the window open for
+her, and to go at once to the dinner he had been for some time keeping for
+them.
+
+His sensible advice was unwillingly followed; but Froll took no advantage
+of the window left open for her benefit.
+
+Eric and Johnny waited and watched impatiently, until it was almost time
+to start for the train. Then Eric left directions with the landlord, in
+case the monkey should be found and captured; promising to send for her.
+He was just going to call Johnny, when he heard his voice, crying,
+excitedly, "Eric, Eric!" and hoping Froll had returned, ran quickly up the
+stairs.
+
+"See there, what I found on the floor," exclaimed Johnny, as he entered
+the room, and held up before Eric's astonished gaze a jewelled ring, that
+flashed and sparkled in the sunlight.
+
+"Good gracious!" exclaimed Eric; "on the floor of _this_ room?"
+
+"Yes," answered Johnny, "on the floor, just where you're standing. It's a
+mercy we haven't stepped on it. Don't you think so?"
+
+"We must find the owner at once. Isn't it splendid!" said Eric,
+admiringly; "three diamonds and an emerald; it must have cost a fortune."
+
+Just at this juncture the door opened, and the landlord, followed by a
+French officer and a civilian, entered the room. The landlord exclaimed,
+in German,--
+
+"I beg your pardon, young gentlemen, but a serious loss has occurred in
+the house, and as you are about leaving it, perhaps you will be kind
+enough to let us inspect--"
+
+"_Ah! mon Dieu! il y ait!_"[1] screamed the French civilian, darting
+towards Eric and John, and, snatching the ring from Johnny's hand,
+displayed it triumphantly before the landlord and the officer.
+
+"I found it on the floor," said Johnny. "Is it yours?"
+
+"A likely story!" muttered the Frenchman.
+
+"I'm very glad you've got it," said Eric, with dignity. "My cousin found
+it on the floor a minute ago, and we were on the point of taking it to the
+landlord when you came in."
+
+Eric spoke slowly and distinctly, and with an air of honest truth that at
+once convinced the landlord. But the excitable little Frenchman, who had
+been clasping the precious ring, and murmuring, "_Ciel, ciel! ah, ciel!_"
+in an incoherent way, now sprang at Eric, and grasping him by the collar,
+exclaimed, angrily, "O, you fine fellow! you wicked one! where is my--my
+gold?--my gold? where is it?" and he gave the boy a series of shakes.
+
+Eric's anger was fully aroused. With flashing eyes, "How dare you!" he
+said, indignantly, and, turning upon the Frenchman, flung him with some
+violence against the wall.
+
+This made the little Frenchman still more furious; he would have sprung
+again upon Eric, but the officer interfered. Johnny, with his eyes almost
+starting from his head, had terrifiedly regarded this little scene,
+doubling his fists to aid in Eric's rescue.
+
+Eric turned indignantly to the landlord,--
+
+"What is the meaning of all this? Are two defenceless American boys, your
+guests, to be openly insulted in your presence without protection?"
+
+"Count D'Orsay has been robbed of his diamond ring and a sum of money,"
+explained the landlord. "He insisted that no person should leave the hotel
+without examination. That is why we came to you. He has found the ring in
+your hands, which is very astonishing, and he now suspects you of having
+the gold."
+
+The landlord spoke gently, and seemed grieved to be obliged to hurt their
+feelings, as he knew his implied meaning must.
+
+Poor Eric's face flushed hotly with shame and anger, while Johnny cried,
+furiously, "Eric, Eric, for pity's sake send for papa! He will teach that
+hateful Frenchman what it is to call us thieves."
+
+"Be quiet, John!" said Eric, imperiously. "Come here."
+
+"Now, sir," turning to the landlord, "please to let your officer search
+us, and then our baggage. Do it at once, for we are to leave Strasbourg
+directly."
+
+"Indeed!" sneered Count D'Orsay. "Perhaps you will not leave Strasbourg
+for the present. Search them, officer."
+
+The officer advanced reluctantly, and, by his expression of sympathy,
+showed himself much more a gentleman than the titled count, whose habitual
+politeness had been driven away by Eric's powerful thrust.
