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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a6131ce --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #54059 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/54059) diff --git a/old/54059-0.txt b/old/54059-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 2540a15..0000000 --- a/old/54059-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,11566 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Northern Lands, by William T. Adams - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Northern Lands - Young America in Russia and Prussia - -Author: William T. Adams - -Release Date: January 27, 2017 [EBook #54059] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NORTHERN LANDS *** - - - - -Produced by David Edwards, David K. Park, illustration -images from The Internet Archive (TIA) and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -book was produced from scanned images of public domain -material from the Google Books project.) - - - - - - - - - - [Illustration: THE SECOND DEGREE Page 129.] - - - - - YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD - - By - OLIVER OPTIC - - NORTHERN LANDS. - - BOSTON - LEE & SHEPARD. - - - - - _YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD--SECOND SERIES._ - - NORTHERN LANDS; - OR, - YOUNG AMERICA IN RUSSIA AND PRUSSIA. - - A STORY OF TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE. - - BY - WILLIAM T. ADAMS - (_OLIVER OPTIC_), - - AUTHOR OF "OUTWARD BOUND," "SHAMROCK AND THISTLE," "RED CROSS," - "DIKES AND DITCHES," "PALACE AND COTTAGE," "DOWN THE RHINE," - "UP THE BALTIC," ETC. - - BOSTON: - LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS. - NEW YORK: - LEE, SHEPARD AND DILLINGHAM. 1872. - - - - - Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872, - BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS, - In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. - - Electrotyped at the Boston Stereotype Foundry, 19 Spring Lane. - - - - - TO - - MY EXCELLENT FRIEND - THE - HON. DAVIS DIVINE, - OF SAN JOSÉ, CALIFORNIA, - - WHOSE ACQUAINTANCE I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MAKING - IN ST. PETERSBURG, AND WITH WHOM I TRAVELLED - THROUGH RUSSIA, AUSTRIA, TURKEY, ITALY, - SPAIN, AND PORTUGAL, - - This Volume - - IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. - - - - -YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD. - - BY OLIVER OPTIC. - - A Library of Travel and Adventure in Foreign Lands. First and Second - Series; six volumes in each Series. 16mo. Illustrated. - - _First Series._ - - I. _OUTWARD BOUND_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA AFLOAT. - - II. _SHAMROCK AND THISTLE_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN IRELAND - AND SCOTLAND. - - III. _RED CROSS_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN ENGLAND AND WALES. - - IV. _DIKES AND DITCHES_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN HOLLAND - AND BELGIUM. - - V. _PALACE AND COTTAGE_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN FRANCE - AND SWITZERLAND. - - VI. _DOWN THE RHINE_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN GERMANY. - - _Second Series._ - - I. _UP THE BALTIC_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN NORWAY, SWEDEN, - AND DENMARK. - - II. _NORTHERN LANDS_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN RUSSIA AND PRUSSIA. - - III. _CROSS AND CRESCENT_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN TURKEY AND GREECE. - In preparation. - - IV. _SUNNY SHORES_; OR, YOUNG AMERICAN IN ITALY AND AUSTRIA. - In preparation. - - V. _VINE AND OLIVE_; OR, YOUNG AMERICAN IN SPAIN AND PORTUGAL. - In preparation. - - VI. _ISLES OF THE SEA_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA HOMEWARD BOUND. - In preparation. - - - - -PREFACE. - -NORTHERN LANDS, the second volume of the second series of "YOUNG -AMERICA ABROAD," describes the varied experience of the juvenile -tourists of the Academy Squadron in the Baltic, and during their -journeys in Russia and Prussia, and their voyages between the different -ports in these countries. Compared with most other countries of Europe, -but little has been written about Russia, and the greater portion of -this volume related to that interesting nation. The author writes -from his own notes and recollection, so far as scenery, manners and -customs are concerned, but he has made diligent study and use of all -the material within his reach, including much that was gathered abroad. -Perhaps the young people will vote that this is the dryest book the -author has ever presented to them, because it contains the most useful -information; but he hopes they will not neglect the historical part, -which is sometimes stranger than any fiction. - -But the volume is not without its story, which may be regarded as -a reflection, on a small scale, of the political experience of the -American citizen. Doubtless our young friends will sympathize with -Scott the Joker in his devotion to fair play; and well will it be -for our country when this spirit shall pervade the caucus and the -voting places, and those who are selfishly striving for office are as -effectually rebuked and ignored as they were in the Academy Squadron. -The next volume of the series, from the nature of the circumstances, -rather than from any fixed intention on the part of the writer, will -contain much more of stirring incident than the present. - -The author, who has so long been before the public as a writer of -juvenile books, and who has so often "launched a volume," has felt -that his welcome must be nearly worn out, and that he had no right -to expect the continued favor of his army of young friends. He was -therefore very agreeably surprised at the kind reception given to "UP -THE BALTIC," the sale of which was fully equal to the most fortunate of -its predecessors in the first series. The author is very grateful for -this new exhibition of kindness on the part of his young friends, and -he hopes that the present volume will not only interest, but instruct -and benefit them. - - HARRISON SQUARE, BOSTON, - December 18, 1871. - - - - -CONTENTS. - -CHAPTER PAGE - - I. AT THE PICNIC IN THE ISLAND. 11 - - II. AN EXCITED MEETING OF OFFICERS AND SEAMEN. 29 - - III. FINLAND AND THE AGITATORS. 49 - - IV. TWO HOURS IN ÅBO, AND THE BANGWHANGERS. 68 - - V. AN EXCITING ELECTION. 86 - - VI. A CALL AT HELSINGFORS. 105 - - VII. WYBORG AND THE SECOND DEGREE. 122 - - VIII. THE LECTURE ON RUSSIA. 141 - - IX. SIGHTS IN ST. PETERSBURG. 171 - - X. BILLY BOBSTAY AND FRIENDS. 191 - - XI. PALACES AND GARDENS. 209 - - XII. THE JOURNEY TO MOSCOW. 226 - - XIII. IN THE KREMLIN OF MOSCOW. 244 - - XIV. DOWN THE VOLGA. 261 - - XV. THE MOVEMENTS OF THE RUNAWAYS. 279 - - XVI. SOMETHING ABOUT PRUSSIA AND GERMANY. 295 - - XVII. FROM KÖNIGSBERG TO DANZIG. 309 - - XVIII. THE STRANDED STEAMER IN THE BALTIC. 323 - - XIX. BERLIN, POTSDAM, AND DRESDEN. 336 - - XX. GREAT CHANGES IN THE SQUADRON. 353 - - - - -NORTHERN LANDS; - -OR, - -YOUNG AMERICA IN RUSSIA AND PRUSSIA. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -AT THE PICNIC ON THE ISLAND. - - -"I don't believe in it!" exclaimed De Forrest, the third lieutenant of -the Young America. - -"I can't say I like the idea very much," replied Beckwith, the first -master. "Tom Cantwell is a great scholar, without a particle of -doubt, but he is no more of a seaman than that English fellow, Clyde -Blacklock, and ought not to be captain." - -"But under the rule of the ship, it can't be helped," added De Forrest. - -"Then the rule ought to be changed. There are not half a dozen fellows -in the squadron who believe that Cantwell ought to be captain." - -"He hasn't been three months in the squadron. He served his first -month in the steerage, and then jumped up to fourth master. Next month -he will be the captain of the ship. He doesn't know enough to set a -topsail, and couldn't get the ship under way to save his life." - -"I shouldn't care so much about his seamanship, if he were only a -decent fellow," continued Beckwith. - -"I don't want a fellow over me who don't know anything. I can't respect -him." - -"Well, what are you going to do about it? We can't help ourselves." - -"I don't know that we can," replied De Forrest. "Cantwell is a great -scholar, and seems to know everything without studying it; but he is -mean, conceited, overbearing, and tyrannical. I don't believe the -principal likes the idea of his being captain." - -"But he can get along better as captain than he could as first -lieutenant; for he has only to say, 'Get under way,' 'Come to anchor,' -'Take in the main-topsail,' and the executive officer gives all the -orders in detail." - -"That's true. Yet the captain is expected to know all these things, and -to see that they are properly done. But, after all, we are not sure -that Cantwell will be captain," suggested De Forrest. - -"He has had a perfect mark in every lesson during the month; and I know -that Captain Lincoln slipped up on his geometry two or three times." - -"But the captain has beaten him in his seamanship, I know." - -"There's the difficulty. We have been in port, or lying at anchor among -these islands, nearly all the time, and there has been no chance to -make anything in seamanship. We have hardly had an exercise in which -marks were given out since we made the coast of Norway." - -"Perhaps we shall, yet." - -"If we do, Cantwell won't be captain, but he may be a lieutenant; and -that is almost as bad." - -"We won't cry till we are hurt, then," said De Forrest; "though I -think something ought to be done to keep us out of such a scrape in -the future. I have a plan in my head, which, I think, would work first -rate, and be a fair thing for all." - -"What is it?" asked Beckwith. - -"I'll tell you. As the matter now stands, a fellow may jump from the -steerage into the captain's cabin without any experience at all in -commanding, especially, as during the last month, when we are running -about on shore, and we don't do much in seamanship." - -"But you know that this struggle for rank puts the fellows on their -good behavior; and the principal would lose his sheet anchor if the -present system were abandoned." - -"I don't propose to abandon it entirely. I would like to have the first -five officers made elective." - -"You would have the captain and the four lieutenants chosen by ballot?" -asked Beckwith, interested in the plan. - -"Precisely so." - -"But the fellows in the steerage could have it all their own way under -such a plan. They could make Clyde Blacklock, Sandford, or any such -fellow captain." - -"No, you haven't heard me out. The captain and the four lieutenants -shall be chosen from the cabin officers only." - -"I rather like that." - -"Any fellow will see that it is a fair thing." - -"And who would be candidates for masters, pursers, and lieutenants?" -asked Beckwith. - -"They must obtain their rank by their merit. By my plan, ten of the -fifteen cabin officers of the ship must get their positions by their -scholarship, conduct, and seamanship, just as they do now; but the -captain or lieutenant must first have served as master, purser, or -midshipman. Then a fellow can't be captain till he has served at least -one month as a cabin officer." - -"The plan pleases me; but of course we can't tell how it would work -without a trial." - -"It would work first rate. As the matter now stands, no officer has any -inducement to please anybody but the principal and the instructors, -who give him his marks. By my plan he would have to keep on the right -side of his inferiors in rank, or they would throw him over at the next -election." - -"And there would be lots of electioneering for office," laughed -Beckwith. - -"Well, that would give us a little excitement. Besides, we are all -to be American citizens, and we ought to learn how these things are -done. Under this plan Cantwell wouldn't behave as he does now in the -cabin. He is nothing but a lump of selfishness. He wouldn't take all -the breast of the chicken, or drown his coffee with the last gill of -milk on board. I have been thinking of this thing for a week, and have -talked it over with some of the fellows. All that I have spoken with -like it first rate." - -"I do." - -"I am going to get up a petition to the principal, asking him to make -this change in the system, and I want to get every fellow's name upon -it." - -"I will sign, for one," replied Beckwith. "But you haven't said a word -about the commodore, De Forrest." - -"That's only a kind of ornamental office, and I don't care much about -it any way; but I think that only the captains should be eligible to -the position." - -Precisely as men do such things on a larger scale, De Forrest, -satisfied that he had added one adherent to the "cause" he was -advocating, passed on to "buzz" another officer on the same subject. -The students connected with the squadron were enjoying a picnic on one -of the uninhabited Aland Islands. It was a lovely spot, for the island -was nearly covered by a beautiful grove of pines, and one slope of it -had a green carpet of verdure. The sixteen boats of the squadron and -of the yachts were moored at the shore, and there was not a ripple on -the sea to disturb them. The ship's band had played all the pieces they -knew; and a great variety of games had been tried, with but indifferent -success. The boys declared that it could be no picnic at all without -the ladies. Possibly the attendance of Mrs. Kendall and Mrs. Shuffles -suggested this idea to them; and, though these ladies were young, -lively, and agreeable, the meagreness of the female representation on -the occasion seemed to be only an aggravation. Doubtless all of them -had attended picnics and other social gatherings, where the gentler -sex is the charm of the occasion, and they could not help feeling -the loneliness of the situation. Besides, the locality itself was -suggestive of utter isolation from the rest of the world. - -All around them was a multitude of islands, but not a habitation of -any kind could be seen; not a human being, not a quadruped, not even -a bird enlivened the scene. The water was as calm as the repose of a -mountain lake, with not a single white sail to relieve the gaze of the -beholder. The squadron was anchored behind an island, where it could -not be seen. And the boys knew that they were north of the sixtieth -parallel of latitude,--nearer to the north pole than any of them had -ever been before; and the consciousness of this fact seemed to add to -the lonesomeness of the place. The days were very long and the nights -very short, and it was quite impossible to feel at home in such a -region. - -They were not the first to feel in this locality that the great, busy -world was far to the south of them, and to be impressed by the silence -and quiet of the place under such circumstances. A distinguished lady, -in narrating her voyage among these islands, says, "We never lost sight -of the shore, and sometimes were so near it that it seemed as though -we could leap to it from the boat. Yet I have never seen anything so -desolate as the voyage during this first day. On the open sea we should -not complain; but here, so near the land, and not a boat upon the -water, not a living creature on the shore, not a garden, not a human -being, not a dog, not even a fishing net, to show that man had been -there,--there was something awful in it." - -And yet there is no lack of the beautiful in nature to charm the eye, -for the islands present an endless variety of forms, with green slopes, -with rocky steeps, and with forest-crowned heights. But one may be -lonely even in Paradise; and silence is sometimes more oppressive than -the roar of the tempest, or the din of the crowded city. - -The students had resorted to all the games in the catalogue of -dignified sports available to young men; but the most exhilarating -under ordinary circumstances were dull and heavy on the present -occasion. In the middle of the afternoon they had abandoned in -despair all attempts to have "a good time;" and now they were seated -on the rocks, or stretched at full length upon the grass, engaged in -discussion and conversation. Possibly De Forrest was forced by the -quiet of the scene to agitate reform in the affairs of the squadron, -which, to some extent, occupied his thoughts during the stay of the -vessels among the islands. With the zeal of youth and inexperience, he -believed that he had originated a new idea, that he had discovered -a fatal flaw in the working of the system on which the squadron -was organized. But his "original idea" had long before engaged the -attention of the principal. Years before he had foreseen that the -very difficulty which now appeared might arise. It is true that he -had provided no remedy, except the general rule that an incompetent -officer might be removed when his unfitness was apparent; but he had -very carefully considered the question and the consequences which it -involved. - -The third lieutenant of the Young America was not the only student who -had observed and noted the remarkable scholarship of Cantwell. In the -midst of such a lively competition for the honors of the squadron, -which were not meaningless laurels,--for a state-room in the cabin -was a substantial luxury, independent of the desire to command rather -than obey,--the students did not fail to notice the character of the -recitations, and many kept a record of the value of them; so that -the standing of Cantwell was well understood in the cabin and in the -steerage. The obnoxious student was a thorough bookworm; but he was -cold, stiff, selfish, and haughty. He never did anything or said -anything that rendered him liable to discipline; but there was not -a boy in the squadron who had so few friends, if he had any at all. -His father was a very wealthy man, who supplied him liberally with -money. It was said that he had been expelled from an academy where -he was fitting for college on account of a difficulty into which his -unpopularity had driven him. His fellow-students hated him so cordially -that they were unable to conceal their real feelings. He was attacked -in such an ingenious way that he seemed to be the aggressor instead -of the person assailed, and the whole blame of the riot was cast upon -him. When Prince Bismarck decided that German unification required a -war with France; he was skilful enough to make the latter take the -initiative, and France was foolish enough to accept the issue. In like -manner Cantwell, while really the objective force in the quarrel with -his fellow-students, was weak enough to assume the subjective attitude; -and, as France was almost annihilated for her folly, which deprived -her of the sympathy and support of any other respectable power, he was -ignominiously expelled for his conduct. Like scores of others under the -ban of expulsion on shore, he drifted into the Academy Squadron. He -was not a thorough seaman, as Captain Lincoln and most of the officers -were, neither was he so utterly ignorant and entirely incompetent as -De Forrest and others declared him to be. But he was not qualified for -either of the high positions which the officers feared he would obtain. - -De Forrest opened his theory to another officer of the squadron. He had -already spoken to half a dozen of them, and created as many advocates -of his plan, each of whom, interested in the scheme, went to work upon -as many more of the unconverted. In another half hour there were a -dozen who were entirely satisfied that the Academy Squadron would be -utterly ruined if Cantwell was elevated to the rank of captain. This -dozen were in turn soon at work upon another dozen, and the converts -increased as a continued proportional. This process, so often repeated, -soon stirred up a lively agitation among the crowd of students on the -island. The principal, the instructors, and the party from the yachts, -with Captain Lincoln and two other officers, were seated on a rock -apart from the others, engaged in conversation. They did not observe -anything unusual among the students, who seemed to be remarkably quiet, -considering that they were at liberty to follow their own inclinations. -The agitators had an excellent opportunity to carry on their operations -without attracting the attention of the principal and his assistants. - -The subject under discussion concerned the young officers even more -than the seamen, and De Forrest's plan seemed to be so fair and so -practical that most of them gave in their adherence without much -hesitation. The crew, who were farther removed from the glittering -prizes, which were to be limited to the inferior officers of the -cabin, were not so readily converted. - -"I don't see it," said Scott, the joker, when Beckwith approached him -on the subject. "You want to make a little one-horse aristocracy in the -cabin, and shut out us fellows in the steerage from any chance at the -big things." - -"Not at all," replied the first master. - -"Yes, you do. Take my own case, if you please. I'm a genius of the -first water. I got a pile of merit marks for getting tight on finkel, -and making an excursion to Stockholm. During all this time, of course -I was marked high on all studies. I used to talk Greek when I was a -baby, and nobody could understand me. And of course I am marked high -in that branch now. In Latin I always could decline faster than any -other fellow. French and German I learned of my nurse, who was brought -up in an Irish Canadian family, and married a Dutchman. None of these -things ever give me any trouble, you see, and I am marked high. In -seamanship I got a hundred and fifty for topping up the spanker boom in -a seaman-like manner. Now, I expect to be captain on the first of next -month, and you cabin nobs are getting up a conspiracy to deprive me of -my rights. I won't stand it, Mr. Beckwith. I am an American citizen -in embryo. My fathers and mothers all fought, bled, and died for the -dearest rights of man. My grandfather was killed in battle six months -before he was married; and I should be a degenerate son of a glorious -sire if I permitted you to pull wool over my optical members in this -horrible manner." - -"Be serious, will you, for a moment?" interposed the earnest officer. - -"I am serious. You ask me to sign a petition to change the solid -principles on which the eternal order of events is founded; and I -respectfully decline to do so, Mr. Beckwith. In other words, not for -Joseph." - -"But you don't understand the matter, Scott." - -"You cast an imputation upon my perceptive faculties." - -"Nothing of the sort. You talk so fast that you won't hear what I have -to say." - -"You say that the captain of this noble ship must either be selected or -be chosen from the cabin officers. Am I right?" - -"You are." - -"I am not the captain of the ship this month; neither have I the honor -to be one of the cabin officers; _ergo_ I cannot be elected captain for -the month of June next ensuing." - -"You are certainly right; but--" - -"Then I understand the matter perfectly; and this movement is a -conspiracy to prevent me from being captain next month. I deserve to be -captain, and I respectfully submit that this is my inalienable right, -inherent in the contract under which I was sent to school. I object, I -protest, I denounce the vile scheme as a compact with infamy. By the -way, Beckwith, I didn't think you would treat me in this unhandsome -manner. We were always good friends, and I never did anything to injure -you. And I was always willing to help you spend your money when I -hadn't too much of my own to dispose of." - -"Come, Scott, be reasonable." - -"That's the very thing I ask of you--be reasonable, and don't try to -cut my out of my chance of being Captain next month." - -"Of course you haven't any more chance of being captain than you have -of being Czar of Russia next month." - -"Don't you think I should make a good czar?" - -"No doubt of it," laughed Beckwith. - -"Are you quite sure the Russians won't get up a revolution after they -have seen me?" - -"If they only knew what a jolly good fellow you were, they would be -likely to do so." - -"That's sensible; and I may go into the czar business, after all. And I -may be captain next month, if you nobs don't cut me out of my rights." - -"But it is no worse for you than for any other fellow in the steerage. -I may be where you are next month; then it will hit me as hard as it -does you." - -"Ah! then you are sawing off your own nose--are you?" - -"For the general good, I am." - -"Noble, self-sacrificing creature! Receive the homage of a humble -admirer." - -"You, or any other fellow in the steerage, may become a master, purser, -or midshipman, by your merit, and then you may be captain, or a -lieutenant, the next month." - -"But I shall have to wait a whole month before I can reach the summit -of my lofty ambition. That's too long to wait." - -"I ask you to go with us for the public good." - -"_Pro bono publico!_ There you touch me where I am weak. For the -public good I would sacrifice this poor body to gout and dyspepsia. I -would eat grand dinners, as the aldermen do, at the public expense; I -would accept any fat office in which I had nothing to do but draw my -salary; I would be governor or president, and receive the homage of the -people, for the public good. There's my weak point." - -"You know Cantwell?" - -"Do I know him! Do I not know him? Am I unacquainted with the blooming -youth who thinks he must wind up the universe every morning, or -something will break before night? Ought not the deck to be carpeted -when he walks upon it? Ought we not to have a guard of marines to -present arms to him when he appears in the waist? Haven't I worn out -three caps in saluting him?" - -"You understand him, then?" - -"Mr. Cantwell is a great man; Mr. Cantwell is a profound scholar; -Mr. Cantwell knows what's what. Why, he is so much above us common, -humdrum sort of fellows, that we ought to get down on our knees when he -condescends to show himself." - -"Exactly so, Scott. And, unless we can get this change in the tenure of -office--" - -"Hold on! Will you oblige me by translating that high-flown expression?" - -"Of course you know what the expression means," replied Beckwith, -impatiently. - -"Perhaps I do; but I want to know what _you_ mean by it." - -"I mean a change in the manner in which the offices are obtained and -held." - -"You mean right, as you always do." - -"Well, unless we get this change at once, Cantwell will be the next -captain." - -"He can't well be captain, and he can't well be otherwise." - -"That's so." - -"And you intend to put a stopper on him?" - -"He isn't fit to be captain, and he can't well be, as you say. In one -word, are you with us? Yes or no." - -"Yes or no. I must have time to think about it. When you attack a -fellow's inalienable rights, and all that sort of thing, I'm rather -inclined to go in for the bottom dog. The captaincy for next month lies -between Cantwell and me. For the public good, I am willing to waive my -own right, but I am not quite so clear that I ought to waive the right -of Mr. Cantwell, who is, by all odds, the greatest man in the ship." - -"You will do the right thing, Scott; I know you will," said Beckwith, -moving off. - -"Of course I will. I can't possibly do otherwise." - -Beckwith walked away, for he saw Cantwell approaching him. By this time -the fourth master was conscious that something which concerned him -was in progress among his shipmates, for, as he came near the little -groups which were discussing the proposed change in the "tenure of -office," he observed that they either separated or suddenly changed the -conversation. His approach, wherever he went, invariably produced a -sensation. All hands watched him, and avoided him with even more care -than usual. Possibly his self-conceit prevented him from knowing that -he was very unpopular among his companions; but they did not avoid him -generally, as at the present time. He had no suspicion of the nature of -the agitation among the students; but his observation of their conduct -led him to the conclusion that they intended to play off some practical -joke or trick upon him. He was on his guard from that moment; but he -was fully resolved to be the victim rather than the assailant on this -occasion. - -Scott stood just where Beckwith had left him. Instead of walking away, -as the others had done, when Cantwell approached, he looked at him, and -his expression was remarkably good-natured, and rather inviting for an -interview. He was almost the first one he met who did not avoid him. -The fourth master walked towards the joker, who, though not required -by the regulations to do so when off duty, promptly raised his cap, -and manifested a rather extravagant deference towards his superior. -Cantwell was a tall, slender young man of seventeen. Like many other -great students, he was somewhat near-sighted, and wore eye-glasses. He -was an exceedingly well-formed person, and was scrupulously nice in -regard to his dress. He had captured one of the new uniforms served out -when he was promoted to his present rank, and it was a much better fit -than the officers usually obtained. - -"Do you happen to know the drift of all these private conferences which -I observe, Scott?" asked Cantwell, raising his head so that he could -see through the eye-glass, which had slipped down upon his nose. - -"Yes, sir, I happen to know; and, as the matter concerns me more nearly -than any other fellow in the squadron, I don't object to telling you; -and I hope you will give me your sympathy and support," replied Scott, -putting on a most lugubrious face. - -"Indeed! I don't know that I quite comprehend you. I notice that all -the students carefully avoid me this afternoon. If I approach any -two or more of them engaged In conversation, they stop talking, or -separate, and look very mysterious. I had come to the conclusion that I -was to be the subject of some practical joke." - -"O, no. It is no joke, I assure you. It is a conspiracy, find I am to -be the first victim. Beckwith, the first master, was even impudent -enough to invite me to take a part in the amputation of my own nose! -Did you ever hear anything so absurd?" - -"Perhaps I should be better able to judge if I were informed in regard -to the nature of the conspiracy," suggested Cantwell, as he readjusted -his eye-glasses. - -"I shall be happy to inform you. They intend to apply to the principal -to have the tenure of office in the ship changed," replied Scott, in a -very impressive manner, as though he were revealing a startling fact. - -"The tenure of office!" repeated Cantwell, with a puzzled look. - -"Yes. Beckwith was kind enough to explain to me what it meant. I dare -say you know, without any explanation, Mr. Cantwell." - -"Of course I know the meaning of the phrase, but I don't understand its -application to the affairs of the squadron." - -"Then you will excuse me for telling you." And Scott explained in -full the nature of the proposed changes. "This is a plan, you will -perceive, to cut me off." - -"Indeed!" - -"I have been a good boy, and learned my lessons this month; and, under -the present regulation, I should be the captain of the ship next month. -I think that is clear enough." - -Cantwell arranged his glasses again, and looked earnestly into the face -of the joker; but he was as serious as though he had been at a funeral. - -"I was not aware that you stood so high on the record," added the -fourth master, more puzzled than before. - -"Of course you are aware that you stand very high yourself," said Scott. - -"I know that I have not had a single imperfect lesson, or been marked -down on any exercise." - -"Just so. Then the highest office lies between you and me," replied -Scott, rubbing his chin. "The conspiracy is against us. If you should -get in ahead of me, I never have any hard feelings. I am willing to -abide by the regulations, and take whatever place belongs to me, even -if it should be that of captain or first lieutenant. I never complain -of my lot when there is fair play." - -"And so the students are trying to have the highest officers chosen by -ballot," mused Cantwell. - -"That's so; and it's a plot against you and me--a conspiracy against -our rights; and we must oppose it with all our might." - -"It seems to me a very strange movement, just before the first of the -month." - -"You are right; and we must go to work. The conspirators have had it -all their own way so far. We can make it lively for them.--Well, -Laybold, what is it?" said Scott, as the student addressed approached -them. - -"I am sent to notify you both of a meeting of all the students of -the squadron, at that flat rock on the top of the island," said the -messenger. "The fellows are going to appoint a committee to wait on -the principal, and ask for a change in the manner of giving out the -offices." - -"We shall be there to vindicate our rights, and protest against this -conspiracy. How do you stand, Laybold?" - -"I don't care much about it, any way," replied the messenger, glancing -at Cantwell. - -"Then go against the change. This thing is got up to keep me from being -captain next month." - -"You!" shouted Laybold. "You won't even be captain of a top! You won't -come within fifty of the cabin." - -"So you say. But the highest office lies between Cantwell and me." - -"That may be; but it's a long way from your side of the house," replied -Laybold, as the party moved towards the highest part of the island. - -Cantwell was vexed and troubled, and he could not decide what course to -pursue. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -AN EXCITED MEETING OF OFFICERS AND SEAMEN. - - -Scott was one of the most popular students in the squadron. And it is -a lamentable fact, that mere "jokers" obtain a power and influence in -society which is denied to persons of infinitely greater dignity and -higher character. As Laybold declared, Scott had no personal interest -in the question under agitation, for, though he was a good seaman, -his scholarship was not above mediocrity. He lacked industry and -application; and it was not probable that he would ever win even the -lowest rank on the quarter-deck. But he had initiated what he regarded -as a stupendous joke, and he was determined to carry it through. While -the students were gathering at the flat rock, he electioneered against -the De Forrest plan, as it soon came to be called. He declared over and -over again, to the intense amusement of the seamen, that the plan was a -conspiracy against his individual rights, and was intended to prevent -him from being captain the next month. Before the meeting at the rock -was called to order he had rallied quite a respectable party under his -banner. - -Every officer and every seaman of the fleet was present at the -meeting. The captain and the other officers sitting with the principal -had been summoned to the gathering; and those who were most interested -in the success of the effort were confident that the measure would be -adopted with little if any opposition. The meeting was called to order -by Lieutenant Ryder, the oldest officer of the squadron. - -"The first business of this meeting is the choice of a chairman," said -Ryder, taking position on the flat rock, around which the students had -collected. "Please to nominate." - -As in assemblages of older people, the arrangements had been "cut -and dried" beforehand, and Beckwith had been appointed by the "ring" -to nominate De Forrest as chairman; but Scott, more intent upon -carrying out his joke than anything else, had stationed himself close -to the rock, and disturbed the arrangements of the ring. - -"Cantwell!" shouted he, at the top of his lungs, before Beckwith, who -certainly was not a dexterous representative of the ring, could open -his mouth. - -"Cantwell!" repeated Laybold. - -"Cantwell!" cried a dozen others, almost choking with laughter. - -"I nominate Lieutenant De Forrest as chairman of this meeting," said -the tardy Beckwith. - -"Lieutenant De Forrest is nominated," continued the chairman, anxious -to only carry out the programme which had been arranged by the officers. - -"Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that you are a little deaf in one -eye. Mr. Cantwell was nominated first." - -"Cantwell! Cantwell!" shouted the supporters of Scott. - -Ryder was perplexed. Common fairness required him to put the question -first upon the name of Cantwell; but he hesitated to do so. It seemed -absurd to make the student whom they desired to throw out of the line -of promotion the chairman of a meeting called for that purpose. While -he was in doubt, the opposition shouted, indulging in hideous yells, -cat-calls, and other demonstrations. It was fun to them. - -"Lieutenant De Forrest has been nominated for chairman," repeated -Ryder, when there was a lull in the confusion. - -"Mr. Chairman, we go in for a fair thing," said Scott, in a loud but -good-natured tone. "Mr. Cantwell was nominated first." - -"Mr. Chairman, I don't know of any rule which requires the presiding -officer to put any name first," interposed Beckwith. "If the meeting is -not satisfied with the one named by the chairman, it can be voted down." - -"But it looks more like a fair thing if the chairman puts the first -name mentioned," replied Scott. "If the meeting don't like it, it -can be voted down. If this thing is all cut and dried, I don't want -anything to do with it; and I invite all the fellows that are not in -the ring to step out and hold another meeting, where we can have fair -play." - -"Another meeting!" shouted at least twenty seamen, who, with many -others, seemed to regard the affair as a capital joke because it was -under the leadership of Scott, rather than because they could see the -point of it. - -"No, no!" responded the officers. "Put Cantwell's name, Ryder." - -"Mr. Cantwell is nominated," said the chairman; and the jokers were -delighted when they found they had carried their point; but Ryder -paused, and looked uneasily at the members of the ring. - -"Vote for him," said Norwood. "Make him chairman, and that will take -the wind out of his sails. In the chair he can't oppose the plan, and -we can tell the principal, when we go to him, that Cantwell presided -over the meeting." - -"Question!" shouted the officers. - -"If it is your pleasure that Mr. Cantwell serve you as chairman of this -meeting, you will manifest it by saying, 'Ay.'" - -"Ay!" yelled nearly the whole crowd. - -"Those opposed, 'No,'" continued the chairman. - -"No!" replied a few, who did not understand the tactics of the ring. - -"It is a vote," said Ryder, "and Mr. Cantwell is elected chairman of -this meeting." - -"I move you that a committee of two, consisting of Lieutenant De -Forrest and Mr. Beckwith, be appointed to conduct him to the chair," -shouted Scott. - -"You hear the motion of Mr. Scott; those in favor will say, 'Ay;' those -opposed, 'No.' It is a vote," said the temporary chairman, disgusted -with the proceedings. - -De Forrest and Beckwith conducted the obnoxious fourth master to -the chair, which was the flat rock. As Cantwell mounted the natural -rostrum, the jokers applauded lustily, and the ring felt that the -proceedings were already turned into a farce. Of course Cantwell -was more astonished than any one else to find his merits so highly -appreciated. - -"Gentlemen, I thank you most heartily for the honor, unsought and -unexpected on my part, which you have conferred upon me," said he, -removing his cap. "I shall endeavor to preside impartially over the -deliberations of this meeting. The chair awaits any motion." - -"Mr. Chairman," said De Forrest, who, after his defeat, had been -delegated by the officers to present the business to the meeting. - -"Lieutenant De Forrest," replied Cantwell. - -The originator of the plan for changing the "tenure of office" made -quite a lengthy speech, in which he set forth the advantages to be -derived from the adoption of the new method of filling the offices of -the highest grade. Of course he carefully abstained from any allusion -to the real objection to the present system, and would have done -so even if Cantwell had not been chosen chairman. His statement of -the plan was certainly a very clear one, and the subject was fully -understood by every student. - -"And now, Mr. Chairman, having fully explained the plan, which has been -approved by a large number of the officers and seamen of the squadron," -continued De Forrest, "I move that a committee of three be raised, -to wait on the principal, and request him to make this change in the -manner of filling the office of commodore of the squadron, and of -captain, first, second, third, and fourth lieutenant of each vessel." - -"Mr. Chairman," said Beckwith, who had been selected to second the -motion, "I rise--" - -"No, you don't," interposed Scott; "you haven't got up yet." - -"I rise--" - -"You were up before," persisted Scott; and a round of applause followed -the interruption. - -"Mr. Chairman, I second the motion," said Beckwith, who, however, was -unable to make the little speech he had arranged in his mind favoring -the proposed change, for the laugh and the applause which followed -Scott's sally had sadly disconcerted him. - -The chairman stated the motion, and the question upon its adoption was -fairly before the meeting. Several of the officers spoke in favor of -it, and even the commodore, the captain, and the first lieutenant gave -it the weight of their powerful influence. Two of the "short jackets" -also briefly addressed the meeting in favor of the plan; and thus far -the agitators had it all their own way. - -"Question!" called some of the ring. - -"Mr. Chairman!" shouted Scott, in a tone loud enough to be heard at -the farther side of the island, where the adults of the squadron were -enjoying the quiet beauty of the scene. - -"Mr. Scott," replied the chairman, recognizing and bowing to the joker. - -"Question! question!" shouted some of the officers, who were inclined -to retaliate upon the joker by using his own tactics. - -"Mr. Scott has the floor," interposed the chairman. - -"Thank you, Mr. Chairman; but I'm not to be floored so easily. Every -fellow that knows me knows that I go in for fair play." - -"That's so," cried the crowd of his supporters, with a round of -applause. - -"And what I give to others I ask for myself," continued Scott. "I'm -a modest fellow." (Tumultuous applause.) "I'm a modest fellow, Mr. -Chairman, and it gores my soul to feel compelled to speak of my own -merit; but this whole thing is a conspiracy against my rights." -("Hear, hear.") "I have belonged to the ship about a year; I haven't -the purser's books in my trousers' pocket, and can't say to a day how -long, but about a year. I have faithfully discharged every duty, and -even done a great many things that were not required of me. I have -eaten my grub with untiring fidelity, except when I was seasick at -the beginning." (Applause.) "I have slept my eight hours out of the -twenty-four with exemplary diligence and punctuality; and even done -more than this, when the emergency seemed to require it, without -grumbling." (Applause.) "I have kept my watch below without flinching." -(Applause.) "I have worn my pea-jacket in cold and heavy weather -without deeming it a hardship." (Applause.) "I have never objected to -going on shore to see a city, or to take a tramp in the country, or -to go 'on a time' of any sort." (Applause.) "Indeed, I have always -been willing to make myself as comfortable as the circumstances would -permit. And I have tried to use every fellow about right, the officers -as well as the seamen. I have helped the fellows spend their money, -when they needed my assistance" (applause), "for I don't like to be -selfish about these things. When a fellow had any cake, fruit, or -other good thing, I have taken hold like a man, and helped him eat it." -("That's so," shouted several.) "I have always been willing to let -any fellow get my lessons for me, or do my share in holy-stoning the -deck. When any petty officer, having a soft thing in the way of duty, -such as coxswain of a boat, on a long pull, was sick, I have always -been willing to take his place, and not charge him anything, either." -(Applause.) "It's my nature to be unselfish; and I would do as much for -the captain, or any other officer, as for a seaman." - -"Mr. Chairman, I rise to a point of order," interposed Beckwith. - -"Will the gentleman state his point?" - -"That the gentleman is not speaking to the question," snapped the first -master, who was determined, if possible, to get even with Scott. - -"The speaker stated in the beginning that the proposed measure, and -the action of this meeting in connection therewith, were a conspiracy -against his rights; and the chair decides that he is in order," said -the chairman, with dignity. - -"But, sir, must we listen to his biography?" demanded Beckwith. - -"Mr. Chairman, it is as painful for me to rehearse my own virtues -before this large audience as it is for him to hear me; and the -sacrifice which I make in doing so ought to be appreciated by the -gentleman on the other side." (Applause.) - -"I appeal from the decision of the chair," said Beckwith. - -"First Master Beckwith appeals from the decision of the chair," -continued Cantwell, who proceeded to state the point at issue, and, -taking advantage of the privilege of his position, gave his reasons at -length for ruling that Scott was in order. - -Most of the seamen of the ship and of the consorts enjoyed the fun, -and wished Scott to go on. When the question of order was put, a large -majority sustained the decision of the chair. Cantwell began to feel -that he had a host of friends, and that the plot of the officers would -be defeated. - -"Mr. Scott has the floor, and may proceed with his remarks," said he, -when the vote was declared. - -"I trust I have shown conclusively that I am a good fellow," continued -Scott. (Hearty applause.) "Now, to apply what I had said when I was so -ungenerously interrupted, if I am a good fellow, I deserve to be the -captain, or at least one of the lieutenants, of the ship" (rapturous -applause), "provided I get a greater number of merit marks than any -other fellow; of course I don't expect to wink the marks out of -sight. Not long since I made a little excursion through Sweden with -some friends of mine, without exactly running away. The fact was, -we couldn't find the ship, though we searched diligently for her." -(Applause, and cries of "Finkel.") "I hear 'Finkel.' Finkel was there, -and had a finger in the pie. Now, no one can tell how many merits I -got for that excursion, and for my struggles to find the ship; nor how -many I got for the glass of finkel I drank, which, I grant, deranged my -ideas. Then I was caught asleep on the anchor watch, and neither you -nor I know how many merit marks I had for that. We are not permitted to -examine the record books of the instructors, and therefore we cannot -know how high we are marked for any recitation or exercise; but, Mr. -Chairman, I _got high_ this month" (violent applause), "and therefore -I ought to have a high office. At any rate, Mr. Chairman, the highest -office lies between you and me; and I think all present, who have -considered the matter, will agree that it belongs to one of us" ("Hear, -hear"), "and my modesty does not permit me to indicate which one. And -now, Mr. Chairman, within three days of the end of the month, when the -prize of a noble ambition is almost within my grasp, comes this cruel -conspiracy to rob me of reward!" - -Scott was trying to imitate Forrest, or some other great tragic actor -whom he had seen, in the last clause of his speech, and the students -were convulsed with laughter at his deep tones and wild gestures. He -continued a few moments longer in the same strain, being frequently -interrupted by applause and other demonstrations. - -"And now, Mr. Chairman, I have done. If my shipmates will thus sting me -to death when I am almost at the pinnacle of a noble ambition, I can -only yield, as the noble Caesar did when he declared that Brutus ate -two slapjacks for his breakfast. I shall fall, not by my own fault, -but, like Caesar, by the madness of ambitious office-seekers. But I -shall fall free from the taint of dishonor--scot-free." - -The orator wiped his brow with his coat sleeve, having left his -handkerchief in the pocket of his pea-jacket, while the applause of the -seamen rang through the island groves and over the silent sea. - -De Forrest was angry when he saw that the proceedings of the meeting -were turned into a farce, and he made haste to reply to Scott's -effective speech. The only point he made was, that the last speaker -had no expectation of obtaining the lowest cabin office, or even of -being the coxswain of the fourth cutter, and therefore his argument was -simply ridiculous. - -"I should like to ask the third lieutenant if I did not say that the -highest office lay between the chairman of the meeting and myself," -demanded Scott. - -"Yes, yes," shouted a score. - -"He did; but he spoke of a conspiracy against his own rights," replied -De Forrest. - -"What is the right of one student, Mr. Chairman, is the right of every -one," said Scott--a sentiment which was warmly applauded. - -"Question!" shouted the jokers. - -The ring, trusting that the impression produced before the meeting by -personal appeal had not been destroyed by the orator of the opposition, -permitted the vote to be taken on the main question; and, indeed, -Scott's party would not permit anything else to be done. The chairman -stated the motion again, which was the appointment of a committee of -three to request the principal to adopt the plan of De Forrest. - -"Those in favor of the motion will manifest it by saying, 'Ay,'" said -Cantwell. - -"Ay!" replied the affirmative members of the meeting. - -"Those opposed, 'No.'" - -"No!" yelled the jokers, with all the power of their lungs. - -It was impossible to determine which side had the majority; but as the -"noes" made the most noise, the chairman decided that it was not a vote. - -"I doubt the vote," shouted De Forrest, much excited. - -"The vote is doubted," said the chairman. "Those in favor of the motion -will muster on the right of the chair; those opposed, on the left." - -Cantwell then appointed four tellers, two from each side. Two of them, -one for, and one against, the measure, were then directed to count the -number on each side. - -"Form a line, and march between the tellers to be counted," added the -chairman. - -The business was done fairly, for each party was watching the other. -The tellers on each side, after comparing their results, and finding -that they agreed, were ready to report. - -"How many in the affirmative?" asked the chairman. - -"Eighty-eight," replied one of the tellers. - -"In the negative?" - -"Eighty-one," replied one of the tellers for that side. - -"Eighty-eight having voted in the affirmative, and eighty-one in the -negative, the motion is carried," said the chairman. "The next business -in order is the appointment of the committee. How shall they be chosen?" - -"By the chair," shouted Scott. - -"Second the motion," added a student. - -"It is moved and seconded that the committee be nominated by the chair." - -"Mr. Chairman, it does not seem to me to be exactly right that the -committee should be nominated by the chairman, who is opposed to the -plan," suggested Beckwith. - -"The chairman has not yet indicated whether he is in favor or opposed -to the plan," said Cantwell, with a contemptuous curl of his lips and -nose. "He intends to be entirely impartial in the discharge of his -duty." - -A shout of applause from the opposition followed this remark. - -"The student who spoke against the plan mentioned the chairman in the -same category with himself." - -"The chairman did not authorize him to do so," answered Cantwell. - -"Question!" shouted the jokers. - -"The question is called for, which is, that the chairman nominate the -committee." - -The vote was taken and doubted. The count, by tellers, as before, -resulted in a tie; for several who had voted for the plan, moved by -the apparent impartiality of the chairman, broke loose from party -discipline, and voted with the other side. - -"The chair votes in the affirmative, and the motion is carried," said -Cantwell, as soon as the tellers had reported. "The chair nominates -Lieutenants Judson and Norwood, and Mr. Scott. The question is upon the -confirming of the nomination of the chair." - -"Mr. Chairman, Scott is opposed to the plan which this meeting has -voted to recommend," interposed De Forrest. - -"The chair is aware of the fact, and for that reason nominated him," -replied Cantwell. "The committee stand two in favor to one opposed to -the plan." - -"How can one opposed to the plan, as Scott is, ask the principal to -adopt it?" demanded De Forrest. - -"As I understood the matter, this committee is to represent this -meeting. Is it right that a committee unanimously in favor of the plan -should represent a meeting in which the plan was adopted by a majority -of only seven in a vote of one hundred and sixty-nine? Is it intended -the committee shall represent to the principal that this meeting is -unanimously in favor of the proposed change?" - -"Certainly not." - -"I have nominated a committee the majority of whom are in favor of the -measure. In my view this is all that parliamentary rule requires of me. -The question is upon confirming the nomination." - -The question was taken, and the vote doubted again; but the nomination -was confirmed by a majority of two. - -"Is there any further business to come before this meeting?" asked the -chairman. - -"I move that the meeting be dissolved," said Scott. - -The motion was put and carried. The students separated into little -squads, and of course nothing else was talked about the rest of the day -but the meeting. Scott, from a humble joker, found himself suddenly -transformed into a hero, and a person of no little influence among the -students. The ring were astonished and disconcerted at the result of -the meeting; and the victory they had gained was so nearly a defeat -that there were no rejoicings over it. De Forrest could hardly tell -whether his party was triumphant or not. - -"What do you mean, Scott?" demanded Beckwith, when the commodore had -ordered all hands to be piped into the boats, and the students were -walking down to the shore. - -"I told you I would do the right thing, and I've done it. Wasn't it a -fair thing--square and aboveboard?" - -"It wasn't a fair thing to nominate Cantwell for chairman." - -"If you didn't like him, why didn't you vote him down?" asked Scott. "I -think everything has been fairly done." - -"Perhaps it was. Allow that it was. Why did you get up an opposition to -the plan?" demanded Beckwith, rather warmly. - -"What do I care for the plan? You nobs in the cabin got up a ring, and -all you wanted of the steerage fellows was to give up their rights. I -have just as good a right to be a lieutenant next month as you have, if -my marks give me the place. It is only a game of the ring to keep the -best places among yourselves; that's all." - -"Do you want Cantwell for your captain?" demanded Beckwith. - -"I had just as lief have him captain as fourth master. He is over me -just the same. But I am not sure he is half so bad a fellow as you make -him out to be." - -"I don't say he is bad, only that he is a conceited and disagreeable -fellow, and no seaman. We don't want a fellow of that sort over us." - -"We in the steerage have him over us now, and shall have him, any way -you can fix it. He thinks pretty well of No. 1, I know, and so do some -of the rest of the cabin nobs. I'm not clear yet that he is no seaman. -I go for giving him the same chance that the rest of the fellows have. -Then, if he don't do his duty, and behave like a gentleman, it will be -time enough to do something." - -"Then I'm to understand, Scott, that you have sold out to Cantwell." - -"Did any of you cabin swells think you owned me?" laughed Scott. - -"I saw you talking with Cantwell." - -"Very likely Cantwell saw me talking with you. What does that prove?" -retorted Scott. - -"But he's a very unpopular fellow. There isn't a fellow in the ship -that likes him." - -"I don't, for one," added Scott, with refreshing candor. - -"And yet you have got up this opposition, and nearly, if not quite, -defeated our plan. He ought to be very grateful to you." - -"I don't think he ought to be thrown overboard, or deprived of his -rights, because he is not popular. When I saw that his brother officers -were down upon him, I was rather inclined to stand by him, for, as I -told you, I generally go in for the bottom dog. I believe in fair play -for every fellow, whether he is popular or not. I wouldn't kick a dog -because he didn't belong to anybody." - -"You are on the committee, Scott." - -"I have the honor; and I shall see that Cantwell has fair play before -the principal." - -"You have done enough, Scott; why can't you keep still now, and let the -thing take its course?" added Beckwith, in an insinuating tone. - -"And let Cantwell slip up, you mean?" - -"What do you care for Cantwell? You don't like him any better than -any other fellow. If you will only keep still, the chairman of the -committee will simply represent to the principal that a majority of the -students desire the change," persisted Beckwith. - -"And the next question he will ask will be, how the vote stood. If -he don't ask it, he isn't the fair man I have always taken him to -be. Besides, the chairman put me on that committee to represent the -opinions of the minority; and I'm going to do it." - -"The opinions of the minority!" sneered Beckwith. "That is all bosh. -They haven't any opinions about it. You made your ridiculous speech as -a joke, and the minority took it up as a joke. They don't want Cantwell -to be captain any more than we do." - -"That may be; but if they cut his nose off now, they may cut off their -own next month, just to make a soft thing for you nobs in the cabin. -Now, I want to tell you one thing, Becky--" - -"Don't call me Becky; I'm not a girl," interposed the first master. - -"I beg your pardon: Mr. Beckwith." - -"I don't ask you to call me mister when off duty, either. You wanted to -tell me one thing." - -"I'm not anxious to tell you anything; but, if I were Cantwell, I -should rather hope that the principal would grant the request, and make -the change." - -"Do you think he could ever be elected to any office?" - -"Perhaps not under ordinary circumstances; but if you cabin nobs will -only persecute him a little, only try to keep him out of his rights by -De Forrest's plan, he can be elected captain the very next month. You -see we fellows throw seventy-two votes in the steerage, and forty-five -is a majority of the whole ship's company. If any fourth-rate -politician on shore can only get himself persecuted, he can be elected -to Congress, for sympathy will do more than merit." - -"You needn't tell me that the fellows in the steerage are going to -elect Cantwell to any office. He couldn't be chosen fourth lieutenant, -to say nothing of captain," protested Beckwith. "I believe you have -lost your wits, Scott." - -"Perhaps I have; but you haven't found them. If you get the plan -adopted, we will try it on a little." - -"What do you mean by that?" - -"If De Forrest's plan is adopted, either Cantwell or I will be elected -captain." - -"You! You would not even be a candidate under the new rule." - -"Say Cantwell, then." - -"It is absurd! There is hardly a fellow in the ship that does not hate -him, except you." - -"I don't hate him, or any other fellow. But go ahead; there will be fun -and a lively time," said Scott, as they separated to take their places -in the boats. - -The students and others embarked, and, as the instructors were now with -them, nothing more was said about the proposed changes. The squadron of -sixteen boats pulled out from the island, and, forming in order, rowed -to the several vessels which were anchored a couple of miles distant. -As soon as the boys were on board, the exciting topic was renewed. -After supper Scott was notified of a meeting of the committee in the -after cabin: but the regulations of the ship did not permit him to go -there, being only a seaman. Scott, of course, did not appear, though, -attempting to enter the cabin, he was ordered by the principal to go -forward. He obeyed, and was satisfied that the rest of the committee -intended to ignore him, or they would not appoint a meeting where he -could not attend. - -In the cabin, at eight bells, the majority of the committee met. -Norwood was not in favor of acting without Scott; but De Forrest and -Beckwith advised them to do so. It was not proper for officers to meet -in the steerage; and they had accommodated the majority. It was decided -to wait upon the principal forthwith, and Scott was duly notified -of the intention. The joker, when the messenger gave him the second -notice, was engaged at an impromptu indignation meeting, in which he -was informing his audience that a meeting of the committee had been -called in the cabin, where he could not attend. He considered it an -indignity to him, and to the cause of which he was the representative -and the champion. After consulting Cantwell, he decided not to wait -upon the principal with the rest of the committee. After certain -explanations which Scott made, and certain schemes of future action -which he suggested, the fourth master was entirely satisfied with the -proposition. - -The majority of the committee waited upon the principal in the main -cabin, and fully stated the proposed changes in the "tenure of office," -in the ship and in the two consorts. - -"You represent a meeting of all the officers and seamen of the -squadron--do you?" asked Mr. Lowington. - -"Yes, sir; all the officers and all the seamen of each vessel were -present," replied Judson, the chairman of the committee. - -"Was the vote by which you were appointed unanimous?" - -"No, sir; it was not." - -"What was the vote?" - -"Eighty-eight to eighty-one." - -"A majority of only seven." - -"But the minority were really in favor of the plan, as we ascertained -before the meeting," explained Judson, who then related the particulars -of the gathering, giving the details of Scott's speech, at which the -principal was much amused. - -"The students voted against the plan just to carry out the joke," added -Norwood. "Scott was appointed on this committee, and was notified, but -he does not appear." - -"I think I understand the matter," replied Mr. Lowington. "I will -consider the plan on its own merits, though substantially the same -system has occupied my attention several times before, and I am not -wholly unprepared for it. I will give you my decision on the first day -of the month." - -The committee retired, satisfied with the result of the interview, and -hopeful that the plan would be adopted. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -FINLAND AND THE AGITATORS. - - -The day which followed the excited meeting of officers and seamen on -the island was Sunday, and the agitation of the subject which disturbed -the ship's company in a measure ceased. The religious services were -held on shore, in the shade of a pleasant grove, and the Bible classes -gathered in favored spots chosen by the teachers. After these exercises -were finished in the afternoon, a couple of hours were spent upon -the island. Little groups gathered together to walk, or to engage -in conversation, while single ones, here and there, enjoyed their -own thoughts. Cantwell and Scott seated themselves on a rock near -the water, and seemed to be talking together very earnestly. On such -occasions the brilliant student usually remained alone, not because -he was brilliant, but because his shipmates were inclined to shun his -companionship. He was really grateful to Scott for the signal service -he had rendered him the day before, not in defeating the new plan, for -that had not yet been accomplished, but in preventing him from being -wholly ignored, and for making him chairman of the meeting. He had -sought the present interview himself. - -"Of course these proceedings were all directed against me," said -Cantwell, after the subject had been introduced. - -"No doubt of it," replied Scott, candidly. - -"I don't know why my shipmates should be so prejudiced against me." - -"Don't you?" asked the joker, rather incredulously. - -"I do not; I certainly have not injured them." - -"You won't get mad if I tell you--will you?" - -"No; surely not," protested Cantwell. - -"I'll tell you, then." - -"I shall be much obliged to you, if you will." - -"I don't know; I'm afraid you won't be," laughed Scott. - -"I am sincere; and whatever you say, I shall believe you intend to do -me a kindness." - -"That's so. The fellows are prejudiced against you because you are -selfish, conceited, overbearing, and tyrannical," said Scott, squarely. - -"You don't mean all that; you only repeat what you have heard others -say." - -"I do repeat what I have heard others say, and I'm bound to add that -I believe it myself. When you give an order, you do it just as though -you were a superior being; as though you were everybody, and I were -nobody--that's so." - -"I was not aware of it." - -"Then you put on airs, even in the cabin, and with your superior. You -go in for the breast of the chickens, and drown your coffee with the -last gill of milk in the ship." - -Cantwell bit his lips, and seemed to be very much annoyed. - -"Then you think you know everything, and other fellows nothing. You are -willing to give your own opinion, but you won't hear that of others," -continued Scott, as bluntly as the case seemed to require. - -"Go on; but of course you don't expect me to acknowledge all these -charges," replied Cantwell, with one of his most savage sneers. - -"Do as you like about that; I was only telling you why the fellows are -prejudiced against you. You talk and act superciliously to your ship -mates, and they don't like that sort of thing. I don't, for one." - -"I am sorry you don't." - -"Do you like a fellow that treats you with contempt?" - -"Of course not; but that's what my shipmates do to me." - -"In self-defence, perhaps, they do. I suppose every fellow has his -faults, except me. I don't know that I have any," replied Scott, with -one of his telling smiles. - -"You don't?" - -"No; do you suppose you have any, Mr. Cantwell?" - -"I suppose so; but not so many as most of my shipmates, I know." - -"Exactly so; you admit the little things, so as to deny the big ones." - -"I know I am a better scholar than any other student in the cabin. They -all know this, or they would not have raised this breeze." - -"Better let others find that out before you discover it yourself. One -thing more: the officers say you are no seaman, and they don't want a -fellow in command of the ship who don't know his duty. No officer likes -to have one above him who knows less than he does about seamanship." - -"I don't suppose I know as much about a ship as those students who have -been on board two or three years; but I think I am competent to perform -my duty, at least with the advice of the principal, in any position." - -"I have told you all I know about it." - -"And some things that you don't know," added Cantwell, who could not -believe that he was such a person as the joker had described. - -"Just as you please about that." - -"But I wish you to understand that I think you have been very fair -and candid; and I am very much obliged to you for your plain speech, -however disagreeable it may be to me." - -"You are welcome to it," laughed Scott. - -"Now, do you think the principal will make the change asked for by the -committee?" - -"I don't know; but I hope he will." - -"You hope so!" - -"Yes; and if he does, we will show those cabin nobs that 'fair play is -a jewel,'" answered Scott, significantly. - -The conversation continued until the students were piped into the boats. - -The next morning exercises in seamanship were in order throughout -the squadron, for the principal was aware that this element of the -course had received but little attention during the month. Every -officer and seaman in each vessel was required to perform his duty in -getting under way, in making and furling sail, and coming to anchor. -Evolutions in reefing, tacking, wearing, scudding, laying to, bending -sails, and sending down topmasts, were performed, and each student -marked according to his merit. In addition to this, each student was -separately examined in problems in seamanship; and his knowledge of the -standing and running rigging of a ship, bark, brig, hermaphrodite brig, -schooner, and sloop, was tested. This examination was very carefully -conducted, and the same questions were put to every boy. The crew were -all sent below at the beginning, and four were called up at a time, so -that no one could know in advance what the questions were to be. Only -the simpler problems were required to be answered at this trial. - -The principal, the boatswain, carpenter, and sail-maker, all of whom -were thorough practical seamen, were the examiners. - -Mr. Lowington and Peaks, the boatswain, were on each side of the -mainmast, the carpenter at the foremast, and the sail-maker at the -mizzenmast, though each was obliged to take his pupil to the different -parts of the ship in the course of the examination. The questions were -such as these:-- - -"Point out the main-topmast stay, the main-topmast back-stay, the -weather main clew-garnet, the fore-sheet and fore-tack, with the wind -on the port beam. - -"What is a pendant, a lift, a horse, a gasket, a jewel-block? - -"How would you take in a topsail, wind fresh? - -"How would you furl a royal? - -"How would you reef a topsail? - -"How would you turn out the reefs of a topsail? - -"If two vessels are approaching each other, one by the wind, the other -going free, what is the rule for each? - -"Make a square knot, a timber hitch, a bowling knot, a clove hitch, a -short splice." - -For the last requirement two bits of rope were given to each student, -who was directed to bring in his work to the examiner, with a card -on which his name was written attached to it. The knots and hitches -were made with a whale line on a handspike. The other questions were -answered orally, or by pointing out the part of the rigging indicated. -There were twenty questions in the list, and the promptness, as well -as the accuracy, of the answers or the work was to be considered in -marking the value of them. If a student was obliged to try two or three -times before he could make a square knot, or a clove hitch, he was -marked lower. If he did what he was required without hesitation, he had -five for each question; if not, he was marked lower, for seamen have no -time to deliberate. Though the examination was a very simple and easy -one, no student obtained above ninety, and several were below fifty. -Most of the officers had over seventy. Captain Lincoln had ninety, and -Cantwell only fifty-two, though none of them knew the results till the -first of the next month. The addition of these marks to the merit roll -for the month made some important changes in the relative standing of -the students. - -"What do you say now?" inquired Scott, when he met Beckwith, after -supper. - -"I say just the same that I have always said," replied the first master. - -"Do you still desire to have the higher officers chosen by ballot?" - -"Certainly I do." - -"But the fellows all say that Cantwell can't well be captain or first -lieutenant when to-day's marks are added in." - -"No matter for that; I still think that it is better to vote for the -captain and lieutenants." - -"Just as you like; but I think you miss it." - -"I don't believe I do," answered the first master, walking away. - -The results of the examination were not known to the students; but -they were speculated over and guessed at very freely. It was generally -admitted that Cantwell's chances for either of the first two offices, -were lost for the next month; but it was certain that, if he were not -thrown off the track, he would be captain in two or three months, -when he had brought up his seamanship to the proper standard. Indeed, -the agitation had already roused the obnoxious officer to a realizing -sense of his own deficiency, and stimulated him to make an earnest -effort to acquire the needed knowledge. From that time he used all his -spare hours in studying the nautical books in the library. For hours -he pored over the large diagrams of a ship, in which the spars, sails, -and rigging were explained. The old boatswain appeared to be his best -friend, so much were they together; for Peaks delighted to instruct a -willing pupil. - -On the last day of the month the squadron sailed for Åbo, in Finland. -During the week the vessels had remained among the islands; they had -been working gradually to the eastward, till it was only a short run to -this port. The town is on the Aurajoki River, about three miles from -the Gulf of Bothnia. The squadron came to anchor off the mouth of the -river, near the village of Boxholm. The steamers and small vessels go -up to the town, but large craft are obliged to discharge their cargoes -at this place. On a hill which commands the entrance to the river there -is a fort, which is also a prison--an ancient structure with the ruins -of a watch-tower, which has stood for centuries. Many of the houses on -the shore were painted red,--as in the country towns of New England -fifty years ago,--and were occupied by fishermen and laborers. The -students, who had been in the solitudes of nature for a week, and had -hardly seen a living creature, or anything connected with civilized -life, were interested in observing every indication of civilization in -the vicinity. For the time, even the exciting topic of the change in -the "tenure of office" was dropped. Scott, who had been quietly at work -ever since the meeting at the picnic, suspended his labors, and made -queer comments upon the old castle, the boats, and the people around -the ship. Though there was actually a village in sight, it did not -entirely remove the impression from the minds of many of the students -that they were almost "out of the world," for the oppressive fact -that they were in sixty and a half degrees of north latitude was not -entirely removed by the fort, the village, and the people. - -"All hands, attend lecture!" shouted the boatswain, as his shrill pipe -rang through the ship, and was repeated in the two consorts. - -"Lecture!" exclaimed Scott. "That's too bad! What does the professor -think we are made of? We have been patient and long-suffering in the -matter of lectures, and I didn't suppose we were to be dosed with any -more till we got to Russia." - -"We are in Russia now," replied Laybold. - -"Not much, if my soundings are correct. Finland isn't Russia, any more -than the Dominion of Canada is Great Britain. It is subject to Russia, -but the people here make their own laws, or at least have a finger in -the pie, which they don't under the nose of the Czar. Do you see that -big fish, Laybold?" - -"What fish?" asked the other. - -"Why, that one near the shore. He is over five feet long." - -Scott pointed at a man who had just taken a small boy on his back, and -was wading out to a boat, with a man on each side of him. - -"I don't see any fish," added Laybold, straining his eyes as he gazed -earnestly in the direction indicated by his companion. - -"Don't you? Then you are a little blind in one of your ears. There he -goes towards the boat." - -"What is it?" asked several others. - -"A big fish," replied Scott, demurely. - -"I see some men, but no fish," said Laybold. - -"There, he has stopped by the boat." - -"That isn't a fish; it's a man." - -"I tell you it is a fish. Do you think I don't know a fish when I see -one." - -"Nonsense!" shouted the others. "It's a man." - -"I say he is a fish. Don't you see that he has a Finn on his back, and -Finns each side of him?" returned Scott. - -"You get out!" shouted Jones. "A fellow that will deliberately make a -pun isn't fit to live in polite society." - -"Then I'm finished for polite society," added Scott; "though I don't -see how you know anything about it, for you never were there, or your -manners belie you. By the way, did you know that our government had -sent over to this country for a fortune-teller, or seer--one of those -fellows they used to have in Scotland?" - -"What for?" asked Laybold. - -"They want to make him secretary of the treasury." - -"Why so?" inquired Jones. - -"Because they need a financier; for the fellow would certainly be one. -There, do you see that French conjunction on the shore? Hear him bark." - -"That is a dog," protested Laybold. - -"What of it? Isn't it _afin que?_ Well, those are strange people," -continued Scott, shaking his head. - -"What's the matter with them?" - -"Matter? Did you oversee the 'finny tribe' walking about on shore -before?" - -"You are a monster, Scott," laughed Jones. - -"Yes, a sea-monster; and if I were monarch of all I surveyed, I should -have plenty of Finns. Do you suppose those women have any nephews and -nieces?" asked Scott, still gazing at the group of men, women, and -children, who had gathered on the beach to see the squadron. - -"Of course they have." - -"Then we must go on shore and be introduced to them." - -"But we can't speak Finnish." - -"In that case we shall be obliged to finish speaking." - -"But why should we be introduced to the 'women with nephews and -nieces?'" - -"Because it is eminently proper and right that American young gentlemen -should be acquainted with finance. The boats are coming, and I am like -that shed on the beach." - -"I don't see it." - -"Yes--Finnish shed. Come, tumble down the hatchway," said Scott, as he -led the way to the steerage. - -Mr. Mapps, the instructor in geography and history, was already at -his post, which post was the foremast of the ship, whereon was hung a -large map of Finland, drawn by himself on the back side of another map, -with black paint and a marking brush; for he had not been able to find -a printed one on a large scale. The students from the consorts soon -appeared, and a few raps with the professor's pointer procured silence. - -"Where are we now, young gentlemen?" he began. - -"Here, sir," responded Scott. - -"A little more definitely, if you please." - -"Eastern hemisphere, sir," added Scott. - -"Excellent; but couldn't you venture to come a little nearer to the -point." - -"Near Åbo, in Finland," said another student. - -"Right; but the little ring which you see over the A in the printed -name of the town makes the pronunciation as though it were written -O-bo. The proper style of the country is the Grand Duchy of Finland; -and in his relations to it, the Czar of Russia has been called the -Emperor Grand Duke. The Finnish name of the country is _Suomema_, which -means 'the region of lakes.' You see, by a glance at the map,--which -is rather rudely drawn,--that this is the character of the country, -even to a greater degree than in Norway and Sweden. It has the Gulf -of Bothnia on the west, and the Gulf of Finland on the south, with -Finmark, a province of Norway, on the north, and Russia proper on the -east." - -"But where is Lapland?" asked a student. - -"Lapland is a region which belongs to Russia and Norway, and part of -it is included in Finland. The name is not applied to a political -division, but to the country of a particular people. Finland has -about one hundred and forty thousand square miles of territory; about -the size of Montana Territory, more than half as large as Texas, or -eighteen times as large as Massachusetts. Its population is about the -same as this last state--in round numbers, one million four hundred -thousand. A large portion of the country is a desolate region. In the -southern part; the soil is good, and in former times Finland was the -granary of Sweden; but its agriculture has since declined. Vast forests -cover a considerable portion of its territory, and the lumber from -them is the principal source of wealth to the people, who are also -largely engaged in the fisheries. There are some extensive cotton -and iron manufactures. All the principal towns are on the coast, -except Tavastehus; but the largest place, Helsingfor, has only sixteen -thousand inhabitants. - -"Not much is known of the early history of Finland; but the country -was governed in tribes by chiefs, or kings. They took to the water -very naturally, and became pirates, harassing the Swedes to such a -degree, that Eric, their king, sent an expedition to Finland in the -twelfth century, where he established Swedish colonies, and introduced -Christianity. One of the colonies was planted here in Åbo, where the -first Christian church in the country was built. From this time the -Swedes and Finns blended, and the history of Finland was merged in that -of Sweden. Birger Jarl built Tavastehus, and confirmed the conquest. -But Russia coveted this desolate region, and first conquered Wyborg, -its most eastern province, and the Finns fought with Sweden in the -various wars with her powerful neighbor. The people suffered terribly -from these wars, and from famine. From 1692 to 1696, sixty thousand -perished from famine in the province of Åbo alone. In the wars of -Charles XII., thousands of Finns were sacrificed, and five regiments -of them were killed or captured during the march into the Ukraine, and -in the battle of Pultowa. After this battle, in 1709, in which Charles -XII. was totally defeated, the Russians invaded the whole of Finland, -and held it until 1721, when, with the exception of Wyborg, it was -restored to Sweden. - -"In 1741 the Swedes made an attempt to recover what they had lost, but -utterly failed. Again, in 1788, Gustavus III., commanding the Swedish -army in person, tried to regain the ancient province of Wyborg; but -a conspiracy at home compelled him to return, and the favorable -opportunity was lost. In 1790 the king renewed the attack by sea, and -his fleet of thirty-eight vessels was blockaded at Wyborg by a Russian -squadron of fifty-one ships. The Swedes cut their way out of the trap, -but with the loss of fifteen ships. The fleet, reduced by these heavy -losses, was again attacked by the Russians in overwhelming force; but -the result was a glorious victory for the Swedes, in which their enemy -lost fifty-three vessels and four thousand men. This event ended the -war for the time, and a treaty honorable to the Swedes was signed. -In 1808 Finland was again invaded by the Russians, without even the -formality of a declaration of war. The Swedes were unprepared for the -contest, and slowly retired to the north, fighting several battles, and -gaining some unimportant victories, but were completely overwhelmed in -the battle of Orawais. By the treaty which followed, all of Finland and -the Aland Islands were ceded to Russia. - -"By a special grant of Alexander I., graciously renewed by his -successors, Finland retains her ancient constitution, which provides -for a national parliament. The right to legislate and impose taxes -upon the people is nominally in this body, but is really exercised by -a senate appointed by the Emperor Grand Duke. The executive power is -in the hands of a governor general, who represents the sovereign. The -people still retain their national customs and language, and when you -go on shore this afternoon, you will find very little that is Russian. -The money is in marks and pennies, with the decimal system; and -Russian paper is not current in Finland. A mark is worth about twenty -cents of our money, and four of them make one ruble, the gold value of -which is eighty cents. The currency of Russia in actual circulation is -all paper, so that the value of the ruble is reduced about twenty per -cent. Finland also has a paper currency, which is of depreciated value, -as is the case in all countries where gold and silver are not in actual -use." - -The professor finished his lecture, and the students were about to -separate, when the stroke of the bell called them to order again, -and Mr. Lowington stepped upon the platform. The officers and seamen -were all attention in an instant, for it was expected that he would -say something upon the exciting subject which had been so thoroughly -discussed in all the vessels of the squadron. - -"Young gentlemen," the principal began, "I have something to say to -you concerning the application which has been made to me to make -certain of the offices of the squadron elective. I have not the -slightest objection to the plan, if the elections can be fairly and -honorably conducted. I have considered the plan in substance, which -has been presented to me several times, and I like it, though in its -practical workings I think that grave objections will be developed. -By the present plan, one with very little experience and very little -seamanship may reach the highest offices, especially, as will sometimes -happen, when the nautical branch of the institution receives less -attention in any one month than the scholastic. By the plan you -propose, you may elect the least worthy of the officers to the rank of -captain. Votes may be bought and sold, and electioneering excitements -carried to excess. The plan in use has worked very well, and I am not -aware that any injustice has ever been worked by it. It has always -happened that the best and most reliable students have attained the -highest places; though I must acknowledge that it may not always happen -so. For a change, I am willing to try your plan." - -A demonstration of applause greeted this announcement, but it came -mainly from the officers. - -"But I wish to say, that though I have considered substantially the -same plan several times, I should not now introduce it if you had not -asked for it. The present is certainly the fairest plan, for it places -all upon an absolute equality, and under it every officer is indebted -entirely to his own merit for his position, and not at all to the favor -of his instructors or his friends among the ship's company. A change, -therefore, is more properly inaugurated by you than by me. - -"I am informed by the committee that the vote was not unanimous, -and one member of the committee did not choose to appear with the -delegation." - -"He was notified of the meeting of the committee," said De Forrest. - -"I was notified," replied Scott; "but the meeting of the committee was -held in the after cabin, which I am not permitted to enter." - -The opposition applauded till the snap of the bell silenced them. - -"This does not look exactly like fair play, especially as Scott is -supposed to represent the opposition to the change." - -"He was notified of the time when the committee would wait upon you, -sir, in the main cabin, but he declined to attend," answered De Forrest. - -"If there was a preliminary meeting of the committee, he ought not to -have been excluded from it," added Mr. Lowington. "Your proceedings -must be revised, and the opposition must be heard." - -"Mr. Lowington, as a member of the committee, I withdraw all -opposition," interposed Scott. - -"I do not know that you are authorized to do so," replied the -principal; "but I am very glad to see this spirit of accommodation on -your part." - -"I don't think the new plan is so fair as the old one; but I wish to -have a fair trial of it. The new method was got up by the nobs in the -cabin--" - -"The what?" inquired the principal, with a smile. - -"The nobs, sir." - -"If by an accident, or by any extra exertion on your part, you were -elected to an office in the cabin, would you be a nob?