+
+The landlord, although deeply sympathetic, and convinced of their honesty,
+was powerless to resist Count D'Orsay. He was a German innholder, and the
+count a wealthy, influential French nobleman, with a proper warrant for
+searching his house. So he could in no way protect the boys from the
+indignity put upon them. But he hailed with joy Johnny's suggestion to
+send for his father, deciding to do so at once, if they should be
+detained.
+
+Of course no gold was found upon either of them, except that given to Eric
+for tickets and hotel expenses, and none was found in their baggage.
+
+But just as they were preparing to leave the place, having been released
+by the officer, Count D'Orsay uttered an exclamation, and pointed to a
+_fauteuil_--an easy chair--by the window.
+
+"_Celui-la!_"
+
+The officer stepped to the chair, and found, tucked between the cushion
+and the arm, a silk purse, full of gold pieces.
+
+Eric and Johnny were horror-stricken, and the good landlord was dumb with
+astonishment.
+
+The French count held up the purse triumphantly, and jingled the gold
+before Eric's eyes, exclaiming, tauntingly,--
+
+"It is mine, and I have it. The _prison_ is yours, and you shall have
+it."
+
+"Eric, Eric," cried Johnny, in agony of terror, "they _can't_ send us to
+prison. We haven't done anything. We didn't know the money was there, or
+the ring. O, what shall we do? Send for papa!"
+
+Eric's face was very white, and his hand trembled visibly, as he wrote his
+uncle's address on a card, and requested the landlord to send for him.
+
+Count D'Orsay wished them to be at once conducted to prison: but this the
+landlord would not allow, and the officer declared was unnecessarily
+severe. They might remain in their room, with a guard, and the landlord
+would be responsible for their remaining.
+
+As soon as the detestable Frenchman had gone, Johnny threw himself at full
+length upon the floor, crying violently. Eric could not comfort him, but
+sat at the window, with a proud, defiant face and swelling heart.
+
+Presently the kind landlord came again to them.
+
+He had sent word by telegraph to Johnny's father, and received a return
+message. Mr. Van Rasseulger would be with them by night.
+
+This was comforting. And gradually the boys thought less and less of their
+trouble, and became quite interested in making conjectures with the
+landlord as to when and how the money and jewels came into their room, and
+if Froll's disappearance could be owing to the same cause, or in any way
+connected with it, and if she would probably return at night.
+
+"It's an ill wind that blows nobody good," said Eric; "and perhaps, by
+being detained here, we shall find her."
+
+[Illustration: Eric and the French Count.--Page 143.]
+
+"I don't care what they do when papa gets here," said Johnny, whose faith
+in his father's power was limitless. "He'll just _fix_ that Count
+D'Orsay."
+
+Meanwhile Mr. Van Rasseulger was whizzing rapidly towards them in the
+afternoon train, and another powerful friend was coming from an opposite
+direction.
+
+-----
+
+  [1]  O Heaven! he has it!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+"A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED."
+
+
+One, two, three, four, five, six, sounded a deep-throated bell upon the
+evening air, and then a chime of bells played Luther's Chant.
+
+"O, dear!" groaned Johnny; "that's the wonderful clock; I wish we had let
+it alone."
+
+"Hark!" exclaimed Eric.
+
+His quick ear had caught the sound of footsteps upon the stairway leading
+to their room, and he fancied them to be his uncle's. He was right. The
+door opened presently, and Mr. Van Rasseulger was with them.
+
+"Well, what is all this nonsense?" he exclaimed, grasping Eric's hand, and
+drawing Johnny into his lap. "A good-natured guardian lets you off for a
+good time, and you get into trouble the first thing."
+
+Eric related all that had occurred, a little embarrassed at Johnny's
+admiring remark,--
+
+"You ought to have seen him spin that little dancing Frenchman against the
+wall, papa. I wish I'd been big enough! I'd have thrashed him!"
+
+"Hush, Johnny," said his father. "Go on, Eric. You say he found the money
+in the fauteuil. How in the world did the things get into this room?"
+
+"That is just what puzzles everybody," answered Eric, earnestly. "Uncle
+John, how _could_ it have got there? and the ring, too?"
+
+"Where did you find the ring, Johnny?"
+
+"Right here, sir, upon the floor, by Froll's cage;" answered Johnny,
+getting up and standing in the place.
+
+"It is very mysterious, certainly," Mr. Van Rasseulger said, "and the
+strange circumstances give the man strong grounds for suspicion against
+you. Of course, it is absurd to think that two little boys would have
+committed such a robbery; yet the ring was found in your hands, and the
+money concealed in your room, and therefore you are accused."
+
+"But, papa, can't you take us away? We didn't do it."
+
+"You silly boy, I _know_ you did not do it. But would you not rather stay
+and prove satisfactorily to all that you did not? I should not wish to
+take you from here while the faintest shadow of a suspicion lingered that
+you were guilty."
+
+"Nor would I wish to go," said Eric, proudly.
+
+"Well, then we'll stay," said Johnny, dolefully; "but I think it is
+dreadfully unjust to spoil all our good time. We Americans wouldn't do so
+to a Frenchman."
+
+"I'm afraid we would, under such suspicious evidences," said his uncle.
+"But you needn't worry about it, boys; every cloud has a silver lining."
+
+"It isn't pleasant to know we can't go out of our room," said Eric.
+
+"No: I must arrange about that," Mr. Van Rasseulger answered. "I will
+write a note to the American consul, and get you released."
+
+Eric started suddenly to his feet.
+
+"I am sure I heard Mr. Lacelle's voice," he said.
+
+"You couldn't have," said Johnny. "You left him at Amsterdam."
+
+"I did, I know I did!" persisted Eric. "There it is again: that is he! O,
+Uncle John, go out and tell him about it."
+
+His uncle left them, and before long returned, actually bringing Mr.
+Lacelle with him.
+
+The diver was surprised beyond measure to find his favorite Eric in
+Strasbourg, and highly indignant at the circumstance which detained him.
+
+"You are the most honest boy that ever lived," he cried, and told Mr. Van
+Rasseulger about the box of sovereigns. "But come, tell me all about
+this," he added.
+
+Eric again related the incident, beginning with his discovery of Froll's
+disappearance, and ending with the charge of theft and threat of prison.
+
+Johnny, who despite his dislike of Frenchmen in general, cordially liked
+Mr. Lacelle, was surprised to see his gradually increasing excitement as
+Eric's story progressed. At its termination, he started to his feet, and
+rapidly pacing the floor, exclaimed, joyfully,--
+
+"_Ha! a bon chat, bon rat!_"[2]
+
+"What have cats and rats to do with it?" thought Eric.
+
+"He is crazy!" thought Johnny.
+
+"Ah!" thought Mr. Van Rasseulger, "can he see through the millstone?"
+
+"Eric, your good name shall be cleared of all suspicion. Give me your
+hand!" exclaimed Mr. Lacelle. "I congratulate you, lad! I know who did the
+mischief."
+
+"Do you?" exclaimed the astonished boy.
+
+"Yes, my friend," answered the Frenchman, and darted from the room.
+
+"Here's a go!" cried Johnny, thrusting his hands into his pockets and
+striking an attitude; "he knows, and he hasn't told us what he knows, and
+I think _his_ nose ought to be pulled."
+
+"Do be still, Johnny," said Eric, "it's no time for jokes. Uncle John,
+what could he have meant?"
+
+"I am totally in the dark," replied his uncle.
+
+"I wish Froll would come back," murmured Johnny.
+
+"I have it!" cried Eric, suddenly, rushing from the room, by the guard at
+the door, and after Mr. Lacelle.
+
+"Well," said Johnny, "I wish I had!"
+
+Count D'Orsay's conscience was not quite easy in regard to the manner in
+which he had persecuted the two friendless American boys. His suspicions
+had been aroused merely by the fact that they were about to leave
+Strasbourg; and the discovery of the missing articles in their possession
+had seemed at the time to prove their guilt conclusively. But upon
+reflection, the honest surprise expressed in little Johnny's eyes, and
+Eric's look of proud, indignant disdain, haunted him with suggestions of
+their innocence.