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"Though you do not seem to use the word in an offensive sense, I prefer -some other form of expression. You say that the plan was devised by the -cabin officers." - -"Yes, sir." - -"But we consulted the seamen, and they agreed to the plan before the -meeting. It would have been a unanimous vote if Scott had not got up -an opposition just for the sake of a joke," said De Forrest, rather -bitterly. - -"I opposed the thing in my own way, and I never agreed to it; but we -all consent to it now." - -"Does any one object to it?" asked Mr. Lowington. - -Cantwell looked at Scott, but the latter shook his head. - -"If there is any objection, I desire to hear it now." - -No one offered any objection. - -"There being no opposition, with the understanding on my part that -unanimous consent is given to the plan, I will adopt it--" - -Violent applause on the part of the officers and others interrupted the -principal, which was silenced by a stroke of the bell. - -"I will adopt it with an amendment," added Mr. Lowington. "I will -explain the amendment. By the new plan, the offices of commodore, -captain, and lieutenant are made elective within certain limits. The -commodore must be elected from the three captains; the captain must -be chosen from the cabin officers of the vessel to which he belongs. -Now suppose, for example, that one of the lieutenants for next month, -relying upon his popularity among his shipmates for his position the -following month, neglects his studies; what check have we upon him?" - -There was no answer, for this case has not occurred to the agitators. - -"Suppose the captain of this ship--but I grant in the beginning that -this is not a supposable case--should utterly fail in his duty so far -as study is concerned; you elect him captain or commodore, while the -present rule would send him back into the steerage. The amendment I -propose will correct this defect in your plan. It consists of two -sections," continued the principal, as he proceeded to read from a -paper in his hand. "1. No captain shall be eligible to the office of -commodore whose merit-rank is below No. 6 in the Young America, or -below No. 5 in the Josephine, or Tritonia. 2. No officer shall be -eligible to the office of captain or lieutenant whose merit-rank is -below No. 16 in the ship, or below No. 9 in the other vessels. Are you -satisfied with the amendment?" - -"We are," replied the students. - -"Then the merit-roll will be read and the elections take place -to-morrow, on the first day of the month," continued the principal. "We -will now go up to Åbo." - -The students applauded, and left the steerage. The boatswains piped all -hands into the boats, and in half an hour the squadron of barges and -cutters were pulling in single file up the narrow river. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -TWO HOURS A IN ÅBO, AND THE BANGWHANGERS. - - -In the captain's gig was Dr. Winstock, with whom Captain Lincoln always -delighted to walk or ride on shore, and whom he always invited to -take a seat in the stern-sheets of his boat. The doctor had inherited -a considerable fortune, which placed him above the necessity of -practising in his profession, and he had travelled all over Europe. -He had not been an idle wanderer abroad, going from place to place in -search of mere amusement; but he had been a diligent inquirer into the -system of government, the history, the agricultural and manufacturing -interest, and the manners and customs of the countries he visited. -He was, therefore, as he was often called, a walking encyclopædia of -information; and for this reason Lincoln sought his company. - -"Of course you have been in Finland before, Dr. Winstock," said -Lincoln, as soon as the gig took her place in the line. - -"I have," replied the surgeon. "Several years ago I went from -Copenhagen to Christiania, rode across the country in a cariole to -Bergen, and from there made the trip by steamer to the North Cape, -where I saw the sun at midnight. I came by steamer along the coast to -Frederiksværn, and from there to Gottenburg, and through Sweden. At -Stockholm I embarked in the steamer Aura, which starts at two o'clock -in the morning now, as she did then." - -"I went on board of a steamer of the same line in Stockholm--I forget -her name." - -"Perhaps the Grefve Berg, which is the best one. The other two are -the Dagmar and the Wyborg. The trip in one of these vessels to St. -Petersburg is a very delightful one. She arrives at this place the -first day, and spends the night here; the second day she goes to -Helsingfors, and the third to Wyborg, arriving at St. Petersburg in the -forenoon of the fourth day. Nearly the whole voyage is made among the -islands, which, almost without an exception, are as silent and still as -those we have visited. She stays long enough at these Finnish towns to -enable one to see them. The steamers are Finnish, the captains of them -speak English, and the table on board is very good. The fare is twenty -rubles--meals extra." - -"Did you go into the interior?" - -"Yes; I went as far as the group of lakes in the centre of the country, -and had some capital fishing there. I rode in a cariole, like those in -use in Norway. But some people use a _kabitka_, which is a cart, very -long and narrow, with a leather covering over about one half of its -length. In the bottom of the vehicle, which has no springs, there is -a quantity of hay or straw, or a feather bed, on which the traveller -stretches himself; but it is very hard riding, for the roads are rough, -and the hills are full of sharp pitches. All expenses are about six -cents a _verst_." - -"How much is a verst?" asked the captain. - -"Two thirds of a mile; or, more exactly, .6626 of a mile. Three versts -are two miles. Travelling in Finland is rather exciting at times, for -the horses rush at full gallop down the hills and over sharp pitches. -But the roads are pretty good, and an average speed of ten miles an -hour may be attained." - -"How could you get along without the language?" - -"I picked, up a few words, which I have forgotten, and had no trouble -at all. I went to Tavastehus, which is on one of the vast chain of -lakes in the interior of Finland. Small steamers ply upon them; and a -trip by water in this region is very pleasant. There is now a railroad -from this town to Helsingfors." - -"There seems to be some business even in this out-of-the-way part of -the world," said Lincoln, as the squadron of boats passed a series of -buildings. - -"Those are government works--founderies and machine shops." - -The river rapidly diminished in size, until at the town it was a small -stream, over which was a bridge, connecting the two parts of the place. -The boats went up to the quay just below this bridge, and the students -landed. Dividing into parties, they went where they pleased. Some -crossed the bridge, and others went in the direction of the cathedral, -which is on the left bank of the river. Dr. Winstock and Lincoln were -of the latter. - -"They have wide streets here," said the young captain. - -"Yes; land is cheap, and they can have them as wide as they please. In -all modern-built Russian cities you will find broad avenues." - -"The buildings are all but one story high." - -"Nearly all; and the houses are very much scattered, so that the people -do not appear to be very neighborly. Large as the town seems to be, it -contains only thirteen thousand inhabitants." - -"The houses look very neat and nice." - -"Only a few of them can be very old, for in 1827 nearly the whole city -was destroyed by fire, including the university with its library, and -many other public edifices. When the town was rebuilt, the people -placed the houses at a considerable distance from each other, and built -them but one story, because they had not the means to erect larger -ones." - -Passing along the street next to the river, the tourists reached an -extensive square, in which there was a statue of Professor Porthan, a -learned Finlander. Just beyond it was the cathedral, which is of brick, -and far from elegant or imposing in its external appearance. - -"This is the cradle of Christianity in Finland," said the doctor. -"As Mr. Mapps told you, this town was founded by Eric of Sweden, who -introduced Christianity into this region. The first bishop was located -here; and in this church, for centuries, the first families were -buried; and you will not only see their tombs, but also some of their -bodies, if you desire." - -"I should not think that would be permitted," replied Lincoln. - -"Nor I; but it is. The great fire burned out the interior of this -church, destroying the altar and organ, and even melting the bells. The -building was repaired by subscription. A baker, who had accumulated -about twelve thousand dollars in his business, having no near -relatives, gave his little fortune for the purchase of another organ, -and his wishes were carried out after his death." - -A man with a bundle of keys presented himself at this time, bowed, and -solemnly opened the door of the cathedral. As the visitors ascended the -steps, the man pointed to a rusty ring. - -"What's that?" asked Lincoln. - -"In ancient times offenders used to be fastened to that ring, and were -compelled to do penance there," replied the doctor. - -"There's nothing very fine about this," said the captain, as they -entered the church. - -"Certainly not. I hope you did not expect to find a cathedral like St. -Peter's, or those at Antwerp and Cologne. This structure has been built -upon, increased in size, and improved, several times. There is the -organ which the baker gave. It has five thousand pipes--for a dollar -would buy more organ pipes years ago than now. Whatever there is here -in the way of ornament, including the frescoes, is the work of native -artists," continued the doctor, as they walked up to the altar. "In the -crypt under this altar lie the remains of Queen Christina of Sweden." - -"Mr. Mapps said she was buried in St. Peter's, at Rome," interposed the -captain. - -"Not the celebrated Queen Christina, but the wife of St. Eric, whose -remains are intombed in the cathedral of Upsala. Here is an epitaph to -Katrina Mänsdotter," said the doctor, as they passed to the side of the -church. - -"I never heard of her before, which is not very strange," replied -Lincoln. - -"Do you remember who was the son and successor of Gustavus Vasa?" - -"Eric XIV. He was deposed by the Swedish parliament, kept a prisoner -nine years, and then poisoned." - -"Good! That is more than I could have told about him. Eric's father -proposed to marry him to Queen Elizabeth of England; and Eric, while -the negotiations were still pending, proposed to Mary, Queen of Scots, -and to two other princesses. He was actually flirting with four ladies -of royal blood at the same time. The accepting of either, he felt, -would make trouble; and he relieved himself of any difficulty by -marrying Miss Mänsdotter. She was a very pretty girl, the daughter of -a petty officer of the Guards, who had attracted his attention while -she was selling fruit in the market of Stockholm. She was sincerely -attached to him, tyrant and oppressor as he was, and clung to him -through his misfortunes. After his imprisonment she retired to Finland, -and passed the remainder of her days in obscurity." - -"That's a good story for a novelist to work upon," suggested Lincoln. - -"Very likely the incidents of the career of Katrina have been used by -the Swedish novelists; but I am not as familiar as I intend to be with -them. I see that the works of Madame Schwartz, a celebrated Swedish -writer, are now in process of translation in the United States. Several -volumes have been published, and they are having a large circulation. -This lady locates some of her stories, or parts of them, in Finland." - -Many of the tombs in which the Finland worthies were buried are half -above and half below the pavement of the church. The conductor of the -little party opened the door of one of them, and the captain looked -into the gloomy space. Within it several coffins were crumbling to -decay. The man raised one of them, exhibiting the body of the occupant. -The features of the face were well preserved, though the person had -been dead three hundred years. They were of a brownish color, not -unlike guano. Following the example of the conductor, the visitors -touched the face, which was hard and rather spongy. - -"I should think this body would decay," said the captain. - -"No; there is something in the atmosphere which has changed it to -adipocere. Sometimes bodies buried in the ground are petrified, or -turned into stone. In Italy, and in some other countries, you will see -the bodies of saints in the churches, though I remember none as perfect -as this, for they are very black, and much shrivelled. In the vaults at -Palermo vast numbers of the dead are preserved by the conditions of the -vault in which they are buried." - -Other monuments were examined, and the party left the church, giving -the solemn man--who had not yet spoken a single word--a mark for his -services, at which he solemnly bowed as he put the money in his pocket. -Crossing the river, Dr. Winstock and Lincoln walked over the rest of -the town, which, however, contained nothing worthy of note. There was -nothing in the costume of the people to distinguish them, and the shops -and houses were hardly different from those in England or America. The -streets are paved with cobble stones, and a few droskies may be seen; -but the people, who are more intensely Swedish than in the eastern -provinces of Finland, do not take kindly to Russian customs and -institutions. After the destruction of the university by fire, it was -removed to Helsingfors, and the hostility of the province to their new -ruler caused the transfer of the seat of government to the same place. -The town wears an aspect of desolation in its streets, for very few -people are seen in them; and, except on the wharf at the arrival of a -steamer there, nothing of the bustle of business is seen. The place has -lost much of its former importance. - -The students wandered idly through the deserted streets, and it -was noticeable that but few of them paid any attention to their -surroundings. A group of the seamen sat on the quay above the bridge, -apparently engaged in an animated discussion. Though the Finnish women -were pulling about in boats on the narrow river, the boys were not -interested in their movements. Their conversation did not relate to -Finland or the Finns. Scott, the joker, was in the centre of the ring, -and did the greater part of the talking, and of course the subject was -that which had been introduced at the picnic on the island. Without -having any distinct plan in the beginning, Scott had become a leader -among the democratic element of the ship. His crude ideas, which had -formed themselves into objections to the De Forrest scheme, were now -seeking recognition as a plan. He had been laboring very earnestly to -defeat the wishes of the cabin "nobs," as he persisted in calling them. - -"We can't go for such a fellow as Cantwell," said one of the students. -"He is a conceited and overbearing fellow." - -"I don't care a fig for Cantwell, personally," replied Scott. "It -is the principle of the thing that I'm looking after. I know that -Cantwell is unpopular in the steerage as well as in the cabin. But -there's a conspiracy against him. Just as soon as he had earned his -rank, the fellows in the cabin put their heads together to cheat him -out of it. I was appointed on the committee, and they called a meeting -in the cabin, where I was not allowed to go, to prevent me from -attending. Was that fair?" - -"No, no!" responded the seamen. - -"Right! Besides, I want those swells in the cabin to know that we are a -power." - -"But they came to us before the meeting on the island," suggested one -of the group. - -"Yes; just so. But what did they come for? To know if we approved the -plan? Not a bit of it. The plan was cooked up in the cabin. They came -to us just as the politicians go to the dear people--for votes. They -argued, talked, and begged for our votes at the meeting. By and by -they will get up a plan by which no fellow shall be promoted from the -steerage to the cabin. Cantwell and Victory! That's my motto." - -"I say, Scott, don't you think it is absurd for us to vote for the most -unpopular fellow in the ship?" asked Wainwright. - -"No, I don't. He's the only fellow in the cabin that is not in the -ring, and therefore the only one we can vote for. Don't you see it?" - -"I don't want to vote against Captain Lincoln," another objected. "He -is a first-rate fellow, and a good sailor." - -"But Lincoln went in for this plan, was present at the meeting, and -voted in favor of it," replied Scott. "I like Lincoln as well as any -fellow, but I don't like this trying to keep any one out of the place -he has fairly earned." - -"That's so," said a dozen of the boys. - -This was only a specimen of the electioneering which was going on in -a dozen different places in Åbo at the same time. Only a few of the -students entered the cathedral, and not many of them could tell, when -they returned to the squadron, whether the streets of the town were -broad or narrow, or whether the houses were one or two stories high. -While the seamen were at work for Cantwell, the officers were speaking -a good word for Captain Lincoln, whom they desired to reëlect to his -present position. - -At six o'clock most of the students were in the vicinity of the bridge, -ready to repair to the boats when the boatswains gave the signal. Dr. -Winstock and Lincoln were at the hotel on the quay called the Society's -House, which is said to be the most northern one in the world. Students -were arriving in the droskies, which many of them had employed for the -sake of a ride; and when they came to pay their fare there were many -amusing scenes, for neither party understood a word of the language of -the other. Most of the students, too, had changed their Swedish money -into Russian in Stockholm, and were unprovided with Finnish currency, -for they supposed that Russian money was current in Finland. The -drivers would not take the rubles and copecks, and some very cheerful -rows ensued. But the principal, with Professor Badois--who spoke -Swedish--at his elbow, interfered, and paid the fares. The students -embarked, the line of boats was formed, and the squadron moved down the -river, with half of Åbo on the quay, gazing in solemn silence at the -departure of the strange visitors, for as such they certainly regarded -them. In less than an hour the boats were alongside the vessels to -which they belonged, and were soon hoisted up to the davits. - -The signal for sailing was shown on board of the Young America, and a -lively scene followed. Anchors were hove short, sails shaken out, and -the Finnish pilots were at their stations. As the breeze was fresh -and fair, the principal desired to take advantage of it; and, after -a stay of only five hours at Åbo, the squadron was under way again, -threading its course through the channels among the numerous islands. -In the watch on deck, and that below, the business of electioneering -was continued with the utmost vigor. Scott and his friends were busy -everywhere, and even the stale expedient of a secret society among the -"anti-De Forresters" was proposed, and enthusiastically adopted. Scott -and Jones were intrusted with the task of furnishing a constitution, -and inventing the necessary dark-lantern machinery for the organization. - -Boys have a decided taste for secret associations, though, as the -experience of the present time shows, not more than adults, male -and female. The number of these "orders" among full-grown men is on -the increase, and the boys, in all parts of the United States, have -manifested a strong desire to keep up with the times, and follow the -example of their elders. Secret societies had several times been -formed on board of the Young America, but generally for purposes of -mischief, such as running away, or capturing one of the vessels. The -present association appeared to be for political purposes--to influence -the election of officers. Scott was, in the main, a very sensible -fellow; and his only idea of a secret society was to make some fun out -of it, though he was quite willing to have it used for accomplishing -his purpose, which, in its turn, was little more than a gigantic joke, -so far as he was concerned. - -The wind, which had been fresh all day, diminished in force after -the squadron sailed, and at half past eight, while the sun was still -above the horizon, there was a dead calm, and the vessels were obliged -to anchor for the night, for the pilots declined to run during the -darkness in the intricate navigation of these seas. The squadron -anchored near a rocky island, the top of which was covered with trees. -The same "eternal silence" seemed to pervade the region as among the -Aland Islands. When everything was made snug on board, a portion of the -students asked permission to go on shore, which was readily granted to -all who desired to do so. This number was found to include the entire -crew of the ship. - -"The Bangwhangers will meet at the farther side of the island," -whispered Scott. "Pass it along." - -"The what?" asked Laybold. - -"The Bangwhangers. Don't you belong to the night-bloomers?" - -"I don't understand you," replied Laybold. - -"You don't? Well, your head is thicker than a quart of molasses. -Didn't you fellows ask me to get up a secret society?" - -"Yes." - -"Well, I have done it; but you popsquizzles don't seem to know your own -chickens. The new institution is to be called the Bangwhangers, of whom -you are which. Now, don't tell any one who isn't a Bangwhanger anything -at all about it." - -"I see." - -"I should think you might, if your ears were only half as long as a -donkey's." - -The students tumbled into the boats; and, as most of the officers were -busy preparing ballots for the election on the following day, none of -them went on shore, the boats being in charge of the several coxswains. -Ordinarily the seamen would not have been permitted to visit the shore -without at least one officer in each boat; but as it did not seem -possible that any mischief could be done on this uninhabited island, -the rule was waived. The students landed; and in a few moments several -boats from the Josephine and Tritonia brought a majority of the crews -of these vessels. Scott and several of his most intimate friends went -to the highest part of the island. - -"Every Cantwell man may join our society; no one else," said Scott, -after he had told them the name. - -"All right." - -"And we will give them the first degree at once." - -"What's that?" - -"The first degree is next to nothing; only to get the fellows together -to organize," said Scott, as he leaped upon a rock. "Come up here, -Jones; I'll give you the first degree." - -Jones joined the joker on the rock. - -"Do you agree to vote for Cantwell, to say nothing to nobody, and never -to eat soup with a darning-needle?" asked Scott, in a low tone. - -"Of course I do," laughed Jones. - -"Answer in these words:-- - - "To all these three - I do agree." - -Jones repeated the words in due form. - -"All right. I appoint you R. P. F. _pro tem._" - -"R. P. F.! What does that mean?" - -"I can't tell you till you have taken your second degree; only remember -the letters. Now, bring the fellows to me, one at a time." - -Wainwright was the next one, who was obligated in the same manner, and -Jones was instructed to tell the candidates what to say in token of -their assent. - - "To all these three, - I do agree," - -replied Wainwright. - -"I declare you a Bangwhanger, and appoint you L. P. F." - -"What does that mean?" demanded the initiate. - -"We can't tell you till you take your second degree," replied Jones. - -In half an hour fifty had joined the association. The third one was -appointed I. L. M., and the fourth; O. L. M. Thus far only those who -were known to be ready to vote for Cantwell were invited to join; -and those who were admitted formed a ring to keep the outsiders at a -reasonable distance. - -But there were plenty of applicants, and the number increased as those -outside of the circle heard the laughter of those on the rock. If Scott -was at the bottom of the affair, it was fun. One after another the R. -P. F. and the L. P. F. continued to bring in the candidates. - -"Do you agree to vote for Cantwell, to--" - -"No; I don't agree to that," interposed one of them. - -"Turn him out!" added Scott. "R. P. F., do your duty." - -This duty was a very simple one, and consisted only in leading the -refractory applicant outside of the ring. A dozen more that followed, -and had before refused to commit themselves, promptly agreed to all the -conditions. All on the island had joined except about twenty, who had -been turned out; but so great was the curiosity of some of these, that -they promised to accept the conditions, if admitted. - -"Bangwhangers, I congratulate you on your admission to this honorable -and most respectable order," said Scott, when all who wished to join -had been admitted. "But there may be some black sheep among you, and -the obligation will be repeated;" and he repeated again, loud enough -for all to hear him, "All that agree will repeat the couplet in due -form, and sit down on the ground. Officers, turn out every fellow that -don't sit down." - -"All down!" shouted the students, and all of them suited the action to -the word. - -"All good men and true; but you must prove yourselves to be such. Do as -I do;" and the joker put the forefinger of his right hand on the end of -his nose. - -All the members did the same. - -"When I meet a Bangwhanger, I put my finger to my nose, and say, -'Bang.' In reply, he puts his finger to his nose, and answers, -'Whang.' Now I will do it with the R. P. F. Bang!" - -"Whang!" replied Jones: putting his finger to his nose. - -"Right. You can try it on with the brother nearest to you." - -While the fraternity were practising this important part of the work, -Scott instructed Jones still further in the mysterious art. When the R. -P. F. fully understood his part, the joker called the members to order -again, and told them to learn the dialogue which he would rehearse with -Jones, for it was the form by which a Bangwhanger was to know a brother -of the order. - -"Bang!" said Scott, putting his finger to his nose. - -"Whang!" replied Jones, doing the same. - -"Who knows?" - -"Eye, nose," answered Jones, drawing his finger over his right eye, and -then placing it on the end of his nose, as he mentioned the name of -each organ. - -"Who knows?" - -"Eighty noes." - -"Right, Brother Bangwhanger; come to my arms," added Scott. "But the -number is to be modified so as always to show the exact strength of -this honorable and most respectable order." - -The joker and his companion went through the dialogue several times, -till every member was familiar with it, and then they practised it -among themselves, amid peals of laughter. - -"Now, Brother Bangwhangers, we are to elect officers. The first and -highest is the C. B.," continued Scott. - -"What does it mean?" asked half a dozen or more. - -"I can't tell you till you take the second degree," replied the joker. -"Please to nominate." - -"Scott!" shouted the members. - -"Brother R. P. F., spare my modesty, and put the question," said the -joker. - -Jones put the question, and of course Scott was unanimously elected. - -"The next office, is the D. C. B. Please to nominate." - -"Wainwright." - -He was elected. - -"Now for the Q. D." - -"Hobbs." And he was chosen. - -"The Y. D. K." - -"Edson." And no one objected. - -"The I. L. M." - -"Merrill." And the vote was unanimous. - -"The O. L. M." - -"Hall." And he went in. - -"The R. P. F." - -"Jones." And the nomination was confirmed. - -"The L. P. F." - -"Brown." And he was the choice of the members. - -"Eight officers, and they are all chosen. They will constitute the -original second degree men, and, after they have been instructed, we -shall be ready to admit you all to that enviable distinction. Now, the -Q. D. and the Y. D. K. will count the members." - -The number reported was eighty-two, which was nearly a majority of the -students in the squadron. - -"Who knows?" called the C. B. - -"Eighty-two knows," replied several. - -"That's enough to put a veto on the De Forresters. Now, remember the -solemn pledge you have taken, to vote for Cantwell, to say nothing to -nobody, and never to eat soup with a darning-needle." - - "To all these three - I do agree," - -responded the members, laughing. - -"Although the last is the most important, the first is not to be -neglected; and any member _who knows_, and don't do, shall be headed up -in a mackerel kit and thrown overboard by the R. P. F., before he takes -the second degree, in which the sublime mysteries of the order will be -fully elucidated. Who knows?" - -Scott coined jokes and puns for a few moments, to the intense enjoyment -of the members; and by this time four of the outsiders desired to -become members. They were immediately admitted. - -"Who knows?" - -"Eighty-six noes." - -"Good! All hands to the boats." - -The coxswains called their crews, and the students returned to their -vessels. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -AN EXCITING ELECTION. - - -It was the last day of the month, and the instructors in the three -vessels of the squadron were very busy in adding the merit-rolls on -the record books. It was necessary that all this work should be very -carefully done, for a mistake of a single mark might send a cabin -officer into the steerage, or a seaman from the steerage into the -cabin. Every addition was verified, therefore, by a second person. The -students had abundant opportunities to canvass and electioneer, as all -the instructors were at work in the main cabin. While the seamen were -on shore, the officers had been using the Novelty presses and the types -in printing the ballots for the next day. And they had just as much -difficulty in "making up the slate" as a ring of older politicians. -While few of the officers were willing to stand as candidates for -positions lower in rank than those they held at the time, some -desired to go a little higher. There were no little compromising and -"log-rolling" but it ought to be said that Commodore Cumberland and -Captain Lincoln, while they were willing to place themselves "in the -hands of their friends," refrained entirely from pressing their claims. -On the other hand, De Forrest and Beckwith had used their influence -to better their own condition. The former was afraid his merit-rank -would be lower than his present position, and he agreed with the latter -to make him second lieutenant, if Beckwith would work to nominate -and elect him as first. The nominations were full of difficulty. De -Forrest, as the originator of the plan which had been adopted, felt -that he had some claims to consideration. Of course, as Judson and -Norwood were to be displaced if De Forrest and Beckwith were advanced, -it was necessary for the latter aspirants to work privately and -carefully. But the secret could not long be kept, and when the first -and second lieutenants learned that there was a movement on foot to -displace them, they were very angry and indignant, and protested with -all their might against the injustice. The De Forrest plan was already -at a discount with a considerable portion of the cabin officers. - -The discussion in the after cabin was becoming violent and noisy; -and at the suggestion of Captain Lincoln, it was voted to appoint a -committee, who should retire to a state-room and prepare a ticket. The -commodore, the captain, and Sheridan, the first midshipman, constituted -this committee; and after an absence of an hour, they reported that -the several officers should be nominated in the order of their present -rank. This report, if accepted, would defeat the aspirations of -Beckwith, and he refused to assent to it. De Forrest, who felt that -his claims were not recognized by the report, was not satisfied with -it. As each of these aspirants had several friends, the compromise was -not agreeable. The name of Cantwell had not been mentioned for any -position. He sat in a corner of the cabin, a silent but interested -listener, until the vote on the report of the committee was about to be -taken. - -"Mr. Chairman," said he, addressing Ryder, the fourth lieutenant, who -had been chosen to this position, "it strikes me that these proceedings -are slightly insular. Who are expected to vote this ticket when it is -made up?" - -"All who are willing to do so, of course," answered Ryder. - -"Then you are selecting candidates for the crew to vote for, as well as -the officers?" - -"Certainly." - -"It seems to me, then, that the seamen ought to be represented in -a meeting of this kind. They are to cast four fifths of the votes, -but are not permitted to say a word in regard to the nominations," -continued Cantwell, in a very quiet tone, in strong contrast with the -one he had usually adopted, showing that Scott's lesson on Sunday had -done him some good. - -"How can we hold a caucus of the whole ship's company?" inquired De -Forrest. - -"It can be done on deck without the least difficulty." - -"It don't seem practicable to me," added Beckwith. - -"I suppose the ticket nominated here is not binding upon any one," -suggested Captain Lincoln. "For my part, I quite agree that the crew -ought to be consulted. Mr. Chairman, I move that this report be laid -upon the table. If my motion prevails, I shall offer another, looking -to a caucus of the whole ship's company." - -"I second the motion," added Cantwell. - -"Mr. Chairman, I don't see the use--" - -"The motion to lay on the table is not debatable," interposed Ryder. -"It is moved and seconded that the report of the committee be laid on -the table." - -The motion was rejected, only half a dozen of the officers voting -in favor of it. The report of the committee was accepted by a bare -majority. - -"As I said before, I suppose the action of this meeting is not binding -upon any one," continued Lincoln, "but is simply an arrangement among -ourselves." - -"I think it is binding upon all who are present at this meeting," -replied the chairman, who was decidedly in favor of the report, for -he foresaw that, if De Forrest and Beckwith were advanced, Judson and -Norwood would be crowded down, and he would not be a candidate for -either of the five highest places in the ship. - -"I certainly do not consider myself bound by it," said Cantwell. - -"Nor I," added De Forrest. - -"Nor I," repeated Beckwith. - -But the business was finished, though nothing had really been done. -One Novelty press was immediately set at work in printing what Ryder, -Judson, and Norwood called the regular ticket, while De Forrest and -Beckwith seized upon the other to print their own ticket, in which -Ryder was utterly ignored. By the time the seamen returned from the -island, three hundred of each of these tickets had been printed. - -Scott had carefully instructed the members of the new order to "say -nothing to nobody" in regard to the strength of the organization, or -anything else relating to it. Of course those who had been to the -island, but refused to join the order, knew something about the matter. -They were aware that the members were all pledged to vote for Cantwell; -but they had not estimated the number who had accepted the obligation. - -As soon as the boats had been hoisted up, the friends of the two -tickets which had been made up in the cabin went to work upon the -seamen. De Forrest and Beckwith had made all sorts of promises to -various officers to support them at the election following that of the -next day, if they would go for the "independent ticket," as they styled -their own, at the present time. When the advocates of the "regular -ticket" understood what the "bolters" were doing, they crossed out -De Forrest's and Beckwith's names, and substituted that of Ryder for -third lieutenant, and that of Murray, the second master, for fourth. -The young gentlemen were having a foretaste of the complications of -politics, and a great deal of ill feeling was aroused. It was evident -enough to the fair-minded, unselfish ones in the cabin, that the new -plan was not working well, and they were very much disgusted at the -conduct of De Forrest and Beckwith in particular. It was nothing but -a scramble for office, without much regard for fitness among the -candidates. The only redeeming feature of the business was the fact -that Lincoln's name was on both of the cabin tickets; but then he was -so popular, and so thoroughly competent for the captaincy, that neither -of the factions dared to think of displacing him. - -"I say, Longwood, I want you to go for the independent ticket," said De -Forrest, addressing one of the students who had declined to join the -Bangwhangers. - -"The opposition have just formed a secret society, and all its members -are pledged to vote for Cantwell," replied Longwood. - -"Cantwell! nonsense! He can't be elected to any office." - -"No use; the fellows know him too well. We had a meeting in the cabin, -and there will be two tickets. This will be the winning one;" and the -third lieutenant handed Longwood one of the printed ballots. - -"What's the other ticket?" - -"The present officers; but I have just found out that they are taking -my name off the ticket, and putting on Murray's. What do you think of -that? Is it fair play?" - -"Well, I don't know; but if you are working against the regular ticket, -you can't expect its friends to go for you," replied Longwood. - -"But they want to shove me down, and I hope my friends won't let them -do it. I got up this plan, you know, but the fellows don't seem to give -me any credit for it. Vote this ticket--won't you?" - -"I'll see," answered the voter, as the candidate passed on to another. - -The first lieutenant, Judson, knowing the influence of Scott among the -crew, went to him the moment he came on board, to present the claims of -the regular ticket. - -"I'm a Cantwell man," replied Scott. - -"It's no use to go for him; he can't be elected," said Judson. - -"Who knows?" added Scott. - -"We have had a meeting in the cabin, and have regularly nominated a -ticket." - -"Probably it didn't occur to you that the crew had any right to meddle -with the matter." - -"Yes; we considered the subject; but we hadn't time to call a meeting -of the whole ship's company." - -"Time is short," laughed Scott. - -"If the fellows in the steerage wish it, perhaps we can put Cantwell on -the regular ticket as fourth lieutenant, instead of Murray." - -"I am not authorized to speak for our fellows; and I don't know that -they would vote your ticket even if you put Cantwell's name on it." - -"Cantwell's name wouldn't strengthen our ticket at all." - -"Perhaps not." - -Scott took one of the ballots, but would not even promise to consider -it. - -"The officers have had a caucus in the cabin, Scott," said Cantwell. - -"So Mr. Judson informs me; and they haven't put your name on the -ticket?" - -"No; of course I didn't expect them to do it. I told them the crew -ought to be consulted, and Captain Lincoln tried to make a motion to -that effect, but they wouldn't do it." - -"Never mind what they do; none of their tickets will be elected." - -"I don't know about that. They have two tickets, and every fellow -in the cabin except me, is at work for one or the other of them. -Whichever one is elected, I shall be thrown overboard." - -"Perhaps not--who knows?" said Scott. "You may be elected captain, -after all--who knows?" - -"Impossible! I should be satisfied if I were fourth lieutenant, and I -am sure my merit-rank would give me that place. But it's no use; I'm -counted out." - -"Not yet; wait till after election before you give it up. The fellows -like fair play; and if you hadn't put on airs before this plan came up, -they would make you commodore, just because the cabin nobs are trying -to count you out. That's what's the matter. They like your cause a good -deal better than they like you. As it is, they mean to see that you -have fair play to-morrow. If you should happen to be elected to any -office to-morrow, I hope you will try to be a good fellow." - -"I certainly shall," replied Cantwell. - -De Forrest was waiting for a chance to speak to Scott, and the C. B. -passed on, leaving Cantwell in a very desponding state of mind. The -situation had taken the conceit out of him. Conscious of his ability to -win even the highest position, he had taken no pains to conciliate his -associates, and he was reaping the legitimate harvest of his selfish -conduct and his overbearing manner. Certainly the De Forrest plan had -already done him a great good. His manners were changed, for he had -learned that he was not of half so much consequence as he supposed; -and his present depression of spirits did not permit him to put on -airs, he had learned that, in all communities, every individual owes -something of respect, kindness, and consideration to every other -individual, even the superior to the inferior. It was a lesson which -he would have been compelled to learn a few years later, if the -circumstances had not obliged him to accept it at the present time. It -is certainly true that young men are older and wiser at eighteen than -at any subsequent period of their lives, and in Cantwell's case this -self-importance was considerably exaggerated above the average. Most -young men have to be "taken down," and the rough circumstances of life -generally do it in the course of a few years, without any earthquake or -other violent commotion. - -Scott's party did no electioneering. Knowing what the next day was to -bring forth, they were particularly jolly, and listened good-naturedly -to all the cabin politicians had to say. They were remarkably cautious -and prudent, and though the fact of the secret organization was known -throughout the ship, the officers did not suspect that it numbered -members enough to control the election. The canvass was lively till the -anchor watch was stationed on deck, and all hands were compelled to -turn in. - -The next morning a dense fog hid even the nearest island from -view. The Finnish pilots declined to take the vessels through the -intricate channels among the islands, except under the most favorable -circumstances. After breakfast the principal sent a note to each of -the vice-principals. Scott pulled an oar in the boat which delivered -them. While the messenger was in the cabin, he went on the deck of the -Josephine, and walking about among the crew with the forefinger of his -right hand on his nose, he soon discovered half a dozen making the sign. - -"Bang!" said he, selecting one of them. - -"Whang," laughed the seaman. - -"Who knows?" - -"Eye, nose," answered the other, making the proper signs. - -"Who knows?" - -"Eighty-six noses." - -"Right, Brother Bangwhanger; come to my arms. Vote for Lincoln for -commodore," said Scott; "and pass it along to every member." - -After repeating this direction in due form to several others, the C. B. -returned to the boat, and did the same thing on board of the Tritonia. -In each of the two consorts, the members of the order were to nominate -a ticket to suit themselves; and so far as they were concerned, the -pledge to vote for Cantwell was meaningless. When the boat returned, -all hands were piped to muster, and the principal, with the merit-roll -in his hand, mounted the rostrum over the main hatch. - -"Young gentlemen, in accordance with the change in the method of -appointing the officers, announced at Åbo yesterday, the election of -commodore of the squadron will take place at ten o'clock to-day," said -Mr. Lowington. "The result of the balloting in the consorts will be -transmitted without delay to the ship. The election of captain will -immediately follow, and then of the four lieutenants, each in the order -of rank, and on separate ballots." - -"We have printed ballots containing the names of all the candidates," -said De Forrest. - -"I think it best to elect only one officer at a ballot." - -"I hope the election will be postponed till eleven o'clock then, in -order to give us time to prepare the separate ballots." - -"Very well; I consent to the change of time; and the consorts shall be -notified at once," replied the principal, who went to the cabin, wrote -two notes, and sent them to the vice-principals by the adult forward -officers. - -"Now, let us understand the method of proceeding thoroughly," continued -Mr. Lowington, as he returned to his position on the hatch. "Only -a captain is eligible to the office of commodore, or the present -incumbent may be reëlected. Only the present cabin officers can be -candidates for the five highest offices in the ship; and agreeably to -the proviso relating to the ship, no officer who falls below the rank -of No. 16 is eligible to any office, but must return to the steerage. -Are these rules fully understood?" - -"Yes, sir," responded the crowd. - -"Further, if any student who is now the commodore, the captain, or a -lieutenant, should not be elected to one of these positions, what would -his rank be for next month?" - -"Just the same as it would have been, if the new plan had not been -adopted," replied De Forrest. - -"I am glad you understand it," added the principal, with a significant -look at the third lieutenant. "I will now read the merit-roll, in order -that you may know who are, and who are not, eligible to the elective -offices. Lincoln is number 1; Cumberland, 2; Norwood, 3; Judson, 4; -Murray, 5; Cantwell, 6; Sheridan, 7; Ryder, 8; Vroome, 9; Beckwith, -10; De Forrest, 11; Wainwright, 12; Jones, 13; Orlof, 14; Messenger, -15; Brown, 16. All but three of these may be candidates for the first -six offices; and those not elected to higher positions will take their -rank by the merit-roll." - -Three of the cabin officers had dropped into the steerage, and three in -the steerage had risen to the cabin; and when the names of the latter -were read, they were greeted with earnest applause. The rest of the -names on the roll were read, and the ship's company dismissed. The -Novelty printing presses were again in demand. Scott obtained one, and -De Forrest the other; and so rapidly was the printing of the ballots -accomplished, that by ten o'clock the required number were printed. -Promptly at six bells, or eleven o'clock, the ship's company were piped -to muster again. The principal made careful arrangements for a fair -vote. The box was placed on a water cask, and on each side of it one -of the instructors, to see that no one put in more than one ballot. -The students were then formed in a single line, on the starboard -side, and required to march around the box, deposit their votes, and -then to come round upon the port side, the forward officers standing -amidships to prevent any from passing over and voting a second time. -The principal was aware that the most intense excitement pervaded the -crew, and he deemed it proper, even for the appearances' sake, to guard -against "repeaters" and "ballot stuffers." One officer and two seamen -were appointed to count the votes, and when all had deposited their -ballots, the committee, attended by the two instructors, retired to -the main cabin to perform their duty. While they were thus engaged, a -boat from the Josephine, and another from the Tritonia, brought the -result of the voting in these vessels to the ship. The returns were in -sealed envelopes, and were sent down to the committee. In a short time -the votes were counted, the returns from the consorts added, and the -whole verified by the instructors present. Murray, the officer on the -committee who had been named first was to make the report. - -When he came on deck, the ship's company gathered around the rostrum, -from which the result was to be announced, and there was intense -anxiety manifested by both parties. - -"Give your attention to the report of the committee," said Mr. -Lowington. - -"Whole number of votes, 170," said Murray, reading from the paper in -his hand. "Necessary for a choice, 86. Captain Wolff has 5; Captain -Langdon has 9; Commodore Cumberland has 64; Captain Lincoln has 92, and -is elected." - -The De Forresters looked at each other in blank amazement, for this -result was wholly unexpected by them. It had never occurred to them -that Cumberland could be defeated, and all the anxiety they had in -relation to the vote for commodore was to ascertain the strength of the -opposition, who were understood to be running another candidate. - -"Captain Lincoln, I congratulate you on your election," said -Cumberland, as soon as he could in some measure recover from his -astonishment. - -"I thank you, commodore; but this is none of my doings. I am more -astonished than you can be, and don't propose to stand it," replied -Lincoln. - -"Three cheers for Commodore Lincoln," called one of the opposition, -and they were given on the instant; and Cumberland joined heartily in -the tribute. - -"Mr. Lowington, I wish to decline!" shouted Lincoln. "I was not -a candidate for this position; I did not, and do not, desire the -position." - -"All the captains were candidates," replied the principal. "If you had -given notice before the vote that you did not desire the position, and -would not accept, it would have been another thing." - -"But I had no suspicion, till the ballot was taken, that any one -intended to vote for me," pleaded Lincoln. "I do not like to accept the -place for several reasons." - -"I hope he will accept it, sir," said Commodore Cumberland; "and I -wish to say that, if another ballot is taken, I must decline to be a -candidate." - -The opposition applauded violently. It was understood that Lincoln -declined out of regard to his friend and superior; but the noble -conduct of the commodore put to the blush some of the smaller aspirants -for office. - -"I do not think that Captain Lincoln can decline, under the -circumstances," said the principal. "Such a step does not seem to be -in order. Besides, young gentlemen, you desired to vote, and I shall -not interfere with the freedom of the elections. I hope you will have -voting enough to-day fully to satisfy you. We will now proceed to the -election of the captain of the ship." - -The boats from the Josephine and the Tritonia returned with the result -of the vote for commodore, and the balloting proceeded as before. This -was really the exciting contest of the day, and the De Forresters -were somewhat demoralized by the result of the ballot for commodore. -Under the arrangement made by the principal, the most perfect order -prevailed. Every student on board had been provided with all the -ballots in circulation, and the time for electioneering had gone by. -But the unexpected election of Lincoln as commodore had deranged -the plans of all but the opposition. All others, however, voted for -Cumberland for captain, for the ballots had nothing upon them but the -name of the candidate, and "Regular," "Independent," or "Equal Rights" -ticket, the last being the rallying cry of the opposition. The votes -were deposited in silence, and it was a very anxious period for the -cabin officers, for the present ballot would effectually prove where -the strength lay. The committee retired, and all hands nervously -awaited the result. In ten minutes Murray appeared with the paper on -which the state of the vote was written. As this ballot decided the -great question of all the elective offices, the hearts of the officers -were in their mouths, and the agitation of some of them was even -ludicrous. - -"Give your attention to the report of the committee," said the -principal; but this was an unnecessary request, for every student was -all attention the moment Murray showed his head above the companionway. - -"Whole number of votes, 88," said the chairman "Necessary for a choice, -45; Lieutenant Judson has 1; Commodore Cumberland has 39; Fourth Master -Cantwell has 48, and is elected." - -The opposition cheered lustily, and laughed their satisfaction, as -they beheld the blank dismay of the agitators. - -"I'll quit the ship!" cried De Forrest, his face red from the violence -of his wrath. "I'll run away the first chance I get." - -"So will I," replied Beckwith. "We are sold out." - -"Mr. De Forrest," said the principal, in a loud tone, which immediately -produced the silence of curiosity. - -"Sir," replied the malcontent. - -"Did I understand you to say you would leave the ship?" - -"I did say so, sir," replied the third lieutenant, who, however, did -not intend to be over-heard by the principal. "I didn't mean anything -by it." - -"It is well you did not. I see that you are not satisfied with this -result." - -"No, sir, I am not; and I don't think any one else is. We have been -cheated." - -"Do you mean to say that the ballot was not perfectly fair." - -"That was fair enough, but there is cheating somewhere." - -"I don't think there is. The result is not much different from what I -expected," replied the principal, with a pleasant smile on his face. -"When I learned that the officers had held a caucus for the nomination -of candidates in the after cabin, and refused to consult the seamen on -the subject, it seemed quite probable that the regular ticket would -be defeated. I heard that Captain Lincoln attempted to have a meeting -of all hands to consider the subject, but was overruled. I am not -astonished that he is elected commodore. Young gentlemen, you wished to -vote, and you have voted." - -The opposition cheered and applauded furiously. They cheered Lincoln -and the principal, and had begun to give three groans for De Forrest, -when they were checked by Mr. Lowington. - -"It is weak and foolish now to say there has been cheating, when the -result does not please you," continued the principal. "It appears now -that Cantwell, who is No. 6 on the merit-roll, has been elected captain -by a majority of the votes. Captain Cantwell, I congratulate you on -your election, and you shall have every facility for discharging your -duty." - -"Thank you, sir. I am very much obliged to those who voted for me; and -I will endeavor to do my duty faithfully, courteously, and kindly," -replied the new captain. - -There were two or three attempts to hiss but the demonstration was -promptly checked, even before it was drowned out by the vociferous -applause of the opposition. Commodores Lincoln and Cumberland manfully -congratulated Cantwell, and promised to support him fairly and -honorably in the discharge of his duty. - -"Young gentlemen, the fog is lifting, and we must proceed with the -elections," resumed the principal, "You will now bring in your ballots -for first lieutenant." - -Cumberland was the nominee of the opposition for this office, and as -the regulars voted for him also, he was elected over the independent -ticket of De Forrest, who had put himself in nomination, and who -obtained but thirteen votes. Of course he was more disgusted than -before. He declared that his friends had deserted him, and served him a -mean trick. Judson was chosen second lieutenant, and Norwood third, by -about the same vote. Sheridan, who was the candidate of the opposition, -received just the number necessary for a choice, which seemed to be the -exact strength of the Bangwhangers in the ship, the rest of them being -in the consorts. The elective offices being filled, it was necessary to -fix the rank of the remaining officers by the merit-roll. Murray was -the new first master; Beckwith's rank was the same as before; and De -Forrest was first purser--an office of trust, but generally disliked by -the students, who did not wish to be mere clerks. By the changes of the -month, three of the Bangwhangers became officers. - -The students were dismissed from muster, and the new officers ordered -to put on the uniform of their rank. Very exciting conversations in the -after cabin and steerage followed. Lincoln and Cumberland treated the -new captain kindly, for which he was very grateful. Wainwright, Jones, -and Brown, who had been promoted from the steerage, congratulated -him, but no other officer said a word to him. He was captain, but the -position promised to have its thorns as well as its roses. However, -his first lieutenant, the late commodore, who was one of the ablest -seamen on board, and was above any jealousy or meanness, had treated -him handsomely, and promised to support him. At dinner, after he had -put on his captain's uniform, Cantwell seated himself at one end of -the table, while Lincoln sat at the other, and the first lieutenant at -the captain's right. Most of the officers looked ugly, and it was not a -cheerful meal. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -A CALL AT HELSINGFORS. - - -Cantwell, since the examination in seamanship, had used every moment -of his spare time in studying the books on this subject, and in -conversation with Peaks and the other adult forward officers. When -his shipmates went on shore, he remained on board, because the -veteran boatswain was less engaged at these times. He was thoroughly -in earnest, but of course it was not possible for any one to master -a profession of so many details in a few days, or even a few weeks. -The new captain was conscious of his deficiency in this respect, and -even willing to acknowledge his unfitness for the position to which -he had been elected. Under the former rule it would have been hardly -possible for him to reach either of the first two offices of the ship -until he had learned all the details of his business, for even a single -examination, such as that which had so greatly changed his relative -rank a few days before, would have prevented his improper elevation. -Ordinarily, there was such an exercise every week, and every day -instruction was given in knotting, splicing, and other work on rigging; -in sea-terms and the names and uses of ropes, blocks, spars, sails, and -other parts of a ship; while navigation and the practical working of a -vessel were a daily lesson conducted by the principal. - -Probably there was not a boy in the squadron who had not some taste for -nautical matters, and, with hardly an exception, every one had entered -the Academy Ship or her consorts at his own request, or at least with -his own consent. Though some found their sailor life quite different -from what they expected, all were more or less ambitious to learn -their duty as seamen. It was always the case that a large majority -of the ship's company had been connected with the institution one or -more years, and were thoroughly familiar with all the minor details -of seamanship; could hand, reef, and steer, set and furl a sail, -and knew with more or less certainty what should be done in nearly -every emergency liable to occur to a vessel. In other words, a large -majority of the officers and seamen were old sailors. These young men -were not ignorant, stupid persons, into whose heads it was necessary -to hammer an idea; but nearly all of them had a tolerable education -when they entered the institution. The fact that a large portion of -them were wild and wayward did not detract from their natural ability, -for the wildest and the most wayward are often the most brilliant and -quick-witted. With such a proportion of well-trained seamen on board, -the new comers learned more from them incidentally, than from the set -exercises in seamanship. They were interested and anxious to become -familiar with the details of their profession, for he was a dull and -stupid fellow who did not expect, some time or other, to be an officer. -But Cantwell had not been long enough in the ship to master the -details; besides, his manner was cold and repulsive, and the veterans -were not disposed to make much talk with him. He realized now that he -had made a mistake in not cultivating the good will of his shipmates. - -Captain Cantwell expected trouble among the officers. He knew that, -with half a dozen exceptions, they disliked him exceedingly. Cumberland -treated him very handsomely. Sheridan, the fourth lieutenant, had been -elected to a position higher than his merit-rank by the opposition, and -therefore the captain counted upon his influence and support; and the -second purser and first and fourth midshipmen had come into the cabin -from the crew by their own merit. But at least nine of the officers -were hostile to him; some of them bitterly hostile, as Beckwith and De -Forrest. He was confident that a few of them would do all they could to -expose his deficiencies, and to make his position uncomfortable. When -he appeared in the cabin, in the uniform of his rank, he could not fail -to see the sneer which was on the faces of several of the officers. But -he maintained his dignity, resolved not to notice any demonstration -unless it was an open and palpable insult. After dinner most of the -officers went on deck, and in a short time the principal sent for the -captain. - -"The fog has lifted, and the pilots say they can go to sea now. You -will get under way immediately," said the principal. - -Captain Cantwell touched his cap, and called to Brown, the fourth -midshipman, who approached him with the proper salute. - -"You will ask the first lieutenant to come on deck," said the captain. - -"On deck, sir," reported Cumberland, touching his cap to the new -captain; and it seemed very strange to Cantwell to see the late -commodore paying this mark of respect to him. - -"You will get under way immediately." - -"Under way, sir," replied the executive officer, saluting his superior -again. - -It is rather doubtful whether Cantwell could have given all the orders -in detail which were necessary to execute this manœuvre, and -certainly his position as captain was much less trying than it would -have been as first lieutenant. If a majority of the officers were surly -and dissatisfied, a majority of the crew were delighted when they saw -the new captain on the quarter-deck; not that they had any particular -respect or regard for him personally, but because he represented their -cause, and was the evidence of their triumph. All hands were called, -and never were orders more promptly obeyed. In a few moments the Young -America was standing off before the wind, followed by the rest of the -squadron. The vessels threaded their way through the channels among -the islands, and passed out into the broad bay, for it was not deemed -prudent to take the steamer's course, nearer the main shore. The usual -routine of study was pursued during the afternoon, as the squadron, -with a light breeze, rolled lazily along towards her next port. - -"Your plan does not seem to work very well, De Forrest," said the -principal to the new first purser, whose duties required his presence -in the main cabin, when he had finished his recitations. - -"No, sir; we didn't have fair play. Scott got up a secret society, -and dragged more than half the seamen into it," replied De Forrest, -bitterly. "I hope such things will be prevented." - -"What things?" asked Mr. Lowington, mildly. - -"Secret societies, sir." - -"I am not in favor of such associations for political purposes; but I -think the crew had a perfect right to organize for this election." - -"But the students who joined the society had to pledge themselves to -vote for Cantwell." - -"That is virtually done at all caucuses and political conventions. You -think such societies ought to be suppressed--do you?" - -"I certainly do, sir." - -"Then I suppose we must begin in the cabin," laughed the principal. - -"We had no secret society in the cabin, sir." - -"No?" - -"Certainly not, Mr. Lowington." - -"Inasmuch as no seaman is allowed to enter the after cabin, your -meetings there were, to all intents and purposes, secret. You proposed -to keep the offices among yourselves, and you nominated the candidates, -without consulting the crew, who were to find most of the votes to -elect them, if they were elected. I think Scott was perfectly justified -in taking the course he did. The secret society, I suspect, is rather -for amusement than for anything else. You knew of its existence, and it -is only a fair counterbalance for your meetings in the after cabin." - -"We have come to the conclusion, sir, that our plan does not work very -well," added De Forrest, rather sheepishly. - -"It has not been tried under favorable circumstances. I have a higher -opinion of it than you seem to have," replied Mr. Lowington. "It was -brought forward, I am told, by yourself and others, to prevent Cantwell -from becoming captain or first lieutenant. This was an unworthy -purpose, and in the eyes of the crew it amounted to persecution." - -"We did not think he was fit for either of these places." - -"Perhaps he was not; and if your plan had not been adopted, he would -only have been fourth lieutenant. As the matter stands now, you have -actually made an unpopular officer your captain by your attempt to -persecute him. However odd and ridiculous Scott's tactics may have been -to defeat your intentions, they were based upon a genuine love of fair -play. You have been caught in your own trap." - -"I confess that we have, sir; and we would like to get out of the -trap," replied De Forrest. - -"That is quite impossible. Cantwell has been fairly elected, and he -shall serve out his month." - -"But after that, sir?" - -"I adopted the new plan to please you, and I purpose to give it a full -and fair trial. It has some very manifest advantages, the principal one -of which is, that it makes the officers in some measure responsible -to the crew for their conduct. It encourages courtesy and kindness in -the superior. But I am aware that it has some disadvantages, not the -least of which is this electioneering, though this is inseparable from -republican institutions." - -"I think we shall ask to have the old plan restored," added De Forrest. - -"After two or three months' trial of the present plan, if a large -majority of the squadron desire it, I shall be willing to make the -change; but I hope to see one election which shall be fairly conducted, -and in which no false issues shall be introduced. In the last, the -main question was whether the officers should deprive Cantwell of his -merit-rank; and every other issue was in some manner related to this." - -"But Cumberland, whose rank by merit was No. 1, was displaced from his -office, though all the students like him very well; perhaps not so well -as Lincoln, but very well," suggested De Forrest. - -"It was known to the crew that Lincoln wished to have a caucus of -the whole ship's company--a spirit of fairness to which he owes his -election. If Cumberland desired the same thing, it was not known in the -steerage." - -"The fellows say that three of the new cabin officers are members of -Scott's secret society," added De Forrest. - -"Then they will be likely to interfere with the secret proceedings of -the after cabin." - -"Brown, the fourth midshipman, is one of them. He may be the next -captain;" and there was an expression akin to horror on De Forrest's -face. - -"He may be; and he is a better seaman than Cantwell, for he has been in -the ship two years." - -"But it will be too bad to jump him over the heads of all of us." - -"That is one of the difficulties incident to your plan. Even -politicians will acknowledge that the ablest and best statesmen in our -country are very seldom elected to the highest offices; but in the army -and navy, in time of war, the ablest men are almost certain to find -their proper sphere." - -"I hope the old plan will be restored, sir; for I don't like the idea -of a secret society jumping the lowest officer over all our heads, -simply because he is a member. It doesn't look right to me." - -"It isn't right; but I expect to see the same spirit of fairness at -the next election which was displayed at the last one. If the cabin -officers give the crew fair play, I have no doubt the seamen will -exhibit the same spirit. If you wish to do the business just right, -have a fair caucus, and you will nullify all the influence of the -secret society." - -The principal went on deck then, but in the evening he had a long talk -with Scott, who declared that all he wanted was fair play, and that the -secret society would not, and could not, be used in the interest of -anything but fair play. - -The next morning the squadron was approaching Helsingfors. The town is -protected by the extensive fortifications of Sveaborg, planted on seven -islands, and from its great strength the fortress has been called the -"Gibraltar of the North." The scenery in the vicinity, consisting of -vast numbers of islands, is quite picturesque. The works were bombarded -by the combined English and French squadrons during the Crimean war, -in 1855; but though the attack was a very fierce one, it was entirely -unsuccessful. It was the last stronghold of the Swedes in Finland, -and when it was besieged by the Russians, in 1808, it was surrendered -to them by Admiral Cronstedt, while he had still sufficient means of -defence; and he is charged with treachery, though it has never been -proved, for he did not enter the Russian service, and left no fortune -at his death. The Finns were indignant at his conduct, and their -patriot poet, Runeberg, has written some indignant verses, which have -the ring of Scott's minstrel poem:-- - - "Conceal his lineage, hide his race; - The crime be his alone; - That none may blush for his disgrace, - Let it be all his own! - He who his country brings to shame, - Nor race, nor sire, nor son may claim." - -The appearance of Helsingfors, approaching from the sea, is very -imposing, for its public buildings are large, elegant structures, the -principal ones being on elevated ground. The inner harbor is nearly in -the shape of a square, and vessels go up to the wharves on the left. - -"What is that large building, Dr. Winstock?" asked Commodore Lincoln, -as the ship stood up the harbor. - -"That is the Russian church." - -"It is a magnificent building," added the young officer, as he gazed -with admiration upon the lofty building with its gilded dome. - -"All the Russian churches are beautiful buildings; and you will -find that those in St. Petersburg and Moscow far excel this one. -The large structures in front of us are the Lutheran church, the -University,--which was moved from Åbo to this place,--and the Senate -House." - -"I did not expect to find any such place as this away up here. Why, -it is one of the finest cities I ever looked upon!" exclaimed the -commodore. - -"I was as much astonished as you are when I first came here," added the -doctor. - -The squadron anchored quite near the shore, and after the sails had -been furled, the yards carefully squared, and everything hauled taut, -the recitations in the steerage proceeded as usual. They were continued -without interruption, except for dinner,--though of course all the -classes were not occupied at the same time,--till three o'clock in the -afternoon, when the boats were manned, and all hands were allowed to go -on shore. - -"The gig is ready, sir," reported the officer to whom the charge of -this boat had been given, to the captain. - -"I shall not go on shore," replied Cantwell. - -"Not go on shore, Captain Cantwell?" said Mr. Lowington, who stood near -him. - -"No, sir; not unless it is necessary that I should do so." - -"It is not necessary that you should go, but I should think you would -desire to see the town." - -"I cannot spare the time, Mr. Lowington," answered the captain, with a -smile. "As you are aware, sir, I am deficient in seamanship; and Mr. -Peaks, who has kindly consented to help me, has more leisure when the -ship's company are on shore than at any other time." - -"I commend your zeal, and I will not interfere with your purpose," -replied the principal, as he went over the side, and took his seat in -the professor's barge. - -On the shore, the doctor, the commodore, Paul Kendall, Shuffles, and -the ladies, made up a party, and went to the Society's House, which -is the name of the principal hotel here, as well as in Åbo and Wyborg, -where they endeavored to procure a _commissionaire_ who spoke English; -but none was to be had. The elegant Greek church was the first object -of interest, and they walked over to the hill on which it is located. -As if to follow literally with the words of Christ to Peter, this -church "is founded upon a rock." It is built of brick, and, like nearly -all Russian churches, is in the form of a Greek cross. At a little -distance from the main structure, but connected with it, is the bell -tower. As the party approached, the bell began to ring for a service. -Its tones were quite different from those heard in other countries, but -more melodious, and lacking the sharp qualities. Instead of a wheel and -rope to ring it, as most bells are rung, two men were stationed in the -belfry, and, by a rope attached to the tongue, were swaying it hack and -forth, till it struck the metal on each side. - -As the tourists entered the building, they were passed by a man with -a long, heavy, red beard, clothed in a kind of brown gown, or robe, -who, the doctor said, was a priest. The interior of the church was -different from any other which most of the party had seen. Opposite the -entrance was a screen, or partition, extending to the ceiling, which -was covered with pictures of the saints, or other holy persons, of the -Greek church. Only the face, and sometimes the hands, of the person -represented are shown, the rest of the picture being covered with gold. -In the middle of this partition is a lofty archway closed by two doors -of gold, or gilt. In front there is a platform, on which the priests -stand in performing the service. In various parts of the church are -pictures of the Russian saints, before each of which is a candle, or -other light. In one corner there was a cenotaph, covered with gold, -which represents the tomb of Christ, used at Easter and Christmas -in the service. There was no seat, bench, or other convenience for -sitting, for no one is allowed to sit in a Russian church. Men were -lighting the candles and lamps before the pictures of the holy persons, -reverently bowing and crossing themselves as they approached them. The -party were deeply interested, but they obtained a better idea of the -religion of the Russians in St. Petersburg. - -The travellers next obtained admission to the Senate House, in which -the hall intended for the meeting of the senate on state occasions is -the principal attraction. It contains a magnificent throne for the -emperor, who has twice presided in person at the sessions of this -body; but whether he is there or not, his gaudy seat seemed to be -the representative of his power. This building contains the remains -of the library saved from the great fire at Åbo, which has been -increased to one hundred thousand volumes. After a walk through the -University, founded by Queen Christina, which has usually about five -hundred students, and a walk up the long flight of steps leading to the -Lutheran church, the party returned to the great square. - -"There's a costume!" exclaimed Lincoln, when, in turning a corner, they -came suddenly upon a Russian drosky, the driver of which was dressed in -the long pelisse and bell-crowned hat of his class. - -"Yes; and that's just what you will see in every Russian city," -replied the doctor. "All the drivers are dressed just alike, and this -garb is worn only by them." - -The pelisse was a long green garment, reaching down to the ankles, with -bright globular buttons. The hat was similar to a European fashion -which had its day at least fifty years ago, and an occasional one was -seen even forty years ago. The diameter of the body at the top was -about twice that at the brim. The drosky was a narrow vehicle sitting -low on four small wheels. The seat for the passengers was narrow, -though two persons can crowd into it. In front, and higher up, is a -seat for the driver. At the end of the shafts was a wooden bow, or -arch, over the horse's shoulders. - -"What in the world is that bow for?" asked Lincoln. - -"That's a question which is more easily asked than answered," replied -the doctor. "I have looked at it a hundred times, but I have never been -able to see that it is of the slightest use, though I have seen a check -rein attached to it. For this purpose it is worse than useless; and if -there is a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals in Russia, -I hope it will take hold of the matter, for it is infinitely worse for -the poor beast than when the check is hooked at the saddle." - -"If it is useless always, and sometimes cruel, I hope all the bows in -Russia will be banished," laughed Mrs. Kendall. - -"Sent to Siberia," suggested Mrs. Shuffles. - -"Beaux are very well in their places," added Dr. Winstock; "and -marriage seems to be a better remedy than banishment." - -The driver of the drosky gathered up his petticoats and jumped off his -box, when the party paused before his vehicle. He looked vastly more -pleasant and amiable than a New York hackman, touched his hat, bowed, -and smiled blandly, as he pointed insinuatingly at the carriage. At the -same moment three more droskies rushed to the spot, the drivers intent -upon obtaining a job. They talked, but of course none of the Americans -could understand a word they said. The party intended to ride, and -three of them were taken; but it was no easy matter for either of the -ladies and her husband to crowd into the seat. Paul Kendall solved -the difficulty in his own case by taking half of the driver's place. -Lincoln and the doctor were better accommodated, and led the way, the -latter pointing in the direction he wished to go. They went up a very -broad street, with a green in the middle, like the Champs Elysées in -Paris, in which there were well-kept avenues. On the walks were several -neat stands for the sale of soda, which were attended by pretty girls, -who seemed to be doing a good business. A ride up this street, and down -another, with what they had seen before, nearly exhausted the town, -which contains twenty-four thousand inhabitants, but is spread out over -a large extent of country. All the streets were wide, some of them -disagreeably wide, when any one wishes to cross to the opposite side. - -Returning to the square, Dr. Winstock pointed down a street by the -steamboat landing, which extended along the west shore of the bay. The -driver understood him promptly, for this street led to the Botanical -Gardens, which is a popular place of resort for the people. It was -about a mile from the town, and on the arrival of the party a band was -playing in front of a large building which contained a very handsome -restaurant, sometimes used as a ball-room. The tourists entered this -place, and seated themselves at one of the tables. - -"What's the use of coming in here, when we can't speak a word of the -lingo?" laughed Paul. - -"I never go hungry for the want of language," replied the doctor, as a -very polite waiter presented himself. - -"Do you speak English?" he added to this man. - -The waiter shook his head. - -"Do you speak French?" asked the doctor in this language. - -The attendant shook his head again. - -"_Sprechen sie Deutsch?