+
+Might it not have been just possible that they did find the ring upon the
+floor, and did not know of the money's concealment? But, then--how could
+it be so? How could the ring and money have happened in their room, and
+for what purposes? Yet, again, if they did intend to steal, they had given
+up everything. He had lost nothing; and the French government would not
+thank him for quarrelling with an American just at that time. He would
+send word to the landlord to dismiss the policeman and let the boys have
+their liberty.
+
+Just as this conclusion was reached, there came a tap at the door, and the
+waiter entered with Mr. Lacelle's card, followed closely by Mr. Lacelle.
+
+Count D'Orsay expressed great pleasure at the unexpected visit; but Mr.
+Lacelle, waiving all ceremony, explained that he had come to clear his
+dear American friends from the disgraceful charge against them.
+
+He then spoke rapidly, in French, to the count, who appeared at first
+surprised, then credulous, then convinced.
+
+With sincere regret, he asked to be allowed to apologize at once, and
+begged Mr. Lacelle to tell him of some way in which he could make some
+amends for his unjust accusation.
+
+"I wish you to be thoroughly convinced," said Mr. Lacelle. "Place the
+articles upon the table, open the window, and conceal yourself behind the
+curtain."
+
+Mr. Lacelle did so.
+
+-----
+
+  [2]  "To a good cat, a good rat!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+THE REAL THIEF.
+
+
+Eric, when he reached the hall, was called by the landlord, who said,--
+
+"I am having the rooms searched, at Monsieur Lacelle's request, for your
+little monkey. Will you come with me? We may catch her more easily."
+
+Eric was very glad to assist in the search. When nearly all the front
+rooms had been thoroughly examined, to no purpose, the little truant was
+found at last in the upper story asleep, on a soft cushion, in the
+sunlight. Eric stole up softly and took possession of her.
+
+She awoke with a loud chatter of defiance, and tried to escape, but Eric
+held her fast.
+
+The landlord then ordered a servant to close all the windows in the front
+of the hotel, excepting those of Count D'Orsay, whose room was above that
+of the two boys.
+
+Eric hastened, at his request, for Froll's collar and chain, which were
+fastened upon her, and then she was released upon the balcony under the
+window of the boy's room, the landlord, Eric, Johnny, and Mr. Van
+Rasseulger watching her movements with intense interest.
+
+Meanwhile the count and Mr. Lacelle were stationed behind the window
+curtains, on the lookout for the marauder.
+
+Presently there was a sliding, scrambling, shuffling noise, and the thief
+came in through the window--not Eric, nor Johnny, but a being very
+insufficiently attired, and possessed of a long black tail; no less a
+personage than the little monkey, Froll.
+
+She walked straight to the table, climbed upon it, seized the ring, purse,
+and a gold pencil which Mr. Lacelle had laid there. Then she withdrew to
+the window, but to her rage and disappointment it was shut tight, and the
+two gentlemen confronted her.
+
+The little beast recognized Mr. Lacelle, and coolly handed him her stolen
+freight, which was quickly restored to its rightful owner.
+
+Thoroughly convinced of his unjust cruelty to Eric and Johnny, Count
+D'Orsay descended to the balcony, offering sincere and earnest apologies.
+
+Eric and Johnny, by turns hugging and scolding Froll, freely forgave the
+indignity put upon them, and shook hands cordially with the mortified
+count.
+
+Mr. Lacelle was in his glory. He shook hands with the monkey, stroked the
+boys' heads, and called Mr. Van Rasseulger "my dear" in his excitement;
+telling everybody how he had instantly surmised the true offender, on
+hearing of Froll's disappearance, and recalling the scene at Gravenhaag,
+when she had stolen his glasses, climbing in then through the open window.
+Finally he expressed an opinion that Froll had formerly belonged to an
+unprincipled master, who had trained her to climb in at windows and take
+away valuables.