_" - -"_Ya; ein wenig; nicht fiel_," replied the man, a gleam of sunshine -lighting up his face, when the difficulty seemed to be solved. - -But his knowledge of German was exceedingly limited, though after -several blunders he brought the lunch and coffee which the surgeon -ordered. The feast consisted of the same "snack" which is served in -Sweden--little fishes, thin slices of sausage, and of salmon, and the -inevitable sandwich of _caviar_, or fish spawn. As in Sweden, the -coffee was excellent; but none of the party had yet conquered their -repugnance to the slimy _caviar_. When they had about finished the -lunch, the attentive waiter appeared with half a dozen dishes of veal -cutlets. - -"What have you there?" asked the surgeon. - -"_Kalbfleisch_,"--which means veal,--replied the waiter. - -"I did not order it." - -"_Ja, mein herr._" - -"No; I said _kalt Fleisch_," added the doctor; and Paul laughed -heartily, though this was only a specimen of the blunders the man made. - -The surgeon had called for _kalt Fleisch_, or cold meat, and the first -word is not unlike _Kalb_. - -"_Rechnung_," said Dr. Winstock, which means, "Bring me the bill;" as -the French say, "_Addition_," for the same thing, and the Austrians, -"_Bezahlen_." - -The bill, which doubtless included the veal cutlets, was three marks, -or sixty cents, for each person--a foretaste of Russian prices, dearer -than in any other part of Europe. It was paid, and the party took a -walk through the gardens, extending down to the sea-shore. It is simply -a pleasant place, without being very attractive. A hill near the point -of the peninsula commands a fine view of Sveaborg and the Gulf. There -is an extensive bathing-house near the rocky shore. A trip among the -islands in the vicinity is very agreeable, and little steamers may -be chartered for such excursions at three rubles an hour. The party -returned to the town, and drove to the landing-place, where they were -fortunate enough to find Professor Badois, to act as interpreter in -paying the drosky fares; for however bland the drivers were in their -manners, they were evidently familiar with the tricks of their craft. - -The several ship's companies went on board at once. The next morning -the squadron sailed for Wyborg, where she arrived after a day and a -night at sea, though the steamers make the trip in twelve hours. -Twelve versts from the town, the vessels passed into the harbor, which -is an extensive bay, through a narrow passage, on both sides of which -were vast piles of lumber, from which craft of all sizes and kinds -were loading. Off the town the squadron came to anchor, but no one was -permitted to go on shore until after the recitations in the afternoon. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -WYBORG AND THE SECOND DEGREE. - - -"I should like to know what the name of this place is," said Lincoln -to Dr. Winstock, who was seated near him in the commodore's barge, -which was leading the line to the shore. "In one book it is Viborg; in -another, Wiborg; in a third, Wyborg." "The different spellings of the -same word simply indicate the attempts of authors to render the foreign -sounds into English," replied the surgeon. "We have the same variety -in many other words. On the English maps of Russia, you will find the -names of rivers, provinces, and towns given in many different ways; -as, Kief, Kiev, and Kiew, the latter being the German rendering of the -word; Nyzni, Nysni, Nezhnii, and a dozen other forms. Of course you can -take your choice. As for Wyborg, I think it will hardly pay to land, -for there is really nothing to be seen here. Like Constantinople, the -best view of the town is from the outside." - -"It certainly looks well from the bay." - -The students landed at the town, which is built on uneven ground. Most -of the streets are narrow and crooked, and the travellers soon realized -the truth of the surgeon's view. At the east side of the place is an -old castle in ruins. On a rock, rising from an arm of the sea, is a -lofty old tower, which has played its part in many a battle and siege, -for Wyborg was long a bone of contention between Sweden and Russia, -before the latter obtained possession, of it. Looking to the eastward -of the town, vast sheets of water may be seen, on which small steamers -ply, as at Stockholm, and a few miles distant are a garden and summer -resort for the people. A series of rivers and lakes connects Lakes -Ladoga and Saima, and a canal at Wyborg joins both of these great -sheets of water to the Gulf of Finland. Lakes Onega and Ladoga are -united by the River Svir, upon which plies a small steamer. The waters -of Lake Onega also mingle with those of the Volga. The Volkof River -flows from Lake Ilmen into Ladoga, and is navigable for barges; and -Lake Ilmen, by the help of a canal, is also connected with the Volga. A -boat may, therefore, start from the upper waters of the Finnish lakes, -and go through to the Caspian Sea. - -A couple of hours in Wyborg fully satisfied the party, and they -returned to the boats for an excursion by water around the town. The -scenery in the vicinity is very pleasant, and at seven o'clock the -students landed at a green island. - -"Now, fellows, we can attend to the second degree," said Scott, when he -had gathered some of the Bangwhangers around him, and found a retired -place. - -The members of the fraternity knew each other so well, that there was -no difficulty in separating themselves from the rest of the ship's -company. The eight officers assembled near the shore, on a point of -land where there was a wooden shanty, that had evidently been used for -cleaning and curing fish, for a villainous smell came from it, which -was very trying to the olfactories of the members. - -"How will this do?" asked Jones, as he opened the door of the shanty. - -"First rate. We shall initiate the candidates into the mysteries of a -horrible odor at the same time," replied Scott, as the officers entered -the rude building. - -"A fellow that has been to sea three months needn't mind this," laughed -Jones. - -"All right; place the O. L. M. outside of the building, the I. L. M. -inside, near the door," said Scott, as he turned over a fish-tub for -his own throne as C. B., and placed it at one end of the building, -while Wainwright, the D. C. B., located himself at the other end. - -"Officers, to your stations; proceed to open a lodge of Bangwhangers. -Y. D. K., on my right; Q. D., on my left; R. P. F. and L. P. F., on my -left. Brother D. C. B., are you a Bangwhanger?" - -"Of course I am." - -"Bang!" - -"Whang!" - -"Who knows?" - -"Eye, nose." - -"Who knows?" - -"Eighty-six noes." - -"Right; come to my arms. How many officers in a lodge of Bangwhangers?" - -"Eight; and nothing can be done with a less number," replied the D. C. -B., who answered all these questions, and named all the officers. - -"Brother O. L. M., what are you?" - -"I am the Outside Lookout Man," replied Hall, who had been called in to -answer. - -"What do you do?" - -"Keep a sharp lookout on the outside of the lodge." - -"If any outsider approaches, what do you do?" - -"Give him fits." - -"Right; keep your weather eye open. Brother I. L. M., what are you?" - -"The Inside Lookout Man." - -"What do you do?" - -"Keep a sharp lookout inside." - -"If any outsider comes in, what do you do?" - -"Kick him out." - -"Suppose he is bigger than you are?" - -"Give him a stick of candy, and tell him his grandmother is waiting for -him round the corner." - -"Right; keep a stiff upper lip. Brother R. P. F., what are you?" - -"The Right Pilot Fish." - -"What do you do?" - -"Stand on the starboard side of the candidate, and tow him round." - -"Right; heave ahead, my hearty. Brother L. P. F., what are you?" - -"The Left Pilot Fish." - -"What do you do?" - -"Stand on the port side of the candidate, and help tow him around." - -"Right; stand by the hawser. Brother Q. D., what are you?" - -"The Quill Driver." - -"What do you do?" - -"When anything is done, make a note of it." - -"Right; mind your eye, my hearty. Brother Y. D. K., what are you?" - -"The Yellow Dirt Keeper." - -"What do you do?" - -"Keep the money." - -"Will you keep it?" - -"I'll bet I will." - -"Right; stand by the locker. Brother D. C. B., what are you?" - -"The Deputy Chief Bangwhanger." - -"What do you do?" - -"Make faces at the C. B. when he is present, and take his place when he -is absent." - -"Your duties are important--where do you sit?" - -"Opposite the C. B." - -"What for?" - -"To help him keep up his dignity." - -"How?" - -"By making faces at him." - -"What is the C. B.?" - -"The Chief Bangwhanger." - -"What does he do?" - -"Bosses the job, and is the biggest toad in the puddle." - -"Why is he like strong drink?" - -"Because he goes to the head," replied the D. C. B., with a hideous -grimace, which made all the officers laugh. - -"Right; you have said enough; clap a stopper on your jaw tackle," said -Scott. "The ship is under way, and the officers are at their stations." - -Scott added that they had no time to spare, and the business must -proceed at once. - -"Sail ho!" shouted the lookout, outside of the door. - -"Sail ho!" repeated the one on the inside. - -"Where away?" asked the C. B. - -"Alongside now," replied the I. L. M. - -"The name?" - -"Clyde Blacklock; and he wants to come on board." - -"Has he been instructed in the Rule of Three?" which meant the three -clauses of the obligation. - -"Ay, ay, sir." - -"Let him in." - -The R. P. F. and the L. P. F. went out, and soon returned with Clyde -Blacklock between them. On his head, and drawn entirely over it, was a -white cap. A yard of cotton cloth had been purchased at Helsingfors, -which had been sewed up like a meal bag. This was pulled down over the -candidate's face, and the square end of it hung down in front of him, -having upon it, in letters cut out of black cloth, and sewed upon the -cotton, the mysterious device AT-VI., which, however, did not relate to -"Plantation Bitters." - -"Hah! You have caught him!" exclaimed the C. B., in the most savage of -tones. - -"Ay, ay, sir! We captured him outside, and in spite of his frantic -struggles, have brought him before you to be examined," replied the R. -P. F. - -"What is he?" demanded Scott, in gruff notes. - -"A vile Indian." - -"Hah!" - -"A 'ticklarly vile Indian." - -"When was he caught?" - -"At six." - -"Has he been searched?" - -"Not yet." - -"Does he confess?" - -"Not yet." - -"Clyde Blacklock, answer me truly," said Scott, solemnly. "Did you -steal it?" - -"Answer him," said the candidate's conductor, in a low voice. - -"Steal what?" asked Clyde. - -"The bag out of which a faithless Brother of the Most Respectable Order -of Bangwhangers let the cat," added the C. B., tragically. - -"No, I didn't." - -"Let him be searched!" continued Scott, in a sepulchral tone. - -Whereupon the officers, who had silently gathered around the candidate, -began to punch him in the ribs, and under the ears, not to hurt, but -only to tickle him. As Clyde was sensitive in this direction, as almost -anybody would be when taken by surprise, the effect was very decided, -and the candidate wriggled, and squirmed, and roared. - -"He has it I We have found it upon him!" said the R. P. F., suddenly. - -"Hah!" cried Scott. "The vile Indian is guilty." - -"Guilty!" responded all the other officers. - -"Does he see it?" demanded the C. B. - -"He don't see it." - -"Let him see it!" - -Then the R. P. F. and the L. P. F. seized the white cap by the corners, -and jerked it violently from Clyde's head, and laid it on the floor -before him, with the letters right side up to him. All the officers -pointed at the cap, with the most extravagant expressions of surprise -and indignation upon their faces. - -"Behold the bag!" exclaimed the group, in concert. - -"And it has our mark upon it," replied Scott, with indignation in -his looks and tones. Then suddenly changing his voice and manner, -he continued, very gently, "Brother Blacklock, this degree is -founded upon the story of a vile Indian in the wilds of America. -Some emigrants were travelling over the prairies of the great west, -intending to settle in Nevada. One of them had a favorite Maltese cat, -of which the whole party were very fond. They were very much afraid -of losing the creature, and for greater security they carried her in -a bag,--precisely like that just found upon you,--bearing upon it -the initials of the owner's name, which was, in full, Andrew Thomas -Vincent Iverson. For a guide they had a vile Indian, who, like all -vile Indians, was very fond of whiskey. One night this vile Indian was -particularly 'dry.' and wanted to 'wet his whistle' with fire-water. -After the emigrants had gone to sleep, he searched the camp for some -of his favorite beverage. He came across the bag containing the -Maltese cat. As the contents thereof seemed to be lively, he thought -it contained a bottle of whiskey. He opened the bag, and the cat -leaped out, not whiskey; in other words, he let the cat out of the -bag--at all times a very grave and terrible offence. When he saw what -he had done, he was alarmed, and concealed the bag within his clothes, -intending to make the emigrants believe that the cat had run away, -carrying the bag with her. But, vile Indian that he was, his employers -suspected him, and punching him in the ribs, they discovered the bag. -Then they knew that he had let the cat out of the bag, and as the -penalty of his crime, they compelled him to eat Bologna sausage until -he couldn't help barking. Brother Blacklock, this solemn ceremony is -intended to convince you that, should you ever let the cat out of the -bag, you will be subjected to the same penalty as the vile Indian, who -was A 'Ticklarly Vile Indian. This bag bears our mark,--AT-VI.,--which -relates to the hour you were caught--at six. It also means A 'Ticklarly -Vile Indian, and alludes, besides, to the rallying number of our -order--AT., eighty; VI., six. Brother Blacklock, it is your next move. -Take a seat where you find one." - -"This will never do," interposed the D. C. B. "Some of the members will -die of old age before we can give them the second degree at this rate." - -"I was thinking of that myself," replied Scott; "and I have the remedy. -We will go through the first part with the candidates singly, and -explain the meaning of it to the crowd all together. Then it won't take -two minutes apiece." - -"Right, Most Respectable C. B.," replied the D. C. B. - -Another "vile Indian" was easily captured outside of the fish-house, -and was passed through the same ceremony. He was duly tickled till he -rolled on the ground, pronounced guilty of stealing the bag, allowed -to see it; and when the mark upon it was indignantly identified, the -candidate was sent to a seat. About twenty went through this part of -the performance, and then, when all of them were placed in front of -the C. B., he told them the story of "A 'Ticklarly Vile Indian." All -of them were solemnly warned not to let the cat out of the bag; and in -closing the lodge, those who had just been "elevated" to the second -degree, were permitted to learn the meaning of the mysterious initials. -All who had participated in the ceremonies, either as active or passive -agents, were delighted with the fun, and those who were patiently -waiting their turn to be elevated, were very much disappointed -when obliged to go on board their respective vessels without their -second degree, especially as those who had taken it looked wise and -mysterious, and would not even hint at anything which had transpired in -the lodge. - -"How's that for high?" asked Scott, as they left the fish-house. - -"Tip-top," replied Wainwright, the D. C. B., who was now the second -purser of the ship; "but we may not get a chance to do anything more -for weeks." - -"I think we can find some place to do it in the ship. The mess-rooms -are rather small, but we can make one of them answer on a pinch," -replied Scott. "By the way, Wainwright, I don't know that you want to -belong any longer." - -"Why not?" - -"Because you are an officer now." - -"That won't make any difference. The seamen can't go into the cabin; -but the officers can go into the steerage. I think the lodge makes rare -fun, and I, for one, enjoy it hugely. I would rather go back into the -steerage than lose the sport." - -"You'll do," laughed Scott. "I was thinking it was about time for you -to begin to put on airs." - -"You will begin about the time I do. You are my superior officer in the -Bangwhangers." - -"But I will give up my office to a bigger fellow." - -"No fellow that belongs would be willing to have you give it up." - -"You are very kind." - -"Now, can't we get up another degree?" asked the second purser. - -"When we have given all the fellows the second degree, it will be time -enough to talk about the third. How does Cantwell get along in the -cabin?" - -"First rate. What you said to him did him a heap of good, for he don't -put on airs, and don't exhibit so much selfishness as the officers say -he did. I suppose you know that the De Forresters are sick of their -bargain?" - -"I concluded that they were. It was a hard nut to have Cantwell elected -over them." - -"De Forrest has already got up a petition to the principal to restore -the old way of electing the officers; but the fellows in the cabin -don't like the idea of signing it yet. It looks too much like backing -down." - -"I rather like the present plan," laughed Scott; "and I want it to have -a fair trial." - -"That's just what the principal says," added Wainwright. - -The students embarked, and were soon on board of their vessels. - -"What were you fellows up to in that old shanty?" said De Forrest to -Wainwright, as they met in the cabin. - -"That's telling," replied the second purser. - -"It was that secret society." - -"Well, what if it was?" - -"What are you up to now? Are you getting ready for the next election." - -"That's our affair." - -"I don't believe in a secret society to control the elections." - -"You are entitled to your own belief." - -"It isn't right." - -"But it's just what you fellows in the cabin did before Cantwell was -elected," answered Wainwright. - -"We hadn't any secret society: we only met in the cabin to talk over -the matter." - -"In the cabin, where no one but yourselves could come." - -"We are going to do away with this thing, anyhow, and go back to the -old plan," added De Forrest. - -"And confess that your famous plan was good for nothing?" - -"The plan was a good one, but the fellows won't be fair." - -"Which means that they wouldn't make you first lieutenant." - -"It don't mean that. It means that a majority of the fellows--all of -them in the steerage--voted for a fellow for captain whom they did -not like, and who, they knew, was not fit for the place, out of spite -to the officers. If they had voted on their own judgment, instead of -following Scott's lead--" - -"They would have elected you," laughed Wainwright. - -"No; they would have chosen Lincoln captain." - -"But they did choose him commodore." - -"And shoved Cumberland down to first lieutenant." - -"And you down to first purser--the ship's chief clerk." - -"I think I ought to have had a better position than the one I got." - -"But you have your merit-rank; and it looks now as though your plan was -intended to save yourself from a bad fall, rather than to keep Cantwell -from being captain." - -"I wasn't thinking of myself at all." - -"All the fellows say that you nominated yourself for first lieutenant." - -"I suppose all the officers wanted to get as good places as they could." - -"If that was what they were driving at, they needn't blame the fellows -in the steerage for taking things into their own hands." - -"I say, Wainwright, can't a fellow join the secret society?" - -"That depends upon who the fellow is." - -"One about my size." - -"Yes, if the society will take him in." - -"Will they take me in?" - -"I don't know." - -"I want to join." - -"Because you want to be captain, or something of that sort," laughed -the second purser. "I don't believe it would do you any good. Are you -willing to vote for Cantwell for commodore next month?" - -"No! I am not. Is that your game?" - -"I didn't say it was." - -"If it is, I won't join." - -"No one has asked you to do so." - -"Cantwell for commodore!" exclaimed De Forrest, in disgust, as he -walked away from his companion. - -In ten minutes he had told half of the officers that the secret society -intended to make Cantwell commodore next month, and when his duties -as first purser required him to visit the main cabin soon after, he -revealed the momentous secret to Mr. Lowington. - -"If this is a secret society, how do you know?" asked the principal. - -"Wainwright, who is a member, said as much to me," replied the purser. - -The second purser was called. - -"I have heard a great deal about your secret society, Wainwright," -continued the principal. "You have just had a meeting on the island?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"I do not believe in secret societies for political purposes. Do you -intend to make Cantwell commodore next month?" - -"We have no such plan at present." - -"Didn't you ask me, when I spoke of joining, if I would vote for -Cantwell for commodore?" asked De Forrest. - -"I did." - -"I think that's enough, sir," added the first purser. - -"If Cantwell is using this society to make himself commodore, it is -time to suppress the society." - -"Cantwell is not a member of it, sir," replied Wainwright. "It was got -up simply to defeat the plan of the officers to control the election. -At the meeting on the island to-day, not a word was said about the -elections in any way. If the nominations are fairly made next time, I -don't believe the society will meddle with them." - -"I hope not," added Mr. Lowington. - -"If the officers nominate in the cabin, without consulting the seamen, -very likely the society will do something." - -"In that case, I should not object; for a secret society in the -steerage is no worse than one in the cabin." - -"But what is the society for?" asked De Forrest, dissatisfied with the -situation. - -"Simply for fun, for amusement--nothing else." replied Wainwright. - -"Where do you meet?" asked the principal, curiously. - -"We met in that old fish-house on the island. We have no place in the -ship. I was going to ask you, sir, if we might fit up a place in the -hold," added Wainwright. - -"The hold is not a fit place for any meeting. I can do better, if -assured that your society is a proper one." - -"I think it is, sir. There is nothing in it contrary to the rules of -the ship. In all the colleges there are secret societies, such as the -Φ. Β. Κ." - -"You may have the main cabin one evening in a week." - -"Thank you, sir. We shall be very grateful to you," replied Wainwright, -utterly confounded by the generosity of the principal. - -De Forrest was disgusted, and went away with "a flea in his ear." Of -course the action of the principal was immediately known among all -the officers. Cumberland only laughed, while others looked grave, and -proposed that they should get up a society among the officers. The -proposition was hailed with a shout of satisfaction, and a committee -appointed to prepare a plan. Wainwright hastened to Scott with the -pleasant news he had to tell, and the main cabin was obtained for -that evening. As the instructors spent most of their unoccupied time -on deck, this was no hardship to them. The lodge opened again, with -those present who had taken the second degree. In older to make the -thing more ludicrous than before, the officers enveloped themselves in -blankets, sheets, and such other fantastic apparel as they could lay -hands upon, and each one placed his small tin wash-bowl on his head, -the handle of which stuck out like a queue behind. The curtain over the -skylight was drawn so that no one on deck could see into the cabin. -The pantry was built out from the bulkhead, which separated it from -the main cabin, into the steerage, forming a space, or gangway, four -feet wide, between the pantry and the mess-rooms, from winch one of the -doors opened into the cabin. A blanket was extended across from the -front of the pantry, before the starboard door, making an apartment -four feet square, in which the O. L. M. was stationed. The candidate -was admitted to this place, and when the bag was drawn over his head, -he was conducted into the lodge. The ceremonies were performed with -even more spirit than in the old fish-house, and the roars of laughter -that went up from the main cabin assured those within hearing that the -members were having a good time. All the rest in the ship who had taken -their first degree were "elevated" to the second on this occasion. At -the close of the initiation, a vote of thanks to the principal was -unanimously passed, for his kindness in granting the society the use -of the cabin; and after some debate, he was also elected an honorary -member of the order, with the privilege of attending any and all its -meetings--a privilege of which, however, he magnanimously declined to -avail himself. - -The next morning the squadron sailed for Cronstadt, and, as the weather -was beautiful, the trip was a very pleasant one. The gulf was lively -with steamers, and sailing vessels of all kinds, from the smallest -Russian fishing shallop up to the largest man-of-war. There were -iron-clads and steamers of all sizes belonging to the Russian navy, and -the students gazed with interest at half a dozen monitors. These war -vessels were all engaged in various manœuvres and evolutions for -practice. - -"What flag is that, Mr. Lowington?" asked Captain Cantwell, as a vessel -passed them. - -"The Russian flag," replied the principal, surprised that the captain -of the ship should ask such a question. - -"But I thought that on the men-of-war was the Russian flag." - -"Both of them." - -"I saw this white flag, crossed with a stripe of blue from the corners, -on the Russian fleet which came to America several years ago, and I -supposed that was the Russian flag." - -"It is the Russian man-of-war flag. The Russian merchant flag consists, -as you see, of three equal strips of bunting, extending lengthwise--the -top one white, the bottom red, and the middle one blue. The Russian -royal standard is a yellow flag, with the double eagle in the middle. -Most of the European nations have several flags. You will find diagrams -of all these flags, standards, and jacks, in several volumes in the -library." - -"Thank you, sir. I will study them," replied Cantwell, touching his cap. - -In the afternoon, as seven bells struck, the squadron was approaching -Cronstadt. The channel was indicated by a light-house on the port -side, and a light-ship on the starboard. The water in the vicinity was -covered with fishing boats, from which men were engaged with lines, -seines, and hoop-nets. Around the town are several islands, all of them -fortified, some of them having three-story forts, and others extensive -earthworks. In 1854 the Baltic squadron, under Sir Charles Napier, -visited this locality, but made no attack, though the British vessels -found a channel by which it was possible to pass the fortifications; -but it has since been closed. The town, which contains a population of -thirty-seven thousand (two thirds of it constituting the garrison), is -built on an island, and is cut up by two canals, one leading to the -"Merchants Harbor," and the other to the naval repairing dock South of -the town is an immense harbor, capable of holding thousands of vessels. - -Cronstadt is Russia's principal naval station, and contains vast -manufactories and storehouses belonging to the government. Scores of -old seventy-four gun ships, built of wood, and now practically useless -for modern warfare, are laid up here. The town is the port of St. -Petersburg, seventeen miles distant and all large vessels are obliged -to discharge and load here, though most of the steamers from foreign -countries run up to the city. The bar of the River Neva has only from -eight to ten feet of water. - -The squadron ran into Merchants' Harbor, and came to anchor there. -Within it, vessels were loading and unloading at the very doors of the -warehouses. The students were allowed to land at once, but there was -little to be seen in the town, which is simply a commercial place, -though the government buildings are lofty and substantial structures. -A better idea of the fortifications was, however, obtained, and the -boys realized that St. Petersburg was safe from capture by sea, until -something even more terrible than iron-clads should be invented. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -THE LECTURE ON RUSSIA. - - -On the day after the arrival of the squadron at Cronstadt, when the -usual recitations of the day had been completed, all hands were -summoned to the steerage of the ship to listen to the preliminary -lecture on Russia. As the students knew less of this vast country than -of most of the others of Europe, they were more interested in the -exercise than usual. Mr. Mapps had a large map of Russia in Europe -suspended to the foremast, upon which he had drawn the railroads -completed up to that time, and made such other additions as the recent -changes in the country demanded. - -"Russia is probably the largest empire, territorially, that exists now, -or ever has existed," the professor began. - -"Can you tell us how to pronounce the name?" asked Commodore Lincoln. - -"I do not speak Russian, but Professor Badois does, and I have asked -him to give us the name in Russian characters or letters," replied Mr. -Mapps, pointing to a large sheet of printing paper, upon which this -name and certain statistics were written. "Here it is--РОССІЯ." - -"That R is backward," suggested the commodore. - -"No," interposed the professor of languages; "that letter has the -value of ya in English. The first letter is the same as the English R; -the C's have the value of S, and the I sounds like long E. In Russian -the name is pronounced as though it were spelled _Ro-see´-ya_." - -"It looks like _poke ear_," laughed Scott. - -"You will not be able to read even a word of Russian, the letters are -so different from ours," added Mr. Badois. - -"Like other countries, it has different names in different languages," -continued Mr. Mapps. "In German, it is Russland; in French, Russie; in -Italian, Russia, but pronounced _Roo´-see-ah_; in Spanish, Rusia. The -best English authorities pronounce it _Rush´ee-a_, though it is often -given with the _u_ like _oo_. It was formerly called _Muscovy_. It has -an area, in Europe and Asia, of about seven and one quarter millions of -square miles; or one seventh of all the land on the globe. The United -States,--including Alaska, has about one half as much territory; but -Russia in Europe contains only one third of this vast area. It has a -population of seventy-four millions--I give you the figures in round -numbers,--of whom four millions only are in Asia. It has about double -the population of the United States, which would give the same number -of people to the square mile, on the average. Russia consists mostly -of two great plains rather indefinitely separated by the water-shed -between the rivers that flow south into the Black and Caspian Seas, -and those which flow north and west into the Baltic and the Arctic -Ocean. The Valdai Hills, in the west-central part, which are not over -a thousand feet above the level of the sea, are the only elevations -or any consequence, except on or near the frontiers, where we find -the Ural and Caucasus ranges. Some portions of the country are uneven, -as Russian Poland and the Crimea; but there is very little variety of -scenery in the greater part of this vast region. In such a country you -would, of course, expect to find large rivers. The largest of these -is the Volga, twenty-two hundred miles long, and navigable to within -fifty miles of its source. The Don and the Dnieper are about a thousand -miles long. The Ural, the Dwina, the Petchora, and the Vistula are -important rivers. Russia contains thousands of lakes, most of them -in the northern and north-western part. Lake Ladoga, the largest in -Europe, is about the size of Lake Ontario; Onega is half as large; -Lake Peipus is twice as large as Lake Champlain; and Lake Ilmen is a -little larger than Moosehead, in Maine. Nearly all these rivers and -lakes are navigable for steamers and barges. You may take a boat,--the -commodore's barge, if you please,--go up to St. Petersburg, through the -Neva to Lake Ladoga, by the Volkof to Lake Ilmen, by canals, lakes, -and rivers, into the Volga, which becomes navigable for steamers at -Tver, a town on the railroad from Petersburg to Moscow. Continuing on -your voyage down the river to Nijni Novgorod, where the traveller by -steamer takes a larger boat, fifty-three miles below Kazan, or eight -hundred and fifty from Tver, you will reach the Kama River, the longest -tributary of the Volga. Pursuing your voyage up this river, you would -arrive at Perm,--if you went by steamer;--in about a week; and this -town is within two hundred miles of Asia. This is the usual route to -Siberia below Nijni, and the one by which convicts are sent. Instead -of going up the Kama, you could continue down the Volga, passing the -large towns of Simbirsk, Saratoff, to Tsaritsin, from which there is a -railroad to Kalatch, on the River Don, down which steamers descend to -the Crimea. From Tsaritsin you may proceed down the river to Astrakhan, -on the Caspian Sea, on which steamers ply to ports in Persia and -elsewhere. The Volga is the Mississippi of Russia, and of quite as much -importance to that country as the Father of Waters to us. The Baltic -and the Black Seas are also connected by a canal which unites the -Beresina, a branch of the Düna, or Western Dwina, to the Dnieper. There -are several other canals which connect the great natural water-ways, so -that boats may go from either of the seas on the border of Russia to -either of the others. - -"A grand system of railroads has also been projected, as you may see -on the map. The first important one built was that from St. Petersburg -to Moscow, which was constructed by Americans at a vast expense, -considering the nature of the country through which it passes. An -English gentleman waited upon the Russian minister of finance with a -letter of introduction. - -"'Then you have come to see Russia,' said his excellency. - -"'Hardly the whole of it; I only desire to see what is most curious in -the country,' replied the tourist. - -"'Ah! I then I will first show you the contract with the Americans to -build the railway to Moscow,' added the minister. - -"Doubtless it was a very curious document, especially in the price -which his imperial majesty agreed to pay for the work. When he was -asked where he would have the road located, he took a ruler, and drew -a straight line on the map between the two cities; and except one -deviation to avoid the erection of an expensive bridge, this line -was followed, and consequently very few towns are upon the road. -A line extends south from Moscow to Kief, over six hundred miles, -and the communication of St. Petersburg with Odessa will soon be -completed. Lines from Cracow and Warsaw to Odessa are also in course of -construction. One may now go all the way by express train from Paris, -Ostend, or Calais, to St. Petersburg, in three days. Russia has now -forty-seven hundred miles of railway open for traffic; and nearly ten -thousand miles more are to be completed in four years.[A] - -[Footnote A: The United States had, January 1, 1870, 48,860 miles of -railroad in operation, and 27,507 miles projected and in progress.] - -"The principal productions of Russia are grain, hemp, flax, linseed, -tallow, and lumber. Wheat is by far the most important crop, and is -raised in vast quantities on the plains of Central Russia, and the -_steppes_ of the south. It exported, in 1867, nearly one hundred -millions of rubles' worth of this grain. Next in value is the flax -crop, of which the exports amounted in the same year to about twenty -million rubles." - -"How much is a ruble?" asked Captain Cantwell. - -"That is rather a difficult question to answer," replied the professor. - -"Harper's Hand-book says in one place, a ruble is -eighty cents; in another, that it is seventy; in another, -eighty-three," suggested one of the students. - -"Nearly all the money in circulation is paper, subject to varying -discounts, from ten to twenty per cent. Our money is also paper, and -at a discount of twelve or fifteen per cent. I have made a careful -comparison of the values of a dollar and a ruble, using the weight of -_pure_ silver in each as a basis, and I find that a ruble is 74.88+ -cents; call it seventy-five cents. When gold bears a premium of twenty -per cent, in Russia,--which I understand is the usual rate at the -present time,--a ruble is worth sixty-four cents; but with our gold at -a premium of twelve and a half per cent., its value would be raised to -seventy-two cents." - -"Of course these figures are useful only in comparing values as they -exist in the two countries," interposed Dr. Winstock. - -"Precisely so. I make no account of exchange." - -"With your permission, I will make an actual statement of a case," -added the surgeon; and the boys were interested in the discussion. -"Being in St. Petersburg, I want money, and go to Asmus, Simonsen, & -Co., bankers. My letter of credit is payable in pounds sterling, and -the bankers draw on Bowles Brothers & Co., London, for the amount which -they pay me,--say twenty pounds,--and Bowles Brothers & Co. draw on -New York or Boston. My twenty pounds, with gold at sixteen and two -thirds, and exchange at ten per cent., costs me in New York $114.07. -With exchange between St. Petersburg and London at twenty-nine and -a half pence to the ruble, twenty pounds produces R 162.71 copecks. -Deducting one half per cent. commission, 81 copecks, and 40 copecks -for postage, my net return is R 161.50 copecks. Now, comparing what -I pay in New York with what I receive in St. Petersburg, I find that -my _paper_ ruble has cost me seventy and one tenth cents in currency, -which reduced to gold; at twenty per cent. premium, is sixty one and -two thirds cents." - -"And in England, France, North Germany, with the exchange at the same -rate, that would be the real value of the money you receive," added -Mr. Mapps. "On account of the depreciation of the money in Russia, the -prices are higher. I was speaking of the value of the exports, and -when I speak of twenty million rubles, it means three fourths as many -dollars. Flaxseed, or linseed, brings in almost as much money as the -flax itself." - -"What is it for?" asked a student. - -"For making painters' oil. The exports of tallow and lumber are -each about twelve million rubles. The chief imports are raw cotton, -metals, machinery, tea, and manufactured goods. The soil of Russia -varies greatly, and large portions of it consist of sandy plains and -vast morasses. The condition of agriculture is improving under the -encouragement of the government, but does not yet compare favorably -with most of the western countries of Europe. Nearly half the land is -unimproved, and one fourth is forest land, which, however, is so badly -managed that it produces but a small fraction of what it might yield. -Iron, copper, gold, silver, and platinum are mined in the Ural Mountain -region and in Siberia. Iron is produced in excess of the wants of the -empire, and almost all the platinum in use in the world comes from -Russia. Vast quantities of salt are mined, and manufactured from the -brine springs. Peter the Great and all his successors have encouraged -manufactures, and the empire has made great progress in this direction. -Raw cotton, to the value of about forty million rubles, is imported for -the use of the mills. Woollen and silk goods are also manufactured in -considerable quantities. - -"Nearly the whole of Russia is in higher latitude than the United -States, the Crimea, or southern portion, being in the latitude of -Maine, and St. Petersburg on about the same parallel as the northern -point of Labrador and the southern point of Greenland. About the -middle of November the Neva freezes, and is not open again till the -last of April. In December and January the thermometer sometimes -indicates twenty-five degrees below zero; but the average temperature -at St. Petersburg in winter is eighteen degrees above zero; in Moscow, -fifteen degrees; in Archangel, nine degrees. The average in summer is -sixty degrees in St. Petersburg, sixty-five degrees in Moscow, and -fifty-eight degrees in Archangel. The climate is generally healthy, -though there are various maladies peculiar to different regions, as -scrofula and scurvy. - -"The government of Russia is an absolute hereditary monarchy; in other -words, the Czar or Emperor, is the legislative, executive, and judicial -power of the empire, which is the same thing as saying that his will is -the law of the land. But it ought to be added, that certain traditions -and rules are considered of binding force by the sovereigns; as the -law of succession to the crown, established by the Emperor Paul; -otherwise the Czar might select the next ruler; every sovereign, his -wife and children, must be of the Greek church. The heir apparent is -deemed to be of age at sixteen, which proves that a boy of this age -may be good for something. The members of the imperial family cannot -marry without the consent of the Emperor; and the children of any union -without his permission cannot inherit the throne. The present Emperor -is Alexander II., son of Nicholas I. and the Princess Charlotte, of -Prussia, who was the daughter of King Frederick William III., and -sister of the present king of that country. The Empress, his wife, is -the daughter of the late Grand Duke Ludwig II., of Hesse Darmstadt. -They have six children, of whom the oldest is the Grand Duke Alexander, -heir apparent to the throne. He was born in 1845, and is, therefore, -twenty-five years old. At the age of twenty-one he was married to Maria -Dagmar, daughter of the King of Denmark. The style of the emperor is -Autocrat of all the Russias, Czar of Poland, Grand Duke of Finland, &c. -His sons are called Grand Dukes. The hereditary Grand Duke is often -called the Czarowitz. The term _Czar_, which evidently comes from -_Cæsar_, is variously spelled. In the Slavonic, which is the church -language of Russia, it is _Tsar_. - -"The government of Russia, under the Emperor, is in the hands of four -great councils, the principal of which is the council of the empire, -consisting of the Ministers, the Grand Dukes, and such other members -as the sovereign may appoint. Though this board has a president, the -emperor often presides at its sessions. Its general duties are to -propose new laws, or alterations in old ones, and to attend to the -execution of the laws. The second council is called the Directing -Senate, and it is also the high court of justice, controlling all the -inferior tribunals. It is resolved into eight committees, five of which -sit at St. Petersburg, and three at Moscow, each of which has its -peculiar function. Appeals from the lower courts go to this council, -either in committee or as a whole, though the former may decide -certain cases. This body examines into and reports upon the revenues -and expenditures of the empire, appoints many public officers, and -advises the sovereign in matters within its jurisdiction. The third -council is the Holy Synod, having charge of all matters pertaining to -religion. It is composed of the chief dignitaries of the church, of -which the emperor is the head, and its decisions have no force without -his approval. The fourth board is the Council of Ministers, consisting -of eleven members, whose functions are substantially the same as in -other countries. Of course the emperor has absolute control over these -councils, to the extent he pleases to exercise it. - -"You have already noticed that this map is cut up into small divisions. -These are governments, corresponding to departments in France, and -counties in America. Besides these, the country is divided into -vice-royalties, or general governments, at the head of each of which -is a viceroy, or general governor, who represents the emperor, -commands the troops, and has the supreme control of all affairs, -civil and military. In each government, or province, a civil governor -is appointed to represent the general governor, who is advised by -a council. Governments are divided into districts, which are again -subdivided into smaller ones. The officers of these smaller districts -are elected by the people. Every five houses in a place may choose one -delegate to the assembly of the commune, who elect delegates to the -district assembly, one for every ten houses. There are certain village -courts, presided over by two members elected by the commune, called -'conscience men,' who try cases relating to property in which no more -than five rubles is involved. You see that the Russians vote under -their absolute monarchy. - -"The Russian nation is composed of more than a hundred different -races, speaking forty languages. The Russians--properly so called--are -the inhabitants of Great and Little Russia, who are from the Slavic -races. Besides these, there are Tartars, Poles, Germans, Jews, Finns, -Mongols, Persians, and others, who have been united in one nation. The -government has permitted these people, as their territory was conquered -and annexed to the empire, to retain their own laws and customs, so far -as they were not inconsistent with the general code of Russia. - -"The original nobility of the country were the boyars; but Peter -the Great established a new order, and there are now in the empire -over half a million whose titles are hereditary, and a quarter of a -million who have only personal rank. The citizens of towns are ranked -in six classes, the first owning real estate; the second, having a -certain amount of taxable property; the third, mechanics; the fourth, -resident foreigners in business; the fifth, artisans, soldiers, and -scholars; and the sixth, all others. There are forty-seven million -peasants, of whom twenty-two millions were serfs, emancipated in 1863, -though indirectly they are obliged to pay for their freedom, for the -government compensated the owners of the land to which they were -attached, and collects the amount paid by an annual assessment on the -emancipated for the succeeding forty-nine years. - -"The state religion, which is professed by a great majority of the -people, is the Greco-Russian, officially Styled 'Orthodox-Catholic -Faith.' When the Roman empire was divided into two portions, the -Eastern, or Byzantine, empire retained the Catholic religion, and the -bishop, or patriarch of Constantinople, was officially recognized as -second only to the Pope at Rome. But there was a schism in the Eastern -division, which resulted in a total separation in 1054. Then the -Patriarch of Constantinople became the head of the Eastern church, of -which the Russian church was a part. In 1588 a separate patriarchate -was established in Russia, and the Greek church is now made up of -ten independent organizations. The Russian church is governed by the -Holy Synod, at the head of which is the emperor, who has greater -power than the Pope of Rome in the external affairs of the church, -but cannot render a decision himself on theological questions. In -critical doctrinal cases, the patriarchs of Constantinople, Jerusalem, -Antioch, and Alexandria are consulted, and when a decision is reached, -the emperor is as much bound by it as the prelates; and he does not -officially style himself the Head, but the Protector and Defender of -the Church. - -"The Greco-Russian church differs from the Roman Catholic in denying -the supremacy of the Pope, and in not prohibiting the marriage of -the clergy. No priest can perform his spiritual functions before he -is married, and he is incompetent to do so at the death of his wife. -As he is forbidden to marry a second time, his occupation as a priest -is gone, though he may go into a monastery, and be eligible to office -in the church. There are important differences of doctrine also. -Russia has five hundred cathedrals and twenty-nine thousand churches -of the established religion, with two hundred and fifty-four thousand -clergymen of all ranks. There are four hundred and eighty monasteries -for men, and seventy convents for women. Peter the Great and Catharine -II. confiscated the immense wealth of the church not required for the -actual service, and the salaries of the clergy are very small, hardly -sufficient to support them. Jews are not allowed to settle in Russia -proper, but there is no other restraint on the non-Russian sects. The -Russian cannot renounce his creed. The subject of education among the -common people is receiving considerable attention at the present time, -and there are over one million pupils in the schools. - -"There are in Russia fifteen cities having over fifty thousand -inhabitants, four of which have over a hundred thousand--St. -Petersburg, five hundred and forty thousand; Moscow, three hundred and -fifty-two thousand; Warsaw, one hundred and sixty-three thousand; and -Odessa, one hundred and ninety-two thousand. - -"The army of Russia is raised by conscription, by the adoption of the -sons of soldiers, and by voluntary enlistment. The period of service -is from twenty-two to twenty-five years; but of late years the soldiers -are sent home after ten or fifteen years' service, to be recalled in -case of war. The Cossacks of the Don are not taxed, but do military -duty in payment for their exemption; and in case of necessity, every -man among them between the ages of fifteen and sixty is obliged to -serve. These are all in the cavalry service, and every Cossack is -obliged to keep his own horse, and to arm, equip, and clothe himself, -except when sent out of the country. The number in the service is -fifty-six thousand, and more than double this number are available. -On a peace footing the army has eight hundred thousand men, on a war -footing over one million. - -"The navy of Russia contains two hundred and ninety steamers and -twenty-nine sailing vessels, with sixty thousand seamen. - -"We are now prepared to sketch very briefly the history of Russia. It -contains a great many exciting incidents; but the time does not permit -me to give many of them. The Scythians and Sarmatians of the Greek and -Roman historians inhabited Russia in classic times. The Slavonians are -believed to be the same people, and they founded the towns of Novgorod -and Kief, which were the capitals of separate empires. These people -were savage and warlike races, and were at war with similar tribes -around them. The Varangians of the north attacked them, and were nearly -overwhelmed, when they invited the Russian prince Rurik to Novgorod; -and he came with his two brothers. From that time the different tribes -were united, and called Russians, but the Slavic language and customs -were retained. This was the foundation of the Russian empire. Rurik -died in 879, and left the regency of the empire to his cousin, Oleg, -his son Igor being only four years old. He conquered Kief, and annexed -it to his realm. He then got up an expedition against Constantinople, -and secured an advantageous treaty. He also subdued all the tribes -within reach of his armies. He had a favorite horse, which the -soothsayers declared would be the death of him; whereupon he sent -the animal away, and heard no more of him for years. Recalling the -prediction, he asked what had become of the horse, and was told he had -long been dead. Exulting over the defeat of the seers, he wished to -see the bones, and was conducted to the place where the skeleton lay. -'So this is the creature that was destined to be my death,' said he, -putting his foot on the skull. At that moment, a serpent, coiled up -within the skull, darted out and gave Oleg a bite, from the effects of -which he died. This is the story. - -"The son of Rurik, Igor, came to the throne at the age of forty, and -after, much fighting was killed. His son, Sviatoslaf, was too young -to reign, and Olga, Igor's widow, was the regent. She was a bold and -cruel woman, and her adventures were very curious and romantic. After -severely chastising the Drevlians,--who had killed her husband,--they -offered her a tribute of honey and fur, which she declined, saying she -would be satisfied with a dove and three sparrows from each house, -which were promptly supplied. Having tied lighted matches to their -tails, she let them all loose in the evening, and flying back to -the nests, they set all the houses on fire, and the whole town was -consumed. The inhabitants escaped only to fall upon the swords of -Olga's army. You need not believe any more of these stories than you -please, young gentlemen," said the instructor, with a smile. "Olga -went to Constantinople to be baptized and instructed in the Christian -religion. When she exhorted her son to follow her example on her -return, he wanted to know if she wished him to be the laughing-stock -of his friends. Her son was a great warrior, won many victories and -was killed in battle. His empire was divided among his three sons, -Yaropolk, Oleg, and Vladimir. They soon quarrelled; Oleg was slain, -and Vladimir fled, leaving the entire realm to Yaropolk. But Vladimir -returned, and with the aid of the Varingians, conquered Novgorod and -Kief, and put his brother to death. He was a pagan at first, and gave -honors to his heathen deities. The neighboring nations, recognizing -his power and rude greatness desired to convert him to their own -faith, and he was induced to examine the religion of the Greeks, the -Roman Catholics, and the Jews. Olga, his ancestress, had been a Greek -Christian, and he was inclined to follow her example. When he had -decided to embrace it, his pride would not permit him to be baptized -in his own capital in the ordinary way, and he insisted that only -bishops from the parent church were worthy of so great a achievement as -the conversion of himself and his people. He resorted to a remarkable -expedient to accomplish his purpose: he made war upon Greece, marched -into the Crimea, and laid siege to Cherson, near Sevastopol, intending -to extort the rite of baptism. He demanded its surrender, saying he -was prepared to stay before its walls for three years. For six months -he made no progress, and was on the point of abandoning the conquest, -when a priest sent an arrow to which was tied a letter, informing him -that the city was supplied with water from a certain spring outside -the walls. Removing the pipes by which the water was conducted to the -town, Vladimir subjected the inhabitants to the pangs of thirst, and -thus compelled them to surrender. Everything was now favorable for his -baptism; but he had other views also. He demanded the sister of the -Greek emperors, Basilius and Constantine, in marriage, and threatened -to take Constantinople if his demand was refused. He was too powerful -to be denied, and the lady was sent to him. Vladimir received his -instructions, and was baptized with the name of Basil on the day of his -marriage to the princess, in 988. Returning to Kief, he destroyed the -wooden gods, and built churches and towns. His nature was changed, and -he became gentle and humane. He established seminaries of learning, -labored to extend Christianity in his dominions, and is now enrolled -among the Russian saints. At Moscow, if you go there, you will see the -remarkable cathedral of St. Basil. In history he is called Vladimir the -Great. - -"This powerful prince divided his empire among his twelve sons, who, as -usual in such cases, went to war, and Sviatopolk I., after murdering -three of his brothers, obtained the throne. In 1019, Yaroslaf, the -brother who had received Novgorod as his portion, procuring the -assistance of Henry II. of Germany and of the King of Poland, after a -battle on the Alma which lasted three days, wrested the crown from -Sviatopolk, who died while fleeing into Poland. Another brother -compelled Yaroslaf to divide the empire with him; but at the death of -the former it was united again, in 1036. He was a powerful prince, and -greatly enlarged his territory. He built many churches, encouraged -learning, and caused the first code of Russian laws to be compiled. -At his death he gave the empire to his four sons, requiring the three -younger to be subject to the eldest; but his will was disregarded, -and Russia became a confederacy, instead of an empire, with four -rulers. The division and anarchy in the country enabled the Poles, -Lithuanians, Danes, and others to wrest large territories in the west -from the Russians. The progress in civilization which had continued -during the two preceding reigns was barred; famine and pestilence raged -in the land, and Genghis Khan, with vast hordes of Asiatics, invaded -and conquered the country. From the year 1054, when the civil wars -commenced, to 1462, when the Tartar power and influence were finally -broken, Russia was torn with dissensions, overrun by her powerful -neighbors, often visited by famine and pestilence; yet within this -period are recorded many great events. Moscow was founded in 1147; -Alexander, Grand Prince of Novgorod, won a great victory over the -Swedes and others on the Neva, which gives him the name of Alexander -Nevski. - -"With Ivan III., or Ivan the Great, in 1462, begins a more glorious -period of Russian history. He was the Grand Prince of Moscow, and -conquered Novgorod, Kazan, Perm, Tver, and other principalities. -He married Sophia, niece of the Greek emperor Constantine XIII., -on which occasion he adopted the double-headed black eagle as his -standard, and was the first prince who claimed the title of 'Autocrat -of all the Russias.' He was succeeded by his son Basil IV., in whose -reign the empire was still further united, and the Tartars completely -subjugated at Kazan. Basil was followed, in 1533, by his son Ivan IV., -only three years old at his accession. During his minority the empire -was torn by anarchy and civil war; but when Ivan was only fourteen -years old, he seized the reins of power, and commenced the career of -cruelty and tyranny, which gave him the name of the 'Terrible.' But -he did more for Russia than any of his predecessors. He conquered -Kazan again, which had asserted its independence during his minority, -added Astrakhan, the Crimea, Siberia, and the country of the Don, to -his empire. He encouraged commerce, and established a printing office -in Moscow. He was a cruel tyrant, and caused the massacre of sixty -thousand people in Novgorod, and thousands in Moscow and Tver. Finally -he murdered his eldest son, and the only one who had the capacity to -succeed him, with his own hand. His son Fedor, who came to the throne -at his death, was weak in body and mind. His brother-in-law, Boris -Godunoff, was an ambitious man, and sought to obtain the crown. He -put out of the way several rivals and members of the imperial family, -and finally accomplished his purpose in 1605; but his cruelty caused -great dissatisfaction, and the people were ripe for revolt. At this -time appeared in Poland a very remarkable impostor, claiming to be the -Czarovitz of Russia, who was more successful than the pretenders that -sought the crown of England. In carrying out his ambitious project, -Boris Godunoff had procured the assassination of Dimitri, the youngest -son of Ivan the Terrible, a lad only ten years old. A Polish prince, -irritated by the negligence of a young man who had been in his employ -but a short time, gave him a blow on the side of the head, which was -accompanied by a very opprobrious epithet. - -"'If you knew who I am, prince,' replied the young man, with tears in -his eyes, 'you would not treat me so, nor call me by that name.' - -"'Who are you, and where do you come from?' asked the prince. - -"'I am the Czarovitz Dimitri, son of Ivan IV.' - -"He then detailed the manner of his escape from Boris's assassin, -and exhibited a Russian seal, bearing the names and arms of the -Czarovitz, and a gold cross adorned with jewels, which he declared was -the baptismal gift of his godfather. The prince believed his story, -and rendered him efficient help. He was presented to the Palatine of -Sandomir, whose daughter was plighted to him in marriage. He procured -the favor of Sigismond, King of Poland, by promising to bring Russia -over to the church of Rome. With a considerable army, including many -Polish knights, he marched into Russia, and after some discouragements, -took the city of Novgorod, and finally, by the treachery of some of -Boris's dependants, entered Moscow, and was duly crowned. Though he -had renounced the Greek Church, he concealed the fact. The widow of -Ivan IV. was brought from a convent to see him, and after a private -interview between them, she acknowledged that he was her son. His -affianced wife came to him in Moscow, attended by a numerous retinue -of Polish knights. The marriage was solemnized according to the rites -of the Russian church. But Dimitri was not skilful in concealing his -religion, and excited the suspicion of the priests and others. While he -was generous even to his foes, his heterodoxy was the ruin of him. A -conspiracy was organized, and he was murdered in cold blood, with many -of his followers, and his corpse exposed to great indignities. - -"After his death the boyar Shuiska was crowned as Czar, under the title -Basil VI. Encouraged by the example of the false Dimitri, another -appeared, and many Polish knights supported his claim with arms. The -Czar appealed to Sweden for aid, which compelled the King of Poland to -espouse the cause of the pretender. The Swedes soon went over to the -Poles, Moscow was captured, and Basil VI. died in a Polish prison. The -Poles compelled the boyars to elect Vladislas, son of Sigismond, their -Czar. The new power treated Russia as a subdued province, which caused -an insurrection, and the Poles were driven from the country. - -"The throne was now vacant, and in 1613 Michael Romanoff, the first -sovereign of the present royal family, was chosen emperor. He made -peace with the Swedes, and restored the commercial ties which had been -broken by the wars. In 1645 he was succeeded by his son Alexis, who won -the allegiance of the Cossacks of the Don, and regained the western -part of Russia, which had been held by the Poles. In this reign a -third false Dimitri appeared; but he obtained few adherents, and was -executed by Alexis. This Czar was followed by his son Fedor, in 1676, -who lived but six years after his accession, leaving no children; but -he had a brother and several sisters, children of his own mother, and -a half brother and half sister, children of his father's second wife. -The heir apparent was his own brother Ivan, who was weak in body and -in mind, while the half brother, Peter, was a brilliant youth of ten. -An attempt was made to set Ivan aside; but his sister, the Princess -Sophia, frustrated the plan so far as to cause both to be declared -sovereigns of Russia, and she was proclaimed the regent, who was -practically to rule the country. It is alleged that Sophia and Prince -Galitzin, her minister, organized a conspiracy to take the life of -Peter, when he was about seventeen, in order that she might continue -in the regency during the reign of his imbecile brother. Peter fled to -a monastery, followed by a portion of his party, and there organized -a counter movement. He managed his case so well that it was entirely -successful. - -"The conspirators were severely punished; some of them were cruelly -tortured. Prince Galitzin escaped with his life, but forfeited his -immense property, and was banished to the northern regions of Russia, -while Sophia was shut up in a convent during the rest of her life. Ivan -declined to take any share in the government, and Peter was the sole -ruler in fact, if not in name. He is the Peter the Great of history, -and the founder of Russian greatness. In a brief period he made his -country one of the most powerful in Europe. In 1703 he founded St. -Petersburg, in a very unfortunate location, it must be confessed, -for at times the city has hard work to keep itself above water. His -ruling passion was to extend his empire, as well as to build it up, by -developing its resources. Though he suffered great defeats, he finally -carried all his plans. He made war on Sweden, and crushed Charles XII. -in the battle of Pultowa. He conquered the Ukraine, and carried his -conquests to the Caspian. He was a wonderful man; but he was a drunkard -and a brute in his manners. He was a genius in mechanics, and possessed -remarkable energy in the execution of his purposes; but he was -passionate, cold-blooded, and cruel. It is no wonder that his country -venerates his name, for no single man ever did so much for a nation as -he for Russia. - -"Peter hated his first wife, who was the mother of the Czarovitz -Alexis, and he extended his hatred to his son, whom he first -disinherited, and afterwards poisoned with his own hands, in the -fortress of St. Petersburg. Though the fierce Czar had quarrelled with -Catharine, his wife, and had some doubts in regard to her character, -she was his successor. She was almost as remarkable a person as he -was, and had a powerful influence over him. She was born in Sweden, -but spent her earlier years as a servant in Livonia, one of the Baltic -provinces of Russia, which formerly belonged to Sweden. At the age of -sixteen she was married to a Swedish dragoon, who was ordered away two -days after the marriage. The town in which she lived was captured by -the Russians, and she was employed as a servant in the family of the -Princess Mentchikof, where Peter first saw her. He carried her away -with him, and perceiving that she had a large capacity for assisting -in the mission of his life, he privately married her in 1707, and -repeated the ceremony publicly four years later. - -"From a common servant girl of the humblest parentage, she became the -empress of a mighty nation. After her husband's death, she endeavored -to carry out his progressive measures, during the two years of her -reign; but she softened the rule of the Czar by lowering the taxes, -and recalling the exiles from Siberia. Mentchikof was perhaps the -real ruler, though her gentleness and humanity are apparent in public -measures. Peter II., the son of the unfortunate Alexis, succeeded her, -according to the will of the empress. He was only twelve years old, -and a council of regency was appointed to rule during his minority; -but Prince Mentchikof soon seized the supreme control, and the young -emperor was betrothed to his daughter. He was so arrogant and brutal, -that he finally disgusted his imperial master, and with his whole -family, including the affianced of Peter, was banished to Siberia, -and his wealth confiscated. He had nine million rubles in notes and -securities, one million in cash, one hundred and five pounds of gold -utensils, four hundred and twenty pounds of silver plate, and a million -rubles' worth of precious stones, besides his palaces, and numerous -landed estates, all over Russia. His property was not less than forty -millions, or thirty millions of our money, most of which he had stolen -from the public treasury. Prince Dolgoruki took his place at the head -of the government. - -"Peter died of small-pox, three years after his accession. He was the -last male member of the Romanoff family. Instead of following the line -of succession indicated in the will of Catharine I., who had daughters -still living, the nobles elected, as their empress, Anna, Duchess -of Courland, daughter of Ivan V., half brother of Peter I., who had -nominally reigned with him. It was intended that the boyars should be -the real rulers, and they induced Anna, before she was crowned, to -sign an instrument which placed all power in their hands; but when she -became empress, she repudiated the compact, and retained the absolute -power of her predecessors. In a civil war for the throne of Poland, -Anna sided with Augustus III., whose success gave Russia a controlling -influence in the affairs of this unhappy kingdom. Her favorite, Duke -Biren, her prime minister, and the actual ruler, was an arrogant and -cruel man, whose influence over the empress was all-powerful. By his -advice, she named, as her successor, the son of her niece Anne,--a -child in the cradle,--with Biren as the regent. He was Ivan VI. - -"The unpopularity of the regent soon caused his overthrow, and Anne -was appointed in his place; but in a year after the death of the -Empress Anna, Elizabeth Petrovna, the daughter of Peter the Great and -Catharine,--a woman of no character,--usurped the throne. In a single -night her adherents captured the palace, and completed the revolution. -She reigned twenty-one years, and founded several universities, and -other literary and scientific institutions. She abolished the death -penalty and the rack, but the knout and other tortures took their -place, and the exiles to Siberia were numerous. In the Seven Years' -War, Russia was on the side of Austria. Elizabeth was a vain and -extravagant woman. She impoverished her treasury, and left a bad -reputation behind her. - -"By her will she made her nephew Peter, late Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, -emperor; and from him, the present royal family is called the House -of Holstein-Gottorp. He attempted many reforms, and closely allied -himself to Frederick the Great, of Prussia; but many of his measures -were imprudent and impolitic. His wife Catharine was the daughter of -a princess of Holstein-Gottorp. Peter neglected her, and incurred her -hatred. She got up a conspiracy against him, which resulted in the -dethronement of her husband, only a few months after his accession, -and she was proclaimed empress as Catharine II. Peter was thrown -into prison, and there strangled. Her reign of thirty-four years was -brilliant for Russia, which became one of the Great Powers, without -dispute. She greatly enlarged its territory by the infamous partition -of Poland, the conquest of the Crimea, and the addition of Courland, -on the Baltic. Her most noted ministers and favorites were Orlof and -Potemkin. - -"Her son Paul I. succeeded her in 1796. His mother had neglected him -in early years, and hated him when he became a man, keeping spies near -him, compelling him to live away from the court, and depriving him -of all power and influence. She had caused the murder of his father, -and the hatred was reciprocal. After his accession, he gave funeral -honors to his father, disinterred his mother's last favorite, Potemkin, -and threw his remains into a ditch. His temper had been soured by -his mother's treatment, and he took a malicious pleasure in undoing -what she had done. The revolution in France was in progress when he -came to the throne, and Paul joined the coalition against her, sending -his armies into Switzerland, Italy, and Holland, to fight against the -French republic. Suvarof, in these campaigns, proved himself to be one -of the greatest generals of his age, and is still held in the highest -veneration by the Russians. But the emperor, dissatisfied with his -allies, withdrew his armies from the coalition, and, with Denmark and -Sweden, joined in the armed neutrality, of which I have spoken to you -before. - -"Paul was capricious, despotic, and subject to fits of partial -insanity, which aggravated his ill temper, and caused him to commit -the most atrocious deeds. By his second wife he had ten children, the -oldest of whom was Alexander, the Czarovitz; the second, Constantine; -and the youngest but one, Nicholas. Paul's humors were unendurable, -and Alexander consented to his dethronement, to avoid greater evils to -the empire. He signed a proclamation, announcing his assumption of the -crown. The conspirators found the emperor in his palace. Breaking into -his chamber, they required him to sign his abdication, and his refusal -brought on a struggle, in which, after a desperate resistance, he was -strangled with a sash. Alexander had not consented to the assassination -of his father, and the event filled him with passionate grief. This was -in 1801, and the new emperor was twenty-five years old, and a man of -decided ability. He was in favor of peace; but it was impossible for -him not to take part in the general war against Napoleon, though he -first entered into an alliance with him. - -"The Russians and Austrians were defeated at Austerlitz in 1805. -Alexander joined his army to that of Prussia, and both were -disastrously defeated at Friedland in 1807, and the emperor was obliged -to conclude a peace with Napoleon at Tilsit, in which he was arrayed -against England and Sweden. The French stirred up a war in Turkey, in -which the Russians obtained Moldavia and Wallachia. A war with Sweden -resulted in the conquest of Finland. In 1810 Alexander, finding that -he had nothing more to gain by an alliance with France,--that his -commerce was suffering under the provisions of the treaty of Tilsit, -and that the marriage of Napoleon with Maria Louise would prevent him -from obtaining any more territory from Austria,--broke the treaty, -and prepared for war. In 1812 Napoleon marched into Russia late in -the season, with half a million soldiers, intending to crush Russia. -The Russians lost the terrible battle of Borodino, near Moscow, and -even this city fell into the hands of the French; but those who could -not defend it burned it. The winter suddenly set in, and the army of -Napoleon, robbed of their expected supplies and shelter in Moscow, -commenced that disastrous retreat which ended only in the total -destruction of the Grand Army. Prussia and Austria joined Russia the -next year; in the battle of Leipsic, the power of the French was -effectually broken, and in 1814 the allies entered Paris, and Napoleon -was sent to Elba. He returned, and was finally defeated in the battle -of Waterloo, and sent to St. Helena. The war ended, and Alexander -turned his attention to the internal affairs of the nation. He labored -earnestly to promote the civilization of his people, and to develop -the immense resources of his vast empire. In 1825 he set out on a tour -through his dominions, and died at Taganrag, near the mouth of the -Don, of the Crimean fever. He had been the champion of absolute power, -and had welded more closely the chains of Poland; yet, judged by the -Russian standard, he was an amiable and good man. - -"At his death his brother Constantine was the Czarovitz; but this -prince had voluntarily renounced his right to the throne in favor of -his younger and only surviving brother Nicholas, who was proclaimed -Czar. A conspiracy, fomented before his accession, was sternly and -severely suppressed. Nicholas, like his brother, was despotic in his -ideas, and remorselessly crushed the insurrection in Poland in 1830, -making the kingdom a province of Russia. He enlarged his dominions, -and carried on the war in Circassia, which lasted fifty years. In 1853 -Nicholas demanded of the Turkish government certain guarantees of the -rights of Greek Christians in Turkey, which the latter could not give -without yielding its sovereign rights, and a war ensued, in which -England, France, and Sardinia took part with the Turks. It was the -evident design of the Czar to conquer Turkey, and extend his dominions -to the Mediterranean. - -"Nicholas did not live to see the end of this war, and was succeeded by -his son, Alexander II., in 1856. Sebastopol was captured after a siege -of about a year, and a treaty of peace was signed, by which Russia lost -her naval superiority in the Black Sea.[B] The war in the Caucasus -was continued, and ended by Alexander II., who is still the reigning -emperor." - -[Footnote B: This provision of the treaty was abrogated by Russia in -1870.] - -The professor closed his lecture, which, though longer than usual, was -listened to with interest to the end by the students. - -"Young gentlemen," said the principal, "I desire to give you an -opportunity to see as much as possible of Russia, and for this purpose -you will all have an opportunity to visit Moscow; but I do not purpose -to go there in a body. There will be no ship's duty done at present. We -will divide you into four squads; the ship's companies of the consorts -forming two of them, the starboard watch of the ship the third, and the -port the fourth squad. A fifth party will make a more extended trip to -Nijni Novgorod and Kazan, down the Volga. The captain of each vessel -may appoint one to go on this journey, and four more will be elected -by ballot to-morrow night, two for the ship, and one for each of the -consorts, after your return from St. Petersburg." - -Mr. Lowington retired amid the applause of the students. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -SIGHTS IN ST. PETERSBURG. - - -"Appointed by the captain!" sneered De Forrest, as the students left -the steerage. - -"I wonder what that's for," added Beckwith. - -"I don't know; it's a puzzler to me. But the principal seems to be -trying to make Cantwell as big a man as he can." - -"Well, I don't think you ought to find any fault about it. You worked -this thing up, and made him captain," interposed Sheridan, the new -fourth lieutenant, who had been raised to his present rank from first -midshipman, by the votes of the Bangwhangers. - -"I made him captain!" exclaimed De Forrest. - -"Certainly you did; his merit-rank would only have made him fourth -lieutenant. We don't always do just what we intend," laughed Sheridan. -"It was your idea to make the captain dependent upon the crew for his -office." - -"I think it's a good thing to do so," replied De Forrest. - -"Then it's a good thing also to make the crew dependent upon the -captain. If he can appoint one of the party for the Volga excursion, -his favor is worth something," added Sheridan, good-naturedly. - -"I would give fifty dollars out of my spending money for the privilege -of going," said De Forrest. - -"Suppose you make the captain the offer?" - -"I! Humph! Do you think I would go down on my knees to Cantwell?" -sneered De Forrest. - -"Don't you do it! There's no law to compel you to do so," laughed -Sheridan. - -"Of course the captain will reward some one of his friends," said -Beckwith. - -"Yes, I suppose he will." - -"Would you appoint a fellow that had worked against you?" asked -Sheridan. - -"I should try to be fair," answered the first purser, with a struggle -to look dignified. - -"Precisely so! Just as you nominated yourself over the heads of Judson -and Norwood, and tried to cut them out." - -"They worked for themselves, and I only did the same." - -"If every fellow works for himself, we shall not come out anywhere." - -"You needn't say anything, Sheridan. You went from first middy up to -fourth lieutenant by the voting," said De Forrest. - -"I went just one place higher than my merit-rank, while you were No. -11, and tried to get into No. 3." - -"Never mind that now," interposed Beckwith. "Whom shall we elect? -That's the question." - -"I don't think we need trouble ourselves much about that matter," -replied De Forrest, gloomily. "The fellows in the steerage will attend -to all that, and neither of the two will be taken from the cabin." - -"I will venture to say that one of the two will be elected from the -cabin," said Sheridan. - -"Do you belong to that secret society, Sheridan?" asked Beckwith. - -"I do not; but I think that the fellows that manage it mean to be fair." - -"Humph! They lifted you up." - -"That's so. They did; but I never asked them to do it, or electioneered -with any of them," responded Sheridan. - -"But can't we do something?" suggested Beckwith. "The vote for captain -stood forty-eight to forty; and Cantwell's vote was the strength of the -opposition. If we can change five votes, we can elect our men." - -"Very true; but can you unite your forty votes on two candidates." - -"Yes; why not?" asked De Forrest, encouraged by this presentation of -the subject. - -"Who shall the candidates be?" inquired Sheridan, with a twinkle of the -eye. "You want the two most popular fellows in the ship." - -"Lincoln for one," said Beckwith. - -"Good! He runs well with both parties. You can elect him. Who next?" -continued Sheridan. - -"I should like to go for the other," said De Forrest. - -"I thought so," laughed Sheridan. - -"Why shouldn't I go, as well as any other fellow?" demanded the first -purser. - -"And why should you in preference to any other fellow? If you want -to carry your ticket, you must nominate the other candidate from the -steerage. That's fair." - -"I don't believe in it," protested De Forrest. "I won't vote for a -fellow in the steerage." - -"Precisely so. Then you, and such fellows as you, will throw the -election into the hands of the secret society. That's the whole of it. -Be fair, and the steerage will go with you." - -"Whom do you say in the steerage?" asked Beckwith. - -"Any good fellow; say Scott." - -"No, sir!" exclaimed De Forrest, decidedly. "I would jump overboard -before I would vote for him." - -"Suppose the captain should select Lincoln," continued Sheridan, his -eye still twinkling merrily. - -"Then we should have to take some other fellow from the cabin," replied -Beckwith. - -"There your chance comes in, De Forrest," winked the fourth lieutenant. - -"I think I have just as good a right to go as any other fellow." - -"Say De Forrest and Scott; and Scott's name on the ticket will carry -the other name," chuckled Sheridan, though he spoke as soberly as he -could. - -"That alters the case," added De Forrest, musing. "If Lincoln is not to -be on the ticket, it makes it altogether a different affair." - -"But if you are going to scratch Scott's name, and jump overboard, -rather than vote for him, it's no use of talking." - -"I should like to have all these differences healed up, so that my plan -may have a fair trial," said the first purser. - -"Well, think of it," continued Sheridan; "and if the fellows conclude -to nominate the ticket I suggested, I have no doubt it can be elected." - -"I think, under the circumstances, I should conclude to vote for Scott." - -"Well, that would be a great concession on your part," laughed -Sheridan, as he went forward to talk with others about the matter which -so deeply interested all hands. - -Of course he spoke with Scott first on the subject, and suggested a -general caucus of officers and seamen, to which the joker readily -assented, and promised, if the business was fairly conducted, to keep -it out of the secret society. The matter was talked over till the -lights were put out. - -The next morning, after the decks had been washed down, and breakfast -disposed of, a small steamer, which had been engaged by the principal, -came alongside, and all hands went on board of her. All the students -from the consorts, with their instructors, joined them, and the steamer -started. Though she was Russian, she was not very different from any -other of her class. After passing out of the harbor, the boat entered -the broad estuary which forms the mouth of the Neva. It was shoal -water, and the channel was narrow and very crooked, and the craft -twisted about almost as much as on one of our western rivers. As the -distance from Cronstadt to the capital is only seventeen miles, the -expectant excursionists were soon in sight of St. Petersburg. Though -the city is built on low, level ground, the aspect of it, seen from -the sea, is very striking. It was different from any other city the -students had seen. - -"There's a gilded dome," said Commodore Lincoln. - -"That's St. Isaac's Cathedral," replied Dr. Winstock. "And you see -blue, green, and white domes." - -"There is one with stars on it." - -"A very common decoration," added the doctor, as the steamer entered -the Great Neva. - -At the city the river divides into several branches, and forms half a -dozen large islands, and some forty smaller ones, on which a portion -of the town is built. The southern branch is called the Great Neva, on -which are most of the landing-places of the steamers. Another branch -is called the Little Neva, and the two on the north are the Great and -Little Nevka. - -"This is the English Quay," continued the surgeon, pointing to the -right as the steamer approached the long iron bridge, which takes the -name of Nicholas, in whose reign it was built, and is eleven hundred -feet long. - -"This seems to be about the end of this cruise," added Lincoln, as he -glanced at the bridge. - -"The steamer stops at this floating stage on the left; but there is a -draw in the bridge, by which vessels may go up into Lake Ladoga." - -The boat came up to the stage, on which was a house. Mr. Fluxion, the -first vice-principal, was there, for he had been sent up the day before -to make the arrangements for the visit. A dozen omnibuses stood in the -broad street, in and on which the students bestowed themselves. The -surgeon and the commodore took places with a driver. The two horses -at the pole were harnessed as in America; but on the nigh side was a -third horse attached to the carriage by an extra whiffletree. Some of -the omnibuses had four horses, but they were all abreast. The two -wheel horses were driven by four reins, while the outsiders had only a -single rein. Half a dozen _commissionaires_, who spoke very indifferent -English, had been engaged, and one of them was with the surgeon. The -procession started, and crossed the Nicholas Bridge, near which is -the English Church. At the north end of it is the Academy of Arts, an -immense structure, which conveys a good idea of the general size and -splendor of the public buildings of the city. - -Turning to the left, after crossing the bridge, passing Nicholas -Palace, the Senate, and Synod, the line entered St. Isaac's Square, -in the middle of which stands the church, one of the most imposing in -the world. Admiralty Square is opposite, in which is the equestrian -statue of Peter the Great. The great Czar is represented as reining -in his horse at the verge of a precipice. The artist modelled his -design from a bold Russian officer, who rode a spirited Arabian steed -up an artificial slope. The horse is gracefully poised on his hind -feet, beneath which is a serpent, emblematic of the difficulties that -Peter overcame. The tail of the animal appears to rest lightly on the -serpent, but is in reality part of the support of the figure. The rock -upon which the statue is elevated was brought from a Finnish village, -four miles from the city, and weighs fifteen hundred tons. It is -forty-three feet long, fourteen feet high, and twenty feet wide. - -Passing the immense Admiralty building, the procession paused for a -few moments in front of the vast edifice called Hôtel de l'Etat Major, -which is the headquarters of the army. The front is semicircular, and -in the centre of the building is a triumphal arch, over which is the -chariot of Victory, the horses of which are headed towards at least -half the points of the compass, though the team is only a pardonable -exaggeration of those which draw the omnibuses. - -In the vast square in front of the structure is the Column Alexander I. -Opposite this monument are the Hermitage and the Winter Palace, which -are on the river. Looking across the Great Neva, where the Little Neva -branches off, the Exchange may be seen on the point of land between the -two streams. It is an imposing structure, with lofty columns around it, -and flights of steps leading down to the river. On each side of it is a -lofty pillar, one hundred feet high, adorned with the prows of ships, -which project from the sides, and give it a very singular appearance -when seen from a distance. - -The omnibuses turned, and went back to the Admiralty, some of whose -windows command a view down the Nevski Prospect, which is the principal -street of the city. As the procession passed down this avenue, which is -wider than Pennsylvania Avenue, at Washington, in places, the students -had to keep their eyes wide open, in order that nothing should escape -them. The droskies were as thick as snow-flakes at Christmas, and -rattled at great speed through the streets. Every driver wore the long -pelisse and the bell-crowned hat. A horse railroad extended through -this street. There were plenty of omnibuses, drawn by three or four -horses abreast, the driver having a whole handful of reins. The wagons, -on which merchandise is conveyed from one part of the city to another, -were really ludicrous to the students, and seemed to be constructed -so as to give the horses the greatest possible amount of work. The -wheels were quite small, and ran on wooden axletrees, with at least six -inches' "play" between the hub and linchpins, so that, in rough places, -the body slid on the wheels from right to left. From the end of each -forward axletree, a rope, or a wooden bar, extended to the shafts. The -vehicle was very heavy and clumsy, and evidently ran hard. The bow or -arch over the ends of the shafts was very large and heavy, adding a -useless burden to the labor of the poor horses. - -"That's a singular-looking building," said Lincoln. - -"That is the Cathedral of Kazan," replied the doctor, "or the Church -of Our Lady of Kazan. It is a poor imitation, on the outside, of St. -Peter's. There is a Don Cossack." - -The surgeon pointed to "a solitary horseman," who was riding slowly -along the sheet. He wore a short jacket, with stripes across the front, -and secured by globular buttons. He had on a Tartar cap, and carried in -his hand a lance. - -"He don't look like the terrible being we have read about," laughed -Lincoln. - -"No; the Cossacks are a well-disciplined body; but perhaps, in their -wild condition, they are all you imagine." - -A canal crossed the Nevski Prospect, under a stone bridge near the -church. At one side of it was moored a vast flat-boat, as it would be -called on the Mississippi, loaded with firewood, sawed and split ready -for use. Several canals like this one extend quite through the city, so -that the merchandise from the Caspian Sea, the White Sea, and almost -every part of the interior of Russia, may be delivered at the very -doors of the warehouses. - -Opposite the Great Market, which is the business centre of the city, -the conductor stopped the omnibuses, to enable his charge to see the -several objects of interest which were presented at this point. The -_Gostinnoi Dvor_ is an institution in every Russian city, but is -more like the Bazaar of Constantinople than anything to which other -Europeans apply the name of market. In St. Petersburg it is a vast -structure, occupying an immense square, in which every article of -commerce is exposed for sale. It consists of little shops and stalls, -in front of which the merchant stands, ready for a trade. He importunes -the passers-by to purchase, and it is not always prudent to stop and -examine the goods, unless one wishes to be dragged into the shop. The -bazaar itself has outgrown the building, large as it is, and extends -into the neighboring streets; indeed, the whole territory in the rear, -and to the eastward of it for a considerable distance, is appropriated -to its uses. The Nevski Prospect, in front of the great market, is very -wide, and a large portion of it is used for booths and stands, at which -every conceivable article is offered for sale, such as provisions, -fruit, fancy goods, furs, clothing, boots and shoes. - -"You can see here the national costume of the Russians, commodore," -said the doctor. - -"I don't see anything very peculiar," replied Lincoln. - -"You observe that every man here has his pants stuffed into the tops -of his boots. I don't know of anything that is more national than -this, though in the interior you will see something more peculiar. -Look at that fellow," added the surgeon, pointing to a fruit-seller. -"He doesn't indulge in the luxury of a shirt, but has under his coat a -calico tunic, which he wears outside of his pants." - -"They don't look particularly clean." - -"The common people are not; but the higher classes are as neat and -refined as any people in Europe." - -"What is this tower?" asked Lincoln. - -"That is on the Town Hall, in which the business of the city is -transacted. It is a watch-tower, and those poles upon it are for the -purpose of hoisting signals, to indicate the location of a fire. Men -are on the watch on that tower at all times of day and night. The -street opposite is St. Michael Place, in which the Hôtel de Russie, -commonly called Klée's Hotel, is situated. Next to the tower is one -of the street chapels, which you will see in every Russian city. It -is a church in miniature, erected by the contributions of the people -in the bazaar. You see within it pictures of the saints, with lights -burning before them. There is generally a priest on duty there, and you -perceive that many people enter, or pause in front of the door, and -salute the representatives of the holy persons." - -"Yes, and even on the other side of the street," added Lincoln, who -had been observing the devotions of the Russians. - -Men paused on the sidewalk of the crowded avenue, knelt, crossed -themselves many times, and bowed low, with their faces towards the -chapel. The poorer and the more humble the individual, the lower he -bowed, and the more earnest were his devotions. - -The drive in the omnibuses was continued for a couple of hours longer, -until the students had seen the principal streets of the city and the -public buildings. Finally, the line stopped at the Taurida Palace, a -long, low building, near the Neva, at the eastern extremity of the -city. It was built by Catharine II., and presented to her favorite -Potemkin, who conquered the Crimea, the Russian name of which is -Taurida. The party entered the great ball-room, which is about all -that is shown of the palace, for it is occupied by the superannuated -ladies of honor of the court. It is an enormous apartment, the ceiling -supported by columns covered with plaster. In this hall Potemkin gave -balls in honor of his imperial mistress, when it was lighted by twenty -thousand wax candles. On the columns were hoops to contain candles, for -the room is occasionally used at the present time for balls and feasts. -At one end was a full-rigged brig, of miniature proportions, formerly -in the water, but now set in the floor, and used for the amusement of -the royal children. - -The party had entered this room, which certainly had the appearance -of "some banquet hall deserted," for a purpose, and the students were -collected around the little brig, upon the deck of which, as a rostrum, -Mr. Mapps took his place. - -"The region in which St. Petersburg is situated was formerly Ingria, -and belonged first to Novgorod, and then to Moscow," said the -professor. "The Swedes obtained it in 1617; but it was reconquered by -Peter the Great, who laid the foundations of this city in 1703, in -order, as he expressed it, to have 'a window looking out into Europe;' -or, in other words, to obtain a seaport by which he could carry on -commerce with other parts of the world. He gathered together a vast -number of Russian and Finnish peasants, and went to work, drafting -forty thousand men annually, some of them from the most distant parts -of his vast empire, to perform the labor. Peter superintended the -laying out of the city himself, living in a small cottage, which exists -at the present time, and which we shall soon visit. - -"As I have said before, the location is most unfortunate. The Neva is -the outlet of Lake Ladoga, and when the ice breaks up in the spring, -the city is peculiarly liable to an inundation, if a westerly storm -forces in this direction the waters of the Gulf of Finland; and at -other seasons there is great danger from these storms. It is said that -Peter was warned of this peril. After he had laid the foundation of a -portion of the city in the marshes, he happened to see a tree with a -ring cut around the trunk. He asked a Finn what the mark meant, and -was told that it indicated the height to which the water rose in the -inundation of 1680. He angrily told the man that he lied, for what he -said was quite impossible, and with his own hand he felled the tree. -It was practically saying, 'So much the worse for your facts,' when -they conflicted with his theory. There have been seven terrific floods -in the city, the last of which was in November, 1824. A driving -westerly storm heaped up the waters in the Neva till they overflowed -the low banks, and swept in floods through the streets. Wooden houses -were lifted from their foundations, and floated about still occupied. -Carriages had to be abandoned in the streets, and the horses were -drowned. The Emperor Alexander I. gathered together a few resolute -men in a large boat, and went himself to the relief of the sufferers, -exposing his own life, and saving many from destruction. - -"After the water subsided, many buildings fell, and much sickness -followed from the dampness in the houses. The damage was estimated at -a hundred million rubles. A gardener, surprised by the storm, sought a -place of safety on the roof of a summer-house, to which also an army of -rats was driven, and he was fearful that they would devour him; but a -cat and a dog swam to the roof, and neutralized his dangerous enemies, -so that all of them passed the night in safety. A Protestant merchant -hauled in at his second story window, from a fragment of a bridge, an -Orthodox Greek, a Jew, and a Mohammedan Tartar, supplying them with -food, raiment, and shelter." - -The professor finished his remarks, and the party, after a glance at -the handsome gardens of the palace, resumed their places in and on the -omnibuses. Looking down the street, the students could see the Smolni -Church, on the bank of the river, which here makes a sharp turn to the -south. The structure is of white marble, with fine blue domes, spangled -with golden stars. At one side of it is a large building, in which the -daughters of citizens are educated; at the other, one in which those of -the nobles are educated. The procession moved through several streets, -and passed between the Michael and the Summer Palace, attached to the -latter of which are the gardens of the same name, forming the park most -used by the people of the city. The middle one of the three openings -at the grand gateway is now occupied by a small chapel, dedicated to -St. Alexander Nevski, for on this spot an assassin attempted to take -the life of the present emperor in 1866. Over the principal entrance -is placed, in gold letters, the text, "Touch not mine anointed." The -chapel was built by subscription, as a token of the love of the people -for their sovereign. - -The omnibuses crossed the river on the Troitsa, or Trinity Bridge, -which is built of boats, and removed in winter, when the people cross -on the ice, and stopped at the cottage of Peter the Great, where the -students alighted. The original house is contained within another, -built by Alexander I. to preserve it from decay. It is fifty-five feet -long by twenty in breadth, and has three rooms. One of these is now -used as a chapel, and contains the miraculous image of the Saviour -which Peter carried with him in his battles, and to which he ascribed -his victory at Pultowa. In front of it is a circular board, full of -holes of all sizes, in which the faithful place their lighted candles, -as a votive offering to the picture. Near the door is a stand for the -sale of these candles, which are in size from twice the thickness of -a pipe stem, up to double the ordinary size. They are sold at from -five to twenty-five copecks apiece. Near the picture are some glass -cases, in which are a great many small legs and arms of silver, and -other valuable articles, presented by people who had recovered from -various maladies, in token of their gratitude. These cases were robbed -by a soldier in 1863, who murdered the two keepers of the house. The -building contains many relics of the great Czar. - -A short ride brought the tourists to the fortress and Cathedral of St. -Peter and St. Paul. The fortress is separated from Petrofski Island, on -which Peter's cottage is situated, by a moat crossed by two bridges. It -is completely walled in, and has been used as a state prison. In one -of its gloomy dungeons, Alexis, the son of the great Czar, perished by -the hand of his father, and the rebels of 1825, who conspired against -Nicholas, were confined, tried, and some of them executed in this -castle. - -In the centre of the enclosure rises the cathedral, the spire of which -is tall, slender, and tapering, so that it looks like a needle in -the air, and is really one of the curiosities of the city. The spire -itself is one hundred and twenty-eight feet high. It is crowned with a -globe, five feet in diameter, on which is an angel supporting a cross, -twenty-one feet high, though no one would suspect them to be of these -dimensions, for they look like toys in the air. The summit of the cross -is three hundred and eighty-seven feet from the ground. The spire is -covered with copper, and gilded, and twenty-two pounds of pure gold -were used upon it. The students gazed with wonder and admiration at the -shadowy spire, and listened eagerly to the explanations given by Mr. -Mapps. - -"What do you think of climbing that spire, as you would go aloft?" -asked Mr. Mapps, with a smile. - -"I don't aspire to do it," replied Scott. - -"It has been done," added the instructor. "In 1830 the angel on the -ball was out of repair, and it was found that the stage for the purpose -would cost an immense sum of money." - -"Did the man who did it think of going up in a stage?" asked Scott, -demurely. - -"No; he intended to go up on the outside of the stage," replied the -professor. - -"He might have leaped up, if he could only have taken a spiral spring," -said Scott. - -"Among those who looked at the spire was a Russian workman, a roofer of -houses, by the name of Telouchkine." - -"I should think he would have 'gone up,' if he had such a name." - -"This man offered to make the repairs without staging or assistance, -on condition that he should be well paid, and his offer was accepted. -Provided with a quantity of strong cord, he went as high as he could -go in the interior, and then stepped out at the highest window. He -had cut off two lengths of his cord, and made loops in the ends. The -heads of the nails which secured the sheets of gilded copper projected -enough to enable him to fasten a loop of each cord upon them. In these -stirrups he placed his feet. Clinging to the edges of the copper, where -the joints were made, with one hand, he raised one of the stirrups with -the other hand, until he passed the loop over a nail head higher up. -Repeating the process for the other foot, he slowly ascended till he -could clasp the spire in his embrace and finally reached the ball, -where his troubles seemed to begin. Passing the cord around his waist, -he made it fast to the spire, with a considerable spare line between it -and his body. Planting his feet against the needle, he dropped back, -and straightened out, with nothing but the cord to support him. In this -position, his body at right angles with the spire, he threw a coil of -line over the ball, and with it hauled himself up to the summit of the -globe. Then Telouchkine stood by the side of the angel, and listened -to the applause of the vast crowd which had gathered below to witness -the feat. Fastening the cord securely above the ball, he descended with -comparative ease. The next day he carried up a rope ladder, by the aid -of which he was able to make the needed repairs at his leisure." - -"Bully for Telouchkine!" said Scott. "I shouldn't think any cord he -could carry up that height was strong enough to bear him." - -"But it seems it was." - -"It must have had some of the Russian bear in it, else it wouldn't have -held him." - -"I hope your bear will eat up your bully," added the professor. "Now we -will go into the church." - -Several soldiers offered their services as guides, and conducted the -students to the interior. The walls are nearly hidden by the standards, -flags, shields, battle-axes, and other trophies taken from the French, -Poles, Turks, Persians, and Swedes. All the sovereigns of Russia, -since the foundation of the city, with the single exception of Peter -II., have been intombed in this church. Their remains are placed in -the vaults beneath the pavement, but the situations of their several -resting-places are indicated by white marble sarcophagi, with gilded -corners, crosses, and other ornaments. The tomb of Peter the Great is -near the south door, opposite an image of St. Peter, which is just the -size of the Czar at his birth. Next to him is Catharine I. Near the -tomb of Paul is an image of St. Paul, of this Czar's size at his birth. -The diamond wedding-ring of Alexander I. is affixed to an image by -his tomb. On that of the Grand Duke Constantine, who waived his right -to the throne in favor of Nicholas, are placed the keys of the Polish -fortresses he captured. On the tomb of Nicholas there was a quantity of -flowers, and also upon that of his daughter, who died in 1844. - -"This is the tomb of the present emperor's oldest son, Nicholas, who -died at Nice in 1865," said Dr. Winstock. "It has been erected since -my last visit, and you see it is covered with fresh flowers. He was -only twenty-two, and had just been betrothed to the Princess Dagmar, of -Denmark." - -"I thought Mr. Mapps said she was married to the present heir of the -throne," added Lincoln. - -"That was quite true also. She was only engaged to Nicholas, and was -married to his brother two years after the death of the former. It -is said that the Czarwitz, on his death-bed, expressed a wish that -his brother Alexander might succeed him in all things, including his -intended wife." - -The party were then conducted to a building where the boat of Peter -the Great is kept. As he built it with his own hands, it is a great -curiosity, and the students were willing to believe that the Czar had -done his work well. The excursionists returned to the omnibuses, and -were driven to the Hotel Klée, where dinner had been prepared for them. -The meal was not at all Russian, for the people in the hotel are German -in their tendencies. It was at this hotel that Mr. Burlingame, of the -Chinese mission, died; and several of the students visited the room in -which he breathed his last. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -BILLY BOBSTAY AND FRIENDS. - - -The omnibuses had been dismissed for the day, for the afternoon was -to be used in visiting two of the principal churches, which were -within walking distance of the hotel, and on the way to the English -Quay, where the party were to embark at six o'clock for Cronstadt. The -students separated into small squads, the more studious and thoughtful -ones clinging to the guides and others who knew something about the -city, in order to obtain proper explanations of what they saw. All of -them walked through the bazaar, and most of them looked into the little -chapel near it, and studied the signals on the watch-tower above the -Town Hall. Some amused themselves by trying to read the signs; but -they could make nothing of them, though there was occasionally one -in French. All the educated Russians speak French fluently, and in -the larger stores there is generally one or more who converse in this -language. A short walk on the Nevski Prospect brought the tourists to -the Kazan Cathedral. - -This church was founded in 1802, and consecrated in 1811, and cost -about three million dollars. The cross above the dome is two hundred -and thirty feet from the ground. In the semicircle formed by the -colonnade in front are statues of Kutuzoff and Barclay de Tolly, two -generals who distinguished themselves in the Moscow campaign against -Napoleon. The interior of the church contains fifty-six columns of -Finland granite, each being a single stone, thirty-five feet high, -which support the dome and roof. The screen, or partition,--in Russian, -_ikonostas_,--that separates the altar from the body of the church, -is of silver, the material for which was captured from friend and foe -by the Cossacks in the Moscow campaign, and became an offering to the -Madonna of this church. In the centre of the middle doors of the screen -is inscribed, in precious stones, the name of God. In a conspicuous -place in the partition is placed the miraculous picture of the Virgin, -found unharmed in the ashes of the convent in which it was kept, after -the burning of Kazan carried to Moscow by Ivan the Terrible, and -removed to St. Petersburg in 1821. It is loaded with gold and precious -stones to the value of seventy-five thousand dollars, enough to build -half a dozen churches in the country in America. This is the church of -the imperial family, which the emperor attends on special occasions. -After his escape from the assassin at the gate of the Summer Garden, he -came twice to give thanks; and when the Princess Dagmar was escorted -through the streets, as the betrothed of the present Grand Duke -Alexander, the procession paused in the street while the royal party -entered the church to return thanks for her safe arrival. Opposite the -_ikonostas_ is a chair for the Czar, who is the head of the church and -the only one to whom the privilege of being seated is allowed. The -walls and columns of the interior are hung with flags, banners, keys, -and other military trophies. In a glass case is the baton of Davoust, -one of Napoleon's generals. A great many keys of towns and fortresses -are exhibited, and the church has somewhat the appearance of an arsenal. - -From this church the students walked to St. Isaac's, in the square -of the same name, a large, open space, flanked by some of the finest -public buildings and monuments in the city. On this spot Peter the -Great built a wooden church, in 1710, which gave place to another, -built by Catharine I. The present edifice was commenced in 1819, and -consecrated in 1858. The ground is swampy, and the piles which were -driven to support the foundation cost a million dollars--enough to -build a dozen substantial churches in any city in America. It is in the -form of the Greek cross, with four grand fronts, which are similar to -that of the Pantheon at Paris, with columns sixty feet high and seven -in diameter, of highly-polished Finland granite, of a reddish hue. The -dome is nearly like that of the Capitol at Washington, and is gilded, -so that it is a "shining mark" for a great distance. On the four -corners are smaller bell-towers, each containing several bells, though -such a thing as a chime is unknown in Russia. Externally, this church -is one of the grandest and most beautiful in the world. - -The walls of the interior are covered with marble, and are adorned -with pictures of the saints, decked with gold and precious stones, -before which are the circular stands for the offerings of candles. -Near the door is an official, who is authorized to sell these candles -to worshippers. As in all the Russian churches, the _ikonostas_, or -altar-screen, is the most prominent object, which is almost covered -with the gilded plates which form the raiment of the holy persons, with -spaces cut out to exhibit the faces, hands, and feet of the painting. -Before the principal saints elaborate lamps are suspended, which are -lighted during service. In the screen are three doors, the double ones, -in the middle, being "the royal gates," so called because the emperor -passes through them at his coronation. On each side of them is a pillar -of lapis lazuli, set on iron columns, the two costing sixty thousand -dollars. The doors are of bronze, of very elaborate construction. -The space behind the screen, which occupies about one eighth of the -interior of the church, is the altar, in which stands a small round -temple, with eight columns of malachite, eight feet high, the material -for which cost a hundred thousand dollars. This temple is really the -altar, the shrine of the church, in which are placed a richly-bound -volume, called the "Gospels," a gold cross used in the service, the -vessel for the sacred elements, and the silk in which they are placed -when consecrated. Behind the altar, on the window, is an immense -painting of Christ. - -Services are held three times every day in most of the churches; -and when the students entered the edifice, the preparations were in -progress, and they remained to witness the worship. All who entered -crossed themselves, and many purchased candles and made offerings of -them to the saints, St. Isaac of Dalmatia being the principal one, -and women and children kissed the hands of the Virgin, and other -holy persons represented by pictures. The church gives a literal -interpretation of the commandment, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any -graven image," and no part of the person--only the raiment--of the -saints can be sculptured for purposes of worship. The service consisted -of intoned readings by the priests and deacons, the former being -within the royal doors a portion of the time, and is interspersed with -singing, generally in recitative style, by the choir, at the end of the -platform in front of the screen. The singers seem to break in upon the -priests' prayers at times, often with a short phrase or single word. No -female voices are allowed in the choir, and no organ or other musical -instrument is permitted. - -During the service the worshippers in front frequently cross -themselves, the more devoted kneeling and bowing till their foreheads -touch the pavement. Only a few, however, bend thus lowly, and it is -noticeable that these are of the lower order. Well-dressed ladies and -gentlemen are not seen to do anything more than cross themselves, -though all appear to be devout and solemnly engaged in the exercises. -Outside of the doors there are always a number of beggars, who stand -with hand extended, as the people come out of the church. Besides the -chance alms-giving of the worshippers, wrung from them by importunity, -one is occasionally seen evidently roused by the service to a keener -sense of duty, who makes a systematic business of it, bestowing upon -each of the beggars a smaller or larger sum, according to his means. -After the service some of the students were permitted to enter the -altar, which is the Holy of Holies, as in King Solomon's Temple. Paul -Kendall and his wife were about to follow them, when the uniformed -official interposed, and shook his head earnestly. Paul did not -understand him, and one of the guides was called. - -"No female is allowed to enter the sanctuary," the man explained. - -"Woman's rights haven't been attended to here," replied Paul, as he -retired with Grace. - -But there was nothing particular to be seen in the altar space, except -the consecrated articles used in the service. Lincoln was on the point -of passing between the altar itself and the royal doors, when the -church official stopped him, saying that none but the priest and the -emperor were allowed to pass in that direction. - -"I wish I could understand more of it," said Lincoln, as he walked with -his friend, the doctor, towards the quay. - -"The language of the Russian church is the ancient Sclavonic," replied -the surgeon, "as Latin is of the Roman Catholic; and probably not many -of the people understand it. But they are very devout." - -"I have seen that about the streets. Did any one ever hear such bass -voices as some of these singers have? Why, they sounded like the -rumbling of an earthquake." - -"That is one of the great peculiarities of the churches in Russia; and -these deep, heavy bass voices are considered very desirable. You will -find that the wealthier the church, and the more popular the service, -the deeper and heavier are the tones of the bass singers. Doubtless -those in St. Isaac's are among the most celebrated; but in the Kazan -Cathedral, and the Church of St. Alexander Nevski, you will hear -those of about the same volume and power. Of course it requires much -cultivation to develop such a voice; but these singers are so much in -demand that they are amply compensated for their labor." - -"I suppose this religion is very much like the Roman Catholic," added -Lincoln. - -"Yes, it is quite similar; but there are important differences. The -Russian church rejects purgatory, predestination, indulgences, and -dispensations. In baptism, the body must be completely submerged, and -anointed with consecrated oil. The people have not the same respect for -the clergy which you will find in Catholic countries, for though they -venerate the office, they often despise the priests, who are a peculiar -class; and the office is, in a measure, hereditary among them, though -not closed to others. The nobility do not take the priestly office. A -clergyman's sons generally follow him in the choice of a profession, -and his daughters are oftener than otherwise married to priests. -Sometimes the candidate for a position as priest gets his office by -marrying the daughter of a deceased incumbent. The consistory, which -has the giving of these places, knows the affairs of the whole diocese. -If a priest dies, leaving a marriageable daughter, the council often -provides for her and the church at the same time, by giving the vacant -place to one who will take the maiden. The priests are not very well -educated, though in this respect they are improving. An ecclesiastic -cannot marry a widow, and when his wife dies he cannot perform the -service, but may be a monk, and be eligible to the highest offices in -the church. The scriptural injunction that a bishop must be the husband -of one wife, does not mean, to the Russian, _at least_ one, as with -the Mormon, but only one, not even one at a time, as other Christians -interpret it. Any one who marries a second time cannot partake of the -communion for one year; and a third time, for four years." - -"The priests take good care of their wives, I suppose, since their -office depends upon them." - -"Yes, such is the fact," added the doctor, as they went on board of the -steamer. - -The students were on the quay promptly at the hour appointed, and the -steamer departed for Cronstadt. Although the sights in St. Petersburg -had been unusually interesting, the boys could not entirely forget -the subject of the delegates who were to go down the Volga, and some -electioneering was done. De Forrest had been at work upon what he -called the compromise ticket. He had even made some advances to Scott, -but had not found a favorable opportunity to discuss the subject with -him. On board of the steamer he made the occasion. - -"I want to talk with you, Scott," said he. - -"Right; say on," replied the joker. - -"I suppose you feel some interest in the question of going that -journey." - -"You are a wizard! Who told you I did?" - -"No one; I suppose every fellow wants to go. I do, for one." - -"And I, for another; and there will be a great many fellows -disappointed." - -"The ship's company are to vote for two, you know," added the first -purser, feeling his way to the question. - -"That's so; if you want to say anything about it, speak right out; you -needn't beat about the bush any more." - -"I think the other one ought to have been elected, instead of being -appointed by the captain." - -"Perhaps Captain Cantwell will select you," suggested Scott. - -"Of course he will not; and if he did, I could not accept the privilege -from him," said De Forrest, stiffly. - -"On your dignity--eh?" laughed Scott. - -"I was opposed to him in the election, and I have no doubt he dislikes -me as much as I do him. I neither ask nor will take any favors from -him. But there is a chance for me to go by the election." - -"There is a chance for any of us." - -"It has been suggested that you and I may be voted for on the same -ticket. What do you say to that?" - -"If any of the fellows want to vote for me, tell them to fire away; I -can stand it as long as they can. If they want to vote for you, I have -no doubt they will do it." - -"But won't you do something to help the ticket along?" - -"No, sir!" replied Scott, decidedly. "I won't nominate myself or any -other fellow. Let the crowd do that." - -"They will do it, of course; but every fellow has some influence, you -know. It will be a fair thing to take one from the cabin, and one from -the steerage." - -"Yes; but whom from the cabin, and whom from the steerage?" - -"You and me. I don't see why we haven't just as good a right to it as -any one." - -"I made up my mind that I should go for Commodore Lincoln for one," -added Scott, to bring the matter to a head, for he did not like to see -any student working for himself. - -"I think the fellows did enough for him when they made him commodore," -growled De Forrest, disgusted at the want of appreciation on the part -of the joker. - -"Perhaps the commodore will go for me, if I do for him," laughed Scott. - -"Then you won't go in for the arrangement which the fellows are talking -about?" - -"Who were talking about it?" asked Scott, who had his doubts whether -any one had spoken to De Forrest on the subject. - -"Sheridan, for one. If you won't do anything for this ticket, I will -say no more about it." - -"Don't say any more, then," replied Scott; and De Forrest left him, -angry and disgusted. - -"What's up now, Scott?" asked Sheridan, stepping up to the joker at -this point. - -"The first purser's dander," answered Scott. "I hear that you proposed -my name with his for the journey." - -"I did mention it, certainly; but he had told me in the beginning that -he would not vote for you; he would jump overboard first. I suggested -the names, then, by way of jest, and he snapped at the idea as a -codfish at a clam." - -"I see," laughed Scott. "I couldn't give him any comfort, and declined -to vote for the ticket. I won't vote for any fellow that goes around -electioneering for himself." - -"My sentiment exactly," replied Sheridan. "But we ought to agree on -some fellows to vote for." - -"I go for Lincoln, for one." - -"I'm with you!" exclaimed the lieutenant. "I am sure that he has not -asked anybody to vote for him. Now, we want another real good fellow, -from the steerage. Who shall it be?" - -"I don't know; we have so many good fellows it is hard to fix upon any -one. I will look them over and let you know." - -"But do you know whom Cantwell will select?" asked Sheridan. - -"I don't. I'm not in the way of seeing much of him since he went into -the captain's cabin. He don't go on shore at all now, and I suppose he -has been studying rigging, and making knots and splices, all day with -Peaks." - -"Perhaps he will select himself," suggested Sheridan. - -"If he does I will never vote for him again for anything. But he won't -do it." - -"I don't see that we can agree on anything till we know whom he -chooses. He may pick out the very one we decide to vote for." - -"I go in for a caucus of all hands." - -"So do I; that is the fairest way," replied Sheridan, as the steamer -stopped at the side of the ship, and the students, without waiting for -planks and steps, leaped to her deck. - -After supper all hands were called, and Captain Cantwell was requested -to appoint the student for the journey to the interior. The ship's crew -were all silent, curious and anxious to know who the favored one was to -be. The captain mounted the rostrum with the principal, and took off -his cap. - -"I appoint Thomas Scott," said he. - -The announcement was greeted with the most emphatic applause on the -part of the seamen, in which a few of the officers joined. - -"Of course Scott knew he was to be appointed before," sneered De -Forrest. - -"He did not know it," replied Sheridan; "and if he did, I don't know -that it alters anything." - -"Scott made him captain, and this is his reward." - -"You made Cantwell captain," retorted Sheridan. "Scott worked for him, -and I am glad to see that he remembers his friends." - -"I supposed the captain would appoint himself." - -"You judged him by yourself. I can tell you one thing, De Forrest: -these fellows that work for themselves don't accomplish much." - -"The ballot for the other two will be taken in half an hour," said the -principal, who had been studying the effect of the captain's choice -upon the students. - -"I congratulate you, Scott," said Sheridan. "You are sure of going, for -one." - -"Thank you. I am sure, and I hope I shall have good fellows to go with -me," replied Scott. - -"How about the caucus?" - -"I have talked with some of the fellows forward, and they prefer to -have every fellow vote as he likes." - -"All right. I am satisfied." - -Scott went to the captain, and thanked him heartily for the favor he -had bestowed upon him. - -"I am glad to serve you," replied Cantwell, "We are not even yet. I owe -my position to you, and I am grateful for your interest." - -"Not at all; you may thank De Forrest more than me for your election, -for if those fellows in the cabin had not got up a conspiracy against -you, we could not have carried you in." - -"I am trying hard to make myself worthy of the place; and I want to -add, that what you said to me that Sunday did me a great deal of good. -I shall try to make my shipmates like me," added the captain, as he -went aft. - -"He's a good fellow, after all," said Scott to himself. - -Certainly he had improved wonderfully since his election, for he was -gentlemanly and kind to all, and used no offensive condescension to -his inferiors, as all were to him now except the commodore. He had -found his weak points with the help of Scott, and was doing his best to -correct them. - -In half an hour the balloting was commenced, and was conducted in the -same manner as that for the officers had been. The two persons to be -selected were voted for separately. No one had a majority; and a great -many had a single vote, leading to the suspicion that a considerable -number had voted for themselves. Among the latter was De Forrest, who -had done more electioneering on his own account than any other student -in the ship. Lincoln had the largest number, and it lacked only a few -votes of the required majority. The balloting was repeated, and this -time Lincoln was elected by a very handsome majority. De Forrest had -one vote again. The indications of the first two ballotings were a -guide for the next one. A little fellow, who had been nicknamed Billy -Bobstay, had thirty-one votes, which was next to the commodore's vote. -His real name was Bradshaw, and he was an orphan. He had lived in -Brockway with his uncle, who did not use him well, and the boy had -attempted to run away to sea, but had been returned to his guardian, -who was a poor man, and perhaps would have been glad to get rid of him, -though he gave him an unmerciful flogging. He compelled the boy to -work beyond his strength, thus exciting the sympathy of the neighbors. -Mr. Lowington was at home at this time, and heard about the case. He -examined the matter himself, and having satisfied himself that the -little fellow was abused, he offered to take him on board of the ship, -feed, clothe, and educate him. The uncle did not object, since he was -thus wholly relieved of the support of the boy, whose labor, hard as it -was for the youth, was not worth much to him, and Billy went on board -of the Young America, delighted both with the idea of going to sea, and -of getting away from his cruel and exacting uncle. - -Though Billy had a great deal of spirit and energy, he was very kind -and obliging to all his shipmates, and soon became a great favorite -among them. As his education had been neglected, he could not compete -with his fellow-students yet, though he was making rapid progress in -his studies. His story was well known in the ship, and it excited the -sympathy of all the good-hearted boys on board, and these included many -of the wild and rude ones. If any one wanted to "pick" upon Billy, -he had a dozen champions always at hand to take his part. He was very -active and daring, and seemed to have been born for a sailor. His -station in making and furling sail was on the main royal, for though -he was nearly sixteen, he was one of the "lightest weights" on board. -Though he never had any money, except the small sums given him by the -principal, who was not a strong advocate of pocket-money for boys, -he shared the luxuries of the steerage as fairly as though he had -purchased his portion. Perhaps it was a freak on the part of a few of -the boys to vote for him, which had become contagious. At any rate, on -the next ballot, Billy Bobstay had a clean majority of all the votes, -and the result was hailed with lusty cheers by the crew. - -"I can't go," said Billy, when his shipmates began to congratulate him. - -"Why not?" asked one. - -"I haven't any money," replied Billy, frankly and innocently. "Besides, -I don't want to take this chance when so many of the others wish to go." - -"You shall have the money, my dear Billy," said Scott. "But who pays -the bills for this little excursion?" - -No one knew; nothing had been said on this subject; and a messenger -was sent to the principal to ascertain his purpose in this important -particular. - -"The expenses of all will be paid to Moscow; beyond that the party will -pay their own expenses," replied Mr. Lowington. "If, however, when they -return, I think it proper to reimburse them, I shall do so. Of course -any one may decline the privilege extended to him. It is not forced -upon him." - -"Of course I can't go, then," said Billy Bobstay, decidedly. "I haven't -a dollar, nor a ruble, nor a copeck." - -"Don't you decline yet, Bubby," interposed Scott. - -"Yes, I shall. It wouldn't be fair for me not to do so." - -"Don't you do it. We'll raise the money for you," persisted Scott. - -"But I don't want to take any other fellow's chance. I am much obliged -to those that voted for me, but I can't go." - -"Steady, now, my darling baby," continued Scott. "I want you to go, so -as to help me, for I have a big job on my hands." - -"I tell you I can't go. It's no use to think of it." - -"Then you won't help me?" added Scott, in sad tones. - -"I shall be glad to help you. What can I do?" - -"You can do a big thing for me--the greatest kindness that one good -fellow ever did for another. You are generally very obliging, William -Bobstay." - -"What can I do for you?" asked Billy, much troubled at the thought of -disobliging any one. - -"You can help me spend my money," pleaded Scott. "I have always been -willing to help any fellow in this way, even when he didn't have half -as much in his trousers pocket as I have." - -"O, nonsense, Tom Scott. You are making game of me!" laughed Billy. - -"Making game of you, my beloved infant! I should like to see the -fellow that would do it! I would make him up into Bologna sausages, -and then make him eat them. You are going, my child, and I'm going to -take care of you. Not another word; if you do it will choke you;" and -Scott ran off to execute a little scheme of his own, no less than to -take up a collection for the favorite. - -"What's the matter?" asked Captain Cantwell, as Scott rushed by him. - -The joker explained the situation, and said he was going to get up a -subscription. - -"Don't do it, Scott. I shall not go on shore this month, and you shall -take my allowance for Billy. He shall go, and I will pay all his -expenses." - -"That's handsome, captain," replied Scott, heartily; "but the fellows -that like Billy can give him a small sum each." - -"They will all want their money on shore; I shall not. Wait a moment -till I go below for my rubles;" and the captain hastened down into the -cabin. - -"Billy Bobstay, I will give you twenty rubles for your chance," said De -Forrest to the little favorite. - -"I can't sell it." - -"Yes, you can; just go to the principal, and tell him you would like -to have me go in your place. Don't say a word about the rubles, and he -will let you do it." - -"I can't; the students elected me to go, and it wouldn't be right for -me to sell my chance," replied Billy, very respectfully, but firmly. - -"Nonsense! Say quick, and run to the principal. I'll go with you." - -"I can't do it." - -"Do what?" asked Scott, coming up at this instant. - -"It doesn't concern you. I didn't speak to you," said the purser, -sourly. "I order you to go forward." - -Scott touched his cap, and obeyed; but De Forrest dared not say -anything more to Billy about the bribe, except to tell him not to -mention what he had offered. - -"Here, my darling Billy!" exclaimed Scott, as the little fellow went -forward. "Here is a hundred rubles to pay your bills on the journey. It -is the free gift of Captain Cantwell, who insists upon paying all your -expenses, and declares that you must go. You see, my darling, he has so -much money he can't possibly get rid of it without your aid, and you -must do him the favor you refused me." - -Scott repeated the story of the captain's generous gift so that all the -students on deck could hear it. - -"Three cheers for Captain Cantwell!" roared one of the big fellows; and -they were given with a will. - -The principal wanted to know what it meant, and Scott told him. He -smiled, and approved the act; and Billy Bobstay was actually crying, -he was so overcome by the kindness of his friends. Then Scott hugged -him, and made him laugh; and with the tears dropping down his cheeks, -he went to Cantwell and thanked him for his liberal gift. With but -few exceptions, the ship's company were pleased with the result. The -growing popularity of the captain troubled De Forrest, Beckwith, and a -few others, and they were thinking how they could safely turn the tide -against him. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -PALACES AND GARDENS. - - -At half past seven the next morning, breakfast had been disposed of, -and the little steamer came alongside the ship to convey the students -to St. Petersburg again. At nine o'clock she landed them on the English -Quay, near the Nicholas Bridge. A procession was formed, which was but -the work of a moment, for every student knew his place in the line. The -column moved along the quay to the Winter Palace, under the guidance of -an officer of the emperor's household, who had been detailed for the -purpose, when Mr. Fluxion applied for permission to see the palace. -Every courtesy had been extended to the tourists, and not a word was -said about passports. - -At the Hotel Klée, Kendall and Shuffles had sent their passports to -the police office. They had been _visé_ at the Russian consulate in -Stockholm, and permission was indorsed upon them for the owners to -abide in the city. The people at the hotel attend to all this business, -and ask for the traveller's passport as soon as he arrives, charging -the fees, which are quite small, in the bill. In every additional city -or town in which the tourist remains over night, his passport must -be sent to the police, who indorse upon it the permission to remain. -Letters from abroad are delivered to travellers, but newspapers, unless -they are on the permitted list, are detained. A few New York papers are -on this list, and it is useless to send any others into Russia, for -they will not be forwarded to their address. The custom-house officers -were formerly very strict in regard to the admission of books, and -are so still where there is any suspicion of revolutionary works, or -of those directed against the Orthodox Greek church. Such books as -ordinary travellers desire to carry, as the Bible, Prayer-books, and -Guidebooks, are permitted to pass. - -The students had seen the Winter Palace and Hermitage, which are -connected by galleries, when they rode through the streets the day -before. The grand entrance is on the Neva, but there is another opening -into the square in front of the Etat Major. The exterior, except in -size, is hardly as imposing as many other European palaces, though -the building has the reputation of being one of the most elegant on -the continent. It is four hundred and fifty-five feet long by three -hundred and fifty wide, and eighty feet high. In winter it accommodates -six thousand persons, forming the emperor's household. On the site -of the palace was the estate of the high admiral of Peter the Great, -who bequeathed it to Peter II. The Empress Anne commenced a palace -on the spot, which was completed in the reign of Catharine II., but -it was destroyed by fire in 1837. In two years more the present vast -structure was completed. The entrance from the Neva side is by a -magnificent staircase of marble. The students went in at the entrance -on the square, and walked through all the apartments which visitors -are permitted to enter, and all of them were magnificent. The White -Hall, as its name indicates, is of clear white, adorned with gold, and -is the room in which the court balls and other festivities are held. -St. George's Hall, which is one hundred and forty feet long by sixty -wide, is the apartment in which the ambassadors are received; and -there is another throne room, in which the emperor meets the diplomats -on New Year's Day. There were hundreds of other rooms, all of them -hung with pictures, which are mostly portraits of persons noted in -Russian history, and battle-pieces in which the armies of the czars -have been victorious. In the Romanoff Gallery are the pictures of all -the sovereigns of this line, from Michael down to the present time. In -this hall is a tablet, covered with a curtain, on which are inscribed -the ten rules that Catharine II. enforced at the meetings of her -friends. The visitor was enjoined to leave his rank, and his right of -precedence, outside the door; to be gay, and sit, stand, or walk, as he -pleased, without regard to any one; to talk gently, and argue without -excitement; to eat what was good, and drink moderately, so that each -might find his legs when he wanted to use them; that all should join -in any innocent game when one proposed it, and tell no tales out of -school. The penalty of a violation of these rules was the drinking of a -glass of cold water, and the reading of a page of a poet who appears to -have been the Martin Farquhar Tupper of Russia. If any one broke three -of the rules in the same evening, he was condemned to commit six lines -of this poet to memory; and the one who told tales out of school was -not again admitted. - -The students were conducted to a room on the second floor, which is -guarded day and night by officers of the household, where the crown -jewels are kept. On the sceptre is the great Orlof diamond, the largest -in Europe, presented to Catharine II. by her favorite, whose name it -takes. It is said that it once formed the eye of an idol in India, and -was stolen by a French soldier. After passing through various hands, it -was purchased by Count Orlof, who paid four hundred and fifty thousand -rubles for it, besides conferring a patent of nobility, and an annuity -of two thousand rubles upon the seller. The crown of the emperor is -shaped something like a bishop's mitre, and is covered with diamonds -and pearls. On the top is an immense ruby, which supports a cross -formed of five beautiful diamonds. The crown of the empress is a mass -of diamonds of the most perfect hue and lustre. There are many other -treasures, such as the plume of Suvaroff, presented by the Sultan of -Turkey; the "Shah," a diamond from Persia; and necklaces, bracelets, -brooches, and other articles, glittering with diamonds, and studded -with immense pearls. Millions upon millions of rubles in value lie idle -and useless in this apartment, which would plant a common school in -nearly every town of the vast empire. - -On the lower floor is the room in which the Emperor Nicholas died, -in 1855, with everything just as it was on the day he breathed his -last. It is one of the smallest and plainest apartments of the palace, -and a grenadier of the guard is always on duty within it to protect -the sacred relics of the czar. It is furnished with a narrow iron -camp bedstead, on which he expired. On it lies his military cloak, -and his sword and helmet are just as he left them. On the table is a -quartermaster's report, given to him on the day he died. Everything -in the room is of the simplest manufacture, with nothing of the -luxuriousness of the other parts of the palace. - -From the palace the students passed into the Hermitage, which is a -museum and gallery of paintings, and is hardly equalled in all Europe. -It is somewhat larger than the palace, enclosing two large courts. -It is a perfect labyrinth of apartments, and all of them filled with -paintings, works of art, and historical relics. All the old masters -are represented in the picture galleries, and rooms or suits of rooms -are devoted to each school of painting. Not many of the students were -able to appreciate the treasures of art, and most of them preferred -the military and naval pictures in the Winter Palace. In the vast -numismatic collection are many very rare Greek coins. In the gem room -is a mechanical clock, which a poor woman drew in a lottery, and sold -for fifteen thousand dollars. It played overtures with all the effects -of the modern orchestrion, and was wound up for the gratification -of the visitors. In the gallery of Peter the Great, the party were -disposed to linger for a long time. It contains works of art and -industry in the time of the Czar whose name it bears, and the turning -lathes and carving tools he used himself. His spy-glasses, mathematical -instruments, books, canes, and other articles are exhibited. The gilded -chariot in which he occasionally rode, his dogs, and his war horse, -stuffed, and various casts and portraits of him, taken after death, -were examined with interest. A broken clock, with wonderful mechanical -movements, excited the attention of the boys. It consists of a peacock, -which, at the striking of the hour, expands his tail, while a rooster -flaps his wings, an owl rolls his eyes, and a grasshopper feeds on a -mushroom. Near it is a collection of snuff-boxes, which belonged to -various sovereigns of Europe. In this room, enclosed in cases, was a -great variety of curiosities, including articles which had belonged to -the members of the royal family. - -On the lower floor are the galleries of ancient sculpture. In the -Kertch collection are medals and other articles proving the existence -of a Greek colony on the northern shores of the Black Sea six hundred -years before Christ. In 1820 a tomb was found at Kertch, which is at -the entrance to the Sea of Azof, containing a chamber of hewn stone, -in which were the remains of a Scythian prince, with his wife, his -horse, and his chief groom. His crown, weapons, ornaments, and golden -robes, with vases of bronze and other material containing the remains -of provisions, were found where they had lain for two thousand years, -and were conveyed to this museum. The tomb of a priestess of Ceres, -buried with her ornaments, and with four horses, was found in 1866. The -Scythian collection is equally rich in the treasures of a former race. - -The students wandered during the forenoon through these numerous -apartments till most of them were very tired; for there is no harder -work for the human frame than that of exploring museums and galleries. -The party dined again at the Hotel Klée, and in the afternoon walked to -the Arsenal Museum, which contains specimens of arms and accoutrements -of many periods, and a vast quantity of historical curiosities. Among -the former are some curious guns, pistols, revolvers, and warlike -machines; and among the latter are many relics of Peter the Great, as -the hat and sword he wore at Pultowa; the leather coat in which he -worked at Saardam; the uniforms in which he passed through the several -military grades of private, captain, and colonel; and a cabriolet in -which he measured distances on the road by means of machinery like that -of a clock connected with the wheels. At the head of the staircase is -a Russian eagle, the body, neck, and legs made of gun-flints fixed on -the wall, the wings of sword blades, and the eyes formed by the muzzles -of a pair of pistols, in the same manner as the several objects in the -Tower of London are composed. - -The Museum of Imperial Carriages was next visited. After passing -through several rooms in which some beautiful Gobelin tapestries -are exhibited, the students entered the large hall which contains -the vehicles. The first was the carriage presented by Frederick the -Great, of Prussia, to the Empress Elizabeth, in 1746, and in which -the Princess Dagmar rode into St. Petersburg with the empress. It is -gilded, with paintings on the panels and doors. There are a dozen of -these large, clumsy state carriages, glittering with gold, and rich -with silk, satin, and embroidery. Some of them are over a hundred -years old, and have been "restored" several times. Those used by the -various sovereigns, from Peter I. to the present time, were pointed -out. After the party had critically examined one of them, the only -interest the others had was the fact that Catharine II. had spread -herself in one, and Nicholas had sternly looked out from the windows of -another. Besides these state coaches, there were many modern vehicles -from different parts of Europe, and a number of sleighs, used by the -court in carnival time, some of which are very ingeniously constructed. -By all odds, the greatest curiosity in this collection is the sledge of -Peter the Great, in which he travelled, in winter, on his long journeys -to the distant parts of his vast empire. It is a kind of coach on -runners, and was entirely constructed by the Czar's own hands. Behind -it is a trunk in which he carried his clothes and provisions. Peter -made a journey in this sledge to Archangel, on the White Sea, and there -came a thaw which compelled him to return to his capital on wheels. -Alexander I. caused the sleigh to be brought to St. Petersburg. It is -placed in a large glass case, to protect it from injury. A sleigh in -the form of St. George and the Dragon is unique. A mechanical drosky, -invented by a Siberian peasant, has an apparatus which records the time -and distance travelled, besides playing several tunes. Near Peter's -sledge stand two or three diminutive carriages for the use of the royal -children. - -In another room are kept the harnesses and trappings used for the -imperial state carriages, with liveries for eight hundred men. In one -set, each horse has to carry about one hundred and twenty pounds. The -carriages are all in the second story of the building, and there is -a kind of platform elevator, by which they are hoisted up. The state -coaches are used at the coronation of the emperors, and this ceremonial -always takes place at Moscow, whither they have to be transported, -though, since the railroad was completed, this is not so difficult a -matter as formerly. - -The students walked on the quay to the vast Admiralty building, and -went into the Naval Museum, in which there are models of all kinds of -boats and vessels, which were full of interest to the nautical young -gentlemen. This completed the labors of the day, and the company -returned to Cronstadt in the steamer. - -At the usual hour on the following morning they embarked again, and -were soon landed at Peterhoff, which is sometimes called the Versailles -of Russia, on account of the number and variety of the fountains in -the palace grounds. The place is on the south side of the broad bay -inside of Cronstadt, and about ten miles distant from it. It is a -favorite summer resort of the people from the capital, steamers plying -frequently between the two places. It has a great many attractions, the -principal of which is the palace, erected in 1720, under the direction -of Peter the Great, on an elevation of sixty feet,--a considerable hill -in Russia,--and the magnificent grounds, laid off in parks, lawns, -terraces, groves, and gardens. The buildings are extensive, but not -very elegant outside. The apartments contain a great many paintings, -including portraits of three hundred and sixty-eight beautiful young -girls, from fifty different provinces. The rooms for use contain the -usual gilded chairs, sofas, tables, and other furniture, which soon -become very tiresome to the traveller in Europe, for they are about the -same thing in all the palaces, and, to a republican, would have a cheap -look, if it were not for the silks, velvets, and brocade with which -they are upholstered. - -The palace faces the sea, and the slope of the hill is cut into -terraces, which are adorned with fountains, waterfalls, and basins with -Neptunes, swans, nymphs, tritons, and other aquatic ornaments. Beneath -a fountain, which throws a jet eighty feet high, is a kind of canal, -extending five hundred yards down the slope to the bay, in which there -is a succession of cataracts. The fountains play at five o'clock every -Sunday afternoon in the summer, but on this occasion the water was let -on as a special favor, which can perhaps be obtained at any time by -paying a ruble or two. The effect was very fine, and compared favorably -with the water works at Versailles. On fête days, lamps are placed -under the sheets of water in the evening, and the appearance is said to -be both unique and brilliant. In the garden below, near the sea-shore, -are the small structures called Marly and Montplaisir. In the former -Peter used to look out upon his fleet at Cronstadt. In the latter the -great Czar died, and his bed is still preserved, as he used it, with -his night clothes and dressing gown on the pillow. It is a small, -Dutch-built house, and the interior looks very much like that of a -country farm-house. Peter's boots, slippers, writing-desk, sedan-chair, -and other articles belonging to him, are to be seen in the several -apartments. The Hermitage is the cottage of Catharine. A table in -the dining-room is provided with a contrivance by which dishes are -sent down through the floor, or sent up, without the servants coming -into the apartment. The same thing is shown in one of the palaces at -Potsdam, where Frederick the Great used to carouse, without any menials -to witness his revels. In an oblong pond a vast number of tame fish are -kept, and regularly fed. The man in charge of the straw cottage goes to -the edge of the water and rings a bell, with some parade, when visitors -are present, and the fish are supposed to come at his call; but Scott -protested that it was all a humbug, for not a fish was seen until the -man had thrown the food into the water. Then they scrambled for the -bits of black bread, piling themselves up in stacks, to the intense -amusement of the boys. There are several other palaces near Peterhoff, -one of which was occupied by Nicholas as his summer residence; and -Stretna, the palace of the Grand Duke Constantine, is about half way -to St. Petersburg by railroad. At ten the company took the train, and -stopped at _Krasnoé Sélo_, where there is an immense camp, containing -forty thousand troops or more, during the summer season. The soldiers -were drilling, marching, and manœuvring in large bodies. In every -Russian camp there is a quantity of simple gymnastic apparatus, on -which the men are required to exercise regularly. Near the end of -August the emperor reviews the troops, when sham fights and other kinds -of mimic warfare are exhibited. Taking the next train, the party -reached St. Petersburg in season for dinner. - -In the afternoon, omnibuses were again in demand and the students -rode to the Monastery of St. Alexander Nevski, on the river at the -end of the Nevski Prospect. This establishment is the seat of the -Metropolitan, or Patriarch of St. Petersburg, and is therefore of a -higher order than the ordinary monastery. It is called a _Lavra_, and -only ranks below two others in the empire--the one at Moscow, and the -other at Kief. It was founded by Peter the Great in honor of the Grand -Duke Alexander, who defeated the Swedes on the Neva in 1241, which -battle gave him his surname. His remains were brought to this monastery -with the most solemn pomp, and he was canonized. He is the patron saint -of the present emperor, who takes his name. The shrine of St. Alexander -Nevski in the principal church, beneath which his remains repose, is of -solid silver, and weighs thirty-two hundred and fifty pounds. Over it -hang the keys of Adrianople. The establishment encloses a considerable -tract of land, and includes several churches, buildings for the monks, -cells, refectories, towers, gardens, and a cemetery. It is endowed -with immense wealth, and contains many costly gifts of the Persians, -as well as valuable works of art. In one of the chapels is the tomb of -Suwaroff--which is only a plain marble tablet--and many other noted -men. The cemetery is regarded as peculiarly holy ground, and wealthy -families pay large sums for the privilege of burying their dead in its -consecrated earth. The party walked through the churches, visited the -dining-room of the monks, whose fare is certainly very plain, looked -into one of their cells, and inspected some of the curious monuments -in the cemetery. - -The omnibuses then conveyed the company to some of the public gardens -of the city, several of which are situated on the islands. Kamannoi, or -Stone Island, situated on the Great Nevka, a drive of three miles from -the Nevski Prospect over a broad avenue, is covered with the villas of -the nobles and other wealthy people of the city. Upon it there is an -extensive public garden, with an immense refreshment establishment and -a summer theatre, while the grounds are filled with towers, temples, -kiosks, and almost every appliance for the amusement of the visitors. -In the theatre the plays and songs are generally in French, and one -will observe that a large proportion of the people who frequent this -place of resort speak the "polite language" in their conversation, as -they walk about the grounds, listening to the concert. Up the Neva, -three miles from Trinity Bridge, are the Tivoli Gardens, which may be -reached by small steamers that ply on the river. In the winter there -is a skating rink at this place, where this amusement may be had -under cover. The visit to the gardens finished the excursion for the -day, and the tourists returned to the squadron at Cronstadt. The next -day was Sunday, and in the forenoon the students attended service at -the British Chapel in the town; in the afternoon, in the steerage of -the ship. As in most of the countries of Europe, Sunday is a holiday -in Russia. The people attend church in the morning, and devote the -afternoon to recreation and amusement. - -On Monday the company went up to St. Petersburg again, and walked -from the English Quay to the station of the Czarskoé Sélo Railroad. -On the way they halted in the square upon which the Great Theatre and -the Marie Theatre are situated. As in Paris, the government pays large -sums for the support of the theatre, and for the Great Theatre, which -accommodates three thousand people, the best operatic talent of Europe -is engaged. Dancing is an especial attraction to the people, and a -school for the training of actresses and dancers is maintained. The -finest performances are given on Sunday. Masked balls are also given in -this theatre in the winter, which are attended by the emperor and other -members of the imperial family. The Marie Theatre is more especially -for the representation of Russian dramas and the opera. - -There are four railway stations on the south side of St. Petersburg, -the Peterhoff, the Warsaw, the Czarskoé Sélo, and the Moscow, though -the latter is at the bend of the Nevski Prospect. Czarskoé Sélo, -fifteen miles from the city, is the principal summer residence of the -emperor. The railway to this place was the first one built in Russia. -A ride of forty minutes brought the party to their destination. The -grounds of the palace, which are entered by a gateway with two towers, -covered with Egyptian figures and hieroglyphics, are eighteen miles in -circumference. They are kept in the nicest order by six hundred old -soldiers, who are pensioned off in this way. Not a dry leaf, a cigar -stump, or any unclean thing is permitted to remain in the walks, for -the veterans capture it as an invader, and put it out of sight. The -front of the palace is seven hundred and eighty feet long. Peter -the Great erected a building here, but the present edifice was built -during the reign of Elizabeth, and was embellished by Catharine II. -Originally, every statue, pedestal, capital of a column, and all -the ornaments, were gilded, the gold for which was worth over two -millions of dollars. In a short time the gilding was badly injured -by the weather. The contractors employed in repairing the building -offered Catharine half a million silver rubles for the gold leaf which -remained on the ornaments, to whom she replied, "I am not accustomed to -sell my old clothes." The front of the palace is now gaudily painted -with white, green, and yellow, the only gilding being on the dome -and cupolas of the church. Parts of the interior, however, are very -lavishly gilded, as the chapel, the ceiling of which is one sheet of -gold. One small apartment has strips of lapis lazuli inlaid upon the -walls, and the floor is of ebony, ornamented with mother-of-pearl. -In another room the walls are panelled with amber, wrought into a -variety of designs. The amber was presented to Catharine by Frederick -the Great, and their initials and arms are blended in the panels; -that of the Czarina being an E, for her Russian name was _Ekaterina_. -There seems to be enough of this costly material to make mouth-pieces -for all the pipes in Christendom. Catharine's sleeping apartment has -pillars of purple glass, and the walls are decorated with porcelain. -The bed-clothes are those under which she slept the last time she -dwelt in the palace. The banqueting-rooms and the ball-rooms are -profusely gilded, and, as may be seen in several of the palaces of -Europe, especially those of Poland, Russia, and Sweden, there is a -Chinese room, in which everything is fitted up in "Celestial" style. -The rooms of Alexander I. are kept just as he left them when he started -for Taganrog, where he died. In his cabinet is his writing-desk, all -in confusion, with blotted paper, and quill pens, stained with ink, as -though he had but just used them. Next to this is his bed-room, which -is plain enough for an ordinary farmer. In an alcove is a camp bedstead -on which the Czar slept. His toilet articles are on the table, and on a -chair is his well-worn overcoat under which are his boots. - -The party walked through the Alexander Palace built by Catharine for -her grandson, and occupied by Nicholas, whose military tastes are -apparent in the pictures, models, and other ornaments. From this -they went to the Arsenal, in which there is a vast collection of -ancient armor, arms, and Oriental trappings. In a glass case are a -miniature drum and trumpet of silver, given by Catharine to Paul in -his childhood. The grounds were very attractive to the students, for -they are filled with towers, kiosks, Chinese pagodas and other odd -structures. The mast of a frigate, full rigged, afforded the present -High Admiral, the Grand Duke Constantine, the means of obtaining some -experience aloft without going to sea. On one of the ponds there is a -fleet of miniature vessels, which was used for the amusement of the -same young gentleman. A Chinese village, an aerial flower garden, -supported on an Ionic pillar, a marble bridge, columns erected by -Catharine to her favorites, hermitages, ruins, Roman tombs, grottoes, -and waterfalls add to the wonders of the place. On a small lake is a -pavilion, in which the daughter of Nicholas, who died in 1844, used -to feed her swims. Since her death, black swans have been kept in the -pond. In the pavilion are a picture and a marble statue of the youthful -Grand Duchess. - -"I think I could pass a summer here very comfortably," said Lincoln, -as he gazed with admiration upon the beautiful grounds and the many -curious structures it contains. - -"Perhaps you would alter your mind before the season closed," replied -the doctor. "I was in Russia one year in August, and I think I wore -an overcoat every day for a fortnight, not at night merely, but in -the middle of the day. Still the weather is sometimes very warm here. -On the whole, I think I should prefer to be here in the winter. St. -Petersburg is very lively then, the court is in town, and there is a -variety of amusements." - -"I should like to see the fun for a while, and the strange sights which -are to be seen only in winter, such as the sleigh-riding, skating, and -frolics on the ice," added Lincoln. - -"I think the want of ventilation in the houses must be one of the -greatest evils of a residence here," continued Dr. Winstock, as the -party left the palace gardens. - -The company returned to St. Petersburg, and spent the rest of the day -in visiting palaces and other places of interest. At the usual hour -they embarked on the steamer, and returned to the squadron. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -THE JOURNEY TO MOSCOW. - - -"I think it is absolutely villanous to let that little pauper go down -the Volga, when there are so many of us who pay our bills, that wish -to go," said De Forrest, angrily, when it was rumored that the first -division of the students, with the Volga party would start that day for -Moscow. - -"Well, he was fairly elected, I suppose," replied Beckwith. - -"Elected!" sneered De Forrest. "Scott elected him. When he takes snuff, -all the fellows in the steerage sneeze." - -"I thought you were going to get up a petition to the principal to have -the old method of giving out the offices restored, and have this voting -business done with." - -"I talked with some of the fellows about it, but most of them said they -wouldn't sign." - -"Why not?" - -"Some of them said they rather liked the fun and excitement of the -election; others said they had gone in for the thing, and didn't like -to take the back track. I shouldn't wonder if they had joined the -Bangwhangers. Between you and me, Beckwith, I am getting a little -tired of the ship." - -"Tired of it? I thought you considered it the biggest thing in the -world." - -"Well, I did; but it is about played out. I worked hard to be captain, -but never got higher than third lieutenant; now I'm only a purser." - -"You didn't work very hard last month," suggested Beckwith. - -"I didn't think it was any use when I saw such fellows as Cantwell, -Sheridan, and Murray getting in ahead of me, in spite of all I could -do. No matter for that; Russia is a big country." - -"That's so." - -"A fellow could easily get lost in it, for none of us speak a word of -Russian, and most of us not much French or German," added De Forrest, -dropping his voice down to a whisper. - -Beckwith looked at him, and tried to comprehend his meaning. - -"Those fellows that ran away in Sweden, pretending they couldn't find -the ship, got off easy," added the purser. - -"Not one of them has been punished, except Stockwell, who was only -deprived of his position as coxswain of the second cutter," replied -Beckwith, beginning to understand his friend. "All of them have been -allowed to go on shore with the rest." - -"I should like to take just such an excursion on the same terms," -continued De Forrest. - -"But those fellows owned up, made a clean breast of it, and promised to -be good boys. The penalty hung over them for a week, and only their -good behavior saved them." - -"Do you want to go down the Volga, Beck?" - -"Of course I do. I would buy out any fellow's chance if I could." - -"Perhaps we may go yet," replied De Forrest, with a wink. - -"How?" - -"Never mind it now. We are both in the first division, and shall go -to Moscow with the others. We will talk about it when we get there. -I expect to drop into the steerage next month, and I had as lief be -hanged for an old sheep as a lamb. Don't say anything." - -"Of course not; but you don't mean to run away--do you?" - -"Dry up!" - -"Nobody is near us." - -"I never was so disgusted with anything in my life as I am with this -election business. If I say anything, the fellows tell me it is a -chicken of my own hatching. Now, Cantwell pretends to be one of the -chaplain's lambs, affects a gentlemanly bearing, and studies seamanship -when all of us are on shore. Then he gave that Billy Bobstay a hundred -rubles, and the fellows all cheered him for it. I am so mad, I can -hardly hold in. I would rather be in a slave ship than here. I'm nobody -now." - -De Forrest's schemes for his personal advancement had been utterly -defeated, and this fact was the key to his disgust. Though he had -been a wild boy on shore, he had done very well on board of the ship, -stimulated by the hope of promotion, and by the enjoyment of his -position in the cabin. His fall from the rank of lieutenant had a bad -effect upon him, for instead of working to recover his lost position, -he permitted evil thoughts to take possession of his mind, and chose to -regard himself as an abused individual. Like many men in public life, -he had frittered away whatever influence he had by laboring for self, -instead of the general good. The students of the Academy "saw through -him," and realized that he acted only from selfish considerations, just -as the sensible people penetrate the motives of the politicians. If he -was "nobody" now, it was clearly his own fault. - -"What are you going to do, De Forrest?" asked Beckwith. - -"We won't talk about it now, for there will be plenty of time to -consider that matter when we get to Moscow. Do you know who will have -charge of our party?" - -"I heard some one mention the chaplain." - -"Good!" exclaimed De Forrest. "He is not particularly sharp." - -"But Dr. Winstock will go to Moscow with us, and accompany the Volga -party to Kazan." - -"All right; he will leave us in a day or two," replied the purser, with -a significant smile, as though the arrangement just suited him. "How -much money have you, Beckwith?" - -"I drew twenty pounds in St. Petersburg the other day, and I changed -my money in Stockholm into Russian paper. I have nearly two hundred -rubles." - -"Is that all you have?" - -"I thought that was a pretty big pile." - -"I have a letter of credit for a hundred pounds, upon which I can draw -in any city of Europe," added the purser. - -"Well, I can get more when I write for it." - -"You had better write, then, for you haven't enough left to last you -three weeks." - -"I don't know where we are going next," said Beckwith. - -"The squadron is going to Hamburg, I believe, and from there on a long -cruise, which may use up five or six weeks." - -"You mean up the Mediterranean." - -"Yes; and if I were you, I would have a letter of credit sent to me at -Constantinople." - -"Perhaps I will; but what's up, De Forrest?" - -"Don't say a word now. All our chances for a soft thing are gone in -this ship, and if you want to enjoy yourself for the rest of the -season, keep your weather eye open, and follow my lead--that's all for -the present." - -At ten o'clock in the forenoon, the first division of the tourists, -with the Volga party, embarked in the steamer for St. Petersburg. Each -of the students had his pea-jacket and small bag. Mr. Agneau, the -chaplain, was in charge of the division, and the surgeon, of the Volga -party. On their arrival they took omnibuses for the Moscow station. -Tickets for the party were procured, with places in the _voiture au -lit_, or sleeping car. The distance to Moscow is six hundred and four -versts, or four hundred miles. The fare is nineteen rubles, first -class, and thirteen rubles, second class. The time is twenty hours by -the express train, and four or five more by ordinary trains. Twenty -miles an hour is rather slow for a fast train, but it is about the -usual rate in Russia. - -"That's it; this is a Yankee invention," said Scott, as Dr. Winstock -handed him his ticket, which was precisely like those of the patented -system used on most of the American railroads. "This looks like home. -It is stamped with the date, and I suppose they have the machine for -doing it. Here, doctor; the date is wrong." - -"Wrong?" replied the surgeon, glancing at his ticket. "June 2; that's -right." - -"To-day is the 14th, sir." - -"The 2d in Russia, my boy," laughed the doctor, hastening away to -distribute his tickets. - -"I suppose you know what Old Style means, Scott--don't you?" said -Lincoln. - -"Well, I have heard of such a thing, but I didn't suppose any nation -was insane enough to use it." - -"The Russians are, and consequently are just twelve days behind the -times." - -"More than that." - -"Pope Gregory reformed the calendar, and for this reason the Russians -will not adopt the Gregorian system, but use the Julian, or Greek -calendar." - -"I say, commodore, don't your head ache?" - -"No; why should it?" - -"Because it is so full. I couldn't carry so much useful knowledge -around with me, unless I had a basket to tote it in." - -"I have looked the matter up since I came here. Have you drawn any -money in St. Petersburg." - -"Unfortunately, I have before me the melancholy duty of spending -nearly two hundred of these yellow paper rubles. Sad--isn't it?" - -"Have you your _bordereau_?" asked the commodore. - -"My what?" - -"Your _bordereau_." - -"No, no; I haven't that. I ate it instead of pickled onions for my -dinner yesterday," replied Scott, gravely. - -"Indeed!" - -"Yes; and if you have one you had better eat it, for they are first -rate." - -"Here is mine," added Lincoln, taking from his pocket the memorandum, -which the banker had given him, of the rate of exchange and amount of -money paid him. "You see the date is back in May, for I drew on the -10th of June." - -"Just so; and that is a _bordereau_--is it?" - -"Yes." - -"Well, it looks like one." - -"Would you like to eat it instead of pickled onions?" - -"No; instead of _caviar_. But suppose we look into the cars," added -Scott, as they passed into the room from which passengers step upon the -trains. - -They entered the second-class sleeping-car. It was altogether a -different affair from that used in the United States; but only two -rubles extra are charged for this accommodation, though that is all it -is worth. It was a large, clumsily-built carriage, with a door in the -middle of each side, and one at each end opening upon a platform. On -the top was a second story, which, however, was only about half the -size of the lower part. The side doors open into an apartment in the -middle of the car, furnished with one large arm-chair in a corner, -and seats on the sides. From this room a flight of steps ascends -to the second-story apartment. From this central corridor two long -passage-ways, on opposite sides of the car, lead to the ends. From -each of these passage-ways three or four compartments are entered, -each with two seats facing each other. The passengers lie upon these -seats at night, being provided with a pillow, but with no covering of -any kind. Each compartment has one or two swinging shelves, or berths, -besides, which are placed above the windows. Of course only three or -four passengers can be accommodated in each compartment. There is no -ventilation except at the windows; and if a Russian cannot sleep, he -lights a paper cigar every half hour, while a dozen others may be -smoking in their seats. There are conveniences at each end of the car, -which are hardly to be found on the trains of any other country in -Europe. - -The first-class sleeping-car is precisely like the second, except that -it is fitted up in a little better style. The train also includes other -carriages, some like those in common use on the continent, and one or -two quite different. In one first-class there were two apartments, -one at each end, with seats at the sides, and containing a table for -card-playing. These rooms are sold at one hundred rubles the trip, -whether occupied by one or a dozen persons, for they will seat sixteen. -Between these apartments is one for general use, fitted up with stuffed -arm-chairs. When the private apartments are not taken by parties, a -ruble or two, given to the conductor, will procure admission to them -after the train has passed a certain station. The conductors generally -speak German, and some of them French. - -The doctor, Lincoln, Billy Bobstay, and Scott, took one of the -compartments in the second-class sleeping-car. They made some -comparisons between the vehicle and those in use at home, and wondered -why the people of Europe insist upon making night travel by railroad -as uncomfortable as possible. At half past two the train started, and -the students were fully occupied for a time in observing the suburbs of -the city; but in half an hour there was nothing to be seen but the low, -level, marshy country, which is the same thing all the way to Moscow, -with hardly anything to vary its monotony. - -"We haven't seen any of the triumphal arches of St. Petersburg," said -Dr. Winstock. "The Moscow Gate is one of them, and is a very elaborate -work of art." - -"Where is it?" asked Lincoln. - -"On the road to Moscow, just outside of the city. It was erected in -honor of the Russian armies that fought in Persia, Turkey, and Poland. -The Triumphal Arch of Narva, on the road to the Baltic provinces, is -also a beautiful work, and commemorates the victories of the Russian -troops, who returned in 1815." - -"There's a village," said Lincoln. - -"I should think it was a collection of pigsties," added Scott. - -The houses were of the rudest construction, and looked more like -shanties than the abodes of human beings. They are built of logs -generally, some hewn and others just as they fell, with roofs of -boards, the ends in many instances not squared. There was nothing -like order in their location. After running over two hours the train -stopped at a station. Like all the others on the road, it was a large -and substantial brick structure, with everything about it kept in good -condition. - -The trains stop from ten minutes to half an hour at these stations, -and most of the students got out of the cars, anxious to see what they -could of the place and the people. The principal room was a large -hall, in which was a table set for meals. At one end was a bar, and -in other places were minor stands for other refreshments. One was for -dispensing tea, which may be said to be the national beverage of the -Russians, though they drink _vodka_--a strong liquor, not unlike the -_finkel_ of the Swedes--to excess. A woman usually serves the tea in -the station. In front of her is an array of tumblers, in which the -people drink their tea, with a bowl filled with square lumps of sugar. -Little pitchers of milk are available, but the Russians seldom use this -article. There is also a plate of thinly sliced lemons. The traveller -takes one of the glasses, puts about three lumps of sugar in it, and -the woman fills it with the beverage, upon which is placed a slice -of lemon. The tea is quite yellow, and its flavor is excellent. It -is brought from China over land, and without doubt is the best to be -had in Europe. The Russians drink their tea very hot, and in enormous -quantities. In the course of his journey to Moscow, a passenger often -drinks half a dozen glasses of strong tea before he goes to sleep, and -then the mystery is, how he can go to sleep at all. The lemon is not -squeezed in the beverage, but is simply stirred about with the spoon. -One not skilled in the art of tea-drinking would hardly know that the -lemon had been added. - -Coffee may be obtained at the same stand, but not one in twenty calls -for it. The tables are well supplied, and excellent roast beef is -served, with a variety of other simple dishes. At another station, -similar to the first, the students had their supper, or more properly -their dinner. - -"Can we eat Russian provender?" asked Scott. - -"Why not? It doesn't seem to be at all different from the diet of other -Europeans. Here is roast beef, and there are veal cutlets. The bread, -you perceive, is most excellent," replied Dr. Winstock. "Indeed, I -think the whitest and best bread in Europe is to be had in Russia." - -"But I had an idea that the Russians ate strange messes," added Scott. - -"There are peculiarly Russian dishes, but you do not find them to any -great extent in the restaurants on the railroads. _Kvas_ is a beverage -of fermented rye. From this they make an iced soup, into which they put -meat, chopped herring, and cucumbers." - -"Whew!" whistled Scott, as the party seated themselves at the table. - -"They have cabbage soups and fish soups, which we should call chowder. -The finest fish in Russia is the sterlet, which is very expensive. The -poor people live on buckwheat and other coarse grains, and among them -the common dish is cabbage soup thickened with buckwheat or barley -meal, with meat or fish when it can be afforded, which is not often -among the poorest." - -"I shouldn't like that kind of grub." - -"Probably not; but you need not starve while you can get roast beef as -good as this, though it is a little tough." - -"No, sir; but I should starve on another article I see here; that is, -_caviar_--the abominable fish spawn. I tried it in Sweden, and didn't -get the taste of it out of my mouth for three weeks." - -"Yet it is esteemed a great delicacy in this country, and many -foreigners so regard it." - -"Their mouths and stomachs must be lined with cast-iron," laughed Scott. - -The party returned to the train, and the journey was continued. The -country was still level, with hardly anything like a hill to be seen. -Much of it was covered with pine and birch wood. A village of shanties -was occasionally passed, and around it were fields of grain, but there -were no fences. The view from the windows of the cars was ever the -same, and the travellers were soon weary of it. Scott wandered through -the carriage to see the passengers, for a few Russians had taken -places in it. He made a study of the conductor, who was certainly a -fine-looking fellow. He wore a Cossack cap, a short frock coat with a -belt, and large trousers stuffed into the top of his boots. At dark, -which was late in the evening in this high latitude, nearly ten, the -students tried to go to sleep, and most of them succeeded. - -At five o'clock in the morning, nearly all of them were awake when the -train stopped at Tver, which is the head of steamboat navigation on the -Volga. Those who had their eyes open went into the station for a cup of -coffee and a roll. - -"Now's our time," said De Forrest, in a low tone, as he finished his -coffee, and paid for it. - -"What do you mean?" asked Beckwith, as he followed the purser to the -rear of the station, where no one observed them. - -"Have you pluck enough to go with me?" replied De Forrest. - -"Go where?" - -"Down the Volga." - -"Run away?" - -"Yes." - -"I don't know about that. It is played out." - -"No, it isn't. We can have a good time, and not be under the nose of -any one. While the rest of them go to Moscow, we will go down to Nijni -and Kazan." - -"But I want to see Moscow." - -"We will see that by and by. We will go down the river, and keep out of -the way till all hands have returned to the ship. Then we will go it to -Berlin or Warsaw." - -"I haven't money enough to go such a trip." - -"I will lend you some when you are short." - -De Forrest argued the matter until Beckwith yielded the point, but -rather reluctantly. They wore their pea-jackets, and had their bags in -their hands, for the purser said they would change their seats when -they returned to the train. Retreating from the station, they kept -out of sight till the cars had started, and then hastened to find -the steamer on the river. The captain was a Finn, and spoke a little -English, so that they had no difficulty in obtaining tickets and -places. As De Forrest had declared that they intended to change their -places, the two students with whom they had occupied a compartment in -the car, did not suspect that they had been left behind when the train -moved off, and they were not missed till the party arrived at Moscow, -at ten o'clock. - -The students piled into the droskies,--two on the seat, and one with -the driver,--and were driven to the Hôtel d'Hambourg, which is kept by -Madame Billet, an English lady, in the Rue Lubianka, near the centre of -the city. The lady proprietor is a most excellent woman, very attentive -to her guests, able and willing to give all needed information in -regard to the city. Either she or her charming sister presides at the -table, and to an American or an Englishman there is no more home-like -establishment on the continent. When the roll of the first division -was called, in assigning rooms to the party, the absence of De Forrest -and Beckwith was discovered; but it was not supposed that they had -absconded, and a servant was sent back to the station to find them. The -chaplain was very much troubled; but the surgeon assured him that no -possible harm could have come to the absentees. - -Lincoln, Scott, and Billy Bobstay were assigned to one room. It was in -no respect different from a chamber in an English hotel, except that a -large stove or furnace was set in the wall, the fire-door opening into -the hall. Every room was provided with this heating apparatus. Having -arranged their toilets, the party gathered again in the coffee-room for -breakfast. The meal was in English style, consisting of cold tongue, -cold chicken, and capital coffee. When it was finished, Dr. Winstock -gave a brief description and historical account of Moscow. - -"Moscow was until 1720 the capital of the Russian empire," said he. -"This part of it was called Muscovy, and came to include Novgorod -and Tver, the two provinces, or governments, through which we passed -in coming from St. Petersburg. What is called Great Russia comprises -sixteen governments, among which are nearly all the ancient grand -dukedoms. It was founded in the middle of the twelfth century, and was -taken and plundered by Tamerlane in the fourteenth century; nearly -consumed by fire in 1536, and again in 1572, when it was fired by the -Tartars, and one hundred thousand people perished in the flames and by -the sword; the Poles fired it in 1611, and in 1812 it was burned by the -Russians to prevent the French from wintering in it. Moscow is the Holy -City of the Russians. It is a place of great commercial importance, -having a vast trade, extending into Asia, and it is also a large -manufacturing place. The emperors are crowned here, and on account -of its holy character and sacred associations, no Czar would dare to -neglect at least a semiannual visit; and custom requires that he should -present his oldest son and heir in this city soon after he becomes of -age. - -"Moscow is one of the most irregularly built cities in the world. The -Kremlin is in the centre. Half a mile from it there is a series of -streets nearly encircling it, on the site of which was formerly the -moat of the castle. A mile and a half distant there is another series -of avenues, which form a complete circle. Within this line the map of -the city looks very much like a well-constructed cobweb; but the town -extends far beyond this line, and has a circumference of twenty miles. -The Moscow river, a branch of the Oka, runs through the city, with a -great bend extending up to the Kremlin." - -"What is the Kremlin, sir?" asked a student. - -"It was originally the citadel or fortress of the city. It was first -enclosed with oak walls, and afterwards with stone. It is in the form -of a triangle, with a perimeter of about a mile, and contains the -palace, the holiest churches, and many other public buildings. Moscow -has between three and four hundred churches, the number being variously -estimated, for some writers include several in one establishment, while -others count all as one. A monastery may have two or three churches -within its walls. Now we will walk to the Kremlin, and ascend the Tower -of Ivan Veliki, or John the Great, from which you will obtain a fine -view of the whole city." - -In Moscow it is difficult, if not impossible, to obtain a guide who -speaks English; but a German was procured, and the students left the -hotel under his direction. The walk through the streets was full of -interest, and there was no lack of variety. There is not a straight -avenue in the city, and there seems to be no fixed line upon which the -houses are erected. Now the street is narrow, and then it suddenly -doubles its width for a short distance, and some of them are nearly -in the shape of a wedge. They twist about even worse than in Boston, -where the tradition is that the early fathers followed the cow-paths -when they laid out the streets. They are paved with irregular stones, -and there seem to be no particular localities in which the wealthier -class erect their elegant residences, for next to a lofty and beautiful -mansion may be the humble low house of the poor man. The buildings are -painted or colored in nearly all the hues of the rainbow. - -One cannot walk far without coming to a church, either small or large, -and at least a dozen domes are always in sight--gold, green, and blue. -The signs in the streets, too, are peculiar, and more intelligible than -in most Russian cities, for pictorial effects seem to be the fashion, -and the butcher, baker, grocer, and other merchants cover all the -available space in front of their shops with representations of their -various wares. - -In many of the open spaces there are drosky stands and several new -varieties of carriages were presented to the students. Most of the -droskies have hoods, or covers, like a chaise, and are wider than those -of St. Petersburg. One kind of vehicle consists of a board, covered and -stuffed, extending from the forward to the hind axletree. The drivers -are dressed as in other Russian cities, and carry their white gloves, -while waiting for a job, in their belt. These men are very polite, and -take off their hats when they solicit employment. - -"There is the Kremlin," said the doctor, as he pointed to the high -walls, upon which, at intervals are several elaborate towers. "You will -enter by the 'Sacred Gate,' or 'Porta Triumphalis.' Be sure and take -off your caps, and do not put them on till you have passed entirely -through the archway." - -This opening was under a Gothic tower, and is sometimes called the -"Redeemer's Gate," from the picture of the Redeemer, of Smolensk, -which is placed above it. It is held in the highest reverence by the -Russians, who believe that the Tartars were driven back by it, and that -miraculous clouds concealed the defenders of the fortress, who sought -its protection from the eyes of the enemy. It is in a glass case, and -a huge lamp, raised and lowered by a large chain over a pulley, is -always burning before it. It is said that the French, supposing the -frame to be of gold, wished to plunder it, but every ladder planted -beneath instantly broke in twain. The invaders then loaded a cannon -to batter down the wall, but the powder would not burn till they -made a great fire of coals over the vent, and then it went off the -wrong way, blowing out the breech of the gun, and killing some of the -artillerists. The Frenchmen then acknowledged the miraculous character -of the picture, and retired, leaving it unharmed. It was borne in the -battle-field by the armies of Pojarski, and the Poles fled before it. -On account of the signal service it has thus rendered, every one must -bare his head as he passes through the gate, be he Czar or peasant, -Greek or Christian. At the entrance stood a soldier with a drawn sabre -in his hand, who enforced this behest of custom. Umbrellas must be -closed, and care is taken to prevent dogs from entering the enclosure -by this gate. The students uncovered, and passed through. The Russians -bowed, knelt, and crossed themselves repeatedly, as they did so. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -IN THE KREMLIN OF MOSCOW. - - -The guide led his party directly to the Tower of Ivan Veliki, though -the students saw the great bell and a dozen other objects which -challenged their attention at the same moment. The curious spires, -domes, and cupolas, so different from anything they had seen before, -were full of interest. They were covered with gold, and glittered -in the sunshine. These domes are not such as are seen in the United -States, but are purely Oriental. They are somewhat in the shape of -an inverted onion. But there are also cupolas of almost every other -shape--round, square, and octagonal, and even all three in the same -one. The doctor hurried the boys into the tower, wishing them to obtain -a general view before they attended to the details. - -This tower is a very singular structure. It was built in 1600, by Boris -Godunoff. It is three hundred and twenty-five feet from the ground to -the top of the cross, and contains five stories, the first four of -which are square, and the last circular, with a dome. In the lower -story is a chapel, and the next three contain thirty-four bells of -all sizes, the largest of which weighs sixty-four tons. Though it is -a pygmy compared with the great bell at the foot of the tower, it is -a monster beside those in ordinary use, for our church bells rarely -exceed one sixth of its weight. There are forty or fifty bells in the -entire tower, all of which are rung at Easter, to proclaim anew that -"Christ is risen." The great bell thunders forth the glad tidings, -which are also gently chanted in the sweet tones of the small silver -bells. - -From each story of the tower a view of the city is obtained, but in the -highest beneath the dome, the most sublime panorama is presented. There -is no such city as Moscow in the world, and the sight is therefore as -unique as it is beautiful. For half an hour the students gazed with -wonder and admiration upon the beautiful picture. - -The party descended, and hastened to the Great Bell, called the _Czar -Kolokol_, or Czar of Bells. Some say that it was never hung, though -a Polish traveller, in 1611, speaks of a bell he saw that required -twenty-four men to swing the clapper in ringing it. The present bell -was recast by order of the Empress Anne, in 1733, its predecessors -having fallen in the several fires, and been broken. This one also had -a fall in a fire in 1737, which knocked a piece out of the side. It -lay buried in the ground where it fell till Nicholas caused it to be -placed on a stone platform in 1836. The bell weighs about two hundred -and twenty tons. The piece broken out weighs eleven tons. The interior -is twenty feet high, with a diameter of twenty-one feet. It is two feet -thick, and has figures in relief of Alexis and Anne, and of some sacred -subjects, with an inscription relating to its origin and size. On the -summit is a cross, and the interior has been consecrated as a chapel. -The bell is regarded as holy by the people. At five cents a pound, the -material would be worth over twenty thousand dollars. As the thing is -utterly useless either for service or as a work of art, and perpetuates -no historical event, this dead capital would be better employed in -planting school-houses in the villages, the influence of which would -soon transform the shanties into houses, and add wealth to the nation -by the more intelligent and rapid development of its vast resources. - -The party next visited the palace occupied by the members of the royal -family when they visit Moscow. On this locality stood the palaces of -the ancient sovereigns, which were partially destroyed by fire, and -rebuilt. The present structure was built in the reign of Nicholas, and -all that was left of the old palaces was incorporated in it. A porter -was detailed to accompany the students, and they passed through the -private apartments of the emperor and empress, which are very elegant, -and the boys looked with no little curiosity into bed-rooms, cabinets, -bath-rooms, where royalty slept, wrote, and took its bath in marble -tubs. The guide was very particular to show an elevator in which -the empress is raised to her apartments above; but it was hardly a -curiosity to the young Americans, who had seen vastly superior machines -of this kind in the hotels of their own country. - -In the palace are three magnificent halls, which are not surpassed -by anything in Europe. The one devoted to the order of St. George -is two hundred feet long. The old parts of the palace, which have -been restored in the ancient style are as curious as they are -interesting. Connected with the main building are the throne-room and -banqueting-hall, where the emperor, after his coronation in the church, -sits in state, wearing for the first time the imperial insignia; and -here also he dines with the nobles. Near this is the Terema, a most -singular edifice, four stories high, but each of them diminishing in -size till the upper one contains but a single room. In ancient times -it was occupied by the Czarina and her children. Above the first, each -story opens upon a balcony on which the inmates could walk. The affair -looks more like a pyramid than a house. It contains many relics of the -ancient sovereigns. - -Near the palace is the treasury, in which are kept the venerable -relics of Russian history. It contains vast quantities of armor, -weapons, banners, and other military trophies. In one room are original -portraits of the Romanoff family, and the coronation chairs of several -sovereigns. In the next room is the throne of Poland, brought from -Warsaw; an ivory throne brought by Sophia from Constantinople on her -marriage with Ivan III. Another throne came from Persia, and is studded -with diamonds and rubies, nearly a thousand of the former. An orb sent -by the Greek emperor to Vladimir is covered with precious stones. In -a wardrobe are the masquerade dress of Catharine I., her coronation -robes, and articles of dress which belonged to Peter the Great, Peter -II., and Paul I. There are also in this room the crown of the Kingdom -of Kazan, and several others, all of them glittering with jewels; -that of Anne, containing over twenty-five hundred diamonds; with more -thrones and coronation robes. Millions upon millions of dead capital -lie here, which, however, would make diamonds and rubies a drug, if -thrown upon the market. The walking-stick of Ivan the Terrible, having -a sharp point, with which the fiery Czar used to punch the feet of -those who vexed him, may be seen. Another room, up stairs, is filled -with curious plate, cups, jugs, jars, candlesticks, and other articles -of silver--most of it presented to the Czars. But the students were -tired of curiosities, and hardly glanced at the old carriages of the -court in the last apartment. - -Opposite the great bell is the little palace, in which Nicholas -sometimes lived, and in which the present emperor was born. One of the -rooms contains a number of loaves of bread presented to the emperor on -his visits to the city. When the sovereign arrives at Moscow, it is -the custom for the chief magistrate to present to him a silver salver, -on which are a gold vessel filled with salt, and a loaf of bread, -requesting him to taste the bread of Moscow. The emperor nibbles the -loaf, and invites the official to dine with him in the palace. By this -time the Cathedral of the Assumption was open, and the party entered. -It does not conform to the idea of a cathedral in other countries, for -it is rather contracted in its dimensions. It is crowded with pictures -and shrines. On the screen is a picture of the Holy Virgin of Vladimir, -which the visitor is informed was painted by St. Luke, adorned with -jewels to the value of over two hundred thousand dollars. On the other -side is the shrine of St. Philip, the patriarch of the church, who had -the courage to say to Ivan the Terrible, "As the image of the Divinity, -I reverence thee; as a man, thou art but dust and ashes," and who was -finally murdered at a monastery in Tver by Ivan's order. His tomb is in -this church, which also contains the remains of other holy men. Behind -the altar-screen there is a gold model of Mount Sinai, in which is a -gold coffer to contain the Host, the whole worth about a quarter of -a million dollars. Under it are deposited some of the most important -state papers, including the Act of Succession, decreed by Paul I., -the abdication of Constantine, and similar documents. Belonging to -the cathedral is a Bible, presented by the mother of Peter the Great, -weighing a hundred and twenty pounds, the cover of which is studded -with precious stones, worth nearly a million dollars. - - [Illustration: ROYAL PALACE, MOSCOW. - THE TEMPLE OF THE SAVIOUR, MOSCOW. - MOSCOW PHOTOGRAPHS.] - -In front of the platform is a throne for the empress, another for -the Patriarch, and a third is the ancient throne of Vladimir. Behind -the screen are several chapels, one of which contains tombs of the -patriarchs; in another are some sacred relics, as a nail of the true -cross, a robe of the Saviour, and part of one worn by the Blessed -Virgin, with a picture of the latter, said to have been painted by -one of the apostles. The Assumption is the holiest and most highly -venerated church in Russia. The coronation of the emperor, which takes -place here, is a most solemn ceremonial, for it is the consecration of -the sovereign. It is preceded by fasting and seclusion for preparation. -The Czar recites aloud the confession of faith, and on his knees offers -the prayer for the empire. He places the crown upon his own head, -and walking through the royal gates, takes the bread and wine from -the altar without the aid of the priest, as in ordinary cases, the -recipient is not permitted to touch the elements himself. - -Close by the Assumption is the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael, -which is the mausoleum of the sovereigns of the Rurik and Romanoff -families from an early period down to the time of Peter the Great, and -of Peter II. since that time. The cenotaphs are covered with faded -crimson palls, badly spotted with grease from the candles above them. -The tomb of young Dimitri, son of Ivan the Terrible, murdered by Boris -Godunoff, is venerated by the faithful, because, after the anarchy and -bloodshed produced by the false Dimitris, the coffin and body of the -true one were discovered by a miracle. The tomb of Ivan the Terrible is -next to the altar, though he often broke the canons of the church. His -cross, set with very large pearls and an emerald a third of an inch in -diameter, is preserved here. - -The churches of the Annunciation and of the Redeemer are close by; but -the students declared that they had seen churches enough for one day, -and they entered the House of the Holy Synod, containing the wardrobe -and treasury of the church, where robes, mitres, and crosiers, decked -with precious stones, are exhibited. In this house is prepared the -holy oil used in baptism, in consecrating churches, and in anointing -the emperor at his coronation. The vessels used in compounding it are -of solid silver, weighing thirteen hundred pounds. It is composed of -thirty different ingredients, the principal of which is pure Florence -oil, with wine, fragrant gums, balsam, and spices. It is made -according to the ancient rule, and a few drops of the chrism brought -from Constantinople is mingled with it. Some say this is a part of the -ointment used by Mary Magdalen in anointing the feet of the Saviour; -and a portion of the new chrism is returned to the "Alabaster," which -contains it, each time any is used. All the children of Orthodox -parents are anointed with this oil at their baptism. - -The baptism of the child consists of four ceremonials. By its sponsors -it first makes the confession of faith. The priest, after crossing -the child and saying prayers, blows upon it, to drive away evil and -unclean spirits. After the prayer the parents leave the room, thereby -symbolizing the entire giving up of the child to the sponsors; and this -custom is followed even in the imperial family. The second step is the -immersion; and the priest, in full canonicals, blesses the water, and -anoints the infant, for the first time, on the breast for "the healing -of body and soul;" on the ears for "the hearing of the Word;" on the -hands, because "Thy hands have made and fashioned me;" on the feet, -that they "may walk in the way of thy commandments." He then rolls up -his sleeves, takes the child in his hands, stopping the ears with his -thumb and little finger, the eyes with two other fingers, and the mouth -and nose with the palm of his right hand, and holding up its body with -the left, he skilfully plunges it into a font three times, in the name -of the three persons of the Trinity. - -The next step is the sacrament of unction, in which the child is again -anointed with the holy oil, the brow, eyes, nose, ears, lips, breast, -hands, and feet being touched with the chrism, by means of a pencil -or feather: it is "the seal of the gift of the Holy Ghost." The last -step is the washing of the child, and the cutting off its hair in four -places, forming a cross, which is regarded as a sacrifice, its hair -being the only gift the infant has to offer to its Maker. As it is cut, -the priest says, "The servant of God, Nicholas, is shorn in the name of -the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." The service is accompanied by prayers -and litanies. - -Near the Redeemer Gate of the Kremlin are the Miracle Monastery and the -Ascension Convent, in which are the tombs of many Czarinas, including -the mother of Ivan the Terrible, and four of his six wives, the wife -of Michael, the first wife of Peter the Great, and others. The arsenal -contains the cannon lost by the French in the disastrous campaign of -1812, represented by three hundred and sixty-five guns. - -The huge piece at the corner of the building weighs forty tons. Outside -of the original Kremlin, in the part added by Helena, the mother of -Ivan the Terrible, and the regent during his minority, and called -the _Kitai Gorod_, or Chinese Town, is the most remarkable building -in Moscow, the Cathedral of St. Basil. It has no less than eleven -domes, each different in shape and color from the others, over as -many chapels, with other spires and cupolas. It looks like a little -forest of grotesque temples. One dome is gilded; another is checkered -with green over a ground of yellow; another is bright red, with white -stripes; another looks like a honeycomb, and another like a coat of -mail. Some forty years ago a mechanical diorama was exhibited in the -United States, called "Maelzel's Burning of Moscow," in which the -French troops marched into the place, the Russians fired the city, the -show ending with the "terrific explosion of the Kremlin." The prominent -object was a building like the church of St. Basil, which was popularly -understood to be the Kremlin, and which was blown sky high at the -conclusion. Happily it is still safe, though other buildings in the -Kremlin fared worse. The visitor winds about in the little circular -chapels inside, open to the roof of the domes, and perhaps thinks he -has fallen into a nest of chimneys. They are dedicated to different -saints, and are half filled with relics and holy vessels. On the site -of it stood an ancient church and cemetery, where St. Basil, a prophet -and miracle-worker, was buried in the middle of the sixteenth century. -He was said to be "idiotic for Christ's sake." Ivan the Terrible -ordered a church to be built over him, and this was erected by an -Italian architect. The cruel tyrant was so delighted with the curious -edifice, that he ordered the eyes of the architect to be put out, so -that he could not see to build another to equal or surpass it. - -The view of St. Basil closed the labors of the day, and the tired party -walked back to the hotel, where dinner was served. Mr. Agneau's first -inquiry was for De Forrest and Beckwith, but nothing had been seen or -heard of them. - -"Can anything have happened to them?" asked the troubled chaplain. - -"I think not," replied the surgeon. "Probably they have done as others -have--run away for a time." - -"Impossible!" exclaimed Mr. Agneau. "They were officers, and -well-behaved young gentlemen." - -"Very likely; but they have been much dissatisfied since the election. -I have feared that De Forrest would make trouble." - -"But in a strange land, like Russia, unable to speak a word of the -language, they would not be likely to run away." - -"We have the fact, which is better than theory." - -"Who saw them last?" asked the chaplain, turning to the students. - -"They were in the compartment with me," said Vroome, the third master. -"Early this morning, when we crossed the river,--I forget the name of -the place--" - -"Tver," suggested the surgeon. - -"Yes, sir; that was it. They took their bags and said they were going -to change their seats," added Vroome. - -"That makes it all plain. They have taken the steamer down to Nijni -Novgorod, and very likely we shall find them there. Give yourself no -uneasiness about them, Mr. Agneau. I will warrant that they are safe -enough, and will return when their money is gone, if not before. I will -look out for them." - -Dr. Winstock, who had been in the ship since she was launched, -understood the boys better than the meek, gentle-hearted clergyman, -and had seen too much running away to be alarmed for the safety of -the absentees. The party were somewhat rested in the evening, and, -taking carriages, drove to the Petrofski Park and Gardens, where a band -played, and where the people of the city in large numbers were to be -seen. On the return they visited an immense restaurant, in order to see -more of the people. In this place there was a large orchestrion, a -musical instrument, which, being wound up, plays a variety of airs with -all the effects of a full orchestra, with drums, cymbals, and trumpets. -It executed the Russian National Hymn nearly as effectively as a band -could do it. The waiters in this establishment were all Tartars, -dressed in loose white pants and tunics. The visitors were drinking tea -generally, but a few indulged in beer and stronger drinks. - -The students slept soundly that night, for they were generally very -tired, and even Scott's jokes were of the most sickly character. But at -eight o'clock in the morning they were on their feet again, exploring -the city on their own hook, in the vicinity of the hotel. Lincoln find -Scott ventured to enter a shop to purchase some photographs. One of -the salesmen spoke French very well, and the business was made easy -to them. After breakfast, the party started together again, and their -first point was the Romanoff House, the birthplace of Michael, the -first sovereign of the present dynasty. The original was built in the -sixteenth century, but it has been carefully restored after suffering -much from fire and the sack of the invading French. It is filled with -relics of the ancient time, and in the nursery are a cradle, and the -toys and playthings of the Czar. The furniture of the bed-room is -rather curious, and in a box are the slippers of the monarch, and the -night-dress of his wife. The walls are covered with stamped leather. - -From this house the party went to the Bazaar in the _Kitai Gorod_. Its -stalls contain everything that can possibly be wanted by a Russian -or anybody else, from old clothes up to paintings and statuary. -Second-hand articles of every description form a considerable portion -of the trade. Siberian and Circassian wares, and specialities from -other remote regions of the empire, are on view and sale here. The -Bazaar is a perfect labyrinth of stalls, and the scene is sometimes -quite exciting. Opposite the principal entrance are the statues of -Minin and Pojarski; the former, a peasant, urging the latter, a -boyar, to deliver Moscow from the dominion of the Poles, which was -accomplished by their inspiration and labor. Outside of the walls of -the _Kitai Gorod_ is the Winter Market. As soon as the cold weather -comes, the farmers slaughter their live stock in vast numbers, and the -carcasses are immediately exposed till they are frozen, and then sent -to market. Housekeepers then lay in a large supply of frozen provision, -which is always ready for use, the quantity required for cooking at any -time being first thawed in cold water. Frozen oxen, sheep, calves, and -other animals stand up in the market, ready to be chopped and sawed -into pieces. Fish from the White Sea, the northern lakes, and the -great rivers, are brought to the market in this condition. Sometimes, -but very rarely, a sudden thaw produces sad havoc among the frozen -provisions. - -Between the two gateways which form the principal entrance to the -Chinese Tower is the chapel of the "Iberian Mother of God." It Is a -picture brought from Mount Athos, a holy mount of the Greeks, where -four thousand monks dwelt, during the reign of Alexis, who is said to -have invited the saint to take up her abode in Moscow. The picture, -placed in a sanctuary at the end of the chapel, is believed to have -the power of working miracles, and is regarded with the deepest -veneration by the Russians. All who pass bow and cross themselves, and -many kneel and prostrate themselves on the ground. On a holiday several -hundred may be seen at their devotions. Elegantly dressed ladies leave -their carriages, and bow down with the beggars. The emperors frequently -visit it, and Nicholas, when he could not sleep at night, is said -to have roused the monks at midnight to enable him to attend to his -devotions in this chapel. The religious zeal of the people in Moscow -even exceeds that of St. Petersburg. Donations for the church are -received at this chapel to the amount of about fifty thousand dollars -a year, of which thirty-five thousand is appropriated to the salary of -the Metropolitan of Moscow, who need not starve on this sum, though it -is not the whole of his income. - -The party next walked to the _Manège_, or Great Riding School, which -is believed to be the largest apartment in the world with the roof -unsupported by columns. It is five hundred and sixty feet long, one -hundred and fifty-eight feet wide, and forty-two feet high. Two -regiments of cavalry can go through their evolutions at the same time -in this vast space. It is heated by twenty immense stoves, so that it -can be used in the coldest weather. At this point carriages were taken -for a ride to Sparrow Hills. On the way, not far from the Kremlin, -the tourists stopped at the new Temple of the Saviour, in process -of erection. It is the noblest church in Russia, and was built to -commemorate the expulsion of the French. It was to have been erected -at Sparrow Hills, from which Napoleon had his first view of the city, -and doubtless his last; but a good foundation could not be obtained, -and it was commenced on the present site, more than fifty years ago. -Like other Russian churches, it is in the form of a Greek cross. Though -sculpture is not often seen on Greek churches, this one is ornamented -on the outside with scenes from Scripture and the national history in -high relief, the figures being of colossal size. As these "human and -divine forms" are not for purposes of worship, they do not seem to be -inconsistent even with the Russian belief. The stone is of a light -color, and the structure is crowned with a magnificent golden dome, -which surpasses everything else in beauty in the country. The interior -was filled with stagings, though a glimpse of the rich and beautiful -paintings on the inside of the dome could be obtained. The walls are -covered with variegated marble. The building has already cost ten -million rubles, and it is said that the entire cost will be fifteen -millions. - -Crossing the Moskva River, the carriages proceeded by a very broad, -straight avenue, through a gate, into the suburbs. The ascent of the -hill is by a soft, oozy road, so trying for the horses that most of the -students preferred to walk. The summit was gained. On it is a villa of -the empress, and an estate of Prince Galitzin; but the party went to -a cottage, where tea, coffee, and other refreshments are furnished. -In the rear of it is a spacious veranda, with tables, where the -students seated themselves, and from which a splendid view of Moscow -is obtained. Beneath them flowed the Moskva, which could be seen for -miles, winding through the level plain. The party drank coffee, enjoyed -the view for an hour, and then returned to the city, visiting one -of the monasteries on the way. Near the Kremlin they encountered a -funeral on a grand scale, and the drivers of the carriages stopped at -once. The aspect of the street was suddenly changed, for all business -was suspended, all heads uncovered, and every passer-by halted. The -procession was headed by a body of priests, clothed in black robes, -and bearing lighted tapers and various religious emblems in their -hands. The hearse was drawn by four horses, caparisoned in black, which -covered their legs, with plumes on their heads. The vehicle was an open -platform on wheels, upon which lay the coffin, covered with a pall. It -had steps at the sides, on which stood priests, holding images over the -body, while others followed it. The bells were tolling, and a strange -chant rose from the procession. The spectators uttered prayers for the -repose of the dead, which they always do on meeting a funeral, though -the deceased be an entire stranger to them. The students took off their -caps, and this custom, not entirely unknown in our own country, is -worthy of respect. - -"In Russia, it is believed that a person cannot die easily, if at all, -when there is a pigeon feather in his pillow," said Dr. Winstock, as -the carriages continued on their way. "When the sufferer seems to die -hard, they think there must be a pigeon feather in the pillow under his -head, and they often change it, so as to be sure on this point." - -"What harm does the pigeon feather do?" asked Lincoln, curiously. - -"The dove, or pigeon, is the emblem of the Holy Ghost, and the bird is -never eaten by the most rigid believers; and on no account would they -use its feathers to make a pillow, for the bird is held in the highest -respect." - -The party arrived at the hotel, where an early dinner was ready for -them, after which the Volga partook droskies for the Nijni Novgorod -Railroad. The first division, visited the Troitsad Monastery, forty -miles distant, the next day. It was founded by St. Sergius, in the -fourteenth century. He was the most holy of all the monks, and the -monastery is the most sacred shrine. Russian tradition says that he -was visited in his cell by the Virgin, attended by the apostles Peter -and John. It is a fortress, in fact, and has withstood many sieges. -Neither plague nor cholera has ever entered its walls. It includes -ten churches, is endowed with immense riches, and at one time held -over a hundred thousand serfs. The monks in Russia are called the -Black Clergy, to distinguish them from the White Clergy, who are the -priests that officiate in the churches. When the wife of one of the -latter dies, he must either secularize himself or enter a monastery. -The highest officers in the church and the members of the Holy Synod, -however, are taken from the monks. - -The division returned to Moscow in the afternoon and on the following -day took the train for St. Petersburg. The second division arrived on -the forenoon of the same day, and proceeded to see the sights already -described. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -DOWN THE VOLGA. - - -A difference of three rubles in the fare does not compensate the -traveller for the discomforts of the second-class cars from Moscow -to Nijni Novgorod, and Dr. Winstock took first-class tickets for his -little party; indeed, it does not pay to go there at all, except -during the great fair. The cars were very good, in one of which was -the innovation of a door connecting two compartments, and our party -took possession of it, though one gentleman had already seated himself -there. He was very polite, and spoke French, so that the doctor was not -at all anxious to get rid of him. The train started. The landscape was -about the same as on the road from St. Petersburg; consequently there -was little to be seen from the windows. - -The train was late, and did not arrive at its destination till nine -o'clock in the morning. Most of the students, by doubling up on the -seats, had slept very well, and were tolerably fresh. They entered the -fine brick station, and seated themselves in the restaurant. The Tartar -waiters were all attention. - -"Breakfast--_Déjeûner_--_Frühstück_," said Lincoln who had seated -himself with Scott and Bill Bobstay. - -The waiter smiled blandly, and shook his head. - -"_Café_," added the commodore. - -"_Da_," which is the Russian for "yes." - -"_Bifstek?_" - -"_Da._" - -"Will you have the same, Scott?" added Lincoln. - -"No; I think not. Please to ask him for mutton chops, boiled eggs, and -fried potatoes," replied Scott. - -"Suppose you ask him yourself," laughed the commodore. - -"I don't speak any Russian. I'm afraid to learn it; think it would -knock my teeth out." - -"What will you have, Billy?" added Lincoln. - -"The same that you do." - -"I don't see that I can get anything else. Where is Mr. Blownynozeoff?" -continued Scott. - -"Who is he?" - -"Why, the Russian that rode with us." - -This gentleman now appeared with the doctor, whom he had been assisting -to procure tickets for the steamer, and he was kind enough to order -breakfast for the whole party. It was good, and well served, with -nothing peculiar about it, except that the butter was in glass jars, -the inside of metal, and very dirty and cheesy. There were plenty of -droskies at the door, and three of them were taken for the ride to the -steamer. - -"Go ahead, Switchemoff," said Scott, as he seated himself with Billy -Bobstay. - -The Russian gentleman directed the drivers where to go, and they -started. Descending a gentle slope, the party came to the fair grounds; -but they were not to examine these till their return from Kazan. -The road was very dusty, and in wet weather the mud is very deep. -Crossing the Oka River on a bridge of boats, the travellers entered -what is properly the town, and soon reached the point on the river -where the steamers lay. There were several of them at the quay, and -it was difficult to determine which was the right one, since neither -the doctor nor the students could read her name on the ticket or on -the boat. But the card was shown to a man, who pointed to the right -steamer, and they went on board of her. As in other parts of Europe, -porters always stand ready--too ready, sometimes--to carry the -travellers' baggage, and one who cannot speak the language has only to -show his ticket to one of them, and he will be conducted to the right -place. - -The party, having first-class tickets, hastened aft to where the best -cabin is usually located, and went below. The accommodations were -not elegant, certainly. There were no berths, only divans around the -apartment, which the students made haste to secure, by placing their -bags upon them. Having performed this necessary duty, they returned to -the deck to examine the steamer, and see the strange sights. The craft -was rather odd in shape, her bow and stern being depressed more than -the part amidships, so that the deck sloped down, going forward or aft. -The "bridge" is a platform between the paddle-boxes, of considerable -size, which only first-class passengers are permitted to occupy. Upon -it is the steering-wheel, which is about six feet high. - -"See here! How's this?" said Scott, as he led the way forward. "What -is this coop for?" - -It was a house on deck, containing a stairway, and a small room with -a table in it. The apartment was handsomely furnished, and was even -luxurious compared with the after cabin. - -"Let us go in, and see," replied Billy Bobstay; and they entered. - -Descending the stairs, they came to a cabin in the forward part of -the vessel, with a broad divan around it, like the other, but covered -with drab cloth. It was very neatly furnished, and provided with every -convenience except berths. - -"We are first-class, and we have got into the wrong coop," said Scott. - -"That's so," added Lincoln. "We will change our baggage." - -"Perhaps we may be mistaken. This may be the Czar's cabin," suggested -Scott. - -At this moment a short man, wearing a very long black frock coat, -entered. When he saw the passengers, he promptly removed his cap, and -bowed, so that the students concluded he was one of the stewards. - -"I say, Knockmyheadoff, is this the first-class cabin?" demanded Scott. - -The man smiled sweetly, and shook his head. - -"He don't speak English," said Lincoln, producing his ticket, and -showing it to the steward. - -The man glanced at it, bowed, smiled, and swung his hands about to -indicate that it was all right. - -"Do we belong in here, or not?" asked Scott. - -"What's the matter?" said a short, stout man, entering the cabin at -this moment. - -"Do we belong here, sir?" added Lincoln, showing him the ticket. - -"Yes, sir; this is the first-class cabin." - -"Do you belong to the boat, sir?" - -"I do. I am the captain." - -"Good! and you speak English like an American," added Scott. - -"I can speak it some. I have been in New York." - -"Have you? Give me your hand!" shouted the joker. "I am glad to see a -man who has been in the United States." - -The captain took the joker's offered hand. - -"I have been in New York and San Francisco," he added. - -"You are my friend for life. My name is Scott." - -"And you are a seaman?" - -"Salt as the inside of a pickle barrel. Allow me to introduce you to -Commodore Lincoln, in command of our squadron at Cronstadt." - -The captain took off his cap to Lincoln, and accepted his offered hand; -but he seemed to be a little puzzled at his title. - -"What steamer is this, captain?" - -"The _Stafet_, Captain Ekovetz." - -The conversation was continued for some time. The steward was sent for -the bags in the other cabin, and orders given to make the Americans -as comfortable as possible. The captain was very zealous to serve his -passengers, and they all went on deck together. - -"Can you tell me, captain, when a steamer, which left Tver on -Wednesday, arrives at this place?" asked the doctor, who had joined the -students below. - -"She should be here now, sir," replied the captain; "but I think she -has not come yet." - -"Two of our young men ran away from us at Tver, and must have taken -this steamer." - -"Ran away--did they?" laughed the captain. "This is a bad country for -them, then, for we don't have any _habeas corpus_, or anything of that -sort. The police will stop them, if you wish it." - -"I do wish it." - -The obliging commander of the steamer went on shore with the doctor to -the police office, attended by Vroome, the third master. A description -of the fugitives was given through the captain, and the police officer -made a note of Vroome's uniform, as like those worn by De Forrest -and Beckwith. The party returned to the steamer, and as the hour for -starting had arrived, the fasts were cast off, and the Stafet was -soon making her way down the mighty Volga. Her deck was crowded with -third-class passengers, who were the peasants and laboring men of the -country. They were abominably dirty and miserably dressed, several of -them wearing the long sheep-skin coats, the wool inside. Others wore -long, light-colored coats, very ragged. Not a few of them, instead of -boots, had coarse cloths wound around their feet and ankles, bound -on with strings nearly as large as a bed-cord. Some of them were -eating their dinners, which they carried with them, consisting of the -blackest of bread and dried fish. These men were the serfs who had been -liberated by the noble policy of the present emperor. - -The Volga, at Nijni, is about two thirds of a mile wide, and is -covered with boats of all sorts and sizes. The depth of water between -this point and Kazan does not admit of the passage of the largest -passenger steamers. The voyager from Tver to the Caspian would -change steamers for larger ones at Nijni and at Kazan. Merchandise -is transported on the river in boats, the largest of which are about -a hundred and fifty feet long, with a single mast, well forward, and -appear to be very substantially built. In the middle there is a house -on deck, generally with an Oriental dome, painted green, which is -possibly a chapel. There are other smaller boats, and a tug steamer -tows from four to eight of the different sizes. These boats are owned -by corporations, such as the Volga Transportation Company. Vast -quantities of wheat are conveyed from Saratoff, and other places, to -the head of navigation. - -The students gathered on the bridge, or hurricane deck would be a more -proper name for it. Two Russian pilots were at the tall wheel, and they -looked as little like sailors as it is possible to conceive. They wore -the long sheep-skin pelisse, with pants stuffed into their boots, and -Cossack or Tartar caps. They looked particularly solemn; but they are -said to know their business perfectly. - -The navigation of the river is very difficult in some places, and it -requires not a little skill and experience to keep the boat in the -channel. In shoal places, dikes have been built to turn the course of -the current, or to keep it within certain limits. Large sums of money -have been spent by the government in dredging and otherwise improving -the navigation. In August the river is generally low, and there is an -extensive prospect of sand-bars between the banks of the stream. The -Volga flows through a flat country, but there is a ridge on the right -bank, which, in places, causes the formation of a considerable bluff. - -The regulations for steamers passing each other appear to be excellent, -and collisions to be impossible. The boat going down stream has the -right of way. She whistles, and the officer of the deck waves a flag in -the daytime, a lantern at night, on the side which the other boat is to -pass him. The steamer going up stream whistles in reply, and a flag is -waved in the direction the down boat is to take. If they are to pass -on the starboard hand, both officers go to the starboard side, on the -paddle-boxes, raise the flag, and drop it over on this side, repeating -the movement several times; if on the port side, the signals are made -accordingly. - -There is nothing like variety of scenery on the river, and in a short -time the view becomes very monotonous. There are occasional villages -to be seen on the shore, but they are composed only of log-houses. The -larger towns have one or more fine churches. Late in the afternoon the -Stafet made a landing at one of these places, and the greater part -of the deck passengers left the boat. On the bluff was a church with -a green dome, and the Russian cross at the summit. As soon as they -landed, all the peasants turned their faces towards the church, crossed -themselves, and bowed reverently. A few dropped upon their knees, and -bent to the ground. In this manner they thank God for bringing them -in safety to their journey's end. No one seems to notice them, or to -regard their conduct as at all singular. - -The boat stopped long enough at this place to "wood up," the work of -which was done by women, while scores of stout men stood by, looking -on. These women were of all ages; but none of them were handsome enough -to excite the sympathy of cold-blooded foreigners. They wore calico -dresses, with the belt or waist directly under the arms. The wood was -carried on two poles, forming a hand-barrow, and the women bore loads -which would have strained the backs of ordinary men. - -"That's mean," said Scott. "I don't see how those men can stand by, and -not lend a helping hand." - -"You are in Russia," replied Lincoln. - -"Don't men have souls in Russia?" - -"Yes; and customs too. This seems to be one of them," laughed the -commodore. - -"See that little one. She is not more than sixteen. She isn't bad -looking, either; at least, not so bad looking as the rest of them." - -"If you feel bad about it, Scott, you can take a hand in the job -yourself." - -"I will," said the joker, as the girl passed him, laughing merrily, -with the pole in her hand. "Let me carry it for you;" and Scott -attempted to take the pole. - -She stoutly resented this interference, till Captain Ekovetz spoke -to her, for he had heard the conversation. The girl laughed, and so -did the old woman who worked with her. The poles were laid down and -loaded, and Scott picked up his end. His share of the weight was all -he could stagger under, and the solemn Russians laughed heartily at his -gallantry. - -"That's enough for me," said the joker, when he had dumped the load. -"Here, Miss Maidenoff, I'm off." - -The girl tittered, and Scott gave her a twenty-copeck piece, which she -accepted with surprise and pleasure. - -"Don't back out, Scott," said Lincoln. - -"I thought I would back out while I had a back to back out with. The -idea of that girl carrying such a load is cruel. It is enough for a -pack mule." - -"But the old woman sold you," laughed Billy Bobstay. - -"Sold me?" - -"She evidently understands the mechanical powers in practice, if not in -theory, for she loaded the poles so that you carried two thirds of the -weight. Probably she takes the other end with the girl." - -"These women claim this work as their privilege," said the captain. -"If the men should attempt to bring the wood on board, the women would -think it was mean in them." - -"Their education has been neglected," replied Scott. "This is going in -for women's rights with a vengeance." - -"At every railroad station where I have bought tickets, they were sold -by ladies, and all of them spoke French," added the doctor. "Women have -a sphere in Russia, and some of them are well educated. You will find -the women at work in the fields in every country of Europe, and in -some of them they do all the worst drudgery. In Holland we saw women -dragging boats on the canals, while a man stood at the tiller, with a -pipe in his mouth, smoking." - -The steamer started again, and the party went into the cabin to order -their dinner; but with the Russian steward this was no easy matter, -though he knew half a dozen words of German. He set the table, and -brought on the dinner, which, however, was anything but what was -ordered. The first dish after the soup was meat, chopped fine, made -into cutlets, breaded, and fried. It was followed by a course of small -birds with jelly, and ended with a dessert of dried fruit. It was a -very good dinner, and the party were well satisfied with it. - -On the bridge Scott got acquainted with the mate, a short man, and -about as thick as he was long. Though he could not speak a word of -English, and the joker not a word of Russian, they had some long -talks, to the great amusement of the other students. The mate laughed -prodigiously when he spoke, and permitted Scott to make his speeches, -the joker being equally indulgent to him. - -"I say, Mr. Fatmanoffsky, don't you think that wheel is twice as big as -it need be?" said Scott. - -The mate laughed, and talked Russian, but, as he pointed at the wheel, -he was evidently talking about it. Even the solemn pilots were amused, -either at what the Russian said, or at the absurdity of two persons -talking together when neither could understand the other. - -The party retired early. There was a pillow to each divan, but no -bed-clothes--none are furnished on any of the Volga steamers, and -travellers usually carry a robe or two. They slept very well, for all -of them were accustomed to "turning in" with their clothes on. In the -morning the country appeared to be about the same, though the bluff on -the right was higher, and a range of hills was seen in the distance, -on the same side. At eleven o'clock, the steamer arrived at Kazan, -in just twenty-four hours from Nijni. The city is seven versts from -the river, though there is a small village on the bluff. The shore is -lined with steamers and boats, loading and unloading. There was nothing -attractive in the locality, and nothing interesting except the Tartar -teamsters, on shore, who wore white felt hats, and sheep-skin coats; -some of them with their feet and legs tied up in rags, others in boots -or straw sandals. Four droskies were hired at three rubles apiece for -the day, to go up to the city and return. Dr. Winstock wished to find -the Professor of English of the University of Kazan, to whom he had a -letter of introduction. It would be impossible for the party to speak a -word to anybody, and the captain kindly sent the steward with them to -the university. - -The ride is a dreary one, over a region which is covered with water -when the Volga floods its banks. On the left of the road is a curious -pyramidal monument to the memory of the Russians who fell in the -capture of the city from the Tartars. It was the capital of the Kingdom -of Kazan, founded in the thirteenth century by the Golden Horde, a -tribe of Tartars who invaded Russia. They were continually at war with -the people of Muscovy, and after repeated expeditions on the part -of the Russians against the city, it was finally subdued by Ivan the -Terrible, and the kingdom incorporated in his dominions. - -"I suppose we shall not go any farther east than we are now," said -Lincoln, who was riding with the doctor. - -"No; we are within three hundred and twenty miles of Asia now, the -nearest part of which lies a little east of south of us." - -"What do you suppose the people of New York and Boston are doing just -now, doctor?" - -"They are asleep, I hope." - -"It is quarter past twelve now," added Lincoln, looking at his watch, -which he had set by Kazan time. "In Boston it is two minutes of four -o'clock in the morning, and in New York fourteen minutes of four. It -seems very odd." - -"I don't know that it does." - -"My father and mother haven't begun to think of getting out of bed -yet!" laughed Lincoln. "I shall remember this place as the farthest -easting I have made." - -After a ride of an hour the vehicles entered the city, and turned into -a wide street, with fine buildings. Presently they stopped at the -university, which is a very large establishment, with four hundred -and fifty students. The steward led the way into the vestibule, and -spoke to the porter. Then there was a difficulty which the man could -not explain. He talked, made signs, and gesticulated; and it was clear -that the professor was not in. The doctor spoke English, French, and -German to the porter, who could not comprehend a word of either. But -suddenly his face lighted up with a smile, and beckoning to the party -to follow him, he led them up three flights of stairs, unlocked a door, -and entered. Conducting the surgeon to a glass case, he triumphantly -pointed to a small Egyptian mummy! The visitors courteously examined -it, and other curiosities in the room, which was the museum of the -university. While the party were thus engaged, an elderly Russian -entered the apartment, and looked curiously at the strangers. The -doctor attacked him in all the languages he could speak, but without -avail. - -"Professor _Anglisky_!" shouted Dr. Winstock. - -"That ought to fetch him," said Scott; but it did not. - -"_Anglisky_," repeated the surgeon. - -"_Da!_" replied the old man, at last, his face beaming with smiles, as -though he had solved the problem. - -Making a gesture to indicate that the party were to follow him, he led -them down one flight of stairs, through a hall a hundred feet long, -up another flight, through another long hall, and opened a door. The -travellers entered, and he led them to a case of minerals, to which he -pointed with an expression of the utmost satisfaction on his wrinkled -face. - -"No, no, no!" exclaimed the doctor, impatiently; and the party -retreated, without taking a second look at the case. - -The porter led them back to the entrance hall, where Lincoln and the -surgeon began to ask the people who passed if they could speak English, -French, or German. No one could; but at last the puzzled steward -seemed to have obtained an idea, and made signs for the party to return -to the droskies. They did so, and were driven away again; but the -doctor expected to be taken to a church or a cemetery. He was mistaken, -for the steward's idea was really a brilliant one, and he set his party -down at the residence of the professor. He rang the bell, and sent in -a message by the servant, who in a moment returned and conducted the -tourists to the second floor, where Professor Beresford received them. -The letter was delivered, and the professor extended a cordial welcome -to the party. For an hour he entertained them with his accounts of the -Russians, and then volunteered to show them some of the sights of the -city. They went to the Kremlin, which contains a cathedral; a tower -in the form of a pyramid, nearly two hundred and fifty feet high; the -convent built for the miraculous picture of Our Lady of Kazan, now in -St. Petersburg, though it has a copy of the original, on which glitters -a crown of diamonds, presented by Catharine II. - -The city of Kazan has a population of sixty thousand, of whom more than -half are Tartars. They live by themselves, in their own quarter of the -town, and retain their own manners and customs. They are Mohammedans, -and have twelve mosques. Under the guidance of the professor the party -drove to this section. The houses were generally of two stories, but -the lower one among the poorer classes is devoted to the horses and -other stock, or used as a store-room, while the family occupy the -second story. The Tartars were easily distinguished from the Russians -by their Asiatic faces and their costume. The men of the better class -wear a calico tunic, and trousers of the same material. Over these -they wear a long coat. The trousers are stuffed into the boots, which -are generally of colored morocco, fancifully ornamented; and most of -them wear overshoes, doubtless for convenience in entering the mosque. -The head is close shaved, and they wear a skull-cap, often richly -embroidered, but on the street they have a fur cap over it. - -"It's easy enough to catch a Tartar here," said Scott. - -"Don't try," replied Billy Bobstay. - -"High O! What's that? A Tartar carriage, with two ladies! That's the -kind we read of." - -It was an odd vehicle. The fore and hind wheels were at least twelve -feet apart, and connected by two strips of board, on which rested the -body of an ordinary wagon. Seated in this carriage were two Tartar -ladies, in the full costume of Mohammedan countries, including the -robes, and the bandages over the face, which concealed all but the nose -and the eyes. Both of them were young, and they looked mischievous, -as they glanced at the Americans; but they were not pretty. Scott had -the presumption to touch his cap and bow as they passed. The droskies -stopped at this moment. - -"You will catch a Tartar if you do that, young gentleman," laughed the -professor. "You mustn't take any notice of the ladies here." - -"Can't one be civil and polite to them?" - -"No; give them the cold shoulder." - -"They smiled, and looked roguish," persisted Scott. "Their faces are -painted, too." - -"All the Tartar women paint. Here is a mosque; we will go in, if you -please. But you must scrape your feet, and use the mat vigorously. The -Tartar gentlemen take off their overshoes before they enter, and in -most Mohammedan countries they compel strangers to remove their shoes; -but they are not so particular here." - -The party complied with these directions, and a man admitted them. The -interior of the mosque was very plain, with a gallery on one side. On -the floor were dirty and ragged carpets for the faithful to kneel upon. -There were no seats, and the only furniture was a stand some eight feet -high, on which the Koran is read and expounded. This was one of the -plainest and simplest mosques, and a few months later the students had -an opportunity of seeing them in all their glory in Constantinople. -The party now drove to Commonens's restaurant for dinner; after which -they took another drive through the streets. Most of the students were -again astonished, as they had been before, to find that a city in the -eastern part of Russia is so much like one in America, though they did -not cherish this view when they stood before such a quaint structure as -the Cathedral Nicolski. Thanking Professor Beresford for his kindness, -the party started for the steamer again, which was to leave at eight -o'clock the next morning, and they had decided to sleep on board. - -At an early hour they were awaked by the advent of a number of -passengers coming into the cabin. Several of them were Tartars of -the highest class, and Scott called them "Cream Tartars," for they -were very richly dressed. The boat started, and the students in the -cabin continued to gaze at their singular companions. They called -for tea, and produced their own provisions, consisting of bread and -_caviar_, upon which they made their breakfast. It would be considered -rather shabby for first-class passengers in America to carry their own -provisions, but it is all right on the Volga. At noon these Tartars -attended to their devotions on the bridge without any regard to the -bystanders. They spread a robe on the top of the paddle-box, and taking -off their overshoes, knelt upon it. Then they put their hands behind -their ears, and over their eyes, bowing their heads to the floor, and -repeating their prayers. - -In the afternoon the steamer passed a large boat going down the river, -towed by a steamer. It had a cabin, extending nearly the whole length -of it, with small, grated windows. The captain said this was a convict -boat, in which prisoners were conveyed down the Volga, and up the Kama -to Perm, from which they have to march to Siberia. When they reach -their destination, they are compelled to work in the mines. The captain -said that many of them returned, and made good citizens. At three -o'clock on the afternoon of the next day, the Stafet arrived at Nijni -Novgorod. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -THE MOVEMENTS OF THE RUNAWAYS. - - -While the voyagers were taking leave of Captain Ekovetz, who had been -so attentive to them, an officer spoke to him in Russian. - -"The police have your runaways," added the captain. - -"Indeed! Where are they?" asked the doctor. - -"At the police office. They came down in the boat from Tver, and were -about to take the steamer for Kazan," said the captain, after some -further conversation with the officer. "This man will conduct you to -the police office." - -The party followed him, and in a short time came to the place where De -Forrest and Beckwith were held, not exactly "in durance vile," but in -the office of the police. The runaways looked decidedly crestfallen. - -"This is rather unexpected. I thought you were going only to Moscow; -but it appears that you have not even been there at all," said Dr. -Winstock. - -"No, sir, we have not," replied De Forrest. "I suppose you will think -we ran away; but we did not." - -"I must acknowledge that the course you have taken is open to that -interpretation," added the doctor. - -"I knew you would think so," said Beckwith, trying to look honest and -innocent. - -"Nothing of the sort, sir," continued De Forrest. "We took a cup of -coffee at Tver, and then stepped out in the rear of the station to get -a sight of the town and the river. The conductor told me the train -would not start for fifteen minutes, or I didn't understand him. I -don't know which." - -"Did he tell you in Russian?" - -"No, sir; in German." - -"Do you remember what he said?" - -"'_Fünfzehn minuten._'" - -"What question did you ask him?" - -"'_Wie lange bleiben sie hier?_'" - -"You asked him how long he remained at the station, after he had been -there ten minutes?