+
+And here we will take an opportunity to remark that this was really the
+case, and that Eric subsequently learned that the man of whom Mr. Nichols
+bought her was arrested and imprisoned for practising with another monkey
+the same trick.
+
+Count D'Orsay could not be pacified until Mr. Van Rasseulger promised that
+the boys should visit him at the _Hotel D'Orsay_, on their return to
+France.
+
+His conscience smote him for his unjust severity and unkindness, all the
+more for the frank, confiding way in which the two little heroes begged
+him to forget the incident.
+
+When they shook hands cordially with him, a glad cheer ascended from the
+throng of servants and spectators, whose honest hearts took a lively
+interest in the affair.
+
+The boys and Froll were made much of; and Mr. Lacelle delighted Johnny for
+hours with accounts of the wonders of the sea, so that the young
+gentleman, completely fascinated, made up his mind to be a submarine diver
+when he grew up.
+
+Froll's collar was tightened, and she was fastened to her cage, after
+having a bountiful feast of nuts.
+
+When the evening was about half spent, a waiter brought a large parcel to
+the door. It was addressed to "The Two Young Gentlemen at Room No. 37,"
+and contained books, toys, games, and confectionery, of which the count
+begged their acceptance.
+
+"This has been a day of adventures," said Eric, as he and Johnny were
+retiring late at night.
+
+"Yes," answered Johnny, sleepily, nestling between the sheets, "it has
+been a day of adventures, beginning with the wonderful clock, and ending
+with--Froll's--Froll's--the count--" and with a little more indistinct
+muttering, Johnny was fast asleep. Eric had read his chapter, and said his
+prayers with Johnny; but now, as he looked at his little cousin asleep, a
+sudden impulse seized him, and falling upon his knees by the bedside, he
+prayed that his influence over Johnny might always be for good, and that
+God would bless the bright, loving little boy, and make him a lamb of His
+fold for the good Shepherd's sake.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+PERCY, BEAUTY, AND JACK.
+
+
+Mr. Van Rasseulger decided to take the boys to Heidelberg, and there await
+Dr. Ward. It was inconvenient for him to do this, but he was unwilling to
+let them travel alone with the monkey again, for Froll was certainly a
+serious trouble.
+
+So on the morning of the following day they took the steamer for an eighty
+mile sail down the Rhine.
+
+The landlord, Mr. Lacelle, and Count D'Orsay bade them an affectionate
+adieu, after the two former had been sincerely thanked for their kindness
+to the young strangers, and the latter had begged them to renew their
+promise of a visit before they returned to America. To Mr. Van Rasseulger
+he extended an urgent invitation to visit him, whenever it should be
+convenient to him.
+
+Just before they left, Mr. Lacelle requested Eric's address, saying that
+he had written to Mr. Montgomery about the box of money, and would forward
+his reply to Eric.
+
+The boys were not sorry to leave Strasbourg, because Mr. Van Rasseulger
+had told them he should propose to the doctor to obtain horses there, and
+travel on horseback through the Black Forest, and over the mountains, to
+Munich, in Bavaria.
+
+They were enchanted with this idea, and during their sail down the Rhine
+lost much of the beautiful scenery about them in mutual conjectures as to
+whether uncle Charlie would like the proposition. When they reached
+Heidelberg, the doctor was already there, waiting for them.
+
+He was quite well satisfied with the plan, and said he would give the boys
+two days to explore Heidelberg, and would meantime be making the necessary
+arrangements.
+
+The boys did not like Heidelberg particularly, and Eric's shoulders were
+shrugged expressively when his uncle told him he was to be a student in
+the university, after his school course was completed.
+
+The only building of which they took any notice was the Church of the Holy
+Ghost--a large structure with a very high steeple, divided so that
+Protestant and Roman Catholic services were held in it at the same time.
+
+But perhaps the picturesque old town might have had more attraction for
+them, had not Dr. Ward and Mr. Van Rasseulger been looking up good horses
+to purchase for the journey.
+
+They soon found just what they wanted--a large, powerful horse for the
+doctor, and a couple of small horses, almost ponies, for the two boys.
+
+It was amusing to see the different evidences of delight manifested by
+Eric and Johnny.
+
+Eric's face flushed with glad emotion, and a quiet "Uncle John, how good
+you are!" was all that he said.
+
+But Johnny danced around the horses, wild with delight, throwing his cap
+in the air, dancing and hurrahing with all his might, and bestowing kisses
+indiscriminately upon his good papa and the dumb animals.
+
+One of the horses was coal black, with a white star upon his forehead, and
+one white foot; he was for Eric.
+
+Johnny's was a bright bay, with four white feet and a white nose: and the
+doctor's was a chestnut-colored horse, with a darker mane and tail.
+
+Of course the first great question was, what they were to be called.
+
+"I have named my horse 'Perseus,'" said the doctor, "in honor of the
+illustrious slayer of the Gorgon Medusa, and the deliverer of Andromeda."
+
+"I'll call mine 'Jack,' in honor of papa," said roguish Johnny.
+
+"And mine," exclaimed Eric, "shall be Bucephalus."
+
+Eric had just finished reading a classical history, and was greatly
+interested in the account of Alexander's power over Bucephalus.
+
+These names were soon abbreviated to "Percy," "Beauty," and "Jack."
+
+After the horses had been duly admired, Mr. Van Rasseulger took the boys
+with him, selected saddles, with travellers' saddle-bags, rubber cloaks, a
+couple of blankets, and two tin boxes for provisions, with an inside
+compartment for matches. The rubber cloaks were made with hoods, which
+could be drawn over the head, completely protecting it.
+
+Dr. Ward provided himself with similar apparel, and numerous little things
+which the boys had no idea would be necessary, and even Mr. Van Rasseulger
+overlooked.
+
+The next morning everything was in readiness. The blankets, light
+overcoats, rubber cloaks, and a change of clothing, were made into a roll,
+and strapped behind the saddles. The tin cases were filled for luncheon,
+and deposited in the saddle-bags, and the boys declared themselves in
+readiness.
+
+But when the doctor presented them each with a light knapsack, a tiny
+compass to wear upon their watch chains, and a pocket drinking cup, they
+instantly discovered that they could never in the world have got along
+without them.
+
+The horses were pawing the ground, impatient to be off, their long manes
+and tails floating in the cool morning breeze, their noble forms quivering
+with life and excitement.
+
+Johnny, divided between regret at parting with his father, and delight at
+the novel excursion; Eric, eager and excited, with mischievous Froll,
+demure enough just now, seated composedly upon his shoulder; the doctor
+coolly testing the saddle girths, and Mr. Van Rasseulger seeing them off,
+happy in their pleasure.
+
+"Be good and kind to my boy, as you have always been, Eric," he said,
+bidding his nephew "good by."
+
+"You mean, uncle John, as you have always been to me," Eric replied, with
+gratitude beaming in his eyes. "And Johnny is a dear little fellow; no one
+could help being good to him."
+
+"I hope he will grow like his cousin," said Mr. Van Rasseulger, with a
+hearty smile; "and, Johnny-boy, you must be very obedient to uncle
+Charlie. Do right, be a gentleman, and grow stout and healthy for papa."
+
+"We will write from Baden and Ulm," said the doctor. "We ought to get
+there by next week."
+
+After a few more words of parting they set off, and were soon out of
+sight.
+
+Three hours later, as Mr. Van Rasseulger, on his way to Vienna by rail,
+passed a turn in the road, the three travellers were in sight for an
+instant, apparently in good spirits and prime condition.
+
+He was extremely pleased with this unexpected view of them, and for some
+time after they had again disappeared the wealthy New York merchant lay
+back in his cushioned seat, building hopes of high promise upon the future
+of Johnny's life.
+
+Poor Johnny! he had been almost spoiled at home, but under the doctor's
+firm guidance and Eric's good influence, was wonderfully improved. The
+bright, merry little fellow was exhibiting his true character, long hidden
+by ill-advised indulgence.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+THE LAST.