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"Your German was better than your logic." - -"I supposed he meant fifteen minutes more." - -"You had no right to suppose so, if you did suppose any such thing. -However, it is not for me to decide on this case." - -"The train went off in less than five minutes. We ran after it, and -yelled with all our might. Didn't you hear us, sir?" - -"I confess that I did not," replied the doctor, with a smile; "but that -doesn't prove that I am hard of hearing. You came down the Volga?" - -"Yes, sir. I thought Moscow was on the Volga, but Beckwith said it was -not," replied De Forrest. - -"I knew it was not, and told him so," protested Beckwith. - -"But still you went with him?" - -"The captain spoke English a little, and told us we could take the -train to Moscow. We didn't like to wait in that station till five -o'clock the next morning." - -"A train left Tver at about eleven that forenoon, and I supposed, if -you were left, that you would come down in that." - -"We didn't know it." - -At this moment Captain Ekovetz came into the office, and through him -it was ascertained that the runaways were captured while they were -going on board of a steamer about to start for Kazan, and had their -tickets, for which the police compelled the seller to refund the -money. De Forrest attempted to explain, but his statement was rather -improbable--quite as much so as the rest of his story. - -"How long have you been here?" inquired the doctor. - -"Three days, sir." - -"As prisoners?" - -"We staid at the Hotel Odessa, but the police and the servants watched -us all the time." - -"This isn't a good country to run away in," laughed the doctor. - -"We had no idea of running away, sir." - -"Getting left is about the same thing. But we will move on, for we have -not much time to spare." - -Droskies were taken, and the captain directed them to drive to Minin's -Tower. It is on a bluff, where the old town stood, including a part of -the Kremlin, and commands a fine view of the river and the fairgrounds, -on the tongue of land between the Volga and the Oka. The party entered -the Cathedral of the Transformation, where Minin is buried. - -"Who was Minin?" asked Lincoln, as they stood by the obelisk erected to -his memory. - -"You remember Mr. Mapps told you about the false Dimitris, and that, -in the confusion and anarchy brought about by them, the crown was -offered to Vladislas, son of the King of Poland, for the Poles were -really the masters of the country. The Russians had been beaten by -them in many battles, for the former had no suitable leader. When -everything seemed to be lost, Kosma Minin, a butcher of this town, -obscure and uneducated, but possessed of good judgment, brave, honest, -and unselfish, roused his fellow-citizens to a sense of their peril. -His words and his example induced the people to take up arms, and -appropriate all their fortunes for the deliverance of the nation from -its oppressors. This spirit of patriotic devotion extended to other -places, and Prince Pojarski, was soon able to take the field at the -head of a large force. Minin seconded all the efforts of the prince, -and by this sudden uprising the Poles were driven from the country. -The movement was followed by the election to the throne of Michael -Romanoff. The bronze statues which you saw in Moscow, opposite the -bazaar, represents Minin urging Pojarski to deliver Moscow from the -Poles." - -The tourists returned to the droskies, and the doctor directed his -driver by pointing in the direction of the fair grounds. - -"This does not look much as it does during the fair," said the surgeon, -as they drove across the bridge of boats. "The rivers are crowded -with boats of every description, from all parts of the vast empire. -The Oka here is literally filled with them, so that there is hardly a -channel for the passage of others. These craft are quite a study, for -they comprise an immense variety, and it is said that the _floating_ -population of this vicinity during the fair is about fifty thousand. -This bridge is quite as crowded as London Bridge during business hours, -and mounted Cossacks are stationed upon it to keep it from being -obstructed. These soldiers are also on duty in the crowded streets, to -preserve order. The mud here is sometimes a foot deep--at least it was -when I visited the fair several years ago. Even the paved streets are -ploughed and furrowed by the wheels of heavily-loaded vehicles." - -"It is a hard road to travel now," added Lincoln; for the vehicle -jolted so that it was not easy for the passengers to keep their seats. - -"Most of the goods for the fair come in boats, and have to be hauled to -the shops in wagons, making bad work of the roads. When not muddy, it -is very dusty." - -The party entered the grounds of the fair, the doctor instructing -his driver by signs. The entire space between the Volga and the Oka -is laid out in streets and squares. There are ten miles of wharf on -the two rivers. There are about four hundred steamers on the Volga, -many of which were built in England, Belgium, and other countries, -and have been brought to the river through the various canals, or in -pieces, and put together again; but Russia can build her own steamers -now. The streets are lined with shops, most of the buildings being -of brick, a few of stone. Some of the open spaces are covered with -booths and tents. The stores are generally quite small, not more than -twenty by fifteen feet. In the rear of them are living-apartments for -the merchants and their employees. In the centre of the fair are the -headquarters of the governor; but the ground floor of the building is -devoted to a bazaar for the sale of fancy articles and manufactured -goods, and a band of music usually plays here. Concerts are also given -in the square by a military band. Near the official residence are -theatres and exhibitions of every description. - -The Great Fair is the harvest time of beggars, and thousands of them -visit it, some of them coming from great distances. The lame, the halt, -and the blind come, and very many of them are impostors, who pretend to -have bodily ailments, or who have produced sores on their persons by -artificial means, to excite the sympathies of the benevolent. - -The number of persons in attendance on the fair is estimated by the -amount of bread consumed, and the bakers are required to make daily -returns to the governor of the quantity sold. By this means it is -ascertained that the fair is visited, during the season of eight weeks, -by from one hundred and fifty thousand to three hundred thousand -persons. The amount of business transacted by sale and purchase, is -about one hundred million dollars. - -There is as much variety in the shops as in different parts of a -large city. Certain sections are devoted to the wholesale trade, and -others to the retail. Many of the shops are filled with large bundles -and bales, while others glisten with ornamental articles. Some of -the avenues hardly differ in appearance from Broadway in New York, -except in the uniformity of the buildings. The windows are filled with -displays of jewelry, fancy goods, toys, dry goods, clocks, and watches, -furs, silks, and, indeed, everything that one would see in a great -city. Some shops are devoted exclusively to furs, and the assortment -is large and fine. Dried fish is a great article of commerce here. The -value of the sturgeon fisheries on the Volga is estimated at two and -a half million rubles, while thirty thousand casks of _caviar_ have -been sent up from Astrakhan in one year. The productions of Asia are -largely represented at the fair, the most important of which is the -tea of China. The Chinese quarter is fitted up in Celestial style, -with verandas and pagodas; but very few Chinese attend the fair of -late years. Fifteen million pounds of the finest tea are brought into -Russia, most of it to this bazaar. It is transported to Perm by boats, -sledges, and camels, and thence by the Kama and Volga to Nijni. - -Along the rivers are the coarser articles of merchandise--iron -in bars and sheets, and manufactured into kettles and household -utensils, millstones, vast quantities of wheat, rolls of leather from -Kazan, boxes of candles from Asia, copper and platinum from the Ural -Mountains, and bells of all sizes, hung so that their tone can be -tested. - -Perhaps the most interesting feature of the fair to an American or -Englishman is the people that gather there, especially the Asiatics. -But the variety is by no means as great as the visitor will expect to -find after reading the descriptions of them which have been published. -There are plenty of Persians and Tartars in full costume, the former -with knives and pistols in their belts, placed there for ornament -rather than use. A few grave Chinamen may also be seen; but the great -majority of the people are Russians. Unless one wishes to make it study -of it, a few hours are enough to enable the stranger to see the fair. - -A canal extends through the ground, as a protection against fire, -and no smoking is allowed in the streets, on penalty of twenty-five -rubles, and the rule is enforced by the Cossacks on duty. Under the -streets there is a system of sewers for the draining of the land and -the carrying off of refuse matter. A stream of water is made to flow -through them several times a day, to remove the deposits there. In -the streets there are, at regular intervals, small white towers over -staircases to descend into the sewers, where are small apartments for -men, in which alone they are allowed to smoke. These improvements have -cost large sums of money, and the merchants are taxed to the amount of -forty thousand dollars a year to pay the expenses. - -The tourists drove through the principal avenues of the deserted -grounds, and the doctor told them what he had seen there during his -former visit when the fair was held. During the ride De Forrest and -Beckwith were not much interested in the sights to be seen, or in the -descriptions of the surgeon. They realized that the explanation of -their absence was not accepted by the surgeon, and probably would not -be better received by the principal. - -"We have made a mess of it," said Beckwith. "I didn't believe in the -scrape at all." - -"You wouldn't have come with me, if you had not," replied the purser. - -"We haven't been to Kazan, or down the Volga, and we haven't even seen -Moscow, as the rest of the fellows have." - -"We are going there to-night." - -"Yes; but we leave in two or three hours after we arrive. We shall go -on board at Cronstadt, and not be allowed any liberty again. That's all -we shall make by running away." - -"Perhaps not. You may go back to the ship, but I shall not," replied De -Forrest, doggedly. - -"What will you do?" - -"I told you what I wouldn't do, and that is just the same as telling -you what I will do. As you seem to be dissatisfied with what you have -done, you can do as you please," growled the purser. - -"I don't think we have made anything so far by the course we have -taken," added Beckwith. - -"Of course we haven't; we were tripped up." - -"We may be tripped up again. These Russian policemen don't make -anything of stopping a fellow." - -"We ran right into a trap here in Nijni. The doctor and his party got -here before we did, and were looking for us. We shall do well enough if -we take another track." - -"But where do you mean to go?" - -"If you are going to back out, I won't say anything about it." - -"I'm not going to back out. I will go with you to the end of the earth." - -"All right. That sounds like something. We will go right through from -Moscow to Warsaw. You know that German _Cours-Buch_ we found at the -hotel yesterday?" - -"Yes; but I couldn't make anything of it." - -"I laid out a route, and wrote it down on a piece of paper." - -"But how will you get away? The doctor will keep watch of us all the -time now," suggested Beckwith. "Besides, the other divisions of the -squadron are coming to Moscow, and the principal may be there by the -time we arrive." - -"No matter if he is; we can easily manage it. You follow my lead, and I -will bring you out all right." - -By this time the droskies arrived at the railroad station, where -the travellers dined, and obtained their tickets for Moscow. As the -students paid their own fare, they were permitted to take first or -second class cars, as they preferred. Following the example of the -surgeon, most of them went first class, and when they came to take -their seats it was found that only Scott and Beckwith had elected to go -by the second class. There were very few passengers, and as the doctor -gave the conductor a ruble, he disposed of the party so that there were -only two or three in a compartment, which afforded them plenty of room -to lie down and sleep. As a specimen of the Russian letter, we give a -copy of the surgeon's ticket:-- - - [Illustration] - -It is translated: - - Nijni Novgorod. - Moscow. - 1st Class 12 R. 30 C. - -The train arrived at Moscow at nine the next morning, and the tourists -went to the Hotel de Hambourg. The third division of the squadron had -come, and the second was to leave that day. Mr. Lowington and Mr. -Fluxion were both at the hotel, and as soon as De Forrest saw the -doctor shaking hands with the principal, he decided that he would not -wait to be introduced to him. Nodding to Beckwith, he led the way -through one of the long halls of the hotel, and found a staircase which -led down to an arch under the house. On the other side of it was the -dining room, which they entered. This room was on the ground floor, -and the windows were open. No one was in sight, and they stepped out -through one of them into the street. - - [Illustration: MOSCOW PHOTOGRAPHS. - - 1. DROSKY DRIVER. - 2. THE METROPOLITAN OF MOSCOW. - 3. TOWER OF IVAN VILLIKOF. - 4. CATHEDRAL OF ST. BASIL.] - -"Where are you going, De Forrest?" asked Beckwith, nervously. - -"I thought we had better keep out of the principal's sight," replied -the purser, as he led the way up the _Rue Lubianka_. "Here is another -hotel," he added, as they came to the corner on which is the house kept -by Mr. Billot. - -"But we can't do anything here, without a word of the language." - -"We will go into the hotel;" and De Forrest entered, followed by his -companion. - -"Good morning, young gentlemen," said the proprietor, in good English. - -"Good morning, sir," replied De Forrest; "can you give us a room?" - -"O yes." - -"And send breakfast to the room?" - -"Certainly." - -"That suits our case," said De Forrest; and a servant was sent up -stairs with them. - -The apartment to which they were shown was on the second floor, with -windows opening into the Rue Lubianka, so that the runaways could -observe the movements of the party. Presently the landlord called to -see them, and asked if the room suited them. Then he inquired who and -what all the young men in uniform were whom he had seen during the past -week, and De Forrest explained the whole matter to his satisfaction. - -"But why don't they come to my hotel?" asked Mr. Billot. - -"I don't know, sir; it must have been a mistake on the part of the -principal." - -"A very great mistake," added the landlord, laughing. - -"We preferred to come here, but very likely the principal will blame us -for it; so, if you please, don't mention to any one that we are here." - -"I will not." - -"Thank you." - -The landlord was vexed to have his house passed by, and, afraid that he -should lose his two customers if he mentioned them, he was content to -keep still. Breakfast was sent up to the runaways, at an extra charge. -They staid in their room all day, not daring to leave it lest they -should be seen by some of their shipmates. If they had been condemned -to such an imprisonment on board of the ship, even for running away, -they would have called it tyranny. They looked through the apertures at -the sides of the curtains, and saw the second division depart for St. -Petersburg, and the third starting for the Kremlin. They dined in their -room at five, and at half past eight in the evening, when the party -at the other hotel had gone to the Petrofski Gardens, they paid their -bill, and took a drosky for the Kief Railway station. The lady who sold -the tickets spoke French, so that they had no difficulty there. At noon -the next day they arrived at Orel, from which they departed at half -past one for Dunaburg, on the line from St. Petersburg to Warsaw. They -reached this town at six o'clock on the evening of the next day, and -were obliged to wait till two o'clock the next morning for a train, by -which they proceeded to Warsaw. They had been three days on the road, -and had slept three nights on the train, travelling eleven hundred -miles, and paying fifty rubles each for the fares, besides six more -for meals. They were tired out, and utterly disgusted with railroad -travelling. Taking a carriage at Praga, a suburb of Warsaw, where the -station is located, they crossed the high bridge over the Vistula, and -were left at the Hotel de l'Europe. They were shown to a room twenty -feet square, for which the charge was two rubles a day. - -In the restaurant on the lower floor, where the waiters spoke German -as well as Polish, they found themselves seated near a party who were -conversing in English. It consisted of a gentleman and two ladies, one -of the latter being but about seventeen years old. They were dressed -in black, and the younger was very pretty,--so pretty that De Forrest -could not help looking at her, as opportunity favored him. But the -young lady seemed as much inclined to look at the runaways, and their -eyes often met. The party spoke in a low tone, and were evidently -talking about the young officers. Presently the gentleman rose from his -chair and approached them. - -"I beg your pardon," said he; "but I think we have met before." - -"Indeed! I was not aware of it; though I am very glad to see any one -who speaks the English language," replied De Forrest. - -"You belong to the school ship, if I mistake not. We went on board of -her at Christiansand; you had just arrived from America, and we had -come in the Orlando from Hull." - -"Yes, sir; I remember that steamer, and the party that came on board -the ship." - -"My name is Kinnaird." - -"I am happy to see you, Mr. Kinnaird. My name is De Forrest, and my -friend is Mr. Beckwith." - -"Now permit me to present you to the ladies, who were much interested -in your ship, and especially in her young officers," added the polite -gentleman, as he conducted them to the table his party had taken. "Mrs. -Kinnaird, my wife." - -De Forrest and Beckwith made their best bows. - -"Miss Julia Gurney, my wife's sister," added Mr. Kinnaird. - -"I am delighted to make your acquaintance, Miss Gurney," answered De -Forrest, as he bowed to the pretty young lady. - -"I was so pleased with the ship in which you sail, and the nice-looking -young officers, that I have been wishing I might meet them again," said -Miss Gurney. - -For half an hour they talked about the ship and the other vessels, and -each party told where they had been. - -"And you are one of those fine young officers," said the young lady, -suddenly, laughing her satisfaction as she spoke. - -"I am," replied De Forrest, though he had some doubts on this point. - -"And where is your ship now?" - -"At Cronstadt. The squadron will go to Königsberg or Danzig next; then -to Stettin or Swinemünde. The students will make a trip to Berlin and -Dresden." - -"O, then I shall see them again," exclaimed Miss Gurney. "But don't you -sail with the others?" - -"Yes, yes; but you see we make journeys on shore. We all went to -Moscow, and some of us down the Volga to Kazan." - -"How delightful! I wish I was a boy! If I were I would be a sailor, and -join your ship. It must be elegant?" - -"O yes--yes; very," replied De Forrest, glancing at his shipmate, who -could hardly keep from laughing. - -"I think I should like it so well, that I wouldn't go on shore. It is -so stupid to be dragged through all these old palaces, and churches, -and tombs, though I like to look at the pictures." - -De Forrest was fascinated by the beauty and sprightliness of Miss -Gurney. Her innocence and simplicity imparted a candor to her speech -which pleased him, and, fatigued as he was, he was sorry to lose sight -of her when the party retired to their rooms. Then her image went with -him, and followed him into his dreams. He met her again in the morning, -and the runaways were invited to accompany the party to Villenoy, -and to see the sights of the capital of Poland. In a few days they -left for Bromberg, and though Beckwith protested, De Forrest insisted -upon accompanying them. Then he could not resist his inclination to -go with the party to Königsberg, where Mr. Kinnaird desired to see -a friend; but he hoped the squadron would not come there. It did -not go to Königsberg, because the water was not deep enough, but it -anchored at Pillau, the port of the city, twenty-six miles distant. -While the runaways were dining with their new friends at the _Hôtel de -Prusse_, feeling perfectly secure because they had heard nothing of -the squadron, the officers and students marched through the room to -another, where dinner had been prepared for them. - -"O, I am so delighted to see them!" exclaimed Julia. "How glad you must -be, Mr. De Forrest!" - -"Yes--yes--very glad," stammered the purser. "Will you excuse us for a -few moments? I want to speak to some of them." - -"O, certainly! How delighted you must be!" chattered the pretty Miss -Gurney. - -Before they had time to retire, the principal confronted them, and -prevented their escape. - - [Illustration: DE FORREST AND JULIA. PAGE 294.] - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -SOMETHING ABOUT PRUSSIA AND GERMANY. - - -Dr. Winstock grasped the hand of the principal when they met in Moscow, -and briefly reported the incidents of his trip down the Volga, with the -little party. - -"Of course you knew that De Forrest and Beckwith left us at Tver?" -added the doctor. - -"Yes; Mr. Agneau informed me, and, poor man, he was very much worried -about the absentees," replied Mr. Lowington. - -"I concluded they had gone down the Volga to Nijni. I asked the police -to detain them, and they did so. On my return from Kazan, I found them -in custody, and not at all satisfied with the results of their runaway -excursion. I brought them up with me, so that they are all right now. -They claimed to have been left by the train at Tver by accident." - -"I suppose they tried that plan because they thought it succeeded in -Norway and Sweden; but I did not punish those because they made a full -confession, and seemed to be sorry for what they had done. Where are -the runaways?" - -"They are here, sir. I saw them come into the hotel with the others." - -The word was passed along for De Forrest and Beckwith, but they were -not there to answer. A dozen had seen them come into the house, and a -party who were standing at the door were sure they had not gone out. -They could not be found, and the doctor was even more chagrined than -the chaplain had been. - -"Never mind, doctor; I shall not run after them. Running away has been -so common that I have ceased to worry about it," said the principal. -"They will come back when their money is all gone, if not before." - -"Probably they intend to see Moscow," added the surgeon; "and they may -appear before the fourth division returns." - -The Volga party returned to St. Petersburg with the second division, -and the next afternoon were on board of their vessel, attending to -their studies, for the students on board were kept at work, because it -is easier to be busy than to be idle. - -On the 25th day of June, all hands had returned, having seen all of -Russia it was practicable to see, and the squadron went seaward, bound -for Königsberg. The officers below Beckwith and De Forrest were moved -up two grades, to fill the vacancies caused by the absence of the -runaways, and the two highest in rank in the steerage were sent into -the cabin. On the passage there were two examinations in seamanship, in -which Cantwell obtained very high marks. On the voyage, which lasted -four days,--for there was very little wind,--the captain performed his -duty to the entire satisfaction of the principal, and without being -obliged to ask for instructions. - -On Tuesday afternoon the squadron anchored off Pillau, a town of four -thousand inhabitants, having a strong fortress at the entrance of the -_Haff_, a nearly landlocked bay, at the head of which Königsberg is -situated. - -"All hands, attend lecture," called the boatswain, after breakfast the -next morning, and while the signal was flying on the ship. - -The students gathered in the steerage, where the professor of geography -and history had hung up a map of Prussia on the foremast, which he had -colored to suit the occasion, so as to show the rapid enlargement of -the country by annexation. - -"Young gentlemen," Mr. Mapps began, "Prussia is now one of the most -powerful states of Europe. We may say of her as of the United States, -'Westward the course of empire takes its way,' for Prussia had a -small beginning in the eastern part of its present territory, and now -extends westward beyond the Rhine. Contrary to my usual custom, I -shall commence with the history of the country. At the present time, -Prussia is divided into eleven provinces, the most eastern of which is -Prussia Proper--the part in which we now are. The region was originally -inhabited by the Lithuanians, who were conquered by the Goths. They -were compelled to embrace Christianity by the Poles in the eleventh -century; but the conquerors were soon repelled, and in their turn -defeated, the barbarians holding a part of Poland for a time. In the -thirteenth century they were the terror of the adjoining countries, and -repelled an army sent against them by Germany. The Teutonic Knights -finally conquered Prussia." - -"What were they, sir?" asked a student. - -"They were a powerful military order, formed during the crusades, who -fought for the Holy Sepulchre in Palestine. After the siege of Acre, a -charitable society for the care of the wounded and sick was organized -by the people of Lübec and Bremen, which was made into an order of -knighthood similar to the Templars. Only nobles were admitted to its -membership, and the Grand Master lived in Jerusalem at first, then in -Venice, and afterwards in Germany. After the crusades, they regarded -themselves as called to convert the heathen, which benignant work -they did, by first conquering the pagan territory. The order became -immensely rich and powerful, holding the territory from the Oder to the -Gulf of Finland, and deriving from it an immense revenue. They were -constantly at war with Poland, which, with their extravagant demands -upon the people, turned the nobility and the people against them. The -oppressed called upon the King of Poland for assistance, and a war of -twelve years followed, in which the order lost West Prussia, holding -the rest by paying tribute to the conquerors. The knights were deprived -of much of their power and wealth, though they still retained vast -possessions. The Grand Master became a kind of spiritual potentate -in Germany, and collected his revenues till 1805, when they went to -the Emperor of Austria. In 1809 Napoleon abolished the order, and its -territories reverted to the sovereigns in whose dominions they were -located. - -"The nucleus of the present kingdom of Prussia was the margraviate of -Brandenburg, of which Berlin is near the centre. By the extinction of -the family of its ruler, it was inherited by Sigismond, Emperor of -Germany, who sold it to Frederick VI., Burgrave of Nuremburg, in 1417. -He was of the house of Hohenzollern, from which the present King of -Prussia is descended, and with the territory the electoral dignity was -conferred upon him. His successors ruled the electorate for over two -hundred years, one of whom signed the protest at Spires, from which the -Protestants obtained their name. - -"Poland held Prussia after it had conquered the Teutonic Knights, and -in 1525 gave the sovereignty of the country to Albert of Brandenburg; -but it was not till 1656 that Prussia was declared independent by -treaty. In 1618 John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg, acquired the -Duchy of Prussia, in the right of his wife, who was the daughter of -Duke Albert II. By the Thirty Years' War the united country was reduced -to misery and desolation, when, in 1640, Frederick William, commonly -called the Great Elector, succeeded to the government. He annexed -considerable territory to his dominion, and added greatly to its power -and influence. His son Frederick, the third elector of that name, -by the consent of Leopold, Emperor of Germany, obtained by a bribe, -tendered through the imperial confessor, raised his domain into a -kingdom, and placed the crown upon his own head at Königsberg, in 1701, -taking the title of Frederick I. This was the origin of the kingdom of -Prussia. Frederick I. extended his domain, which has been the policy -of all his successors. He was succeeded by his son, Frederick William -I., who reigned twenty-seven years, and left a well-disciplined army, -and six millions of dollars in cash in the treasury, to enable his son -Frederick II. to commence business. This son was the renowned Frederick -the Great. He used his capital stock to the best advantage for himself, -wrested Silesia from Austria, and took part in the partition of -Poland. He reigned forty-six years, and at his death had increased his -territory from forty-eight thousand to seventy-seven thousand square -miles. - -"Prussia now ranked as one of the great powers of Europe. Frederick -the Great left for his successor an army of two hundred and twenty -thousand men, and treasure to the value of fifty million dollars. -He was succeeded by his nephew, Frederick William II., in 1786, who -added forty thousand square miles to his kingdom by engaging in the -second and third partitions of Poland. In 1797 he was followed by his -son Frederick William III., who was the father of the present King -of Prussia. He lacked the decision necessary to carry his kingdom -safely through the troubles of his time. His armies were defeated by -Napoleon, and for six years the conqueror held him in subjection, and -deprived him of half his domain. The Prussian soldiers under Blucher, -however, took an important part in the overthrow of the Emperor of the -French, and in the Congress of Vienna, when the affairs of Europe were -readjusted, his territory was restored, and even increased, so that -the kingdom, at his death, consisted of one hundred and seven thousand -square miles. In 1840 he was followed by his son Frederick William IV. -In 1848 an insurrection broke out in Berlin, the result of which was -a considerable modification of the absolutism of the government. A -constitution was adopted, and repeatedly altered and amended. But the -king had the best of it in the end, and Prussia was finally pacified. -In 1857 the king was attacked by disease of the mind, and his brother -William became regent, and in 1861 succeeded him as king, under the -title of William I. He is decidedly absolute in his tendencies, and -claims to hold his crown by the grace of God, and not by the will of -the people. - -"In speaking of Denmark, I told you in what manner the war of 1866, -between Prussia and Austria, was produced. In the terrible battle of -Sadowa, Austria was completely humiliated. Prussia dictated her own -terms of peace, and annexed a territory nearly equal in size to the -state of Maine, including Hanover, Schleswig-Holstein, Hesse Cassel, -Nassau, and other German states. The population of Prussia, with these -additions, is nearly twenty-three millions. The real engineer of -Prussia's magnificent fortunes is not the king, but Bismarck--Count -Otto von Bismarck-Shönhausen. He was born in 1814, was liberally -educated, and elected a member of the Constituent Assembly in 1848. He -served as minister or ambassador to Russia, France, and the Diet at -Frankfort, and was appointed minister of foreign affairs and chief of -the ministers in 1862. - -"Prussia is a constitutional monarchy, and the crown is hereditary -in the male line, in the Hohenzollern family. The executive and part -of the legislative power are vested in the king, who is of age at -eighteen. The legislature is composed of a House of Lords and a Chamber -of Deputies. A bill passing both branches and being approved by the -king becomes a law. Bills may originate with the king or either of -the chambers. A bill vetoed by the king, or rejected by either house, -cannot be moved again during the same session. The upper house is -composed of the princes of the royal family who are of age, and a few -other princes; the heads of certain noble families, life peers chosen -by the king from rich land-owners, great manufacturers, and celebrated -men, eight noblemen chosen by the eight former provinces of Prussia; -representatives of universities, the burgomasters of towns having over -fifty thousand inhabitants; and any number of members nominated by the -king for life, or for a limited period. The lower house consists of -four hundred and thirty-two members, chosen indirectly by the people. - -"The royal family of Prussia are Protestants, but all denominations of -Christians have equal rights and privileges. Nearly two thirds of the -people are Protestants, and about one third Catholics. Education is -universal, and compulsory. Every town must maintain schools, and all -parents are obliged to send their children to them. A small tuition fee -is charged,--about two or three cents a week,--but this is not exacted -when the parents are too poor to pay it. The compulsion applies only -to the elementary schools; but the higher schools are open to the poor -at a very small charge. There are eleven grades of schools, from the -elementary up to the university, including normal, industrial, and -veterinary, schools for agriculture, mining, and architecture. - -"The military system under which Prussia has obtained such tremendous -successes in war was established in 1814, on the principle that every -man capable of bearing arms should be instructed in military tactics, -and actually serve in the army for a specified period. No substitutes -are allowed, and there are very few exemptions, and these only of -the most obvious character. Every man is enrolled as soon as he is -twenty, and must serve seven years, the first three in the regular -army, and the other four in the reserve. At the end of this term he -belongs to the Landwehr, or militia, for nine years, during which time -he is liable to be put into the regular army in case of war. At the -expiration of this period he is thirty-six years of age, and then he -is enrolled in the Landsturm, until he is fifty; but this body are -not sent out of the country, and are called into service only in case -of invasion. For thirty years of his life, therefore, the Prussian is -a soldier. The military organizations, such as companies, regiments, -brigades, divisions, corps d'armée, are always kept up; the officers -are ever ready, and in case of war it is only necessary to call in the -men. It requires only two weeks to organize the reserves and Landwehr. -On a peace footing, the army consists of about four hundred thousand; -on a war footing, double this number. - -"Nearly the whole of Prussia is in the great plain of Northern Europe. -It contains no high mountains, the most important range being the -Harz, the highest elevation of which is thirty-five hundred feet. The -acquisition of Schleswig-Holstein and Hanover has added largely to the -extent of Prussian sea-coast. There are but few good harbors on the -Baltic, for the water is shoal, and full of sand-banks. There are many -_haffs_, or lagoons, like the one on which Königsberg is situated. -Prussia has an immense number of lakes, especially in the eastern part, -the largest of which is the Spirding See, with an area of thirty-seven -square miles; but all these lakes are too shoal for navigation. The -rivers of Prussia flow into the Baltic and North Seas. The principal -are the Niemen or Memel, the Weichsel, or Vistula, the Oder, the Elbe, -the Weser, and the Rhine, all of which are navigable. These river -systems are connected by canals. - -"The climate of Prussia is healthy, the average temperature varying in -different parts from forty-three degrees to fifty degrees. The soil is -generally fertile, though there are some sandy plains, and desolate, -hilly regions. The agriculture, fostered by the government, is of the -highest efficiency. All kinds of grain are produced in abundance, and -largely exported. Two hundred million pounds of sugar were made from -beets ten years ago. Thirty million tons of coal were mined last year, -and the country is rich in minerals. In its agriculture, commerce, -and manufactures, Prussia is remarkably prosperous. The country has a -complete network of railroads, about seven thousand miles in all. - -"Berlin has a population of seven hundred and two thousand, and is -the fifth city of Europe. Next to it is Breslau, with one hundred and -seventy-two thousand. Cologne has one hundred and twenty-five thousand; -Königsberg, one hundred and six thousand. All the others have less than -a hundred thousand. New York has a larger German population than any -German city except Berlin. - -"The money of Prussia is in thalers, silver, or new _grosschen_ and -_pfennings_. A thaler is about seventy cents of our money. Thirty new -grosschen, of two and one third cents each, make a thaler, and twelve -pfennings make a new grosschen. - -"And now, young gentleman, I will close with a brief statement in -regard to the Germanic Confederation, which is a union of states for -certain purposes, similar to that of the United States. In modern times -the two most powerful members have been Austria and Prussia; but the -events of 1866 broke up the confederation, and caused the expulsion -of Austria, leaving Prussia as the ruling power. The North German -Confederation, consisting of twenty states, was then formed under the -leadership of Prussia. The six remaining states, the principal of -which are Bavaria, Baden, and Würtemberg, cannot be said to be united. -Prussia had ratified treaties with the three states mentioned, by which -each of the contracting powers guarantees the integrity of the others' -territory. In other words, in case of war, each is to assist the -others; but it is stipulated that Prussia is to have the command of the -armies. - -"A German Parliament, elected by the people, at the rate of one -member for every hundred thousand inhabitants, met at Berlin in 1867, -and adopted a charter, or constitution, drawn up by the Prussian -government, which means Bismarck." - -Mr. Mapps proceeded to explain the nature of the constitution, which -has again been changed by the events of 1870. After the humiliation -of Austria in 1866, and Prussia's consequent increase of power and -influence, France, which has always held a commanding place among the -powers of Europe, felt that her position was threatened. Prussia had -attained a degree of power and influence which overshadowed France. -A war in the future was certain, and it came in 1870. The desire on -the part of France to check the ambition of Prussia, to cripple her -power, and diminish her influence, was the real cause of the war, -and the immediate events which led to the conflict are now of little -consequence. The attempt to place Leopold of Hohenzollern on the throne -of Spain was undoubtedly a real grievance to France. The French and -their supporters say he was brought forward to provoke a quarrel; -that Bismarck desired a war, in order to complete the unification of -Germany. The prince was withdrawn from the candidacy for the Spanish -throne, but France was not satisfied without a guaranty, which Prussia -would not give. France seemed to be determined to fight, and declared -war. Probably Louis Napoleon depended upon the coöperation of Austria -and Italy in humiliating a power whose rapid growth threatened the -integrity of all her neighbors' territory. But Italy had practically -received Venetia from the hands of Prussia, after the struggle of -1866, and Austria was not in condition to carry on another war with -her powerful opponent. The emperor counted, too, upon the disaffection -of Bavaria, Baden, and Würtemberg, if not Saxony and Hanover, all of -which had been hardly used by Prussia in the war of 1866; but the South -German states promptly placed themselves on the side of Fatherland, -led by Prussia. France was obliged to fight her battles all alone. She -was thoroughly beaten, and absolutely crushed, by the vast legions -of Germany. France, which had been demanding the Rhine provinces, so -that the river should be her boundary line, was deprived of the greater -portion of Alsace and Lorraine, lying next to Germany, and on the Rhine. - -Bismarck's plan to unite all Germany under one emperor was fully -realized, for, while the army of King William was still laying siege to -Paris, the King of Bavaria proposed to the sovereign princes of Germany -to urge William to assume the title of Emperor of Germany. A bill -passed the German Parliament at Berlin, almost unanimously, by which -all the states were united into an empire. The king was elected emperor -by the Diet, and accepted the honor; Bismarck was appointed chancellor -of the empire. - -The members of the Diet, or Parliament, are elected for three years -by the people. As in the United States, each of the sovereignties is -independent in its local government, and exercises all powers which are -not expressly delegated to the Diet. All legislation relating to trade, -commerce, emigration, colonization, and insurance companies, belongs -to the Parliament. The empire also regulates the tariff, coinage, -weights and measures, banking, patents and copyrights, navigation, both -internal and external, post office and telegraphs, the army and navy, -and laws relating to the press. - -The legislature consists of two branches, the Federal Council and -the Diet, or Parliament, the latter of which has nearly four hundred -members. The Federal Council is composed of the representatives of -the several governments. Prussia has seventeen votes in this body; -Bavaria, six; Würtemberg and Saxony, four each; Baden and Hesse, three -each; Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Brunswick, two each; and all the others, -one each, making fifty-eight in all. Each state may send as many -members as it has votes, but all from one state must vote together, -representing but one opinion. - -The emperor represents the empire, concludes treaties, sends -ambassadors, and receives the ministers of other powers. He declares -war in the name of the Confederacy, but unless its territory is invaded -or menaced, he must have the consent of the Federal Council. The -executive power is practically delegated to the King of Prussia, whose -navy now belongs to Germany, and the army is under his command. To all -intents and purposes Prussia is Germany. - -The Zollverein, or Customs Union, controls all matters relating to -the trade and commerce of the German states. It has a council and -parliament, like those of the empire. Its object is to levy uniform -duties on imported merchandise, to superintend the collection of the -revenues, and to regulate trade. All the receipts of the Zollverein -are paid into a common treasury, and distributed according to the -population among the several states. - -As soon as the professor finished his lecture, a steamer came -alongside, and took off the students who were to make an excursion to -Königsberg. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -FROM KÖNIGSBERG TO DANZIG. - - -"Do you remember that amber chamber we saw in the palace of Czarskoé -Sélo?" asked Dr. Winstock, as the steamer left the ship. - -"Yes, sir; the amber was presented by Frederick the Great," replied -Lincoln. - -"Probably he obtained it from this vicinity, where it is largely -gathered on the sea-shore, after a storm. It is also dug out of the -ground in the interior of the country." - -"What is amber?" inquired Norwood, who was listening to the -conversation. - -"It is a resin, or gum, of vegetable origin, supposed to come from a -kind of tree now extinct, hardened into a mineral. It is noted for -its electrical properties. About one hundred and fifty hogsheads of -it are annually collected on this coast. A piece weighing a pound is -worth fifty dollars; but like diamonds, its value increases in a much -greater ratio than its size. The Grand Masters of the Teutonic Knights -took possession of the trade, and derived large revenues from it. At -the present time the King of Prussia receives an income of sixteen -or seventeen thousand dollars from its collection. Amber is exported -in large quantities to Mohammedan countries, where it is used for -mouth-pieces of pipes and for ornaments. In the city you will find many -amber-workers, and a large assortment of goods made from it." - -The steamer ran up into the Pregel River, and the company landed. -Königsberg was once the capital of Prussia Proper, and for a long time -the residence of the Electors of Brandenburg. The old palace was the -residence of the Grand Masters of the Teutonic Knights, and of the -Dukes of Prussia. In the church connected with it, Frederick I. placed -the crown upon his own head; and here, also, the present king followed -his example. The Cathedral is a Gothic building, five hundred years -old, which contains the tombs of many Teutonic Knights, and that of -Kant the philosopher, whose house is also pointed out in the city. - -"There isn't much here to be seen," said Lincoln, as he walked about -the parade-ground. - -"No, not much; but it has been a royal residence, and visiting it makes -the facts of history more real to us," replied Dr. Winstock. "Great -events have transpired here and in this vicinity. Twenty-two miles -south of this city is Eylau, where Napoleon defeated the Russians in -1807, and a dozen miles from there is Friedland, where he again routed -them in the same year. These events led to the treaty of Tilsit, which -is some ninety miles north-east of this city, on the Niemen, near the -frontier of Russia. The treaty was signed on a raft, moored in the -middle of the river, on which was a pavilion magnificently fitted up. -The three sovereigns of France, Russia, and Prussia met upon it. By -this treaty Prussia lost nearly half her territory, as Mr. Mapps told -you, though she regained it in the treaty of Vienna." - -"What did they meet on a raft for?" - -"It was evidently a whim of Napoleon, and in our time the idea would be -considered rather sensational," laughed the doctor. - -Having exhausted the sights of the city, the party walked to the Hôtel -de Prusse, where dinner had been ordered for them. They passed through -the restaurant, in which De Forrest and Beckwith were dining with the -Kinnairds. If the runaways had been prudent they would have removed the -gold lace from their coats and caps; but as Miss Julia Gurney liked the -appearance of it, and it seemed to obtain consideration for them in -hotels and other places, they did not lay it aside. Beckwith suggested -the idea of doing so, but De Forrest thought it would cause the pretty -English girl to ask hard questions, and he declined to adopt the -suggestion. When the students entered the restaurant, De Forrest asked -to be excused, and they tried to get out of sight; but the quick eye of -Mr. Lowington was upon them, and he placed himself in their way. - -"Ah, young gentlemen, I'm glad to see you," said the principal. "It was -unfortunate that you missed the train at Moscow, or took the wrong one." - -The runaways studied the floor. - -"Perhaps you had better dine with us," suggested the principal, as he -pointed to the adjoining room. - -"We have been with a party of English people for some time," stammered -the late purser. "Will you allow me to speak to them before I leave?" - -"It is unnecessary. You were not so particular when you left our party -at Moscow. If any explanations are required, I will make them for you;" -and the principal pointed to the door again. - -Seats were assigned to them at _table d'hôte_, but somehow their -appetites were not very sharp. - -The Kinnairds hardly missed the runaways, for Miss Gurney began to -recognize the young officers who had been so attentive to her on -board the ship, when she visited her at Christiansand. As Lincoln, -Cumberland, and others were only human, probably they had been more -polite to her because she was very pretty, than they otherwise would -have been. Lincoln promptly recognized her, and so did Cumberland. - -"I am very happy to meet you again," said the former. - -"Thank you. I am delighted to see you," replied Julia. - -"Is your ship here?" asked Mr. Kinnaird. - -"No, sir; she is at Pillau," answered the commodore. - -"That is unfortunate, for Julia very much desires to go on board of her -again." - -"We must go to Pillau, Mr. Kinnaird," laughed the pretty maiden. "We -have been travelling with two of your officers for more than a week, -and my interest in your ship is greater than ever. You are one of the -lieutenants, if I remember rightly." - -"I was third lieutenant at the time I met you, but I am not now," -replied Lincoln. - -"He is commodore of the squadron--the highest office," interposed -Cumberland. - -"What a great man you must be!" exclaimed Julia. "And you were captain -when I saw you," she added to Cumberland. - -"Yes; but I have fallen to the rank of first lieutenant." - -"Not by any fault of his own, let me add," said Lincoln. - -"Will you allow us to go on board of the ship if we go to Pillau?" -asked the young lady. - -"Certainly; but we sail for Danzig to-night," replied the commodore. - -"We are going to Danzig to-morrow," suggested Mr. Kinnaird. - -"Then we shall certainly see your ship. But I wonder where Mr. De -Forrest and Mr. Beckwith are," added Julia. - -"They are in the next room, with the rest of our people," answered -Lincoln, who had seen the principal pointing the way for them. - -"They must be delighted to see all their friends again." - -Lincoln thought not, but he did not say so. The two officers entered -the dining-room, and joined their companions. After dinner, the -principal had an interview with the Kinnairds, and as Miss Gurney -manifested so much interest in the ship, Mr. Lowington invited them -to go to Danzig in her, and the pretty maiden leaped with rapture at -the idea. The invitation was accepted, and at seven o'clock in the -evening all hands were on board. De Forrest and Beckwith had looked -about them for a chance to escape; but none was offered, and they -were compelled to go to the ship. They were required to take off their -uniform, and clothe themselves in seamen's dress at once. They were -stationed without delay by Cumberland, the first officer. Of course -they were heartily disgusted, for both of them had occupied places in -the cabin for several months, and it was not pleasant to return to the -steerage, and do duty before the mast. The fact that Miss Julia Gurney -was on board added a hundred fold to their mortification. De Forrest -determined not to appear on deck till he was obliged to do so; and -then, unhappily, he was stationed on the mizzen topsail-yard in furling -and setting sail, and at the spanker sheet in tacking and wearing. - -Two spare state-rooms in the after cabin of the Young America were -appropriated to the guests. The principal was always glad to have -ladies come on board of the vessels of the squadron, because he -believed that female society had a refining influence upon the -students. During the preceding winter he had remodelled the interior -of the ship, so as to have more state-rooms for the accommodation of -occasional passengers. Miss Gurney was delighted with her room and -the cabin, and perhaps more than anything else with the gentlemanly -young officers, who were, of course, put on their good behavior. At -supper she was placed on the right of the commodore, while Mr. and -Mrs. Kinnaird were on the right of the captain. Lincoln was very much -pleased with the fair girl, and, after the meal, escorted her to the -deck. - -There was not a breath of wind, and the German pilot on board was -unwilling to sail without a good breeze, so that the ship would work -lively. The runaways, therefore, were not obliged to show themselves -that evening. The commodore conducted his charge to every part of the -ship which it was proper for a lady to visit. The students gazed at -her with admiration, and some of them doubtless wished they were the -commodore, in order to be in a situation to perform such agreeable -duty. The breeze did not come during the night, and at seven bells the -next morning the squadron was still at anchor. - -"If you are tired of waiting, Miss Gurney, we will send you ashore," -said Commodore Lincoln. - -"Indeed, I'm not tired. I enjoy every moment of the time. I think it is -delicious." - -"I am glad you like it; but I am sure if you were not here, I should -think it was very dull indeed," added Lincoln, laughing. - -"Thank you, Mr. Commodore. You are very kind," continued Miss Gurney, -blushing just a little. - -"We have to go to work in a few moments; but I hope you will find some -way to amuse yourself." - -"To work?" - -"Yes; we have to study and recite our lessons; but there are plenty of -books in the library." - -"May I go into the school-room, and see what is done?" - -"Certainly, if you please. You may come into our class. It is Greek, -navigation, and French to-day." - -"I will join the class, for I have studied Greek and French, but I -don't know anything about navigation." - -"The lesson to-day in navigation is, 'To regulate a chronometer by -means of a transit instrument;' and I have no doubt you will find it -very interesting," laughed the commodore. - -"I have no doubt I shall, but I'm afraid my interest will centre in -your perplexity." - -"Thank you; but I have learned my lesson, and don't intend to be -perplexed. Just as soon as a breeze comes, we shall get under way." - -"That means to start, I suppose." - -"'Only this, and nothing more;' but if I should say start, my shipmates -would laugh at me, and declare that I was not fit to be an officer." - -The recitations commenced, and the guests were as much interested in -them as they had been in other proceedings on board. But at ten in -the forenoon, there was a good sailing breeze, and the students were -dismissed from the steerage. - -"Now you are going to start--I mean, to get under way," said Miss -Gurney. - -"We are," replied the commodore, as he gave the order to run up the -signal for sailing at once. "Captain Cantwell." - -"Commodore Lincoln," replied the captain, touching his cap to his -superior. - -"You will get the ship under way immediately." - -"Dear me! how fine!" exclaimed Julia. "But why don't he do it?" - -"Pass the word for Mr. Cumberland," added the captain to one of the -midshipmen. - -The first lieutenant reported himself, and received his orders from the -captain. The boatswain's whistle rang through the ship, and the call -was heard from the consorts. - -"All hands, up anchor!" shouted the executive officer, when the crew -had mustered; and the anchor was heaved up to a short stay. - -"Stations for loosing sail," continued Cumberland; and the order was -repeated by the officers forward, "Lay aloft, sail-loosers!" - -The seamen scrambled up the rigging like cats, and Miss Gurney -expressed her delight in many exclamations. In a few moments the white -sails dropped down, and all hands aloft, except a few whose duty it was -to remain and overhaul the rigging, descended to the deck. - -"Sheet home and hoist away!" said the first lieutenant; and up went the -yards. "Top up the spanker boom." - -At this last order the sheet men were obliged to take their stations, -and De Forrest cast off the sheet. - -"Why, that is Mr. De Forrest," said Julia, as she recognized her late -travelling companion. - -"That's De Forrest, certainly; but we don't call anyone mister, unless -he is an officer," replied Lincoln. - -"But how different he looks!" - -"A little change in his appearance." - -"Good morning, Mr. De Forrest," said the fair girl, seeing that he was -disengaged, while the other hands were walking away with the lift. - -"Good morning, Miss Gurney," replied the runaway, sheepishly, as he -counted the seams in the quarter-deck. - -"But I thought you were an officer," added the astonished maiden. -"Where are your gold lace and gold-banded cap?" - -"I'm not an officer now." - -"Belay the sheet," said the fourth lieutenant. - -"Man the bars!" shouted the executive officer; and De Forrest had a -chance to escape. - -"What does it mean? Mr. De Forrest said he was an officer," continued -Julia. - -"He was; but when he came on board yesterday, he was reduced to the -steerage." - -"That's too bad! But why was it?" - -"I am sorry to tell you the truth, but he ran away from the ship." - -"Is it possible? Such a nice young man!" - -"Unfortunately it is true." - -As the jib and flying-jib were run up, the ship began to move through -the water, and De Forrest was called aft again to help set the spanker. -In a few moments everything was drawing, and the ship went off on the -port tack. The starboard watch had the deck, and the port watch went -below to attend to their lessons again. The commodore was obliged to -leave his pretty friend, who preferred to remain on deck. De Forrest -was one of the two hands at the wheel, in charge of a quartermaster, -and his mortification was as long continued as it was deep. - -"I didn't see you again after you left us yesterday, Mr. De Forrest," -said Julia. - -"You will excuse me, but I am not allowed to talk with any one while at -the wheel," stammered he. - -"His conduct was such that I declined to permit him to return, and I -promised to explain the matter to you," interposed the principal. - -And he did explain the matter in full, and in the culprit's hearing. -De Forrest could not help seeing that he had sunk to zero in the -estimation of the fair girl, who, after this, hardly looked at him. -At eight bells the commodore came on deck again, and entertained Miss -Gurney, till the squadron anchored off Neufahrwasser, the port of -Danzig, at an early hour in the afternoon. - -"I am sorry we have arrived so soon," said she, when the ship had -anchored. - -"Why?" - -"Because I suppose I must leave you now." - -"Aren't you tired of going to sea?" - -"No, indeed! I think it is so delightful!" - -"Then I hope you will stay with us longer. We are going to look at -Danzig, and then sail for Swinemünde." - -"Will you allow us to stay any longer?" - -"Certainly; we shall be very glad to have you remain on board as long -as you will." - -The principal indorsed this request, and the Kinnairds assented. - -"You will see something new on board to-morrow, if you stay," added -Lincoln. "To-morrow will be the first day of the month, and we have an -election of officers." - -"And will you be the commodore next month?" - -"I don't know," laughed Lincoln. "Perhaps I shall not have votes -enough." - -"O, I hope you will!" - -"Thank you, Miss Gurney; my position is certainly a very comfortable -one, for I have but little to do, except to entertain the ship's -guests, which in this instance is an exceedingly pleasant duty." - -"You are very kind, Commodore Lincoln. I wish I was a young man," -added Miss Gurney. - -"I don't; I'm afraid I shouldn't like you half so well if you were." - -"But if I were I should be a sailor, and would study till I became a -commodore," replied the young lady, blushing. - -"You overrate the office." - -"Nothing could be more delightful than to live in the cabin, and go -from place to place in this beautiful ship." - -"If you were on board in a gale of wind, perhaps you would not think -her so very beautiful." - -"Well, I think so now." - -The conversation was interrupted by the call for all hands to go on -shore. The boats were lowered, and the ship's guests were invited to -take passage in the commodore's barge. De Forrest pulled the stroke oar -in this boat, and his disgust was intolerable. The fair Miss Gurney sat -directly in front of him, chatting with the commodore. He had flattered -himself that this young lady had some regard for him, and he had -accompanied her party from city to city, solely for the sake of being -with her--she was so fascinating. He had permitted her to lead him to -the shores of the Baltic, where he had been captured by the principal. -And this was the reward of all his devotion! Thus she gave him the cold -shoulder, and bestowed her smiles upon the commodore! It was real agony -to him, and the coxswain was obliged to call out to him more than once -to mind his stroke. - -The company landed, except De Forrest and Beckwith, whose liberty had -been stopped, and they were handed over to the care of Peaks, the -boatswain, who put them both into the fourth cutter, and pulled back to -the ship, leaving the other forward officers in charge of the rest of -the boats. The party took the train at Neufahrwasser, and in a quarter -of an hour were in Danzig. - -"Large vessels used to go up to the city," said Dr. Winstock, who was -in the compartment with Lincoln and the Kinnairds; "but on the breaking -away of the ice in the Vistula in 1840, a new passage to the sea was -opened, and the water was diverted from the deep channel." - -"Danzig is a great grain city--isn't it?" asked Lincoln. - -"Yes; immense quantities of wheat come down the Vistula from the grain -regions of Prussia, Poland, and other countries. It was formerly the -greatest grain port in the world, but is now far surpassed by Chicago. -It is five miles from the Baltic. The granaries are on an island in the -river, where no dwelling-house can be built, and no fires or lights are -allowed." - -The company left the train in the city, and went to the cathedral, -commenced by one of the Grand Masters of the Teutonic order in the -fourteenth century, and finished in the sixteenth. It is a fine church, -and has fifty chapels, founded by the chief citizens as burial-places -for their families. The principal curiosity in the church is a picture -of the Last Judgment, painted for the pope, but captured by pirates on -its way from Bruges to Rome. It was retaken by a Danzig vessel, and -placed in this cathedral, but in 1807 was carried to Paris by the -French. It was reclaimed after the war by the King of Prussia, who -offered forty thousand thalers for the privilege of retaining it in -Berlin; but when the owners declined the offer, he returned it to them. - -Danzig is one of the oldest cities in Germany, and resembles Nuremburg -in the quaint old structures which it contains, and the walk through -the _Langgasse_, the principal street, and the Long Market, was full of -interest to the students. At half past seven all hands had collected -at the railroad station, and before nine were on board the vessels. As -the breeze was both fresh and fair, the squadron got under way, and the -next day it was far out in the Baltic. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -THE STRANDED STEAMER IN THE BALTIC. - - -On the morning of the first day of July, at nine o'clock, the squadron -had accomplished half the distance from Danzig to the mouth of the -Oder, or rather to Swinemünde, on the outlet of the Haff to the Baltic. -This Haff is the estuary of the Oder, and forms a considerable lake -inside of the two islands which separate it from the sea. - -All hands were called, and the merit-roll for the preceding month -was read by the principal, so that the students might know who were -eligible to the elective offices. There was hardly a change in the -relative rank, for very little had been done upon the lessons during -the month. The most remarkable event was, that Scott came out No. -16, which gave him the rank of fourth midshipman. The joker was a -first-class seaman, and probably he owed his good fortune largely to -the several examinations in nautical matters, though he had exerted -himself more than ever before in the scholastic department. The reading -of his name in this connection called forth a shout of applause. As -usual, Lincoln and Cumberland had the highest number of marks, and -Cantwell was the third. De Forrest and Beckwith stood at the foot of -the list, for they had been absent from most of the recitations during -the month. Cumberland was not eligible to the office of commodore. -Lincoln, Cantwell, and the two captains of the consorts were the only -candidates for this position. - -"Of course Cantwell will be chosen," sneered De Forrest. "This thing is -played out, and all I want is a chance to get off." - -"I don't believe you will find any such chance," replied Beckwith. "I -don't think we have made anything by running away." - -"We had a good time while we were away." - -"I didn't. You tagged after that girl, and made me follow you. Now she -has cut you." - -"I'll get even with Lincoln on that yet." - -"I don't believe you will. It isn't his fault. When the girl found out -that you had run away from the ship, she wouldn't look at you again. -That's the whole of it," replied Beckwith. - -While they were talking, the word was passed for all hands to assemble -in the waist to hold a caucus for the nomination of officers. - -"Scott has got into the cabin, and I don't believe he will lead all the -fellows in the steerage by the nose now," said De Forrest. "I suppose -he will try to make Cantwell commodore." - -The meeting was organized by the choice of Ryder, the second master, as -chairman, and Vroome as secretary. - -"The meeting is ready for business," said the chairman. - -"I move that Captain Langdon, of the Josephine, be nominated for -commodore," shouted De Forrest. - -"Second the motion," added Lincoln, promptly. - -"Question," called several. - -The motion was put, and voted down without a count. - -De Forrest tried again with the name of Captain Wolff, of the Tritonia, -in order to throw out Lincoln and Cantwell, and Beckwith seconded his -motion. - -"I don't think this is a fair thing, Mr. Chairman," said De Forrest. "A -great deal has been said about fair play; but now the ship's company of -the Young America want to nominate for commodore, without giving the -students in the consorts any voice in the matter." - -"I desire to say, for the information of the last speaker, that an -arrangement has been made by which the ship is to have the office of -commodore for two months out of four, while the consorts are to have it -the other two months," interposed Cumberland. - -"I don't recognize any such arrangement," replied De Forrest, angrily. - -This remark was greeted with a shout of laughter, for the runaway spoke -as though he had the control of the whole matter. - -"If the speaker had been on board at Cronstadt when the agreement was -made, he would understand it better," said the chairman. "The question -is upon the nomination of Captain Wolff." - -It was voted down almost unanimously. - -"I move that Captain Cantwell be nominated," said Billy Bobstay, who -was filled with gratitude at the generous conduct of the captain -towards him. - -"I second the motion," added Lincoln. - -"Mr. Chairman, I wish to decline being considered a candidate. I cannot -accept the nomination on any conditions," said Cantwell, in a loud, -clear, and decided voice. - -His remark was hailed with the most emphatic applause; and Cantwell -hastened to Billy Bobstay, and begged him to withdraw his motion, which -he did. - -"If there is no objection, the motion may be withdrawn," said the -chairman. - -"I object," interposed Lincoln. - -"Then I hope the ship's company will vote it down, as a favor to me, if -for no other reason," added Cantwell. - -"Question!" called the impatient seamen. - -It was voted down, but in a mild and gentle manner, which indicated -that the students did not do so from any ill will to Cantwell. - -"Now, Mr. Chairman, I nominate Commodore Lincoln for reëlection," -continued the captain. - -The motion was seconded, and carried with only a single voice against -it, and that was De Forrest's, his "no" being uttered in the most -malignant tone. - -"Mr. Chairman," shouted Scott, as soon as this question was settled, "I -made a speech somewhere up north of here, among the eternal solitudes -of nature, and all that sort of thing, you know. I went in for fair -play then, as I do now. Some of us didn't vote the regular nominations -at the election, and the consequence was, that Captain Cantwell -was chosen. I think he has made a very good captain, and been very -courteous and gentlemanly to all hands. I shall therefore move that he -be nominated again." - -"Mr. Chairman," said Cantwell, interrupting the applause which -followed the joker's speech. "I am very much obliged to those who -have supported me, and for this kind response to the motion of the -last speaker; but I have already made up my mind not to accept the -nomination of captain. In the excitement of the last election, I was -chosen to a position for which I was not as competent as many others. I -have done my best to improve in seamanship, but I will no longer occupy -a place for which others are better fitted than I am." - -Scott persisted, and Cantwell was nominated; but he positively declined -to accept the nomination, though most of the students supposed he was -declining for effect, at first. Finally, the principal interposed, -for there could be no doubt that the captain was fully in earnest. -Cumberland was then nominated for captain, and Cantwell for first -lieutenant. Judson, Norwood, and Sheridan were selected for the -other three elective places. The balloting was commenced, and all -the nominees of the caucus were chosen. The result of the vote for -commodore was signalled from each of the consorts, and Lincoln was -reëlected. - -"That's what I call fair play," said Scott. - -"Yes, it is; but those same fellows will be chosen as long as they -remain in the ship," replied Wainwright, who was now the fourth master. - -"Well, they don't remain much longer," replied Scott. "Nearly all of -the fellows in the highest offices will be graduated this summer, and -I suppose they will leave. That will open the way for others. I wonder -how I shall feel in a frock coat." - -"Probably you will feel good, as all the others do," answered -Wainwright, as he led the way into the cabin, where he was presented by -the commodore to Miss Gurney and the Kinnairds. - -"I am glad to see you here, Scott," said Cantwell, taking him by the -hand. - -"I'm afraid there is some blunder in the reckoning," replied Scott. - -Lincoln had been most heartily congratulated by the ship's guests on -his reëlection, and Miss Gurney could not help expressing to Cantwell -her admiration of his unselfish conduct. Everybody seemed to be -satisfied with the result of the election, except De Forrest. The new -plan, of which he claimed the authorship, worked very well, and the -students were obtaining some experience in the machinery of politics. -Clyde Blacklock, who, when he found it was useless to attempt to run -away, or to resist the authority of the ship, had exerted himself to -learn and to do his duty, was particularly pleased with the result of -his struggles during the month. He was a young man of good parts, and -had the English love of invigorating sports. He had taken kindly to his -duty, and had made great proficiency during the two months he had been -on board. He was the coxswain of the second cutter, and he was prouder -of the position than many who had won places in the cabin. Some of the -crew of the boat were inclined to sneer at him, but he took especial -pains to conciliate them. - -On the afternoon of the election day it rained, and the guests were -compelled to remain in the cabin; but the young officers who were not -on duty did their best to entertain them. At night a dense fog set in; -but the wind was fair, and the squadron held on its course, and having -the starboard tacks aboard, the fog-horns were blown every two minutes. -The next morning, at seven bells, pilots were taken, just as the fog -began to lift, though it still lay over the land on the port bow. -Repeated whistles, as of a steamer, were heard from this direction, -and the pilot of the ship declared that some vessel was in distress, -probably a steamer, which had run ashore in the fog. - -"Steamer aground on the port bow," shouted the lookout forward, half an -hour later. - -"I see her!" exclaimed Captain Cumberland, who had placed himself in -the lee mizzen-shrouds. "She is on a sand-bank." - -The ship was within half a mile of the steamer, but the pilot declared -that it was not prudent to go any nearer. Two guns from the grounded -vessel announced that she needed assistance. - -"Mr. Cantwell, call all hands; clear away the second cutter," said the -captain. - -"All hands, on deck; second cutters, clear away your boat!" piped the -boatswain, when the first officer had given the order. - -"Now, heave her to," added the captain. - -"Man the main clew-garnets and buntlines!" shouted Cantwell; and his -orders were repeated by the other officers at their stations. "Let go -the lee braces! Down with the helm, quartermaster!" - -"Down, sir," responded the quartermaster at the wheel. - -"Up mainsail! Brace her aback!" - -The ship rounded up into the wind, the main topsail swung round, and -in a few moments the headway of the vessel was checked. - -"Mr. Scott, in charge of the second cutter!" continued the first -lieutenant. - -Scott leaped lightly into the boat. - -"Lower away!" said Cantwell, as soon as it was prudent to drop the boat -into the water. - -"Up oars!" shouted Clyde Blacklock, the new coxswain, proud and happy -to have a real duty to perform. "Let fall! Give way together!" And away -went the second cutter over the waves towards the stranded steamer. - -Mr. Lowington thought it best to send another boat, and the first -cutter, pulling twelve oars, was despatched, in charge of Sheridan. -The second cutter was far ahead of her, and was the first to reach the -unfortunate vessel, which proved to be one of the mail steamers from -Stockholm. She had run her bow hard on a sand-bank, and then toppled -over on her starboard side, her stern nearly submerged in the deep -water. - -"Way enough!" said Clyde, as the cutter approached her gangway. - -Scott stood behind the bowman, ready to step on board as soon as the -boat was secured. - -"O Clyde! My son!" shouted a lady among the passengers. "Save us! Save -us!" - -"That's my mother!" exclaimed the coxswain, as Scott leaped upon the -deck. - -"Don't be alarmed, madam. You are perfectly safe," said the fourth -midshipman, as he approached the captain, whom he easily recognized by -his dress and appearance. "You seem to be in a tight place." - - [Illustration: THE STRANDED STEAMER. PAGE 330.] - -The captain, who was a German, did not seem to understand this remark, -though he spoke English. - -"You belong to the boy-ship?" said he. - -"The Academy Ship, sir. What can we do for you?" replied Scott. - -"I want a steamer to pull me off." - -"Then I don't know that we can do anything for you." - -"You can send a steamer, if you are going on to Swinemünde. My -passengers are very much frightened, though there is no danger, unless -we have a storm." - -"We will take off your passengers, sir." - -"Thank you; that will relieve them. I have only ten." - -The second cutter was swung round, and the officers of the steamer -assisted the passengers into the boat. As the first cutter soon -arrived, a part of them were placed on board of her. - -"O Clyde, Clyde!" exclaimed Mrs. Blacklock, as she hugged her boy. "I -thought I should never see you again." - -"Come, mother, don't be too demonstrative. You will make all the -fellows laugh at me." - -"I'm so glad to see you, Clyde!" added Miss Celia Blacklock, his sister. - -Clyde kissed them both, and then begged them to allow him to attend to -his duty. - -"Up oars!" shouted he, with vigor. "Shove off!" - -"I am so glad to get out of that steamer!" added Mrs. Blacklock. "I -thought we should all be drowned." - -"Let fall!" said Clyde, too much interested in his new duties even to -heed his mother. "Stern, all! Give way!" - -"And I'm very, very glad to find you again, Clyde!" continued the lady. - -"Oars! Now give way together!" and Clyde gathered up his tiller-ropes, -and for the first time had an opportunity to attend to his mother, whom -he had not seen for nearly three months. - -The young Englishman was an only son, and his mother a widow, who -had been utterly unable to manage him, after she had spoiled him by -early indulgence. The youth had a freak, when he saw the Academy Ship, -that he should like to join her, but soon changed his mind. As the -institution seemed to be the only means of saving him from his own -folly and wilfulness, Mrs. Blacklock had reluctantly permitted Mr. -Lowington to take the control of him. Though he had run away, and had -been subjected to sharp but excellent discipline, he had done very well -as soon as he found it was no longer possible for him to have his own -way. - -"I have been looking for you these two months, Clyde," said his mother. -"Where have you been?" - -Clyde told her where he had been. - -"I went to St. Petersburg, but the ship had not been there, and I -returned to Stockholm, and have spent the last month in Sweden." - -"We were rusticating among the islands in the Gulf of Bothnia while you -were looking for me." - -"Why haven't you written to me, Clyde?" - -"I did not know where you were." - -"I hope you have had enough of the sea," sighed his mother. - -"I am just beginning to like it first rate. Don't you see I am an -officer?" - -"Are you the captain of the ship?" - -"Well, no; not exactly that, mother; but I am in command of this boat." - -Scott turned away, and laughed, as did the stroke oarsman, who also -heard the remark. - -"I want you to go with me now. I am very, very lonely without you," -added Mrs. Blacklock. - -"Not much, as the Americans say," replied Clyde, shaking his head. - -"Much what, my son?" - -"I don't want to leave the ship. I have done very well, and I am going -to be the captain of her one of these days. I have been studying -geometry, and algebra, and navigation, and French, and German; and a -fellow can learn something in that ship. It's the best school I ever -went to.--Way enough!" said the new coxswain, as the cutter approached -the gangway of the Young America, the steps of which had been rigged -out as soon as it was seen that ladies were coming on board. - -The passengers of the stranded steamer were assisted to the deck, the -boats hoisted up, and the ship filled away. Mrs. Blacklock and her -daughter, as well as the others, were cordially welcomed on board by -the principal. Breakfast was immediately served for them, and they were -made as happy as possible by the young officers, though only a few of -the new guests spoke English. - -"I want to take Clyde away now, Mr. Lowington," said Mrs. Blacklock, -as the ship was entering the harbor of Swinemünde. - -"I would not, madam. He is doing exceedingly well on board," replied -the principal. "He was surly and dissatisfied for a time, but now he -takes an interest in his studies, and is making rapid progress. He is a -good sailor, too." - -"But I miss him very, very much." - -"I dare say you do; but you ought to think of the boy's good. I never -had a more hopeful case in the ship than he is just now. I am confident -we shall make a man of him if you allow us to do so." - -Clyde was called up to speak for himself, and he begged that his mother -would not think of such a thing as removing him. He would write to her -every week. The weak lady finally consented, when the youth declared -that he would be captain of the ship in due time. - -The squadron came to anchor at Swinemünde, and a boat was immediately -sent on shore, with the passengers who wished to land, and with an -officer to inform the agents of the steamer of her condition. - -Arrangements had already been made for sight-seeing in this part of -Germany, and the whole ship's company were to make an excursion to -Berlin and other places. The Kinnairds and the Blacklocks were to go -with them. The party, after remaining on board over Sunday, embarked in -the regular steamer for Stettin, which is a four-hours' trip, on Monday -and arrived at two o'clock in the afternoon. Having an hour or more to -spare before taking the train for Berlin, they had an opportunity to -see the principal street of the town, and to visit the old castle, but -there was nothing of special interest in the place. - -The train left Stettin at half past three, and arrived in Berlin at -six. The officers and seamen had again been arranged in four divisions, -so as not to overwhelm any hotel, and to enable those in charge of them -to exercise a proper supervision. Dr. Winstock had gone up to the city -to make arrangements for their accommodation, and was at the station -on the arrival of the tourists with omnibuses and droschkes enough -to convey them to the hotels. The Kinnairds, with the surgeon and -the commodore, went to the Hotel de Rome, _Unter den Linden_, as the -principal street of the city is called. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -BERLIN, POTSDAM, AND DRESDEN. - - -Berlin is built on a plain, and there is nothing in the site to -recommend it. Like a drunken man, it is on the Spree, which wanders -through the centre of the city, with a branch that forms an island, -and a canal that winds around the city, and through the adjacent -country, so that the Oder on the east and the Elbe on the west are -united. The streets are generally broad, with plenty of squares and -other open spaces. The houses are of brick, covered with stucco, upon -which the Baltic fogs that prevail here have a bad effect, injuring -the appearance of the buildings. The principal street, on which the -palaces, museum, and hotels are situated, a very wide avenue, in -imitation of the Champs Elysée in Paris, but not at all to be compared -with it, is _Unter den Linden_. The middle of it is a broad gravelled -walk, with double rows of lime and other trees to shade it for -pedestrians. On each side of this is a narrow roadway for equestrians. -Outside of these roads, and separated from them by a fence and a line -of trees, are two streets for general use. - -The weather was warm and pleasant, and Dr. Winstock proposed a -ride through _Unter den Linden_, which is about a mile in length, -terminating in the palace at one end, and the Brandenburg Gate at the -other. Two _droschkes_--four-wheeled carriages, with one or two seats, -similar to the _voitures de place_ of Paris--were procured. Lincoln -and Miss Gurney, with the doctor, occupied one of them. The great -avenue was full of people, and the scene was very lively. The party -drove towards the palace first, near which the hotel is located. In -a moment the doctor stopped the carriage at the colossal statue of -Frederick the Great, one of the most magnificent monuments in Europe. -The Statue itself is seventeen feet high, resting on a granite pedestal -twenty-five feet high, on the sides of which are bronze figures in high -relief, life size, of thirty-one persons, including the heroes of the -Seven Years' War, and the eminent men of the great monarch's reign. - -"The king lives in that house," said Dr. Winstock, pointing to a very -plain edifice nearly opposite the statue. "He may often be seen sitting -at the corner window. There is the queen now, at the second story -window." - -Of course this was a genuine sensation, and the party gazed at her -majesty, who stood before the window. She wore a white dress, and -though she was nearly sixty, she looked much younger. - -"Is that the queen?" asked Lincoln. - -"That is Queen Augusta," replied the surgeon. - -"She don't look like a queen." - -"Of course she is human," laughed the doctor. - -"But she looks like any other woman." - -"Certainly she does. If you met her in the street you could not -distinguish her from any other lady." - -"Have you seen Queen Victoria, commodore?" asked Miss Gurney. - -"I have not." - -"I have seen her several times; and she isn't a bit different from any -other woman; but I suppose on state occasions, when she wears the crown -and her robes, she looks like a queen." - -"Did you think, Lincoln, that kings and queens went about with crowns -on their heads and sceptres in their hands?" - -"Well, no, sir; but I had an idea that they must appear different from -other people." - -After a drive to the garden opposite the Royal Palace, the party -proceeded through _Unter den Linden_, pausing a moment at the -Brandenburg Gate, an immense triumphal arch, on which is a car of -Victory, carried to Paris by Napoleon, but returned, after much -negotiation, in 1814. Beyond this is the _Thiergarten_, or "garden of -animals," a vast tract of land, covered with trees, with roads and -paths through it. Very little has been done to make a park of this -territory, so that it does not compare with the Bois de Boulogne in -Paris, or with Central Park in New York, which is, without doubt, the -finest in the world. It was well filled with people at this hour; -but generally it is dull and monotonous, like a drive through the -woods in the country. Half an hour's ride brought the party to the -Zoölogical Gardens, which contains a very large collection of animals, -and a fine park. Part of the latter is used as a beer garden, in -which there is a large, semicircular, covered stage for the music. -There are also several buildings for restaurants, though most of the -people were seated at little tables under the trees. A band of about -one hundred pieces was playing German airs when the tourists entered, -and two or three thousand people were present in the grounds. Ladies -and gentlemen, in groups of three or four, were seated at the tables. -Nearly all the men were smoking and drinking wine or beer. A few of -the ladies drank beer, but most of them were partaking of chocolate, -ice-creams, tea, and coffee. The scene was peculiarly German, and -everybody seemed to be happy. From this place the party went to Kroll's -Garden, where the same scene appeared, though it contains a large hall, -with a stage where opera is given at twenty-five cents a ticket, with -a good seat. The excursionists returned to the hotel, and the next -morning the business of sight-seeing was commenced in earnest by the -entire company. - -They walked to the Lustgarten, an open space at the end of _Unter -den Linden_, on the three sides of which are the Royal Palace, the -Cathedral, and the Museum. The first is a vast structure, owing more -of its grandeur to its size than to its beauty. At the gate are some -bronze horses, held by grooms, like those on Monte Cavallo, at Rome, -presented by Nicholas of Russia. The ascent to the second story is by -a winding inclined plane, up which a carriage can be driven. In the -guard-room the visitors were provided with felt slippers, worn over the -boots or shoes, to avoid scratching the polished floors. The apartments -are magnificently furnished, but they need not be described, for every -palace contains substantially the same series of rooms. The White -Hall is the most elegant, containing the statues of the Brandenburg -Electors, and allegorical figures of the eight Prussian Provinces -before the recent wholesale annexation. In one room there is a silver -gilt mantel, representing one of pure metal which Frederick the Great -melted down to obtain the money to build the new palace at Potsdam, in -order to show the princes of Europe that his funds were not exhausted. -The new chapel is very rich, and has a lofty dome, from which it is -lighted. The floor is of the most beautiful marble, and the walls and -ceiling are elegantly frescoed. The palace formerly had the reputation -of being haunted by a "White Lady" who appeared only to announce the -death of a member of the royal family. - -The company passed through the Cathedral, and entered the Museum, which -is a very handsome edifice. Its art collections are hardly excelled -in Europe. Besides vast galleries of painting and sculpture, it -contains antiquities from the north, and from Egypt, and curiosities -from distant lands, which are among the finest in the world; but the -students were more interested in the historical collection than in -anything else, particularly the relics of Frederick the Great. Among -the latter are the cast of him taken after death, the bullet with -which he was wounded at Rossbach, a wax figure of him, clothed in the -uniform he wore on the day of his death, his books, cane, and a flute. -A dress of the Great Elector, his pipes, and a glass case containing -the stars, orders, and decorations of Napoleon, taken at Waterloo by -the Prussians, in the carriage now at Madame Tussaud's exhibition in -London, are also to be seen in this Museum. The beautiful frescoes in -the grand hall were carefully examined, and their allegorical meaning -explained. - -The party went through the Arsenal, and then visited the Aquarium, -a private exhibition. The various apartments were in the shape of -grottoes of artificial rocks, in which the tanks were ingeniously -arranged. The animals were fishes, reptiles, and birds, of which there -was an endless variety; and the students generally were more pleased -with this exhibition than with anything else they saw in Berlin. - -After dinner, a portion of the party went out to Charlottenberg in the -horse car. The town contains a palace built by Frederick I. The gardens -are prettily laid out, but almost the only attraction of the place is -the monument of Queen Louisa, the most beautiful and amiable princess -of her day. She was the wife of Frederick William III., and the mother -of the present king. The monument is the reclining form of the queen in -marble, on a sarcophagus. It is the work of Rauch, the great sculptor, -and is universally appreciated. By its side is a similar monument to -the king, her husband. They are contained within a Doric temple. - -Some of the party who did not visit Charlottenberg went to the Town -Hall, under which is a vast beer hall and restaurant, where they had -an opportunity to see the manners of the Germans. The same students -went to the Jewish synagogue, a large building in Oriental style, -holding four thousand people, which cost a million dollars. It contains -a gallery for the women, and has a lofty dome. On the backs of the -settees were the names of persons who had purchased seats at a -thousand thalers each. It is said that those who built this synagogue -realize a handsome percentage on their investment from the letting -of seats. The Bourse is a handsome building, the interior of which -is seventy feet high, with a gallery for visitors extending across -the middle, over a partition which divides the grain and the stock -exchanges. - -The next day the entire company went to Potsdam, which may be called -the city of palaces, for there are not less than five royal residences -in the town. It is eighteen miles from Berlin, and was the favorite -summer-home of Frederick the Great, as it is of the present king. -Carriages of all sorts and kinds were gathered for the use of the -party, and they drove to Babelsberg, which is several miles from the -railroad station. As they approached their destination, they crossed -the River Havel, which here widens in a broad lake. The carriages were -left at the entrance of the grounds, and a walk through a pleasant -grove brought the tourists to a lovely lawn, bordering on the river, -and presenting one of the most beautiful landscapes to be found in -any country. This region is diversified by gentle elevations, on one -of which stands the castle or chateau of the present king. The estate -is his private property, and he pays all the expenses of keeping it, -even to the soldiers who are sometimes on duty there. The castle is -built on the side of a hill, with an entrance from the lawn, though -the principal one is on the other side, one story higher. The party -entered at the rear, and came into small apartments, cosily furnished. -The skins and heads of several deer, killed by the king, are displayed -here. Up one flight the rooms are larger, but they are entirely -different from those usually found in palaces. They are elegantly but -simply furnished, and contain a great variety of objects of art, with -small paintings of the best artists: indeed, everything about them -indicates the highest taste and refinement. The queen's rooms are very -cosy and home-like. Up stairs are the apartments of the Grand Duchess -of Baden, the king's daughter, and of the crown prince. His majesty's -bed-room is exceedingly plain, having a narrow bed with chintz -curtains. On the wall over the bed hangs a water-color picture, given -him by the queen at their silver wedding. Near this chamber is the -king's working room; and the students gazed curiously at the books open -on the table, the pens with which his majesty wrote, and various other -articles he used. In the room are chairs for the ministers when he -holds a council here. The view from the windows of the lawn, the lake, -and the grove is very fine. Babelsberg, for quiet beauty and taste, -cannot be surpassed. - -The students did not enter the Marble Palace on the banks of the lake. -In the water are several miniature vessels and a little steamer, all of -them for the amusement and instruction of the little folks. Passing the -Russian village, which contains eleven houses like those to be found -in Russia, belonging to the better class in the country, built by a -party sent here by Nicholas, the sight-seers arrived at the gardens of -Sans Souci. They are rather stiffly laid out, with plenty of fountains, -statues, fish-ponds, and other ornaments. On a hill, with a very long -flight of steps leading down to the principal avenue of the garden, -is the Palace of Sans Souci,--"without care,"--built by Frederick the -Great in 1745. At the end of the terrace are the graves of his favorite -dogs, and of the horse he rode in many of his battles. In his will he -directed that he should be buried among them, but his request was not -heeded. In the palace the room where he breathed his last is shown. A -clock, which he always wound up himself, stopped at the instant of his -death, and still indicates the time--twenty minutes past two. - -On the hill near the palace is the historic windmill of Sans Souci, -separated from it only by a road. Frederick the Great wished to extend -his grounds in the direction of the mill, but the miller refused -to sell it. In a lawsuit with the owner the king was defeated, and -submitted to the decision. He was so well pleased with Prussian -justice, that he pulled down the original mill, which was a very small -one, and erected for the miller the present one, on a much larger -scale. In the reign of Frederick William IV., the miller who owned it, -doubtless a descendant of the one who defeated the monarch at law, -became embarrassed, and offered to sell it; but the king settled on him -a sum sufficient to extricate him from his difficulties, declaring that -the mill was a national monument, and belonged to Prussian history. - -Not far from the mill is the orangery of the palace, and the Raphael -Saloon. The New Palace is the one built by Frederick the Great at -the close of the Seven Years' War, to prove that his funds were not -exhausted. It contains seventy-two apartments, many of them very -gaudy. Some have walls and floors of fantastic marble mosaics. There -is a hall whose walls are all composed of shells, and in one various -kinds of minerals are inlaid on the sides. Some relics of the great -monarch are shown. In the library is a copy of his works, with notes -and criticisms by Voltaire, whom Frederick admired and invited to -his palace. The New Palace is now one of the residences of the crown -prince, Frederick, who married the Princess Royal of England. In the -Antique Temple, near it, is a statue of Queen Louisa, the work of -Rauch, who labored fifteen years upon it, and it is regarded as even -superior to the one on her tomb. - -From this palace the company went to the Garrison Church, where, under -the marble pulpit, above ground, is the tomb of Frederick the Great -and Frederick William I. The sexton opens the tomb, and visitors are -permitted to gaze upon the coffins of the two monarchs. That of the -great king is a large and perfectly plain metallic coffin. His sword -formerly lay upon it, but was stolen by Napoleon, who visited the tomb. -On each side of the pulpit hang the eagles and standards taken from -the French by the Prussians, and their presence seems to be a just -retaliation for the theft. - -The old Royal Palace, or _Residenz_, commenced in 1660, is a very large -building, with interminable suites of rooms, some of them occasionally -used at the present time. Within it are shown several articles -belonging to Frederick the Great, as one of his flutes, some music -composed by him, and his old boots. His little dining-room contains -a table, in which is a slide, to enable him to dispense with the -attendance of a servant. The apartment is provided with double doors, -so that he could entertain a friend without being over-heard. - -The party then returned to Berlin before five in the afternoon. At -quarter of eight in the evening, they took places in the _schnellzug_, -or fast train and arrived at Dresden about half past twelve. In half -an hour more, most of them were asleep at the Hotels de Bellevue, -Victoria, Saxe, and Stadt. The Bellevue, on the bank of the Elbe, is -one of the pleasantest and best kept hotels in Europe. - -Dresden is the capital of the Kingdom of Saxony, whose territory is a -thousand square miles smaller than the State of Massachusetts, but has -a population of two million four hundred thousand. It is an independent -state, except that its army is under the control of the King of Prussia -in time of war. Its royal house is one of the oldest in Europe, and in -the tenth century gave an Emperor to Germany. The population of Dresden -is one hundred and fifty-six thousand. It is in a healthy and pleasant -region, and has many attractions, so that it has long been regarded -as a desirable residence by Americans. Hundreds of families from the -United States live there, not only because it is cheap and pleasant, -but because the place affords the best advantages for education, while -its art collections and curiosities are not excelled by many of the -capitals of Europe. - -Not many of the students appeared the next morning before nine o'clock, -though most of them had slept all the way from Berlin to Dresden. -Palaces and museums with waxed floors are very tiresome. One needs a -week properly to digest the sights of the capital of Saxony; but our -party were to do what they could in a single long day. Mr. Ferdinand -Spott, one of the most honest, faithful, and reliable _commissionaires_ -to be found in Europe, was engaged to engineer the sight-seeing, and to -make arrangements for a visit to the Saxon Switzerland the next day. - -Dresden is on both sides of the Elbe, the old city being on the left -bank, and the new on the right. They are joined by a noble stone -bridge, fourteen hundred feet long, originally built with funds -procured by the sale of dispensations from the pope of indulgences to -eat eggs and butter during Lent. One of its arches was blown up by -Davoust, to favor the retreat of the French army after the battle of -Dresden, but was promptly restored by the Emperor of Russia. Near the -bridge, in the old city, is a large square, part of it beautifully laid -out in groves, gardens, and winding walks, with a pond and island in -it. On or near this square are most of the attractions to strangers. -The Hotel de Bellevue is on the river, in one corner. Next to it, on -the river, is an extensive restaurant and beer garden. The theatre -which stood in the centre of the square has been destroyed by fire, a -temporary structure of wood taking its place. On one side stands the -Zwinger, originally intended as the vestibule of a vast palace, the -rest of which was never erected, contains the Armory and Museum of -Natural History. Opposite the bridge is the Catholic Church, a very odd -and profusely ornamented structure. The royal family are Catholics, -though the great majority of the people are Lutherans. Next to this is -the _Schloss_, or palace, and connected with it is the picture gallery. - -The principal attraction of the palace is the Green Vaults, a series -of eight apartments, taking their name from the former color of the -furnishings, in which are kept the treasures of the kingdom, and an -immense variety of curious, rare, and costly articles. Only six persons -can be admitted at one time, and the fee for this or any less number is -two thalers, or a dollar and a half. An arrangement was made by which -the entire party could see them in the course of the day. A portion -of the students went to the picture gallery first, another to the -Green Vaults, and a third to the Armory in the Zwinger, so as to avoid -uncomfortable crowds. - -One room in the Green Vaults is said to contain jewels to the value -of fifteen million dollars, which is only a portion of the riches of -the palace. The Saxon princes were formerly the wealthiest monarchs -in Europe, the silver mine of Freiberg yielding them an immense -revenue. They used much of their riches in accumulating valuable and -costly works of art, jewels, trinkets, and curiosities. The first room -contains articles in bronze; the second, carvings in ivory, of the -most elaborate description; the third, Florentine mosaics; the fourth, -gold and silver plate, used at the banquets of the kings; the fifth, -vessels and articles cut from various minerals; the sixth, figures in -ivory and wood, and jewels and trinkets; the seventh, the regalia worn -by Augustus II., who was elected King of Poland, at his coronation. -The eighth contains a collection of jewels and other costly articles, -calculated to astonish and bewilder a simple republican--rubies, -diamonds, sapphires, and emeralds, chains, collars, crosses, rings, -swords. The court of the Great Mogul is composed of one hundred and -thirty-two figures, of pure gold enamelled, which cost nearly fifty -thousand dollars. - -The Armory contains one of the finest collections of armor and -historical relics in Europe. In one room is a cabinet given by the -Elector of Saxony to Martin Luther, which contains several articles -that belonged to the reformer. In another are the coronation robes of -Augustus the Strong, the horseshoe he broke with his fingers, and his -iron cap, weighing nineteen pounds. The saddle of Napoleon, the boots -he wore at Dresden, and the shoes he wore at his coronation, are to be -seen. One room contains a tent taken from the Turks at the siege of -Vienna, with various memorials of John Sobieski, who saved the city. -The rooms were all full of interest, but the students were obliged to -hasten through them. - -The picture gallery contains twenty-seven hundred original paintings, -including some of the best works of the old and of modern masters. The -most celebrated picture is the _Madonna di San Sisto_, of Raphael. The -Madonna is rising to heaven with the infant Jesus in her arms, while -Pope Sixtus, from whom the picture takes its name, is gazing at them -with reverential awe. Below are two cherubs looking upward. Opposite -the pope is the kneeling form of St. Barbara, while the background -of the picture is made up of "the innumerable company of angels," -whose faces cover the canvas, but are hardly noticeable at first. -This painting cost forty thousand dollars, and occupies an apartment -by itself at one corner of the building. At the opposite end, another -room is appropriated solely to the Madonna of Holbein, which is his -masterpiece. It represents the burgomaster of Basle, with his family, -praying the Virgin to save his dying child. She is laying down the -infant Jesus, to take up the sick child. The gallery contains many -other remarkable works by Correggio, Titian, Paul Veronese, Van Dyck, -Rubens, Rembrandt, Albert Dürer, and, indeed, pictures by nearly all -the old masters. - -In the afternoon some of the party rode to the Great Garden, where -there is a palace of Augustus II., with eight pavilions for his -favorites, and then to the Japanese Palace, so called from the style of -some of its rooms, in the new city. It is near the bank of the Elbe, -with extensive gardens on the river. It contains antiquities, statuary, -mostly ancient, bronzes, collections of porcelain and Dresden china, -and some Roman tombs, with urns filled with the ashes and burned bones -of the dead. - -In the evening at six o'clock many attended the opera, which was, -"The Master Singer of Nuremberg," by Wagner, introducing Hans Sachs, -the author of so many German ballads. The music seemed like a general -crash, and the students were unable to appreciate it. The next morning -the whole company took the train for Pötzscha. - -"There is our king," said Mr. Spott, as the train stopped at a station. - -"Where? Where?" demanded the students. - -"The old gentleman in a white hat, and that is the queen with him." - -Most of the students got out of the cars. The king had no attendants -whatever, a single policeman clearing the way for them. He wore a -dark coat, with striped pants, and the queen was dressed with equal -simplicity. There was no mark by which they could be distinguished -from other people, and the king might easily have been mistaken for a -merchant or farmer. Mr. Lowington thought that he looked like General -Anderson, of Fort Sumter fame. Their majesties were attending their -daughter, the Duchess of Genoa, who was on her way to Italy, simply -coming to see her off. The queen wept like other people, and the king -looked very sad. - -The party arrived at their destination, crossed the river, and walked -through a wild region, abounding in narrow passes, deep glens, and -headlong steeps. Near the end of the walk they came to a remarkable -chasm, which looks like an immense dry dock. It is nearly a thousand -feet deep, with perpendicular sides of basaltic rock, like the Giant's -Causeway. The students cried out with wonder and admiration as they -gazed into the deep abyss, in which they looked far down upon the tops -of the tall trees. The party wandered about over rocks, peeping over -cliffs, till they came to the hotel on the highest hill. Near it is -an observatory, which commands a fine view of the winding Elbe, of -Königstein, a fortress on a rock twelve hundred feet high. Crossing a -bridge, they stood upon the Bastei, which is a flat rock, surrounded -by an iron railing. It rises nearly a thousand feet perpendicularly -from the bank of the river, and commands a splendid view of the valley -beneath. A precipice extends for miles along the right bank of the -Elbe; and nowhere in Europe is so much picturesque scenery crowded into -so small a space as in the Saxon Switzerland. The party returned to -Dresden by steamer from Schandau, the descent to which from the Bastei -is, in part, by a deep ravine over bridges, and through clefts in the -rocks, wild and full of interest. The boat passes Pillnitz, the summer -residence of the king, and the students saw the palace and grounds. - -On the following morning the students and the instructors returned to -the squadron, arriving at a late hour in the evening. As the vessels -were to remain a few days at Swinemünde, Paul Kendall and Shuffles -decided to visit Leipzig, Magdeburg, and Hamburg. Lincoln was about to -be graduated, and was allowed to remain with them and the Kinnairds, -Miss Gurney being the principal attraction to him. - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - -GREAT CHANGES IN THE SQUADRON. - - -The party that remained in Dresden went to Leipzig in the afternoon, -and found very comfortable quarters in the Hôtel de Pologne. They -visited the usual round of sights; but it must be acknowledged that -they did so rather from a sense of duty, than because they were -interested in most of them. Doubtless they were troubled by that -bugbear of travellers--the fear of missing a sight about which some -one in the future might inquire. If they failed to see it, tourists -more fortunate in their own estimation would assure them they had -lost the most interesting object in the city. Lincoln missed his good -friend, the doctor, very much, though, as far as company was concerned, -Miss Julia Gurney was an excellent substitute. But Mr. Kinnaird -was exceedingly well informed, and was able to impart all needed -information. - -The population of Leipzig is nearly a hundred thousand. The productions -of the printing press form one of the most important branches of -commerce. Three fairs are held here every year, the principal of which -is just after Easter; and the commercial transactions at all of them -amount to nearly fifty millions of dollars. Like the fair at Nijni, -they attract visitors from the most distant parts of Europe, and even -from Asia, and formerly, during the Easter Fair, the population of the -city was doubled. On this occasion the booksellers from all parts of -Germany, with many from adjoining countries, assemble to make sales and -exchanges of books, and to settle their accounts. The booksellers of -Leipzig have an exchange, or _bourse_, of their own. - -The party took carriages and rode through the streets. There are many -quaint old structures to be seen in the Great Market-place, for the -town is very old. The allied monarchs met in this square after the -battle of Leipzig, in 1813, which the Germans call the _Völkerschlact_, -or Battle of the Nations, because the affairs of Europe were settled -for the time by it. Nearly five hundred thousand men were engaged in -the battle, with sixteen hundred cannon. It lasted three days; but as -the troops of Napoleon were outnumbered by those of the allies nearly -two to one, the emperor was disastrously defeated in the end, and -came very near being captured himself. The bridge over the Elster was -prematurely blown up, and twenty-five thousand of the French had to -ford the stream. Poniatowski, the brave Polish prince, who commanded a -corps of his countrymen in the Grand Army, was drowned in crossing. - -"I suppose you have read Göthe, commodore," said Mr. Kinnaird, as he -ordered the driver to stop in a street near the market-place. - -"Very little in German, sir." - -"Of course you have seen the opera of Faust. This is Auerbach's -cellar, where some of the scenes in the poet's tragedy are laid," added -Mr. Kinnaird, as he pointed to the lower part of an old building. "It -is still a wine and beer shop. It is said that Göthe used to drink deep -in this place himself." - -The party drove to the University, which is one of the oldest and most -extensive in Germany, and has eight hundred students. An excursion to -the Castle of Pleissenburg, and to the suburbs, where a view of the -battle-field was obtained, completed the day, though in the evening the -tourists went to the Schützenhaus, which is a beer garden, with the -most elaborate decorations. The place is illuminated with lights of all -colors, and contains castles, grottoes, waterfalls with crimson lights -under them, and a great variety of other attractions. - -The next day the travellers went to Wittenberg to see the memorials of -Luther, and thence to Magdeburg, to examine the grand old cathedral. -Spending the night here, the party went to Hamburg the next day. -Lincoln was particularly interested in the little steamers which ply -on the Alster, a large sheet of water in the rear of the city. The -Jungfernsteig, the principal street, borders on this lake, which opens -by a narrow passage, under a bridge, into the Great Alster, on which -are the summer residences of the principal merchants and other wealthy -men. The tourists remained but a day in Hamburg, and then proceeded to -Lübec, where, after a ride through the streets, and a visit to its old -church, they embarked in a steamer for Swinemünde. The trip down the -river from Lübec to the Baltic is very interesting, for the river is so -narrow, that the boat seems to be making its way through the back yards -and gardens of the farm-houses on its banks. - -During the last days of this journey, the country had been greatly -excited by the prospect of a war with France. When they arrived at -Swinemünde, on Saturday morning, they learned that war had actually -been declared, and that direct communication with France, whither the -Kinnairds intended to go, had ceased. They decided, therefore, to -return to England immediately. - -The tourists were warmly welcomed on board of the ship, and the -unexpected intelligence of war was anxiously discussed. But the -disturbed condition of France and Germany did not affect the plans -which the principal had already matured. About thirty of the students -were to be graduated, and as some of them intended to enter college, -it was necessary that they should be sent home. The principal had -arranged that the graduates should proceed to the United States in the -Josephine, under the charge of Mr. Fluxion, who was to return in the -vessel with an equal number to be admitted to the Academy. A dozen "old -salts" were to remain in the Josephine and return in her, so that the -schooner should have some besides green hands to work her. Among the -graduates were Lincoln, Cumberland, Judson, Norwood, and several of the -officers of each of the consorts. - -The Josephine had already been prepared for her voyage, and her new -crew were sent on board of her. The ship's company elected their own -officers from the highest in rank, and Cumberland was chosen captain, -and Lincoln first lieutenant. - -"Then you are to leave us, commodore," said Miss Gurney, when Lincoln -came on board of the ship, after the arrangements were all completed. - -"I am sorry to say I am," replied he, rather gloomily. - -"And I shall never see you again?" - -"I hope we shall meet at no distant day. I haven't completed my tour in -Europe yet, and I intend to return soon, to travel in England and on -the Continent." - -"O, I am so happy! I hope you will come soon," replied Miss Gurney. - -"But we will not part to-day, unless Mr. Kinnaird insists upon doing -so. As you are going to England, I am permitted to invite you to take -passage in the Josephine to Christiansand, where you can take the -steamer to Hull." - -"O, thank you! I shall be delighted to go; and I hope the passage will -be a real long one. I will ask Mr. Kinnaird at once." - -This gentleman consented, and in the middle of the afternoon the -Josephine sailed. Unhappily, she made a quick passage to Christiansand, -and landed the Kinnairds much sooner than Julia desired. They were just -in season for the Orlando, and the parting was very hasty between the -young friends, each of whom promised to write early and often to the -other. Lincoln had to take a great deal of pleasant badinage from his -shipmates on account of the young lady, and the probability is, that -at some future time they will be more intimately associated in the -relations of life. - -The sending away of over forty of the students from the three -vessels, and the departure of the Josephine, entirely broke up the -organizations of the Young America and Tritonia. But the prospect was -entirely satisfactory to those who remained, for most of those who had -held the highest offices were removed, and the way to promotion was -open to others. It was the beginning of a new school year, and this was -the only time when changes from one vessel to another could be made, -though the squadron could not be fully organized till the return of the -Josephine with the new students. - -Scott had taken a fancy that he should like to sail in one of the -consorts, and had requested the principal to transfer him to the -Tritonia. Wainwright, in order to be with his friend, had made the same -request, which was granted in both instances. A whole day was spent in -making transfers from one vessel to the other, for not all who desired -to change could be accommodated. At the close of the day the two ships' -companies had been detailed. The officers were next to be chosen for -the rest of July, and for August. As but little school work had been -done during the current month, the merit-marks were added to those of -the preceding month, and it was soon ascertained who were eligible to -office in the cabins. - -De Forrest and Beckwith were not candidates. Both of them had applied -for a transfer to the Tritonia, but for obvious reasons their request -was not complied with. They had been constantly on the lookout for a -chance to run away, but the eye of Peaks, the boatswain, seemed to be -always upon them. - -The principal decided that the office of commodore should be suspended -until the return of the Josephine. The next day, after a great deal -of electioneering, the officers were chosen. In the ship, Cantwell -was elected captain, Sheridan first and Murray second lieutenant. In -the Tritonia, Scott and Wainwright, as well as several of the former -officers, were eligible, and the canvassing was particularly lively in -this vessel. Morley and Greenwood had been respectively first and third -lieutenant, but the voters were now brought together for the first time -in one organization, and they were not disposed to recognize former -distinctions. Scott worked for Wainwright, and to the intense disgust -of Morley, he was elected. The joker's popularity was sufficient to -have elected him to the highest position, if he had not worked for his -friend; but to the added disgust of the former first lieutenant of -the Tritonia, Scott was elected to this place. Morley and Greenwood -were chosen second and third lieutenants; but they were intensely -dissatisfied with the result. Allyn, who had been third master before, -became the fourth lieutenant. - -The elections were completed, and the new officers put on their -uniforms. In the ship, Clyde Blacklock's merit-marks gave him -the position of first midshipman, with a place in the cabin; and -probably he was the happiest student in the squadron. The vessels -had been provisioned and otherwise prepared for their long voyage to -Constantinople, and after a few days' practice to enable the officers -and seamen to feel at home in their new stations, they sailed from -Swinemünde. - -The Bangwhangers continued to afford much amusement to the members of -the order. A lodge had been organized in each vessel, and Scott was -made Grand Chief Bangwhanger. The joker was at work on a new degree, -for which the members are impatiently waiting, and which will be fully -_exposed_ in the future. - -Paul Kendall desired to see more of the western part of Europe, and he -and his lady decided to make a journey by land through Warsaw, Cracow, -and Vienna, down the Danube, and to Constantinople by the Black Sea. -Shuffles and his wife concluded to go with them, and the two yachts, in -charge of the sailing-master, departed with the squadron. The voyage -was a pleasant and a prosperous one, though there was a great deal of -trouble in the cabin of the Tritonia, until the vessels reached the -English Channel, where they put into Cowes to obtain fresh provisions. -The exciting events which occurred in the Tritonia, during the voyage, -and what the students saw and did among the Greeks and the Turks, will -be related in CROSS AND CRESCENT, OR YOUNG AMERICA IN TURKEY AND GREECE. - - - - -_LEE AND SHEPARD'S NEW JUVENILE BOOKS._ - -The Three Great Writers for the Young, - - _OLIVER OPTIC_, - Author of Sixty Juvenile Books, - - _SOPHIE MAY_, - Author of "Little Prudy," "Dotty Dimple," and "Flyaway Stories," - - _ELIJAH KELLOGG_, - Author of "Elm Island" and "Pleasant Cove Stories," - -HAVE CONTINUED STORIES IN - -"The Best Juvenile Publication in the World," - - OLIVER OPTIC'S MAGAZINE, - - PUBLISHED ONCE A MONTH, - $2.50 per Annum, 25 cts. per Number. - -Illustrated Games, Illustrated Natural Science, Illustrated Mechanics, -and Household Science for Boys, Illustrated Fancy Work for Girls, -Stories in Ancient and Modern History, Frontier Sketches, Hunting -Adventures, Fishing Sketches, Proverb Poems, Dialogues, Declamations, -Letter Bag, Puzzle Department, Full-page Pictures and Illustrations in -great variety, all handsomely printed, makes it - -"Pleasant to the Eye, the Hand, and the Mind." - - * * * * * - - -->Specimens prepaid by mail, Free, on application to - LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. - - LEE, SHEPARD & DILLINGHAM, - 47 & 49 Greene St., New York. - - - - -_LEE AND SHEPARD'S NEW JUVENILE BOOKS._ - -KATHIE STORIES. BY MISS A. M. DOUGLAS. - - [Illustration] - -Six vols. Illustrated. Per vol., $1.00. - - Kathie's Three Wishes. - Kathie's Aunt Ruth. - Kathie's Summer at Cedarwood. - Kathie's Soldiers. - In the Ranks. - Kathie's Harvest Days. - -_Sold by all Booksellers and Newsdealers._ - - - - -_LEE AND SHEPARD'S NEW JUVENILE BOOKS._ - -YOUNG AMERICA, AHOY! - -100,000 Boys and Girls, - -WHO ACCOMPANIED THE ACADEMY SHIP - -"YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," - -As recorded in the first series of Log Books, under the titles of -"Outward Bound," "Shamrock and Thistle," "Red Cross," "Dikes and -Ditches," "Palace and Cottage," and "Up the Rhine," are hereby -notified that the "YOUNG AMERICA," refitted and provisioned by her old -commander, is again afloat, and continuing her voyages abroad. The -account of her trip, and the adventures of her crew, will be given to -our Boys and Girls under the title of - - UP THE BALTIC; - --OR,-- - Young America in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. - - WRITTEN BY OLIVER OPTIC. - - A handsome 16mo volume. Illustrated. Price $1.50. - - TO BE FOLLOWED BY - - Northern Lands, - Cross and Crescent, - Sunny Shores, - Vine and Olive, - Isles of the Sea. - -_Sold by all Booksellers and Newsdealers._ - - - - -_LEE AND SHEPARD'S NEW JUVENILE BOOKS._ - -WONDERLAND STORIES. - - [Illustration] - - To be completed in six vols. Illustrated. - Cloth, $1.25; cloth, gilt edges, $1.50; - cloth, full gilt, $1.75. - - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. - The House on Wheels. - Letters Everywhere. - The Inn of the Guardian Angel. - - (_In Press._) - - The Russian General. - Through the Looking Glass, and what Alice saw there. - - * * * * * - -These books are all healthy in tone, and written in a sprightly, -attractive manner, which makes them very agreeable reading for young -people. - -_Sold by all Booksellers and Newsdealers._ - - - - -_LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS._ - -By the Author of "Spartacus to the Gladiators." - -ELM ISLAND STORIES. - - _To be completed in six vols. Ill. Per vol., $1.25._ - -_LION BEN OF ELM ISLAND._ 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25. - - "Elm Island lays off the coast of Eastern Maine, a wild and - romantic region, and the incidents of the story are recorded as - happening when this country was just emerging from its struggle - for independence. It is a capital story of the rough-and-tumble - life of the early settlers."--_Chicago Journal of Commerce._ - -_CHARLIE BELL, THE WAIF OF ELM ISLAND._ 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25. - - "This volume tells the story of Charlie Bell, who was thrown - upon Elm Island like a waif from the ocean, and adopted by Lion - Ben. With Yankee boys he shares the exciting adventures of a new - country and a rude state of society." - -_THE ARK OF ELM ISLAND._ 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25. - - This volume of the series is by no means inferior in interest to - its predecessors, dealing principally with adventures at sea, - which are always delightful to boys. - -_THE BOY FARMERS OF ELM ISLAND._ 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25. - - The forth volume of the series gives, in graphic and earnest - style, the efforts of the three lads to transform Elm Island from - a wilderness to a fruitful and productive land. It is full of - life, adventure, and fun. - -_THE YOUNG SHIPBUILDERS OF ELM ISLAND._ 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25 - - "Mr Kellogg is winning laurels as a writer for and educator of - youth. Health and vigor are in his writings, and the lad has more - of the first-class man in him after the perusal."--_Providence - Press._ - - * * * * * - -Sold by all Booksellers and Newsdealers, and sent by mail, postpaid, on -receipt of price. - -LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. - - - - -_LEE AND SHEPARD'S NEW JUVENILE BOOKS._ - -THE BECKONING SERIES. BY PAUL COBDEN. - - [Illustration] - -Illustrated. Per vol., $1.25. - - 1. Who Will Win? - 2. Going on a Mission. - - Others in Preparation. - -_Sold by all Booksellers and Newsdealers._ - - - - -_LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS._ - -TALES OF ADVENTURE. - -THE FRONTIER SERIES. - -_Four volumes. 16mo. Ill. Price, per set, $5.00._ - -_THE CABIN ON THE PRAIRIE._ By REV. CHARLES H. PEARSON. 16mo. -Illustrated. $1.25. - - "_The Cabin on the Prairie_ is an earnest, healthy book, full - of the hardships, trials, and triumphs of life in our new - settlements." - -_PLANTING THE WILDERNESS_; or, The Pioneer Boys. BY JAMES D. MCCABE, -JR. 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25. - - "_Planting the Wilderness_ tells of the strange adventures of - real life, which, more than the fancies of the novel writer, are - of absorbing interest." - -_TWELVE NIGHTS IN THE HUNTERS' CAMP._ By REV. W. BARROWS. 16mo. -Illustrated. $1.25. - - "_Twelve Nights in the Hunters' Camp_ is a pleasant, stirring, - sensible book, full of life and incident, and all aglow with the - breezy freshness of woods and prairies, lakes and rivers." - -_A THOUSAND MILES' WALK_ across the Pampas and Andes of South America. -By NATHANIEL H. BISHOP. 16mo. Illustrated. $1.50. - - "_A Thousand Miles' Walk across South America_ is a record of - the experiences of a Yankee boy, full of enthusiasm to see and - learn by actual experience the wonders of that almost _terra - incognita_." - -This series of books are of sterling merit, and while they closely -follow real experiences, are full of those thrilling incidents which -charm both youth and age. - - * * * * * - -Sold by all Booksellers and Newsdealers, and sent by mail, postpaid, on -receipt of price. - -LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. - - - - -_LEE AND SHEPARD'S NEW JUVENILE BOOKS._ - -THE FLYAWAY SERIES. - -BY SOPHIE MAY, Author of "Dotty Dimple" and "Little Prudy Stories." - - [Illustration] - -Illustrated. Per vol., 75 cents. - - 1. Little Folks Astray. - 2. Prudy's Keeping House. - 3. Aunt Madge's Story. - Others in Preparation. - -_Sold by all Booksellers and Newsdealers._ - - - - --------------------------------------------- - -Transcriber’s Notes: - -Text enclosed by underscores is in italics ( italics ). - -Punctuation has been standardized; spelling has been -preserved as in the original publication except as follows: - - Page 64 - the vote was not unamimous was _changed to_ - the vote was not unanimous - - Page 145 - is by far the most improtant crop was _changed to_ - is by far the most important crop - - Page 158 - wrested the crown from Sviotopolk was _changed to_ - wrested the crown from Sviatopolk - - Page 161 - In 1845 he was succeeded was _changed to_ - In 1645 he was succeeded - - Page 164 - member of the Romanof family was _changed to_ - member of the Romanoff family - - Page 167 - disintered his mother's last favorite, was _changed to_ - disinterred his mother's last favorite, - - Page 176 - by which vesvels may go up was _changed to_ - by which vessels may go up - - Page 226 - it is absolutely villanous was _changed to_ - it is absolutely villainous - - Page 261 - eonsequently there was little to be seen was _changed to_ - consequently there was little to be seen - - Page 280 - doesen't prove that I am hard of hearing was _changed to_ - doesn't prove that I am hard of hearing - - Page 294 - DE FOREST AND JULIA was _changed to_ - DE FORREST AND JULIA - - Page 323 - a shout of appause was _changed to_ - a shout of applause - - Page 345 - with interminable suits of rooms was _changed to_ - with interminable suites of rooms - - Page 358 - the beiginning of a new school year, was _changed to_ - the beginning of a new school year, - --------------------------------------------- - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Northern Lands, by William T. 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Adams - </title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - <style type="text/css"> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - -h1,h2 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; -} - -.chapter {margin-top: 3em;} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} - -@media handheld { - hr.chap {border-width: 0em;} -} - -hr.book-divider {width: 10%; margin-left: 45%; margin-right: 45%;} - -table { - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; -} -@media handheld { - table {width: 98%; margin-left: 1%; margin-right: 1%;} -} - -.hang {margin-left: -1em; text-indent: -2em; padding-left: 2em;} - -.indent {text-indent: 1em;} - -/* Poetry */ -.poetry-container {text-align: center; margin: 0;} -.poetry {display: inline-block; text-align: left;} -.poetry .verse {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} -.poetry .line {text-indent: -3em; padding-left: 3em;} -.poetry .outdent {text-indent: -3.4em;} -.poetry .indent {text-indent: -2em;} - -.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ - /* visibility: hidden; */ - position: absolute; - left: 92%; - font-size: smaller; - text-align: right; -} - -.center {text-align: center;} -.left {text-align: left;} -.right {text-align: right;} -.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - -.mt2 {margin-top: 1em;} -.mt3 {margin-top: 3em;} -.mb0 {margin-bottom: 0;} -.mt0 {margin-top: 0;} - -h1 .or {font-size: .5em;} -h1 .sub {font-size: .8em;} - -p.title2 {font-size: 2.0em;} -p.title3 {font-size: 1.8em;} -p.title4 {font-size: 1.2em;} -p.title5 {font-size: 1.0em;} -p.title6 {font-size: 0.8em;} - -.caption {font-weight: bold;} - -/* Lists */ -.lists {list-style: none; max-width: 20em; margin: auto;} -.list2 {list-style: none; max-width: 30em; margin: auto;} -ul.list2 li {margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em; text-indent: -1.5em; padding-left: 1.5em;} - -@media handheld { - .lists {width: 70%; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%;} -} - - -/* Books */ -.books {max-width: 40em; margin: auto;} - -@media handheld { - .books {width: 70%; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%;} -} - - -/* Images */ -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; - max-width: 100%; -} - -img {max-width: 100%; width: 100%; height: auto;} - -@media handheld { - img {max-width: 100%; width: auto; height: auto;} -} - -/* Footnotes */ -.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} - -.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} - -.fnanchor { - vertical-align: super; - font-size: .8em; - text-decoration: - none; -} - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Northern Lands, by William T. Adams - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Northern Lands - Young America in Russia and Prussia - -Author: William T. Adams - -Release Date: January 27, 2017 [EBook #54059] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NORTHERN LANDS *** - - - - -Produced by David Edwards, David K. Park, illustration -images from The Internet Archive (TIA) and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -book was produced from scanned images of public domain -material from the Google Books project.) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> -<img src="images/i_001.jpg" width="500" height="311" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p class="center"> -<span class="smcap">The Second Degree</span> Page 129.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/i_002.jpg" width="400" height="628" alt="" /> -</div> -</div> - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -</div> -<p class="center mt2 title4"><i>YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD—SECOND SERIES.</i></p> -<p class="center title2"><span class="smcap">NORTHERN LANDS;</span></p> -<p class="center title6">OR,</p> -<p class="center title3">YOUNG AMERICA IN RUSSIA<br /> -AND PRUSSIA.</p> -<p class="center mt2 title6"><span class="smcap">A Story of Travel and Adventure.</span></p> -<p class="center mt2 title6">BY</p> -<p class="center mt2 title4">WILLIAM T. ADAMS</p> -<p class="center title4">(<i>OLIVER OPTIC</i>),</p> -<p class="center mt2 title6">AUTHOR OF "OUTWARD BOUND," "SHAMROCK AND THISTLE," "RED CROSS,"<br /> -"DIKES AND DITCHES," "PALACE AND COTTAGE," "DOWN<br /> -THE RHINE," "UP THE BALTIC," ETC.</p> - -<p class="center mt2 title5">BOSTON:<br /> -LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS.<br /> -<span class="smcap">NEW YORK:<br /> -LEE, SHEPARD AND DILLINGHAM.</span></p> -<p class="center mt2 title5">1872.</p> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="center mt2 title6">Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872,</p> -<p class="center mt2 title6"><span class="smcap">By</span> WILLIAM T. ADAMS,</p> -<p class="center mt2 title6">In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.</p> -<p class="center mt2 title6">Electrotyped at the Boston Stereotype Foundry,</p> -<p class="center mt2 title6">19 Spring Lane.</p> -</div> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="center mt2 title5">TO</p> -<p class="center mt2 title4">MY EXCELLENT FRIEND</p> -<p class="center mt2 title6">THE</p> -<p class="center mt2 title3">HON. DAVIS DIVINE,</p> -<p class="center mt2 title6">OF SAN JOSÉ, CALIFORNIA,</p> -<p class="center mt2 title6">WHOSE ACQUAINTANCE I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MAKING</p> -<p class="center mt2 title6">IN ST. PETERSBURG, AND WITH WHOM I TRAVELLED</p> -<p class="center mt2 title6">THROUGH RUSSIA, AUSTRIA, TURKEY, ITALY,</p> -<p class="center mt2 title6">SPAIN, AND PORTUGAL,</p> -<p class="center mt2 title6">This Volume</p> -<p class="center mt2 title6">IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED.</p> -<p class="center mt2 title6">YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD.</p> -<p class="center mt2 title6"><span class="smcap">By</span> OLIVER OPTIC.</p> -</div> - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -</div> -<div class="books"> -<p class="hang">A Library of Travel and Adventure in Foreign Lands. First and -Second Series; six volumes in each Series. 16mo. -Illustrated.</p> - -<hr class="book-divider" /> - -<p class="center mt2 title5"><i>First Series.</i></p> - -<ul class="list2"> -<li>I. <i>OUTWARD BOUND</i>; <span class="smcap">or, Young America Afloat.</span></li> - -<li>II. <i>SHAMROCK AND THISTLE</i>; <span class="smcap">or, Young America -in Ireland and Scotland.</span></li> - -<li>III. <i>RED CROSS</i>; <span class="smcap">or, Young America in England -and Wales.</span></li> - -<li>IV. <i>DIKES AND DITCHES</i>; <span class="smcap">or, Young America in -Holland and Belgium.</span></li> - -<li>V. <i>PALACE AND COTTAGE</i>; <span class="smcap">or, Young America -in France and Switzerland.</span></li> - -<li>VI. <i>DOWN THE RHINE</i>; <span class="smcap">or, Young America in -Germany.</span></li> -</ul> - -<p class="center mt2 title5"><i>Second Series.</i></p> - -<ul class="list2"> -<li>I. <i>UP THE BALTIC</i>; <span class="smcap">or, Young America in -Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.</span></li> - -<li>II. <i>NORTHERN LANDS</i>; <span class="smcap">or, Young America in -Russia and Prussia.</span></li> - -<li>III. <i>CROSS AND CRESCENT</i>; <span class="smcap">or, Young America -<span class="smcap">in Turkey and Greece.</span> In preparation.</span></li> - -<li>IV. <i>SUNNY SHORES</i>; <span class="smcap">or, Young American in Italy -<span class="smcap">and Austria.</span> In preparation.</span></li> - -<li>V. <i>VINE AND OLIVE</i>; <span class="smcap">or, Young American in Spain -<span class="smcap">and Portugal.</span> In preparation.</span></li> - -<li>VI. <i>ISLES OF THE SEA</i>; <span class="smcap">or, Young America -<span class="smcap">Homeward Bound.</span> In preparation.</span></li> -</ul> -</div> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2>PREFACE.</h2> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">Northern Lands</span>, the second volume of the second series of "<span class="smcap">Young America -Abroad</span>," describes the varied experience of the juvenile tourists of the -Academy Squadron in the Baltic, and during their journeys in Russia and -Prussia, and their voyages between the different ports in these -countries. Compared with most other countries of Europe, but little has -been written about Russia, and the greater portion of this volume -related to that interesting nation. The author writes from his own notes -and recollection, so far as scenery, manners and customs are concerned, -but he has made diligent study and use of all the material within his -reach, including much that was gathered abroad. Perhaps the young people -will vote that this is the dryest book the author has ever presented to -them, because it contains the most useful information; but he hopes they -will not neglect the historical part, which is sometimes stranger than -any fiction.</p> - -<p>But the volume is not without its story, which may be regarded as a -reflection, on a small scale, of the political experience of the -American citizen. Doubtless our young friends will sympathize with Scott -the Joker in his devotion to fair play; and well will it be for our -country when this spirit shall pervade the caucus and the voting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> -places, and those who are selfishly striving for office are as -effectually rebuked and ignored as they were in the Academy Squadron. -The next volume of the series, from the nature of the circumstances, -rather than from any fixed intention on the part of the writer, will -contain much more of stirring incident than the present.</p> - -<p>The author, who has so long been before the public as a writer of -juvenile books, and who has so often "launched a volume," has felt that -his welcome must be nearly worn out, and that he had no right to expect -the continued favor of his army of young friends. He was therefore very -agreeably surprised at the kind reception given to "<span class="smcap">Up the Baltic</span>," the -sale of which was fully equal to the most fortunate of its predecessors -in the first series. The author is very grateful for this new exhibition -of kindness on the part of his young friends, and he hopes that the -present volume will not only interest, but instruct and benefit them.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Harrison Square, Boston</span>,</p> -<p><span style="margin-left: 2em;">December 18, 1871.</span></p> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> -<hr class="chap" /> -</div> - -<h2><a name="CONTENTS." id="CONTENTS."></a>CONTENTS.</h2> - -<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> -<tr> -<td align="right">CHAPTER</td> -<td align="left"> </td> -<td align="right">PAGE</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td align="right">I.</td> -<td align="left"><span class="smcap">At the Picnic in the Island.</span></td> -<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">11</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td align="right">II.</td> -<td align="left"><span class="smcap">An excited Meeting of Officers and Seamen.</span></td> -<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">29</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td align="right">III.</td> -<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Finland and the Agitators.</span></td> -<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">49</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td align="right">IV.</td> -<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Two Hours in Åbo, and the Bangwhangers.</span></td> -<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">68</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td align="right">V.</td> -<td align="left"><span class="smcap">An exciting Election.</span></td> -<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">86</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td align="right">VI.</td> -<td align="left"><span class="smcap">A Call at Helsingfors.</span></td> -<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">105</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td align="right">VII.</td> -<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Wyborg and the Second Degree.</span></td> -<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">122</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td align="right">VIII.</td> -<td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Lecture on Russia.</span></td> -<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">141</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td align="right">IX.</td> -<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Sights in St. Petersburg.</span></td> -<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">171</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td align="right">X.</td> -<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Billy Bobstay and Friends.</span></td> -<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">191</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td align="right">XI.</td> -<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Palaces and Gardens.</span></td> -<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">209</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td align="right">XII.</td> -<td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Journey to Moscow.</span></td> -<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">226</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td align="right">XIII.</td> -<td align="left"><span class="smcap">In the Kremlin of Moscow.</span></td> -<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">244</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td align="right">XIV.</td> -<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Down the Volga.</span></td> -<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">261</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td align="right"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span>XV.</td> -<td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Movements of the Runaways.</span></td> -<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">279</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td align="right">XVI.</td> -<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Something About Prussia and Germany.</span></td> -<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">295</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td align="right">XVII.</td> -<td align="left"><span class="smcap">From Königsberg to Danzig.</span></td> -<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">309</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td align="right">XVIII.</td> -<td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Stranded Steamer in the Baltic.</span></td> -<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">323</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td align="right">XIX.</td> -<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Berlin, Potsdam, and Dresden.</span></td> -<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">336</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td align="right">XX.</td> -<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Great Changes in the Squadron.</span></td> -<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">353</a></td> -</tr> -</table> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h1>NORTHERN LANDS;<br /> -<span class="or">OR,</span><br /> -<span class="sub">YOUNG AMERICA IN RUSSIA AND PRUSSIA.</span></h1> - -<hr class="tb" /> -</div> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center mt2 title5">AT THE PICNIC ON THE ISLAND.</p> - -<p>"I don't believe in it!" exclaimed De Forrest, the third lieutenant of -the Young America.</p> - -<p>"I can't say I like the idea very much," replied Beckwith, the first -master. "Tom Cantwell is a great scholar, without a particle of doubt, -but he is no more of a seaman than that English fellow, Clyde Blacklock, -and ought not to be captain."</p> - -<p>"But under the rule of the ship, it can't be helped," added De Forrest.</p> - -<p>"Then the rule ought to be changed. There are not half a dozen fellows -in the squadron who believe that Cantwell ought to be captain."</p> - -<p>"He hasn't been three months in the squadron. He served his first month -in the steerage, and then jumped up to fourth master. Next month he will -be the captain of the ship. He doesn't know enough to set a topsail, and -couldn't get the ship under way to save his life."</p> - -<p>"I shouldn't care so much about his seamanship, if he were only a decent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> -fellow," continued Beckwith.</p> - -<p>"I don't want a fellow over me who don't know anything. I can't respect -him."</p> - -<p>"Well, what are you going to do about it? We can't help ourselves."</p> - -<p>"I don't know that we can," replied De Forrest. "Cantwell is a great -scholar, and seems to know everything without studying it; but he is -mean, conceited, overbearing, and tyrannical. I don't believe the -principal likes the idea of his being captain."</p> - -<p>"But he can get along better as captain than he could as first -lieutenant; for he has only to say, 'Get under way,' 'Come to anchor,' -'Take in the main-topsail,' and the executive officer gives all the -orders in detail."</p> - -<p>"That's true. Yet the captain is expected to know all these things, and -to see that they are properly done. But, after all, we are not sure that -Cantwell will be captain," suggested De Forrest.</p> - -<p>"He has had a perfect mark in every lesson during the month; and I know -that Captain Lincoln slipped up on his geometry two or three times."</p> - -<p>"But the captain has beaten him in his seamanship, I know."</p> - -<p>"There's the difficulty. We have been in port, or lying at anchor among -these islands, nearly all the time, and there has been no chance to make -anything in seamanship. We have hardly had an exercise in which marks -were given out since we made the coast of Norway."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps we shall, yet."</p> - -<p>"If we do, Cantwell won't be captain, but he may be a lieutenant; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> -that is almost as bad."</p> - -<p>"We won't cry till we are hurt, then," said De Forrest; "though I think -something ought to be done to keep us out of such a scrape in the -future. I have a plan in my head, which, I think, would work first rate, -and be a fair thing for all."</p> - -<p>"What is it?" asked Beckwith.</p> - -<p>"I'll tell you. As the matter now stands, a fellow may jump from the -steerage into the captain's cabin without any experience at all in -commanding, especially, as during the last month, when we are running -about on shore, and we don't do much in seamanship."</p> - -<p>"But you know that this struggle for rank puts the fellows on their good -behavior; and the principal would lose his sheet anchor if the present -system were abandoned."</p> - -<p>"I don't propose to abandon it entirely. I would like to have the first -five officers made elective."</p> - -<p>"You would have the captain and the four lieutenants chosen by ballot?" -asked Beckwith, interested in the plan.</p> - -<p>"Precisely so."</p> - -<p>"But the fellows in the steerage could have it all their own way under -such a plan. They could make Clyde Blacklock, Sandford, or any such -fellow captain."</p> - -<p>"No, you haven't heard me out. The captain and the four lieutenants -shall be chosen from the cabin officers only."</p> - -<p>"I rather like that."</p> - -<p>"Any fellow will see that it is a fair thing."</p> - -<p>"And who would be candidates for masters, pursers, and lieutenants?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> -asked Beckwith.</p> - -<p>"They must obtain their rank by their merit. By my plan, ten of the -fifteen cabin officers of the ship must get their positions by their -scholarship, conduct, and seamanship, just as they do now; but the -captain or lieutenant must first have served as master, purser, or -midshipman. Then a fellow can't be captain till he has served at least -one month as a cabin officer."</p> - -<p>"The plan pleases me; but of course we can't tell how it would work -without a trial."</p> - -<p>"It would work first rate. As the matter now stands, no officer has any -inducement to please anybody but the principal and the instructors, who -give him his marks. By my plan he would have to keep on the right side -of his inferiors in rank, or they would throw him over at the next -election."</p> - -<p>"And there would be lots of electioneering for office," laughed -Beckwith.</p> - -<p>"Well, that would give us a little excitement. Besides, we are all to be -American citizens, and we ought to learn how these things are done. -Under this plan Cantwell wouldn't behave as he does now in the cabin. He -is nothing but a lump of selfishness. He wouldn't take all the breast of -the chicken, or drown his coffee with the last gill of milk on board. I -have been thinking of this thing for a week, and have talked it over -with some of the fellows. All that I have spoken with like it first -rate."</p> - -<p>"I do."</p> - -<p>"I am going to get up a petition to the principal, asking him to make -this change in the system, and I want to get every fellow's name upon -it."</p> - -<p>"I will sign, for one," replied Beckwith. "But you haven't said a word<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> -about the commodore, De Forrest."</p> - -<p>"That's only a kind of ornamental office, and I don't care much about it -any way; but I think that only the captains should be eligible to the -position."</p> - -<p>Precisely as men do such things on a larger scale, De Forrest, satisfied -that he had added one adherent to the "cause" he was advocating, passed -on to "buzz" another officer on the same subject. The students connected -with the squadron were enjoying a picnic on one of the uninhabited Aland -Islands. It was a lovely spot, for the island was nearly covered by a -beautiful grove of pines, and one slope of it had a green carpet of -verdure. The sixteen boats of the squadron and of the yachts were moored -at the shore, and there was not a ripple on the sea to disturb them. The -ship's band had played all the pieces they knew; and a great variety of -games had been tried, with but indifferent success. The boys declared -that it could be no picnic at all without the ladies. Possibly the -attendance of Mrs. Kendall and Mrs. Shuffles suggested this idea to -them; and, though these ladies were young, lively, and agreeable, the -meagreness of the female representation on the occasion seemed to be -only an aggravation. Doubtless all of them had attended picnics and -other social gatherings, where the gentler sex is the charm of the -occasion, and they could not help feeling the loneliness of the -situation. Besides, the locality itself was suggestive of utter -isolation from the rest of the world.</p> - -<p>All around them was a multitude of islands, but not a habitation of -any kind could be seen; not a human being, not a quadruped, not even a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> -bird enlivened the scene. The water was as calm as the repose of a -mountain lake, with not a single white sail to relieve the gaze of the -beholder. The squadron was anchored behind an island, where it could not -be seen. And the boys knew that they were north of the sixtieth parallel -of latitude,—nearer to the north pole than any of them had ever been -before; and the consciousness of this fact seemed to add to the -lonesomeness of the place. The days were very long and the nights very -short, and it was quite impossible to feel at home in such a region.</p> - -<p>They were not the first to feel in this locality that the great, busy -world was far to the south of them, and to be impressed by the silence -and quiet of the place under such circumstances. A distinguished lady, -in narrating her voyage among these islands, says, "We never lost sight -of the shore, and sometimes were so near it that it seemed as though we -could leap to it from the boat. Yet I have never seen anything so -desolate as the voyage during this first day. On the open sea we should -not complain; but here, so near the land, and not a boat upon the water, -not a living creature on the shore, not a garden, not a human being, not -a dog, not even a fishing net, to show that man had been there,—there -was something awful in it."</p> - -<p>And yet there is no lack of the beautiful in nature to charm the eye, -for the islands present an endless variety of forms, with green slopes, -with rocky steeps, and with forest-crowned heights. But one may be -lonely even in Paradise; and silence is sometimes more oppressive than<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> -the roar of the tempest, or the din of the crowded city.</p> - -<p>The students had resorted to all the games in the catalogue of dignified -sports available to young men; but the most exhilarating under ordinary -circumstances were dull and heavy on the present occasion. In the middle -of the afternoon they had abandoned in despair all attempts to have "a -good time;" and now they were seated on the rocks, or stretched at full -length upon the grass, engaged in discussion and conversation. Possibly -De Forrest was forced by the quiet of the scene to agitate reform in the -affairs of the squadron, which, to some extent, occupied his thoughts -during the stay of the vessels among the islands. With the zeal of youth -and inexperience, he believed that he had originated a new idea, that -he had discovered a fatal flaw in the working of the system on which the -squadron was organized. But his "original idea" had long before engaged -the attention of the principal. Years before he had foreseen that the -very difficulty which now appeared might arise. It is true that he had -provided no remedy, except the general rule that an incompetent officer -might be removed when his unfitness was apparent; but he had very -carefully considered the question and the consequences which it -involved.</p> - -<p>The third lieutenant of the Young America was not the only student who -had observed and noted the remarkable scholarship of Cantwell. In the -midst of such a lively competition for the honors of the squadron, which -were not meaningless laurels,—for a state-room in the cabin was a -substantial luxury, independent of the desire to command rather than<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> -obey,—the students did not fail to notice the character of the -recitations, and many kept a record of the value of them; so that the -standing of Cantwell was well understood in the cabin and in the -steerage. The obnoxious student was a thorough bookworm; but he was -cold, stiff, selfish, and haughty. He never did anything or said -anything that rendered him liable to discipline; but there was not a boy -in the squadron who had so few friends, if he had any at all. His father -was a very wealthy man, who supplied him liberally with money. It was -said that he had been expelled from an academy where he was fitting for -college on account of a difficulty into which his unpopularity had -driven him. His fellow-students hated him so cordially that they were -unable to conceal their real feelings. He was attacked in such an -ingenious way that he seemed to be the aggressor instead of the person -assailed, and the whole blame of the riot was cast upon him. When Prince -Bismarck decided that German unification required a war with France; he -was skilful enough to make the latter take the initiative, and France -was foolish enough to accept the issue. In like manner Cantwell, while -really the objective force in the quarrel with his fellow-students, was -weak enough to assume the subjective attitude; and, as France was almost -annihilated for her folly, which deprived her of the sympathy and -support of any other respectable power, he was ignominiously expelled -for his conduct. Like scores of others under the ban of expulsion on -shore, he drifted into the Academy Squadron. He was not a thorough -seaman, as Captain Lincoln and most of the officers were, neither was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[9]</a></span> -he so utterly ignorant and entirely incompetent as De Forrest and others -declared him to be. But he was not qualified for either of the high -positions which the officers feared he would obtain.</p> - -<p>De Forrest opened his theory to another officer of the squadron. He had -already spoken to half a dozen of them, and created as many advocates of -his plan, each of whom, interested in the scheme, went to work upon as -many more of the unconverted. In another half hour there were a dozen -who were entirely satisfied that the Academy Squadron would be utterly -ruined if Cantwell was elevated to the rank of captain. This dozen were -in turn soon at work upon another dozen, and the converts increased as a -continued proportional. This process, so often repeated, soon stirred up -a lively agitation among the crowd of students on the island. The -principal, the instructors, and the party from the yachts, with Captain -Lincoln and two other officers, were seated on a rock apart from the -others, engaged in conversation. They did not observe anything unusual -among the students, who seemed to be remarkably quiet, considering that -they were at liberty to follow their own inclinations. The agitators had -an excellent opportunity to carry on their operations without attracting -the attention of the principal and his assistants.</p> - -<p>The subject under discussion concerned the young officers even more than -the seamen, and De Forrest's plan seemed to be so fair and so practical -that most of them gave in their adherence without much hesitation. The -crew, who were farther removed from the glittering prizes, which were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> -to be limited to the inferior officers of the cabin, were not so readily -converted.</p> - -<p>"I don't see it," said Scott, the joker, when Beckwith approached him on -the subject. "You want to make a little one-horse aristocracy in the -cabin, and shut out us fellows in the steerage from any chance at the -big things."</p> - -<p>"Not at all," replied the first master.</p> - -<p>"Yes, you do. Take my own case, if you please. I'm a genius of the first -water. I got a pile of merit marks for getting tight on finkel, and -making an excursion to Stockholm. During all this time, of course I was -marked high on all studies. I used to talk Greek when I was a baby, and -nobody could understand me. And of course I am marked high in that -branch now. In Latin I always could decline faster than any other -fellow. French and German I learned of my nurse, who was brought up in -an Irish Canadian family, and married a Dutchman. None of these things -ever give me any trouble, you see, and I am marked high. In seamanship I -got a hundred and fifty for topping up the spanker boom in a seaman-like -manner. Now, I expect to be captain on the first of next month, and you -cabin nobs are getting up a conspiracy to deprive me of my rights. I -won't stand it, Mr. Beckwith. I am an American citizen in embryo. My -fathers and mothers all fought, bled, and died for the dearest rights of -man. My grandfather was killed in battle six months before he was -married; and I should be a degenerate son of a glorious sire if I -permitted you to pull wool over my optical members in this horrible -manner."</p> - -<p>"Be serious, will you, for a moment?" interposed the earnest officer.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I am serious. You ask me to sign a petition to change the solid -principles on which the eternal order of events is founded; and I -respectfully decline to do so, Mr. Beckwith. In other words, not for -Joseph."</p> - -<p>"But you don't understand the matter, Scott."</p> - -<p>"You cast an imputation upon my perceptive faculties."</p> - -<p>"Nothing of the sort. You talk so fast that you won't hear what I have -to say."</p> - -<p>"You say that the captain of this noble ship must either be selected or -be chosen from the cabin officers. Am I right?"</p> - -<p>"You are."</p> - -<p>"I am not the captain of the ship this month; neither have I the honor -to be one of the cabin officers; <i>ergo</i> I cannot be elected captain for -the month of June next ensuing."</p> - -<p>"You are certainly right; but—"</p> - -<p>"Then I understand the matter perfectly; and this movement is a -conspiracy to prevent me from being captain next month. I deserve to be -captain, and I respectfully submit that this is my inalienable right, -inherent in the contract under which I was sent to school. I object, I -protest, I denounce the vile scheme as a compact with infamy. By the -way, Beckwith, I didn't think you would treat me in this unhandsome -manner. We were always good friends, and I never did anything to injure -you. And I was always willing to help you spend your money when I hadn't -too much of my own to dispose of."</p> - -<p>"Come, Scott, be reasonable."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> - -<p>"That's the very thing I ask of you—be reasonable, and don't try to cut -my out of my chance of being Captain next month."</p> - -<p>"Of course you haven't any more chance of being captain than you have of -being Czar of Russia next month."</p> - -<p>"Don't you think I should make a good czar?"</p> - -<p>"No doubt of it," laughed Beckwith.</p> - -<p>"Are you quite sure the Russians won't get up a revolution after they -have seen me?"</p> - -<p>"If they only knew what a jolly good fellow you were, they would be -likely to do so."</p> - -<p>"That's sensible; and I may go into the czar business, after all. And I -may be captain next month, if you nobs don't cut me out of my rights."</p> - -<p>"But it is no worse for you than for any other fellow in the steerage. I -may be where you are next month; then it will hit me as hard as it does -you."</p> - -<p>"Ah! then you are sawing off your own nose—are you?"</p> - -<p>"For the general good, I am."</p> - -<p>"Noble, self-sacrificing creature! Receive the homage of a humble -admirer."</p> - -<p>"You, or any other fellow in the steerage, may become a master, purser, -or midshipman, by your merit, and then you may be captain, or a -lieutenant, the next month."</p> - -<p>"But I shall have to wait a whole month before I can reach the summit of -my lofty ambition. That's too long to wait."</p> - -<p>"I ask you to go with us for the public good."</p> - -<p>"<i>Pro bono publico!</i> There you touch me where I am weak. For the public<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[3]</a></span> -good I would sacrifice this poor body to gout and dyspepsia. I would eat -grand dinners, as the aldermen do, at the public expense; I would accept -any fat office in which I had nothing to do but draw my salary; I would -be governor or president, and receive the homage of the people, for the -public good. There's my weak point."</p> - -<p>"You know Cantwell?"</p> - -<p>"Do I know him! Do I not know him? Am I unacquainted with the blooming -youth who thinks he must wind up the universe every morning, or -something will break before night? Ought not the deck to be carpeted -when he walks upon it? Ought we not to have a guard of marines to -present arms to him when he appears in the waist? Haven't I worn out -three caps in saluting him?"</p> - -<p>"You understand him, then?"</p> - -<p>"Mr. Cantwell is a great man; Mr. Cantwell is a profound scholar; Mr. -Cantwell knows what's what. Why, he is so much above us common, humdrum -sort of fellows, that we ought to get down on our knees when he -condescends to show himself."</p> - -<p>"Exactly so, Scott. And, unless we can get this change in the tenure of -office—"</p> - -<p>"Hold on! Will you oblige me by translating that high-flown expression?"</p> - -<p>"Of course you know what the expression means," replied Beckwith, -impatiently.</p> - -<p>"Perhaps I do; but I want to know what <i>you</i> mean by it."</p> - -<p>"I mean a change in the manner in which the offices are obtained and -held."</p> - -<p>"You mean right, as you always do."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Well, unless we get this change at once, Cantwell will be the next -captain."</p> - -<p>"He can't well be captain, and he can't well be otherwise."</p> - -<p>"That's so."</p> - -<p>"And you intend to put a stopper on him?"</p> - -<p>"He isn't fit to be captain, and he can't well be, as you say. In one -word, are you with us? Yes or no."</p> - -<p>"Yes or no. I must have time to think about it. When you attack a -fellow's inalienable rights, and all that sort of thing, I'm rather -inclined to go in for the bottom dog. The captaincy for next month lies -between Cantwell and me. For the public good, I am willing to waive my -own right, but I am not quite so clear that I ought to waive the right -of Mr. Cantwell, who is, by all odds, the greatest man in the ship."</p> - -<p>"You will do the right thing, Scott; I know you will," said Beckwith, -moving off.</p> - -<p>"Of course I will. I can't possibly do otherwise."</p> - -<p>Beckwith walked away, for he saw Cantwell approaching him. By this time -the fourth master was conscious that something which concerned him was -in progress among his shipmates, for, as he came near the little groups -which were discussing the proposed change in the "tenure of office," he -observed that they either separated or suddenly changed the -conversation. His approach, wherever he went, invariably produced a -sensation. All hands watched him, and avoided him with even more care -than usual. Possibly his self-conceit prevented him from knowing that he -was very unpopular among his companions; but they did not avoid him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> -generally, as at the present time. He had no suspicion of the nature of -the agitation among the students; but his observation of their conduct -led him to the conclusion that they intended to play off some practical -joke or trick upon him. He was on his guard from that moment; but he was -fully resolved to be the victim rather than the assailant on this -occasion.