+
+
+Up the banks of the beautiful Rhine, through picturesque hamlets, over
+high, rugged mountains, and in the glory and grandeur of the forests, our
+horseback travellers sought and found the best of all treasures--health
+and happiness.
+
+The Swabian Mountains, and the Schwarz Wold, or Black Forest,--a group of
+mountains covered with forests,--through which they rode thirty-seven
+miles, required from them the greatest endurance.
+
+Nevertheless, upon the woody mountains, steep and difficult to climb as
+they were, they found several thriving villages, where they were kindly
+received, and where all their wants were generously supplied.
+
+But on one occasion, when a violent storm arose, and they were near no
+village, they were obliged to take shelter in an empty barn, and there
+remained through the night, sleeping, with their horses, upon the hard,
+board floor, with their knapsacks for pillows.
+
+And Johnny had one thrilling adventure.
+
+They had encamped for the night upon a small plateau, and, before
+dismounting, Johnny rode back to the edge, and was looking down upon the
+plains beneath, when suddenly he felt the ground give way from above where
+his horse was standing, and in an instant horse and rider, covered by a
+bank of sand, were sliding helplessly down the mountain. The shower of
+sand smothered their cries, and neither the doctor nor Eric noticed their
+disappearance at first. But presently Eric, turning to speak to him,
+exclaimed,--
+
+"Where in the world is Johnny?"
+
+The doctor looked hastily up. Seeing the fresh earth at the edge of the
+plateau, he rushed to the spot, examined it, and exclaiming, "Heavens! the
+child has fallen down a slide!" prepared to descend in the same place.
+
+"Eric, stay up there, and take care of the horses," he said, and was soon
+out of sight.
+
+Eric secured the horses, and then crept to the place from which the doctor
+had disappeared. He found, just beneath him, a long line of large troughs,
+open at both ends, and overlapping each other like shingles. It extended
+entirely down the side of the mountain, and to his horror Eric saw at its
+foot a lake.
+
+"O, Johnny, Johnny! my dear little cousin! And uncle Charlie, too--they
+will surely be killed!" he cried, in agony. For he knew at once that they
+had gone down a timber slide, and was afraid they would be drowned in the
+lake.
+
+And now I suppose I must tell you what a timber slide is.
+
+The Black Forest Mountains are covered with large and valuable trees,
+which are felled and sold by their owners; and as it would be decidedly
+inconvenient to take horses and carts up the mountain, and utterly
+impossible to get them down with a heavy load of those giant trees with
+sound necks, an ingenious Swiss invented the cheap and rapid way of
+getting the trees off the mountain by means of a slide, formed of immense
+troughs lapped together, and terminating in the lake, where the heavy logs
+are chained together and floated to a railway or wharf, just as they are
+done in our own country by the loggers of the Maine forests and other
+woody regions.
+
+Of course a descent in one of these slides, under ordinary circumstances,
+would be extremely dangerous to human life and limb. But it fortunately
+happened that neither the doctor, Johnny, nor Jack were seriously injured,
+for the slide had been disused for some time, and in consequence of an
+accident, somewhat similar to Johnny's, had been partially removed, and a
+high, soft bank of sand lay at its new terminus.
+
+Johnny and Jack were pitched violently into this, and rescued from their
+very uncomfortable position by a party of English travellers encamped near
+by.
+
+Many were the exclamations uttered at the marvellous and sudden entrance
+of our young friend upon the quiet beauties of the twilight scene, and
+bewildered Johnny scarcely knew whether to laugh or cry.
+
+His first anxiety was for Jack, but the English gentleman who drew him
+from the sand-bank would pay no attention to the horse until he was
+convinced that Johnny was unhurt. Assured about this, he patted and
+soothed poor frightened Jack, and walked him carefully over the soft
+greensward, to see if he appeared at all lame; and then Johnny was
+delighted enough to hear the horse pronounced all right.
+
+Johnny had several pretty bad bruises, which the Englishman, who was a
+physician, dressed for him.
+
+By the time this was done Dr. Ward, whose descent had been much slower and
+more careful than Johnny's, reached them, and his anxieties were at once
+quieted by Johnny's assurance that it was
+
+"Just the jolliest coast I ever had."
+
+After examining both Johnny and Jack, to assure himself of their
+well-being, and heartily thanking the Englishman for his kind assistance,
+the doctor asked permission to leave Johnny under his care until he could
+get Eric and the horses from the top of the mountain.
+
+The new friend willingly undertook the care of Johnny, and the doctor
+hastened up the mountain to relieve Eric's anxiety.
+
+Johnny seated himself near the door of the tent, and a young man of the
+party brought him some grapes. Jack neighed wistfully for his share, for
+Johnny had made a great pet of him, always dividing his fruit with him.
+
+"I'll give you some, Jack," he said, walking towards the horse. "Gracious,
+how stiff and sore I feel."
+
+While Jack was champing his feast with great satisfaction, an English boy,
+of Johnny's size, came towards them.
+
+"Is that your horse?" said he.
+
+"Yes," answered Johnny; "isn't he a good one?"
+
+"_Is_ he a good one?" asked the boy.
+
+"I guess he is," said Johnny, hotly; "there isn't a better horse
+anywhere."
+
+"But papa's groom told me," persisted the English lad, "that a horse with
+four white feet and a white nose was worthless. He says,--
+
+            'One white foot, buy him,
+            Two white feet, try him,
+            Three white feet, deny him,
+            Four white feet and a white nose,
+            Take off his skin and throw him to the crows.'"
+
+Johnny detected a roguish glitter in his companion's blue eyes, and with a
+corresponding twinkle in his own, merely answered,--
+
+"My old nurse says,--
+
+              'There was an old woman went up in a basket
+              Seventy times as high as the moon.'
+
+I suppose you believe that, too."
+
+This ready answer pleased the other, and they were soon fast friends.
+
+"What is your name?" Johnny asked.
+
+"Arthur Montgomery," was the reply.
+
+Johnny wondered where he had heard the name before; but though he was sure
+he had heard it, he could not remember where.
+
+He began to feel quite tired and sleepy before the doctor returned for
+him, and his bruises ached badly. Once he would have cried and worried
+every one about him, if in such an uncomfortable state; but now he bore
+the pain like a Spartan.
+
+The doctor came at last, and after thanking the Englishman again, he led
+the tired horse, with weary Johnny upon his back, to a wood-cutter's
+cottage near at hand, where they were to pass the night.
+
+Eric welcomed them with tears of joy in his eyes.
+
+"O, Johnny, what a narrow escape you have had!"
+
+"We ought to be very thankful," said the doctor.
+
+"Yes," said Johnny, sleepily, "I am thankful!"
+
+He woke up just before Eric went to bed, and said,--
+
+"That boy said his name was Arthur Montgomery. Where have I heard that
+name, Eric?"
+
+"Why," exclaimed Eric, "that was the name on the box of money I found!"
+
+"I knew I'd heard it somewhere," murmured Johnny, dropping off to sleep
+again.
+
+Eric ran to tell his uncle.
+
+"Ah," said the doctor, quite pleased to be able to return a good deed, "we
+will see them in the morning."
+
+But in the morning the English travellers had disappeared, and our party
+could find no trace of them.
+
+Eric was much disappointed. Now he would be obliged to wait patiently for
+Mr. Lacelle's letter.
+
+Johnny and Jack were not injured by their descent of the mountain, whose
+only effects were some pretty sore bruises, which Johnny tried not to
+mind, and an obstinacy in Jack's disposition that no human powers of
+persuasion could ever remove. He could never, after that memorable slide,
+be induced to go near the edge of any kind of an embankment; and he always
+declined going aboard a steamer, until Beauty and Percy had gone safely
+over the gangway.
+
+
+
+
+Miss VIRGINIA F. TOWNSEND'S BOOKS.
+
+Uniform Edition. Cloth. $1 50 Each.
+
+BUT A PHILISTINE.
+
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+nothing of the 'sensational,' or so called realistic, school in her
+writings. On the contrary, they are noted for their healthy moral tone and
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+
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+
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+
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+
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