</p> - -<p>Scott stood just where Beckwith had left him. Instead of walking away, -as the others had done, when Cantwell approached, he looked at him, and -his expression was remarkably good-natured, and rather inviting for an -interview. He was almost the first one he met who did not avoid him. The -fourth master walked towards the joker, who, though not required by the -regulations to do so when off duty, promptly raised his cap, and -manifested a rather extravagant deference towards his superior. Cantwell -was a tall, slender young man of seventeen. Like many other great -students, he was somewhat near-sighted, and wore eye-glasses. He was an -exceedingly well-formed person, and was scrupulously nice in regard to -his dress. He had captured one of the new uniforms served out when he -was promoted to his present rank, and it was a much better fit than the -officers usually obtained.</p> - -<p>"Do you happen to know the drift of all these private conferences which -I observe, Scott?" asked Cantwell, raising his head so that he could see -through the eye-glass, which had slipped down upon his nose.</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir, I happen to know; and, as the matter concerns me more nearly -than any other fellow in the squadron, I don't object to telling you;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> -and I hope you will give me your sympathy and support," replied Scott, -putting on a most lugubrious face.</p> - -<p>"Indeed! I don't know that I quite comprehend you. I notice that all the -students carefully avoid me this afternoon. If I approach any two or -more of them engaged In conversation, they stop talking, or separate, -and look very mysterious. I had come to the conclusion that I was to be -the subject of some practical joke."</p> - -<p>"O, no. It is no joke, I assure you. It is a conspiracy, find I am to be -the first victim. Beckwith, the first master, was even impudent enough -to invite me to take a part in the amputation of my own nose! Did you -ever hear anything so absurd?"</p> - -<p>"Perhaps I should be better able to judge if I were informed in regard -to the nature of the conspiracy," suggested Cantwell, as he readjusted -his eye-glasses.</p> - -<p>"I shall be happy to inform you. They intend to apply to the principal -to have the tenure of office in the ship changed," replied Scott, in a -very impressive manner, as though he were revealing a startling fact.</p> - -<p>"The tenure of office!" repeated Cantwell, with a puzzled look.</p> - -<p>"Yes. Beckwith was kind enough to explain to me what it meant. I dare -say you know, without any explanation, Mr. Cantwell."</p> - -<p>"Of course I know the meaning of the phrase, but I don't understand its -application to the affairs of the squadron."</p> - -<p>"Then you will excuse me for telling you." And Scott explained in full -the nature of the proposed changes. "This is a plan, you will<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> -perceive, to cut me off."</p> - -<p>"Indeed!"</p> - -<p>"I have been a good boy, and learned my lessons this month; and, under -the present regulation, I should be the captain of the ship next month. -I think that is clear enough."</p> - -<p>Cantwell arranged his glasses again, and looked earnestly into the face -of the joker; but he was as serious as though he had been at a funeral.</p> - -<p>"I was not aware that you stood so high on the record," added the fourth -master, more puzzled than before.</p> - -<p>"Of course you are aware that you stand very high yourself," said Scott.</p> - -<p>"I know that I have not had a single imperfect lesson, or been marked -down on any exercise."</p> - -<p>"Just so. Then the highest office lies between you and me," replied -Scott, rubbing his chin. "The conspiracy is against us. If you should -get in ahead of me, I never have any hard feelings. I am willing to -abide by the regulations, and take whatever place belongs to me, even if -it should be that of captain or first lieutenant. I never complain of my -lot when there is fair play."</p> - -<p>"And so the students are trying to have the highest officers chosen by -ballot," mused Cantwell.</p> - -<p>"That's so; and it's a plot against you and me—a conspiracy against our -rights; and we must oppose it with all our might."</p> - -<p>"It seems to me a very strange movement, just before the first of the -month."</p> - -<p>"You are right; and we must go to work. The conspirators have had it all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> -their own way so far. We can make it lively for them.—Well, Laybold, -what is it?" said Scott, as the student addressed approached them.</p> - -<p>"I am sent to notify you both of a meeting of all the students of the -squadron, at that flat rock on the top of the island," said the -messenger. "The fellows are going to appoint a committee to wait on the -principal, and ask for a change in the manner of giving out the -offices."</p> - -<p>"We shall be there to vindicate our rights, and protest against this -conspiracy. How do you stand, Laybold?"</p> - -<p>"I don't care much about it, any way," replied the messenger, glancing -at Cantwell.</p> - -<p>"Then go against the change. This thing is got up to keep me from being -captain next month."</p> - -<p>"You!" shouted Laybold. "You won't even be captain of a top! You won't -come within fifty of the cabin."</p> - -<p>"So you say. But the highest office lies between Cantwell and me."</p> - -<p>"That may be; but it's a long way from your side of the house," replied -Laybold, as the party moved towards the highest part of the island.</p> - -<p>Cantwell was vexed and troubled, and he could not decide what course to -pursue.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> - -<p class="center mt2 title5">AN EXCITED MEETING OF OFFICERS AND SEAMEN.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p> - - -<p>Scott was one of the most popular students in the squadron. And it is a -lamentable fact, that mere "jokers" obtain a power and influence in -society which is denied to persons of infinitely greater dignity and -higher character. As Laybold declared, Scott had no personal interest in -the question under agitation, for, though he was a good seaman, his -scholarship was not above mediocrity. He lacked industry and -application; and it was not probable that he would ever win even the -lowest rank on the quarter-deck. But he had initiated what he regarded -as a stupendous joke, and he was determined to carry it through. While -the students were gathering at the flat rock, he electioneered against -the De Forrest plan, as it soon came to be called. He declared over and -over again, to the intense amusement of the seamen, that the plan was a -conspiracy against his individual rights, and was intended to prevent -him from being captain the next month. Before the meeting at the rock -was called to order he had rallied quite a respectable party under his -banner.</p> - -<p>Every officer and every seaman of the fleet was present at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> -meeting. The captain and the other officers sitting with the principal -had been summoned to the gathering; and those who were most interested -in the success of the effort were confident that the measure would be -adopted with little if any opposition. The meeting was called to order -by Lieutenant Ryder, the oldest officer of the squadron.</p> - -<p>"The first business of this meeting is the choice of a chairman," said -Ryder, taking position on the flat rock, around which the students had -collected. "Please to nominate."</p> - -<p>As in assemblages of older people, the arrangements had been "cut and -dried" beforehand, and Beckwith had been appointed by the "ring" to -nominate De Forrest as chairman; but Scott, more intent upon carrying -out his joke than anything else, had stationed himself close to the -rock, and disturbed the arrangements of the ring.</p> - -<p>"Cantwell!" shouted he, at the top of his lungs, before Beckwith, who -certainly was not a dexterous representative of the ring, could open his -mouth.</p> - -<p>"Cantwell!" repeated Laybold.</p> - -<p>"Cantwell!" cried a dozen others, almost choking with laughter.</p> - -<p>"I nominate Lieutenant De Forrest as chairman of this meeting," said the -tardy Beckwith.</p> - -<p>"Lieutenant De Forrest is nominated," continued the chairman, anxious to -only carry out the programme which had been arranged by the officers.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that you are a little deaf in one -eye. Mr. Cantwell was nominated first."</p> - -<p>"Cantwell! Cantwell!" shouted the supporters of Scott.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p> - -<p>Ryder was perplexed. Common fairness required him to put the question -first upon the name of Cantwell; but he hesitated to do so. It seemed -absurd to make the student whom they desired to throw out of the line of -promotion the chairman of a meeting called for that purpose. While he -was in doubt, the opposition shouted, indulging in hideous yells, -cat-calls, and other demonstrations. It was fun to them.</p> - -<p>"Lieutenant De Forrest has been nominated for chairman," repeated Ryder, -when there was a lull in the confusion.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Chairman, we go in for a fair thing," said Scott, in a loud but -good-natured tone. "Mr. Cantwell was nominated first."</p> - -<p>"Mr. Chairman, I don't know of any rule which requires the presiding -officer to put any name first," interposed Beckwith. "If the meeting is -not satisfied with the one named by the chairman, it can be voted down."</p> - -<p>"But it looks more like a fair thing if the chairman puts the first name -mentioned," replied Scott. "If the meeting don't like it, it can be -voted down. If this thing is all cut and dried, I don't want anything to -do with it; and I invite all the fellows that are not in the ring to -step out and hold another meeting, where we can have fair play."</p> - -<p>"Another meeting!" shouted at least twenty seamen, who, with many -others, seemed to regard the affair as a capital joke because it was -under the leadership of Scott, rather than because they could see the -point of it.</p> - -<p>"No, no!" responded the officers. "Put Cantwell's name, Ryder."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Mr. Cantwell is nominated," said the chairman; and the jokers were -delighted when they found they had carried their point; but Ryder -paused, and looked uneasily at the members of the ring.</p> - -<p>"Vote for him," said Norwood. "Make him chairman, and that will take the -wind out of his sails. In the chair he can't oppose the plan, and we can -tell the principal, when we go to him, that Cantwell presided over the -meeting."</p> - -<p>"Question!" shouted the officers.</p> - -<p>"If it is your pleasure that Mr. Cantwell serve you as chairman of this -meeting, you will manifest it by saying,'Ay.'"</p> - -<p>"Ay!" yelled nearly the whole crowd.</p> - -<p>"Those opposed, 'No,'" continued the chairman.</p> - -<p>"No!" replied a few, who did not understand the tactics of the ring.</p> - -<p>"It is a vote," said Ryder, "and Mr. Cantwell is elected chairman of -this meeting."</p> - -<p>"I move you that a committee of two, consisting of Lieutenant De Forrest -and Mr. Beckwith, be appointed to conduct him to the chair," shouted -Scott.</p> - -<p>"You hear the motion of Mr. Scott; those in favor will say, 'Ay;' those -opposed, 'No.' It is a vote," said the temporary chairman, disgusted -with the proceedings.</p> - -<p>De Forrest and Beckwith conducted the obnoxious fourth master to the -chair, which was the flat rock. As Cantwell mounted the natural rostrum, -the jokers applauded lustily, and the ring felt that the proceedings<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> -were already turned into a farce. Of course Cantwell was more astonished -than any one else to find his merits so highly appreciated.</p> - -<p>"Gentlemen, I thank you most heartily for the honor, unsought and -unexpected on my part, which you have conferred upon me," said he, -removing his cap. "I shall endeavor to preside impartially over the -deliberations of this meeting. The chair awaits any motion."</p> - -<p>"Mr. Chairman," said De Forrest, who, after his defeat, had been -delegated by the officers to present the business to the meeting.</p> - -<p>"Lieutenant De Forrest," replied Cantwell.</p> - -<p>The originator of the plan for changing the "tenure of office" made -quite a lengthy speech, in which he set forth the advantages to be -derived from the adoption of the new method of filling the offices of -the highest grade. Of course he carefully abstained from any allusion to -the real objection to the present system, and would have done so even if -Cantwell had not been chosen chairman. His statement of the plan was -certainly a very clear one, and the subject was fully understood by -every student.</p> - -<p>"And now, Mr. Chairman, having fully explained the plan, which has been -approved by a large number of the officers and seamen of the squadron," -continued De Forrest, "I move that a committee of three be raised, to -wait on the principal, and request him to make this change in the manner -of filling the office of commodore of the squadron, and of captain, -first, second, third, and fourth lieutenant of each vessel."</p> - -<p>"Mr. Chairman," said Beckwith, who had been selected to second the -motion, "I rise—"</p> - -<p>"No, you don't," interposed Scott; "you haven't got up yet."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I rise—"</p> - -<p>"You were up before," persisted Scott; and a round of applause followed -the interruption.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Chairman, I second the motion," said Beckwith, who, however, was -unable to make the little speech he had arranged in his mind favoring -the proposed change, for the laugh and the applause which followed -Scott's sally had sadly disconcerted him.</p> - -<p>The chairman stated the motion, and the question upon its adoption was -fairly before the meeting. Several of the officers spoke in favor of it, -and even the commodore, the captain, and the first lieutenant gave it -the weight of their powerful influence. Two of the "short jackets" also -briefly addressed the meeting in favor of the plan; and thus far the -agitators had it all their own way.</p> - -<p>"Question!" called some of the ring.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Chairman!" shouted Scott, in a tone loud enough to be heard at the -farther side of the island, where the adults of the squadron were -enjoying the quiet beauty of the scene.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Scott," replied the chairman, recognizing and bowing to the joker.</p> - -<p>"Question! question!" shouted some of the officers, who were inclined to -retaliate upon the joker by using his own tactics.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Scott has the floor," interposed the chairman.</p> - -<p>"Thank you, Mr. Chairman; but I'm not to be floored so easily. Every -fellow that knows me knows that I go in for fair play."</p> - -<p>"That's so," cried the crowd of his supporters, with a round of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> -applause.</p> - -<p>"And what I give to others I ask for myself," continued Scott. "I'm a -modest fellow." (Tumultuous applause.) "I'm a modest fellow, Mr. -Chairman, and it gores my soul to feel compelled to speak of my own -merit; but this whole thing is a conspiracy against my rights." ("Hear, -hear.") "I have belonged to the ship about a year; I haven't the -purser's books in my trousers' pocket, and can't say to a day how long, -but about a year. I have faithfully discharged every duty, and even done -a great many things that were not required of me. I have eaten my grub -with untiring fidelity, except when I was seasick at the beginning." -(Applause.) "I have slept my eight hours out of the twenty-four with -exemplary diligence and punctuality; and even done more than this, when -the emergency seemed to require it, without grumbling." (Applause.) "I -have kept my watch below without flinching." (Applause.) "I have worn my -pea-jacket in cold and heavy weather without deeming it a hardship." -(Applause.) "I have never objected to going on shore to see a city, or -to take a tramp in the country, or to go 'on a time' of any sort." -(Applause.) "Indeed, I have always been willing to make myself as -comfortable as the circumstances would permit. And I have tried to use -every fellow about right, the officers as well as the seamen. I have -helped the fellows spend their money, when they needed my assistance" -(applause), "for I don't like to be selfish about these things. When a -fellow had any cake, fruit, or other good thing, I have taken hold like -a man, and helped him eat it." ("That's so," shouted several.) "I have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> -always been willing to let any fellow get my lessons for me, or do my -share in holy-stoning the deck. When any petty officer, having a soft -thing in the way of duty, such as coxswain of a boat, on a long pull, -was sick, I have always been willing to take his place, and not charge -him anything, either." (Applause.) "It's my nature to be unselfish; and -I would do as much for the captain, or any other officer, as for a -seaman."</p> - -<p>"Mr. Chairman, I rise to a point of order," interposed Beckwith.</p> - -<p>"Will the gentleman state his point?"</p> - -<p>"That the gentleman is not speaking to the question," snapped the first -master, who was determined, if possible, to get even with Scott.</p> - -<p>"The speaker stated in the beginning that the proposed measure, and the -action of this meeting in connection therewith, were a conspiracy -against his rights; and the chair decides that he is in order," said the -chairman, with dignity.</p> - -<p>"But, sir, must we listen to his biography?" demanded Beckwith.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Chairman, it is as painful for me to rehearse my own virtues before -this large audience as it is for him to hear me; and the sacrifice which -I make in doing so ought to be appreciated by the gentleman on the other -side." (Applause.)</p> - -<p>"I appeal from the decision of the chair," said Beckwith.</p> - -<p>"First Master Beckwith appeals from the decision of the chair," -continued Cantwell, who proceeded to state the point at issue, and,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> -taking advantage of the privilege of his position, gave his reasons at -length for ruling that Scott was in order.</p> - -<p>Most of the seamen of the ship and of the consorts enjoyed the fun, and -wished Scott to go on. When the question of order was put, a large -majority sustained the decision of the chair. Cantwell began to feel -that he had a host of friends, and that the plot of the officers would -be defeated.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Scott has the floor, and may proceed with his remarks," said he, -when the vote was declared.</p> - -<p>"I trust I have shown conclusively that I am a good fellow," continued -Scott. (Hearty applause.) "Now, to apply what I had said when I was so -ungenerously interrupted, if I am a good fellow, I deserve to be the -captain, or at least one of the lieutenants, of the ship" (rapturous -applause), "provided I get a greater number of merit marks than any -other fellow; of course I don't expect to wink the marks out of sight. -Not long since I made a little excursion through Sweden with some -friends of mine, without exactly running away. The fact was, we couldn't -find the ship, though we searched diligently for her." (Applause, and -cries of "Finkel.") "I hear 'Finkel.' Finkel was there, and had a -finger in the pie. Now, no one can tell how many merits I got for that -excursion, and for my struggles to find the ship; nor how many I got for -the glass of finkel I drank, which, I grant, deranged my ideas. Then I -was caught asleep on the anchor watch, and neither you nor I know how -many merit marks I had for that. We are not permitted to examine the -record books of the instructors, and therefore we cannot know how high<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> -we are marked for any recitation or exercise; but, Mr. Chairman, I <i>got -high</i> this month" (violent applause), "and therefore I ought to have a -high office. At any rate, Mr. Chairman, the highest office lies between -you and me; and I think all present, who have considered the matter, -will agree that it belongs to one of us" ("Hear, hear"), "and my modesty -does not permit me to indicate which one. And now, Mr. Chairman, within -three days of the end of the month, when the prize of a noble ambition -is almost within my grasp, comes this cruel conspiracy to rob me of -reward!"</p> - -<p>Scott was trying to imitate Forrest, or some other great tragic actor -whom he had seen, in the last clause of his speech, and the students -were convulsed with laughter at his deep tones and wild gestures. He -continued a few moments longer in the same strain, being frequently -interrupted by applause and other demonstrations.</p> - -<p>"And now, Mr. Chairman, I have done. If my shipmates will thus sting me -to death when I am almost at the pinnacle of a noble ambition, I can -only yield, as the noble Caesar did when he declared that Brutus ate two -slapjacks for his breakfast. I shall fall, not by my own fault, but, -like Caesar, by the madness of ambitious office-seekers. But I shall -fall free from the taint of dishonor—scot-free."</p> - -<p>The orator wiped his brow with his coat sleeve, having left his -handkerchief in the pocket of his pea-jacket, while the applause of the -seamen rang through the island groves and over the silent sea.</p> - -<p>De Forrest was angry when he saw that the proceedings of the meeting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> -were turned into a farce, and he made haste to reply to Scott's -effective speech. The only point he made was, that the last speaker had -no expectation of obtaining the lowest cabin office, or even of being -the coxswain of the fourth cutter, and therefore his argument was simply -ridiculous.</p> - -<p>"I should like to ask the third lieutenant if I did not say that the -highest office lay between the chairman of the meeting and myself," -demanded Scott.</p> - -<p>"Yes, yes," shouted a score.</p> - -<p>"He did; but he spoke of a conspiracy against his own rights," replied -De Forrest.</p> - -<p>"What is the right of one student, Mr. Chairman, is the right of every -one," said Scott—a sentiment which was warmly applauded.</p> - -<p>"Question!" shouted the jokers.</p> - -<p>The ring, trusting that the impression produced before the meeting by -personal appeal had not been destroyed by the orator of the opposition, -permitted the vote to be taken on the main question; and, indeed, -Scott's party would not permit anything else to be done. The chairman -stated the motion again, which was the appointment of a committee of -three to request the principal to adopt the plan of De Forrest.</p> - -<p>"Those in favor of the motion will manifest it by saying, 'Ay,'" said -Cantwell.</p> - -<p>"Ay!" replied the affirmative members of the meeting.</p> - -<p>"Those opposed, 'No.'"</p> - -<p>"No!" yelled the jokers, with all the power of their lungs.</p> - -<p>It was impossible to determine which side had the majority; but as the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> -"noes" made the most noise, the chairman decided that it was not a vote.</p> - -<p>"I doubt the vote," shouted De Forrest, much excited.</p> - -<p>"The vote is doubted," said the chairman. "Those in favor of the motion -will muster on the right of the chair; those opposed, on the left."</p> - -<p>Cantwell then appointed four tellers, two from each side. Two of them, -one for, and one against, the measure, were then directed to count the -number on each side.</p> - -<p>"Form a line, and march between the tellers to be counted," added the -chairman.</p> - -<p>The business was done fairly, for each party was watching the other. The -tellers on each side, after comparing their results, and finding that -they agreed, were ready to report.</p> - -<p>"How many in the affirmative?" asked the chairman.</p> - -<p>"Eighty-eight," replied one of the tellers.</p> - -<p>"In the negative?"</p> - -<p>"Eighty-one," replied one of the tellers for that side.</p> - -<p>"Eighty-eight having voted in the affirmative, and eighty-one in the -negative, the motion is carried," said the chairman. "The next business -in order is the appointment of the committee. How shall they be chosen?"</p> - -<p>"By the chair," shouted Scott.</p> - -<p>"Second the motion," added a student.</p> - -<p>"It is moved and seconded that the committee be nominated by the -chair."</p> - -<p>"Mr. Chairman, it does not seem to me to be exactly right that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> -committee should be nominated by the chairman, who is opposed to the -plan," suggested Beckwith.</p> - -<p>"The chairman has not yet indicated whether he is in favor or opposed to -the plan," said Cantwell, with a contemptuous curl of his lips and nose. -"He intends to be entirely impartial in the discharge of his duty."</p> - -<p>A shout of applause from the opposition followed this remark.</p> - -<p>"The student who spoke against the plan mentioned the chairman in the -same category with himself."</p> - -<p>"The chairman did not authorize him to do so," answered Cantwell.</p> - -<p>"Question!" shouted the jokers.</p> - -<p>"The question is called for, which is, that the chairman nominate the -committee."</p> - -<p>The vote was taken and doubted. The count, by tellers, as before, -resulted in a tie; for several who had voted for the plan, moved by the -apparent impartiality of the chairman, broke loose from party -discipline, and voted with the other side.</p> - -<p>"The chair votes in the affirmative, and the motion is carried," said -Cantwell, as soon as the tellers had reported. "The chair nominates -Lieutenants Judson and Norwood, and Mr. Scott. The question is upon the -confirming of the nomination of the chair."</p> - -<p>"Mr. Chairman, Scott is opposed to the plan which this meeting has voted -to recommend," interposed De Forrest.</p> - -<p>"The chair is aware of the fact, and for that reason nominated him,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> -replied Cantwell. "The committee stand two in favor to one opposed to -the plan."</p> - -<p>"How can one opposed to the plan, as Scott is, ask the principal to -adopt it?" demanded De Forrest.</p> - -<p>"As I understood the matter, this committee is to represent this -meeting. Is it right that a committee unanimously in favor of the plan -should represent a meeting in which the plan was adopted by a majority -of only seven in a vote of one hundred and sixty-nine? Is it intended -the committee shall represent to the principal that this meeting is -unanimously in favor of the proposed change?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly not."</p> - -<p>"I have nominated a committee the majority of whom are in favor of the -measure. In my view this is all that parliamentary rule requires of me. -The question is upon confirming the nomination."</p> - -<p>The question was taken, and the vote doubted again; but the nomination -was confirmed by a majority of two.</p> - -<p>"Is there any further business to come before this meeting?" asked the -chairman.</p> - -<p>"I move that the meeting be dissolved," said Scott.</p> - -<p>The motion was put and carried. The students separated into little -squads, and of course nothing else was talked about the rest of the day -but the meeting. Scott, from a humble joker, found himself suddenly -transformed into a hero, and a person of no little influence among the -students. The ring were astonished and disconcerted at the result of the -meeting; and the victory they had gained was so nearly a defeat that -there were no rejoicings over it. De Forrest could hardly tell whether<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> -his party was triumphant or not.</p> - -<p>"What do you mean, Scott?" demanded Beckwith, when the commodore had -ordered all hands to be piped into the boats, and the students were -walking down to the shore.</p> - -<p>"I told you I would do the right thing, and I've done it. Wasn't it a -fair thing—square and aboveboard?"</p> - -<p>"It wasn't a fair thing to nominate Cantwell for chairman."</p> - -<p>"If you didn't like him, why didn't you vote him down?" asked Scott. "I -think everything has been fairly done."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps it was. Allow that it was. Why did you get up an opposition to -the plan?" demanded Beckwith, rather warmly.</p> - -<p>"What do I care for the plan? You nobs in the cabin got up a ring, and -all you wanted of the steerage fellows was to give up their rights. I -have just as good a right to be a lieutenant next month as you have, if -my marks give me the place. It is only a game of the ring to keep the -best places among yourselves; that's all."</p> - -<p>"Do you want Cantwell for your captain?" demanded Beckwith.</p> - -<p>"I had just as lief have him captain as fourth master. He is over me -just the same. But I am not sure he is half so bad a fellow as you make -him out to be."</p> - -<p>"I don't say he is bad, only that he is a conceited and disagreeable -fellow, and no seaman. We don't want a fellow of that sort over us."</p> - -<p>"We in the steerage have him over us now, and shall have him, any way<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> -you can fix it. He thinks pretty well of No. 1, I know, and so do some -of the rest of the cabin nobs. I'm not clear yet that he is no seaman. I -go for giving him the same chance that the rest of the fellows have. -Then, if he don't do his duty, and behave like a gentleman, it will be -time enough to do something."</p> - -<p>"Then I'm to understand, Scott, that you have sold out to Cantwell."</p> - -<p>"Did any of you cabin swells think you owned me?" laughed Scott.</p> - -<p>"I saw you talking with Cantwell."</p> - -<p>"Very likely Cantwell saw me talking with you. What does that prove?" -retorted Scott.</p> - -<p>"But he's a very unpopular fellow. There isn't a fellow in the ship that -likes him."</p> - -<p>"I don't, for one," added Scott, with refreshing candor.</p> - -<p>"And yet you have got up this opposition, and nearly, if not quite, -defeated our plan. He ought to be very grateful to you."</p> - -<p>"I don't think he ought to be thrown overboard, or deprived of his -rights, because he is not popular. When I saw that his brother officers -were down upon him, I was rather inclined to stand by him, for, as I -told you, I generally go in for the bottom dog. I believe in fair play -for every fellow, whether he is popular or not. I wouldn't kick a dog -because he didn't belong to anybody."</p> - -<p>"You are on the committee, Scott."</p> - -<p>"I have the honor; and I shall see that Cantwell has fair play before -the principal."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> - -<p>"You have done enough, Scott; why can't you keep still now, and let the -thing take its course?" added Beckwith, in an insinuating tone.</p> - -<p>"And let Cantwell slip up, you mean?"</p> - -<p>"What do you care for Cantwell? You don't like him any better than any -other fellow. If you will only keep still, the chairman of the committee -will simply represent to the principal that a majority of the students -desire the change," persisted Beckwith.</p> - -<p>"And the next question he will ask will be, how the vote stood. If he -don't ask it, he isn't the fair man I have always taken him to be. -Besides, the chairman put me on that committee to represent the opinions -of the minority; and I'm going to do it."</p> - -<p>"The opinions of the minority!" sneered Beckwith. "That is all bosh. -They haven't any opinions about it. You made your ridiculous speech as a -joke, and the minority took it up as a joke. They don't want Cantwell to -be captain any more than we do."</p> - -<p>"That may be; but if they cut his nose off now, they may cut off their -own next month, just to make a soft thing for you nobs in the cabin. -Now, I want to tell you one thing, Becky—"</p> - -<p>"Don't call me Becky; I'm not a girl," interposed the first master.</p> - -<p>"I beg your pardon: Mr. Beckwith."</p> - -<p>"I don't ask you to call me mister when off duty, either. You wanted to -tell me one thing."</p> - -<p>"I'm not anxious to tell you anything; but, if I were Cantwell, I should -rather hope that the principal would grant the request, and make the -change."</p> - -<p>"Do you think he could ever be elected to any office?"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Perhaps not under ordinary circumstances; but if you cabin nobs will -only persecute him a little, only try to keep him out of his rights by -De Forrest's plan, he can be elected captain the very next month. You -see we fellows throw seventy-two votes in the steerage, and forty-five -is a majority of the whole ship's company. If any fourth-rate politician -on shore can only get himself persecuted, he can be elected to Congress, -for sympathy will do more than merit."</p> - -<p>"You needn't tell me that the fellows in the steerage are going to elect -Cantwell to any office. He couldn't be chosen fourth lieutenant, to say -nothing of captain," protested Beckwith. "I believe you have lost your -wits, Scott."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps I have; but you haven't found them. If you get the plan -adopted, we will try it on a little."</p> - -<p>"What do you mean by that?"</p> - -<p>"If De Forrest's plan is adopted, either Cantwell or I will be elected -captain."</p> - -<p>"You! You would not even be a candidate under the new rule."</p> - -<p>"Say Cantwell, then."</p> - -<p>"It is absurd! There is hardly a fellow in the ship that does not hate -him, except you."</p> - -<p>"I don't hate him, or any other fellow. But go ahead; there will be fun -and a lively time," said Scott, as they separated to take their places -in the boats.</p> - -<p>The students and others embarked, and, as the instructors were now with -them, nothing more was said about the proposed changes. The squadron of -sixteen boats pulled out from the island, and, forming in order, rowed -to the several vessels which were anchored a couple of miles distant.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> -As soon as the boys were on board, the exciting topic was renewed. After -supper Scott was notified of a meeting of the committee in the after -cabin: but the regulations of the ship did not permit him to go there, -being only a seaman. Scott, of course, did not appear, though, -attempting to enter the cabin, he was ordered by the principal to go -forward. He obeyed, and was satisfied that the rest of the committee -intended to ignore him, or they would not appoint a meeting where he -could not attend.</p> - -<p>In the cabin, at eight bells, the majority of the committee met. Norwood -was not in favor of acting without Scott; but De Forrest and Beckwith -advised them to do so. It was not proper for officers to meet in the -steerage; and they had accommodated the majority. It was decided to wait -upon the principal forthwith, and Scott was duly notified of the -intention. The joker, when the messenger gave him the second notice, was -engaged at an impromptu indignation meeting, in which he was informing -his audience that a meeting of the committee had been called in the -cabin, where he could not attend. He considered it an indignity to him, -and to the cause of which he was the representative and the champion. -After consulting Cantwell, he decided not to wait upon the principal -with the rest of the committee. After certain explanations which Scott -made, and certain schemes of future action which he suggested, the -fourth master was entirely satisfied with the proposition.</p> - -<p>The majority of the committee waited upon the principal in the main -cabin, and fully stated the proposed changes in the "tenure of office," -in the ship and in the two consorts.</p> - -<p>"You represent a meeting of all the officers and seamen of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> -squadron—do you?" asked Mr. Lowington.</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir; all the officers and all the seamen of each vessel were -present," replied Judson, the chairman of the committee.</p> - -<p>"Was the vote by which you were appointed unanimous?"</p> - -<p>"No, sir; it was not."</p> - -<p>"What was the vote?"</p> - -<p>"Eighty-eight to eighty-one."</p> - -<p>"A majority of only seven."</p> - -<p>"But the minority were really in favor of the plan, as we ascertained -before the meeting," explained Judson, who then related the particulars -of the gathering, giving the details of Scott's speech, at which the -principal was much amused.</p> - -<p>"The students voted against the plan just to carry out the joke," added -Norwood. "Scott was appointed on this committee, and was notified, but -he does not appear."</p> - -<p>"I think I understand the matter," replied Mr. Lowington. "I will -consider the plan on its own merits, though substantially the same -system has occupied my attention several times before, and I am not -wholly unprepared for it. I will give you my decision on the first day -of the month."</p> - -<p>The committee retired, satisfied with the result of the interview, and -hopeful that the plan would be adopted.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> - -<p class="center mt2 title5">FINLAND AND THE AGITATORS.</p> - - -<p>The day which followed the excited meeting of officers and seamen on the -island was Sunday, and the agitation of the subject which disturbed the -ship's company in a measure ceased. The religious services were held on -shore, in the shade of a pleasant grove, and the Bible classes gathered -in favored spots chosen by the teachers. After these exercises were -finished in the afternoon, a couple of hours were spent upon the island. -Little groups gathered together to walk, or to engage in conversation, -while single ones, here and there, enjoyed their own thoughts. Cantwell -and Scott seated themselves on a rock near the water, and seemed to be -talking together very earnestly. On such occasions the brilliant student -usually remained alone, not because he was brilliant, but because his -shipmates were inclined to shun his companionship. He was really -grateful to Scott for the signal service he had rendered him the day -before, not in defeating the new plan, for that had not yet been -accomplished, but in preventing him from being wholly ignored, and for -making him chairman of the meeting. He had sought the present interview -himself.</p> - -<p>"Of course these proceedings were all directed against me," said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[0]</a></span> -Cantwell, after the subject had been introduced.</p> - -<p>"No doubt of it," replied Scott, candidly.</p> - -<p>"I don't know why my shipmates should be so prejudiced against me."</p> - -<p>"Don't you?" asked the joker, rather incredulously.</p> - -<p>"I do not; I certainly have not injured them."</p> - -<p>"You won't get mad if I tell you—will you?"</p> - -<p>"No; surely not," protested Cantwell.</p> - -<p>"I'll tell you, then."</p> - -<p>"I shall be much obliged to you, if you will."</p> - -<p>"I don't know; I'm afraid you won't be," laughed Scott.</p> - -<p>"I am sincere; and whatever you say, I shall believe you intend to do me -a kindness."</p> - -<p>"That's so. The fellows are prejudiced against you because you are -selfish, conceited, overbearing, and tyrannical," said Scott, squarely.</p> - -<p>"You don't mean all that; you only repeat what you have heard others -say."</p> - -<p>"I do repeat what I have heard others say, and I'm bound to add that I -believe it myself. When you give an order, you do it just as though you -were a superior being; as though you were everybody, and I were -nobody—that's so."</p> - -<p>"I was not aware of it."</p> - -<p>"Then you put on airs, even in the cabin, and with your superior. You go -in for the breast of the chickens, and drown your coffee with the last -gill of milk in the ship."</p> - -<p>Cantwell bit his lips, and seemed to be very much annoyed.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Then you think you know everything, and other fellows nothing. You are -willing to give your own opinion, but you won't hear that of others," -continued Scott, as bluntly as the case seemed to require.</p> - -<p>"Go on; but of course you don't expect me to acknowledge all these -charges," replied Cantwell, with one of his most savage sneers.</p> - -<p>"Do as you like about that; I was only telling you why the fellows are -prejudiced against you. You talk and act superciliously to your ship -mates, and they don't like that sort of thing. I don't, for one."</p> - -<p>"I am sorry you don't."</p> - -<p>"Do you like a fellow that treats you with contempt?"</p> - -<p>"Of course not; but that's what my shipmates do to me."</p> - -<p>"In self-defence, perhaps, they do. I suppose every fellow has his -faults, except me. I don't know that I have any," replied Scott, with -one of his telling smiles.</p> - -<p>"You don't?"</p> - -<p>"No; do you suppose you have any, Mr. Cantwell?"</p> - -<p>"I suppose so; but not so many as most of my shipmates, I know."</p> - -<p>"Exactly so; you admit the little things, so as to deny the big ones."</p> - -<p>"I know I am a better scholar than any other student in the cabin. They -all know this, or they would not have raised this breeze."</p> - -<p>"Better let others find that out before you discover it yourself. One<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> -thing more: the officers say you are no seaman, and they don't want a -fellow in command of the ship who don't know his duty. No officer likes -to have one above him who knows less than he does about seamanship."</p> - -<p>"I don't suppose I know as much about a ship as those students who have -been on board two or three years; but I think I am competent to perform -my duty, at least with the advice of the principal, in any position."</p> - -<p>"I have told you all I know about it."</p> - -<p>"And some things that you don't know," added Cantwell, who could not -believe that he was such a person as the joker had described.</p> - -<p>"Just as you please about that."</p> - -<p>"But I wish you to understand that I think you have been very fair and -candid; and I am very much obliged to you for your plain speech, however -disagreeable it may be to me."</p> - -<p>"You are welcome to it," laughed Scott.</p> - -<p>"Now, do you think the principal will make the change asked for by the -committee?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know; but I hope he will."</p> - -<p>"You hope so!"</p> - -<p>"Yes; and if he does, we will show those cabin nobs that 'fair play is a -jewel,'" answered Scott, significantly.</p> - -<p>The conversation continued until the students were piped into the boats.</p> - -<p>The next morning exercises in seamanship were in order throughout the -squadron, for the principal was aware that this element of the course<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> -had received but little attention during the month. Every officer and -seaman in each vessel was required to perform his duty in getting under -way, in making and furling sail, and coming to anchor. Evolutions in -reefing, tacking, wearing, scudding, laying to, bending sails, and -sending down topmasts, were performed, and each student marked according -to his merit. In addition to this, each student was separately examined -in problems in seamanship; and his knowledge of the standing and running -rigging of a ship, bark, brig, hermaphrodite brig, schooner, and sloop, -was tested. This examination was very carefully conducted, and the same -questions were put to every boy. The crew were all sent below at the -beginning, and four were called up at a time, so that no one could know -in advance what the questions were to be. Only the simpler problems were -required to be answered at this trial.</p> - -<p>The principal, the boatswain, carpenter, and sail-maker, all of whom -were thorough practical seamen, were the examiners.</p> - -<p>Mr. Lowington and Peaks, the boatswain, were on each side of the -mainmast, the carpenter at the foremast, and the sail-maker at the -mizzenmast, though each was obliged to take his pupil to the different -parts of the ship in the course of the examination. The questions were -such as these:—</p> - -<p>"Point out the main-topmast stay, the main-topmast back-stay, the -weather main clew-garnet, the fore-sheet and fore-tack, with the wind on -the port beam.</p> - -<p>"What is a pendant, a lift, a horse, a gasket, a jewel-block?</p> - -<p>"How would you take in a topsail, wind fresh?</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span></p> - -<p>"How would you furl a royal?</p> - -<p>"How would you reef a topsail?</p> - -<p>"How would you turn out the reefs of a topsail?</p> - -<p>"If two vessels are approaching each other, one by the wind, the other -going free, what is the rule for each?</p> - -<p>"Make a square knot, a timber hitch, a bowling knot, a clove hitch, a -short splice."</p> - -<p>For the last requirement two bits of rope were given to each student, -who was directed to bring in his work to the examiner, with a card on -which his name was written attached to it. The knots and hitches were -made with a whale line on a handspike. The other questions were answered -orally, or by pointing out the part of the rigging indicated. There were -twenty questions in the list, and the promptness, as well as the -accuracy, of the answers or the work was to be considered in marking the -value of them. If a student was obliged to try two or three times before -he could make a square knot, or a clove hitch, he was marked lower. If -he did what he was required without hesitation, he had five for each -question; if not, he was marked lower, for seamen have no time to -deliberate. Though the examination was a very simple and easy one, no -student obtained above ninety, and several were below fifty. Most of the -officers had over seventy. Captain Lincoln had ninety, and Cantwell only -fifty-two, though none of them knew the results till the first of the -next month. The addition of these marks to the merit roll for the month -made some important changes in the relative standing of the students.</p> - -<p>"What do you say now?" inquired Scott, when he met Beckwith, after<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> -supper.</p> - -<p>"I say just the same that I have always said," replied the first master.</p> - -<p>"Do you still desire to have the higher officers chosen by ballot?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly I do."</p> - -<p>"But the fellows all say that Cantwell can't well be captain or first -lieutenant when to-day's marks are added in."</p> - -<p>"No matter for that; I still think that it is better to vote for the -captain and lieutenants."</p> - -<p>"Just as you like; but I think you miss it."</p> - -<p>"I don't believe I do," answered the first master, walking away.</p> - -<p>The results of the examination were not known to the students; but they -were speculated over and guessed at very freely. It was generally -admitted that Cantwell's chances for either of the first two offices, -were lost for the next month; but it was certain that, if he were not -thrown off the track, he would be captain in two or three months, when -he had brought up his seamanship to the proper standard. Indeed, the -agitation had already roused the obnoxious officer to a realizing sense -of his own deficiency, and stimulated him to make an earnest effort to -acquire the needed knowledge. From that time he used all his spare hours -in studying the nautical books in the library. For hours he pored over -the large diagrams of a ship, in which the spars, sails, and rigging -were explained. The old boatswain appeared to be his best friend, so -much were they together; for Peaks delighted to instruct a willing -pupil.</p> - -<p>On the last day of the month the squadron sailed for Åbo, in Finland.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> -During the week the vessels had remained among the islands; they had -been working gradually to the eastward, till it was only a short run to -this port. The town is on the Aurajoki River, about three miles from the -Gulf of Bothnia. The squadron came to anchor off the mouth of the river, -near the village of Boxholm. The steamers and small vessels go up to the -town, but large craft are obliged to discharge their cargoes at this -place. On a hill which commands the entrance to the river there is a -fort, which is also a prison—an ancient structure with the ruins of a -watch-tower, which has stood for centuries. Many of the houses on the -shore were painted red,—as in the country towns of New England fifty -years ago,—and were occupied by fishermen and laborers. The students, -who had been in the solitudes of nature for a week, and had hardly seen -a living creature, or anything connected with civilized life, were -interested in observing every indication of civilization in the -vicinity. For the time, even the exciting topic of the change in the -"tenure of office" was dropped. Scott, who had been quietly at work ever -since the meeting at the picnic, suspended his labors, and made queer -comments upon the old castle, the boats, and the people around the ship. -Though there was actually a village in sight, it did not entirely remove -the impression from the minds of many of the students that they were -almost "out of the world," for the oppressive fact that they were in -sixty and a half degrees of north latitude was not entirely removed by -the fort, the village, and the people.</p> - -<p>"All hands, attend lecture!" shouted the boatswain, as his shrill pipe<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> -rang through the ship, and was repeated in the two consorts.</p> - -<p>"Lecture!" exclaimed Scott. "That's too bad! What does the professor -think we are made of? We have been patient and long-suffering in the -matter of lectures, and I didn't suppose we were to be dosed with any -more till we got to Russia."</p> - -<p>"We are in Russia now," replied Laybold.</p> - -<p>"Not much, if my soundings are correct. Finland isn't Russia, any more -than the Dominion of Canada is Great Britain. It is subject to Russia, -but the people here make their own laws, or at least have a finger in -the pie, which they don't under the nose of the Czar. Do you see that -big fish, Laybold?"</p> - -<p>"What fish?" asked the other.</p> - -<p>"Why, that one near the shore. He is over five feet long."</p> - -<p>Scott pointed at a man who had just taken a small boy on his back, and -was wading out to a boat, with a man on each side of him.</p> - -<p>"I don't see any fish," added Laybold, straining his eyes as he gazed -earnestly in the direction indicated by his companion.</p> - -<p>"Don't you? Then you are a little blind in one of your ears. There he -goes towards the boat."</p> - -<p>"What is it?" asked several others.</p> - -<p>"A big fish," replied Scott, demurely.</p> - -<p>"I see some men, but no fish," said Laybold.</p> - -<p>"There, he has stopped by the boat."</p> - -<p>"That isn't a fish; it's a man."</p> - -<p>"I tell you it is a fish. Do you think I don't know a fish when I see -one."</p> - -<p>"Nonsense!" shouted the others. "It's a man."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I say he is a fish. Don't you see that he has a Finn on his back, and -Finns each side of him?" returned Scott.</p> - -<p>"You get out!" shouted Jones. "A fellow that will deliberately make a -pun isn't fit to live in polite society."</p> - -<p>"Then I'm finished for polite society," added Scott; "though I don't see -how you know anything about it, for you never were there, or your -manners belie you. By the way, did you know that our government had sent -over to this country for a fortune-teller, or seer—one of those fellows -they used to have in Scotland?"</p> - -<p>"What for?" asked Laybold.</p> - -<p>"They want to make him secretary of the treasury."</p> - -<p>"Why so?" inquired Jones.</p> - -<p>"Because they need a financier; for the fellow would certainly be one. -There, do you see that French conjunction on the shore? Hear him bark."</p> - -<p>"That is a dog," protested Laybold.</p> - -<p>"What of it? Isn't it <i>afin que?</i> Well, those are strange people," -continued Scott, shaking his head.</p> - -<p>"What's the matter with them?"</p> - -<p>"Matter? Did you oversee the 'finny tribe' walking about on shore -before?"</p> - -<p>"You are a monster, Scott," laughed Jones.</p> - -<p>"Yes, a sea-monster; and if I were monarch of all I surveyed, I should -have plenty of Finns. Do you suppose those women have any nephews and -nieces?" asked Scott, still gazing at the group of men, women, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> -children, who had gathered on the beach to see the squadron.</p> - -<p>"Of course they have."</p> - -<p>"Then we must go on shore and be introduced to them."</p> - -<p>"But we can't speak Finnish."</p> - -<p>"In that case we shall be obliged to finish speaking."</p> - -<p>"But why should we be introduced to the 'women with nephews and -nieces?'"</p> - -<p>"Because it is eminently proper and right that American young gentlemen -should be acquainted with finance. The boats are coming, and I am like -that shed on the beach."</p> - -<p>"I don't see it."</p> - -<p>"Yes—Finnish shed. Come, tumble down the hatchway," said Scott, as he -led the way to the steerage.</p> - -<p>Mr. Mapps, the instructor in geography and history, was already at his -post, which post was the foremast of the ship, whereon was hung a large -map of Finland, drawn by himself on the back side of another map, with -black paint and a marking brush; for he had not been able to find a -printed one on a large scale. The students from the consorts soon -appeared, and a few raps with the professor's pointer procured silence.</p> - -<p>"Where are we now, young gentlemen?" he began.</p> - -<p>"Here, sir," responded Scott.</p> - -<p>"A little more definitely, if you please."</p> - -<p>"Eastern hemisphere, sir," added Scott.</p> - -<p>"Excellent; but couldn't you venture to come a little nearer to the -point."</p> - -<p>"Near Åbo, in Finland," said another student.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Right; but the little ring which you see over the A in the printed name -of the town makes the pronunciation as though it were written O-bo. The -proper style of the country is the Grand Duchy of Finland; and in his -relations to it, the Czar of Russia has been called the Emperor Grand -Duke. The Finnish name of the country is <i>Suomema</i>, which means 'the -region of lakes.' You see, by a glance at the map,—which is rather -rudely drawn,—that this is the character of the country, even to a -greater degree than in Norway and Sweden. It has the Gulf of Bothnia on -the west, and the Gulf of Finland on the south, with Finmark, a province -of Norway, on the north, and Russia proper on the east."</p> - -<p>"But where is Lapland?" asked a student.</p> - -<p>"Lapland is a region which belongs to Russia and Norway, and part of it -is included in Finland. The name is not applied to a political division, -but to the country of a particular people. Finland has about one hundred -and forty thousand square miles of territory; about the size of Montana -Territory, more than half as large as Texas, or eighteen times as large -as Massachusetts. Its population is about the same as this last -state—in round numbers, one million four hundred thousand. A large -portion of the country is a desolate region. In the southern part; the -soil is good, and in former times Finland was the granary of Sweden; but -its agriculture has since declined. Vast forests cover a considerable -portion of its territory, and the lumber from them is the principal -source of wealth to the people, who are also largely engaged in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> -fisheries. There are some extensive cotton and iron manufactures. All -the principal towns are on the coast, except Tavastehus; but the largest -place, Helsingfor, has only sixteen thousand inhabitants.</p> - -<p>"Not much is known of the early history of Finland; but the country was -governed in tribes by chiefs, or kings. They took to the water very -naturally, and became pirates, harassing the Swedes to such a degree, -that Eric, their king, sent an expedition to Finland in the twelfth -century, where he established Swedish colonies, and introduced -Christianity. One of the colonies was planted here in Åbo, where the -first Christian church in the country was built. From this time the -Swedes and Finns blended, and the history of Finland was merged in that -of Sweden. Birger Jarl built Tavastehus, and confirmed the conquest. But -Russia coveted this desolate region, and first conquered Wyborg, its -most eastern province, and the Finns fought with Sweden in the various -wars with her powerful neighbor. The people suffered terribly from these -wars, and from famine. From 1692 to 1696, sixty thousand perished from -famine in the province of Åbo alone. In the wars of Charles XII., -thousands of Finns were sacrificed, and five regiments of them were -killed or captured during the march into the Ukraine, and in the battle -of Pultowa. After this battle, in 1709, in which Charles XII. was -totally defeated, the Russians invaded the whole of Finland, and held it -until 1721, when, with the exception of Wyborg, it was restored to -Sweden.</p> - -<p>"In 1741 the Swedes made an attempt to recover what they had lost, but -utterly failed. Again, in 1788, Gustavus III., commanding the Swedish<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> -army in person, tried to regain the ancient province of Wyborg; but a -conspiracy at home compelled him to return, and the favorable -opportunity was lost. In 1790 the king renewed the attack by sea, and -his fleet of thirty-eight vessels was blockaded at Wyborg by a Russian -squadron of fifty-one ships. The Swedes cut their way out of the trap, -but with the loss of fifteen ships. The fleet, reduced by these heavy -losses, was again attacked by the Russians in overwhelming force; but -the result was a glorious victory for the Swedes, in which their enemy -lost fifty-three vessels and four thousand men. This event ended the war -for the time, and a treaty honorable to the Swedes was signed. In 1808 -Finland was again invaded by the Russians, without even the formality of -a declaration of war. The Swedes were unprepared for the contest, and -slowly retired to the north, fighting several battles, and gaining some -unimportant victories, but were completely overwhelmed in the battle of -Orawais. By the treaty which followed, all of Finland and the Aland -Islands were ceded to Russia.</p> - -<p>"By a special grant of Alexander I., graciously renewed by his -successors, Finland retains her ancient constitution, which provides for -a national parliament. The right to legislate and impose taxes upon the -people is nominally in this body, but is really exercised by a senate -appointed by the Emperor Grand Duke. The executive power is in the hands -of a governor general, who represents the sovereign. The people still -retain their national customs and language, and when you go on shore -this afternoon, you will find very little that is Russian. The money<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> -is in marks and pennies, with the decimal system; and Russian paper is -not current in Finland. A mark is worth about twenty cents of our money, -and four of them make one ruble, the gold value of which is eighty -cents. The currency of Russia in actual circulation is all paper, so -that the value of the ruble is reduced about twenty per cent. Finland -also has a paper currency, which is of depreciated value, as is the case -in all countries where gold and silver are not in actual use."</p> - -<p>The professor finished his lecture, and the students were about to -separate, when the stroke of the bell called them to order again, and -Mr. Lowington stepped upon the platform. The officers and seamen were -all attention in an instant, for it was expected that he would say -something upon the exciting subject which had been so thoroughly -discussed in all the vessels of the squadron.</p> - -<p>"Young gentlemen," the principal began, "I have something to say to you -concerning the application which has been made to me to make certain of -the offices of the squadron elective. I have not the slightest objection -to the plan, if the elections can be fairly and honorably conducted. I -have considered the plan in substance, which has been presented to me -several times, and I like it, though in its practical workings I think -that grave objections will be developed. By the present plan, one with -very little experience and very little seamanship may reach the highest -offices, especially, as will sometimes happen, when the nautical branch -of the institution receives less attention in any one month than the -scholastic. By the plan you propose, you may elect the least worthy of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> -the officers to the rank of captain. Votes may be bought and sold, and -electioneering excitements carried to excess. The plan in use has worked -very well, and I am not aware that any injustice has ever been worked by -it. It has always happened that the best and most reliable students have -attained the highest places; though I must acknowledge that it may not -always happen so. For a change, I am willing to try your plan."</p> - -<p>A demonstration of applause greeted this announcement, but it came -mainly from the officers.</p> - -<p>"But I wish to say, that though I have considered substantially the same -plan several times, I should not now introduce it if you had not asked -for it. The present is certainly the fairest plan, for it places all -upon an absolute equality, and under it every officer is indebted -entirely to his own merit for his position, and not at all to the favor -of his instructors or his friends among the ship's company. A change, -therefore, is more properly inaugurated by you than by me.</p> - -<p>"I am informed by the committee that the vote was not unanimous, and one -member of the committee did not choose to appear with the delegation."</p> - -<p>"He was notified of the meeting of the committee," said De Forrest.</p> - -<p>"I was notified," replied Scott; "but the meeting of the committee was -held in the after cabin, which I am not permitted to enter."</p> - -<p>The opposition applauded till the snap of the bell silenced them.</p> - -<p>"This does not look exactly like fair play, especially as Scott is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> -supposed to represent the opposition to the change."</p> - -<p>"He was notified of the time when the committee would wait upon you, -sir, in the main cabin, but he declined to attend," answered De Forrest.</p> - -<p>"If there was a preliminary meeting of the committee, he ought not to -have been excluded from it," added Mr. Lowington. "Your proceedings must -be revised, and the opposition must be heard."</p> - -<p>"Mr. Lowington, as a member of the committee, I withdraw all -opposition," interposed Scott.</p> - -<p>"I do not know that you are authorized to do so," replied the principal; -"but I am very glad to see this spirit of accommodation on your part."</p> - -<p>"I don't think the new plan is so fair as the old one; but I wish to -have a fair trial of it. The new method was got up by the nobs in the -cabin—"</p> - -<p>"The what?" inquired the principal, with a smile.</p> - -<p>"The nobs, sir."</p> - -<p>"If by an accident, or by any extra exertion on your part, you were -elected to an office in the cabin, would you be a nob?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir."</p> - -<p>"Though you do not seem to use the word in an offensive sense, I prefer -some other form of expression. You say that the plan was devised by the -cabin officers."</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir."</p> - -<p>"But we consulted the seamen, and they agreed to the plan before the -meeting. It would have been a unanimous vote if Scott had not got up an -opposition just for the sake of a joke," said De Forrest, rather -bitterly.</p> - -<p>"I opposed the thing in my own way, and I never agreed to it; but we all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> -consent to it now."</p> - -<p>"Does any one object to it?" asked Mr. Lowington.</p> - -<p>Cantwell looked at Scott, but the latter shook his head.</p> - -<p>"If there is any objection, I desire to hear it now."</p> - -<p>No one offered any objection.</p> - -<p>"There being no opposition, with the understanding on my part that -unanimous consent is given to the plan, I will adopt it—"</p> - -<p>Violent applause on the part of the officers and others interrupted the -principal, which was silenced by a stroke of the bell.</p> - -<p>"I will adopt it with an amendment," added Mr. Lowington. "I will -explain the amendment. By the new plan, the offices of commodore, -captain, and lieutenant are made elective within certain limits. The -commodore must be elected from the three captains; the captain must be -chosen from the cabin officers of the vessel to which he belongs. Now -suppose, for example, that one of the lieutenants for next month, -relying upon his popularity among his shipmates for his position the -following month, neglects his studies; what check have we upon him?"</p> - -<p>There was no answer, for this case has not occurred to the agitators.</p> - -<p>"Suppose the captain of this ship—but I grant in the beginning that -this is not a supposable case—should utterly fail in his duty so far as -study is concerned; you elect him captain or commodore, while the -present rule would send him back into the steerage. The amendment I -propose will correct this defect in your plan. It consists of two<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> -sections," continued the principal, as he proceeded to read from a paper -in his hand. "1. No captain shall be eligible to the office of commodore -whose merit-rank is below No. 6 in the Young America, or below No. 5 in -the Josephine, or Tritonia. 2. No officer shall be eligible to the -office of captain or lieutenant whose merit-rank is below No. 16 in the -ship, or below No. 9 in the other vessels. Are you satisfied with the -amendment?"</p> - -<p>"We are," replied the students.</p> - -<p>"Then the merit-roll will be read and the elections take place -to-morrow, on the first day of the month," continued the principal. "We -will now go up to Åbo."</p> - -<p>The students applauded, and left the steerage. The boatswains piped all -hands into the boats, and in half an hour the squadron of barges and -cutters were pulling in single file up the narrow river.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span></p> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> - -<p class="center mt2 title5">TWO HOURS A IN ÅBO, AND THE BANGWHANGERS.</p> - - -<p>In the captain's gig was Dr. Winstock, with whom Captain Lincoln always -delighted to walk or ride on shore, and whom he always invited to take a -seat in the stern-sheets of his boat. The doctor had inherited a -considerable fortune, which placed him above the necessity of practising -in his profession, and he had travelled all over Europe. He had not been -an idle wanderer abroad, going from place to place in search of mere -amusement; but he had been a diligent inquirer into the system of -government, the history, the agricultural and manufacturing interest, -and the manners and customs of the countries he visited. He was, -therefore, as he was often called, a walking encyclopædia of -information; and for this reason Lincoln sought his company.</p> - -<p>"Of course you have been in Finland before, Dr. Winstock," said Lincoln, -as soon as the gig took her place in the line.</p> - -<p>"I have," replied the surgeon. "Several years ago I went from Copenhagen -to Christiania, rode across the country in a cariole to Bergen, and from -there made the trip by steamer to the North Cape, where I saw the sun<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> -at midnight. I came by steamer along the coast to Frederiksværn, and -from there to Gottenburg, and through Sweden. At Stockholm I embarked in -the steamer Aura, which starts at two o'clock in the morning now, as she -did then."</p> - -<p>"I went on board of a steamer of the same line in Stockholm—I forget -her name."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps the Grefve Berg, which is the best one. The other two are the -Dagmar and the Wyborg. The trip in one of these vessels to St. -Petersburg is a very delightful one. She arrives at this place the first -day, and spends the night here; the second day she goes to Helsingfors, -and the third to Wyborg, arriving at St. Petersburg in the forenoon of -the fourth day. Nearly the whole voyage is made among the islands, -which, almost without an exception, are as silent and still as those we -have visited. She stays long enough at these Finnish towns to enable one -to see them. The steamers are Finnish, the captains of them speak -English, and the table on board is very good. The fare is twenty -rubles—meals extra."</p> - -<p>"Did you go into the interior?"</p> - -<p>"Yes; I went as far as the group of lakes in the centre of the country, -and had some capital fishing there. I rode in a cariole, like those in -use in Norway. But some people use a <i>kabitka</i>, which is a cart, very -long and narrow, with a leather covering over about one half of its -length. In the bottom of the vehicle, which has no springs, there is a -quantity of hay or straw, or a feather bed, on which the traveller -stretches himself; but it is very hard riding, for the roads are rough, -and the hills are full of sharp pitches. All expenses are about six -cents a <i>verst</i>."</p> - -<p>"How much is a verst?" asked the captain.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Two thirds of a mile; or, more exactly, .6626 of a mile. Three versts -are two miles. Travelling in Finland is rather exciting at times, for -the horses rush at full gallop down the hills and over sharp pitches. -But the roads are pretty good, and an average speed of ten miles an hour -may be attained."</p> - -<p>"How could you get along without the language?"</p> - -<p>"I picked, up a few words, which I have forgotten, and had no trouble at -all. I went to Tavastehus, which is on one of the vast chain of lakes in -the interior of Finland. Small steamers ply upon them; and a trip by -water in this region is very pleasant. There is now a railroad from this -town to Helsingfors."</p> - -<p>"There seems to be some business even in this out-of-the-way part of the -world," said Lincoln, as the squadron of boats passed a series of -buildings.</p> - -<p>"Those are government works—founderies and machine shops."</p> - -<p>The river rapidly diminished in size, until at the town it was a small -stream, over which was a bridge, connecting the two parts of the place. -The boats went up to the quay just below this bridge, and the students -landed. Dividing into parties, they went where they pleased. Some -crossed the bridge, and others went in the direction of the cathedral, -which is on the left bank of the river. Dr. Winstock and Lincoln were of -the latter.</p> - -<p>"They have wide streets here," said the young captain.</p> - -<p>"Yes; land is cheap, and they can have them as wide as they please. In -all modern-built Russian cities you will find broad avenues."</p> - -<p>"The buildings are all but one story high."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Nearly all; and the houses are very much scattered, so that the people -do not appear to be very neighborly. Large as the town seems to be, it -contains only thirteen thousand inhabitants."</p> - -<p>"The houses look very neat and nice."</p> - -<p>"Only a few of them can be very old, for in 1827 nearly the whole city -was destroyed by fire, including the university with its library, and -many other public edifices. When the town was rebuilt, the people placed -the houses at a considerable distance from each other, and built them -but one story, because they had not the means to erect larger ones."</p> - -<p>Passing along the street next to the river, the tourists reached an -extensive square, in which there was a statue of Professor Porthan, a -learned Finlander. Just beyond it was the cathedral, which is of brick, -and far from elegant or imposing in its external appearance.</p> - -<p>"This is the cradle of Christianity in Finland," said the doctor. "As -Mr. Mapps told you, this town was founded by Eric of Sweden, who -introduced Christianity into this region. The first bishop was located -here; and in this church, for centuries, the first families were buried; -and you will not only see their tombs, but also some of their bodies, if -you desire."</p> - -<p>"I should not think that would be permitted," replied Lincoln.</p> - -<p>"Nor I; but it is. The great fire burned out the interior of this -church, destroying the altar and organ, and even melting the bells. The -building was repaired by subscription. A baker, who had accumulated -about twelve thousand dollars in his business, having no near -relatives, gave his little fortune for the purchase of another organ,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> -and his wishes were carried out after his death."</p> - -<p>A man with a bundle of keys presented himself at this time, bowed, and -solemnly opened the door of the cathedral. As the visitors ascended the -steps, the man pointed to a rusty ring.</p> - -<p>"What's that?" asked Lincoln.</p> - -<p>"In ancient times offenders used to be fastened to that ring, and were -compelled to do penance there," replied the doctor.</p> - -<p>"There's nothing very fine about this," said the captain, as they -entered the church.</p> - -<p>"Certainly not. I hope you did not expect to find a cathedral like St. -Peter's, or those at Antwerp and Cologne. This structure has been built -upon, increased in size, and improved, several times. There is the organ -which the baker gave. It has five thousand pipes—for a dollar would buy -more organ pipes years ago than now. Whatever there is here in the way -of ornament, including the frescoes, is the work of native artists," -continued the doctor, as they walked up to the altar. "In the crypt -under this altar lie the remains of Queen Christina of Sweden."</p> - -<p>"Mr. Mapps said she was buried in St. Peter's, at Rome," interposed the -captain.</p> - -<p>"Not the celebrated Queen Christina, but the wife of St. Eric, whose -remains are intombed in the cathedral of Upsala. Here is an epitaph to -Katrina Mänsdotter," said the doctor, as they passed to the side of the -church.</p> - -<p>"I never heard of her before, which is not very strange," replied -Lincoln.</p> - -<p>"Do you remember who was the son and successor of Gustavus Vasa?"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Eric XIV. He was deposed by the Swedish parliament, kept a prisoner -nine years, and then poisoned."</p> - -<p>"Good! That is more than I could have told about him. Eric's father -proposed to marry him to Queen Elizabeth of England; and Eric, while the -negotiations were still pending, proposed to Mary, Queen of Scots, and -to two other princesses. He was actually flirting with four ladies of -royal blood at the same time. The accepting of either, he felt, would -make trouble; and he relieved himself of any difficulty by marrying Miss -Mänsdotter. She was a very pretty girl, the daughter of a petty officer -of the Guards, who had attracted his attention while she was selling -fruit in the market of Stockholm. She was sincerely attached to him, -tyrant and oppressor as he was, and clung to him through his -misfortunes. After his imprisonment she retired to Finland, and passed -the remainder of her days in obscurity."</p> - -<p>"That's a good story for a novelist to work upon," suggested Lincoln.</p> - -<p>"Very likely the incidents of the career of Katrina have been used by -the Swedish novelists; but I am not as familiar as I intend to be with -them. I see that the works of Madame Schwartz, a celebrated Swedish -writer, are now in process of translation in the United States. Several -volumes have been published, and they are having a large circulation. -This lady locates some of her stories, or parts of them, in Finland."</p> - -<p>Many of the tombs in which the Finland worthies were buried are half -above and half below the pavement of the church. The conductor of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> -little party opened the door of one of them, and the captain looked into -the gloomy space. Within it several coffins were crumbling to decay. The -man raised one of them, exhibiting the body of the occupant. The -features of the face were well preserved, though the person had been -dead three hundred years. They were of a brownish color, not unlike -guano. Following the example of the conductor, the visitors touched the -face, which was hard and rather spongy.</p> - -<p>"I should think this body would decay," said the captain.</p> - -<p>"No; there is something in the atmosphere which has changed it to -adipocere. Sometimes bodies buried in the ground are petrified, or -turned into stone. In Italy, and in some other countries, you will see -the bodies of saints in the churches, though I remember none as perfect -as this, for they are very black, and much shrivelled. In the vaults at -Palermo vast numbers of the dead are preserved by the conditions of the -vault in which they are buried."</p> - -<p>Other monuments were examined, and the party left the church, giving the -solemn man—who had not yet spoken a single word—a mark for his -services, at which he solemnly bowed as he put the money in his pocket. -Crossing the river, Dr. Winstock and Lincoln walked over the rest of the -town, which, however, contained nothing worthy of note. There was -nothing in the costume of the people to distinguish them, and the shops -and houses were hardly different from those in England or America. The -streets are paved with cobble stones, and a few droskies may be seen; -but the people, who are more intensely Swedish than in the eastern<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> -provinces of Finland, do not take kindly to Russian customs and -institutions. After the destruction of the university by fire, it was -removed to Helsingfors, and the hostility of the province to their new -ruler caused the transfer of the seat of government to the same place. -The town wears an aspect of desolation in its streets, for very few -people are seen in them; and, except on the wharf at the arrival of a -steamer there, nothing of the bustle of business is seen. The place has -lost much of its former importance.</p> - -<p>The students wandered idly through the deserted streets, and it was -noticeable that but few of them paid any attention to their -surroundings. A group of the seamen sat on the quay above the bridge, -apparently engaged in an animated discussion. Though the Finnish women -were pulling about in boats on the narrow river, the boys were not -interested in their movements. Their conversation did not relate to -Finland or the Finns. Scott, the joker, was in the centre of the ring, -and did the greater part of the talking, and of course the subject was -that which had been introduced at the picnic on the island. Without -having any distinct plan in the beginning, Scott had become a leader -among the democratic element of the ship. His crude ideas, which had -formed themselves into objections to the De Forrest scheme, were now -seeking recognition as a plan. He had been laboring very earnestly to -defeat the wishes of the cabin "nobs," as he persisted in calling them.</p> - -<p>"We can't go for such a fellow as Cantwell," said one of the students. -"He is a conceited and overbearing fellow."</p> - -<p>"I don't care a fig for Cantwell, personally," replied Scott. "It is the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> -principle of the thing that I'm looking after. I know that Cantwell is -unpopular in the steerage as well as in the cabin. But there's a -conspiracy against him. Just as soon as he had earned his rank, the -fellows in the cabin put their heads together to cheat him out of it. I -was appointed on the committee, and they called a meeting in the cabin, -where I was not allowed to go, to prevent me from attending. Was that -fair?"</p> - -<p>"No, no!" responded the seamen.</p> - -<p>"Right! Besides, I want those swells in the cabin to know that we are a -power."</p> - -<p>"But they came to us before the meeting on the island," suggested one of -the group.</p> - -<p>"Yes; just so. But what did they come for? To know if we approved the -plan? Not a bit of it. The plan was cooked up in the cabin. They came to -us just as the politicians go to the dear people—for votes. They -argued, talked, and begged for our votes at the meeting. By and by they -will get up a plan by which no fellow shall be promoted from the -steerage to the cabin. Cantwell and Victory! That's my motto."</p> - -<p>"I say, Scott, don't you think it is absurd for us to vote for the most -unpopular fellow in the ship?" asked Wainwright.</p> - -<p>"No, I don't. He's the only fellow in the cabin that is not in the ring, -and therefore the only one we can vote for. Don't you see it?"</p> - -<p>"I don't want to vote against Captain Lincoln," another objected. "He is -a first-rate fellow, and a good sailor."</p> - -<p>"But Lincoln went in for this plan, was present at the meeting, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> -voted in favor of it," replied Scott. "I like Lincoln as well as any -fellow, but I don't like this trying to keep any one out of the place he -has fairly earned."</p> - -<p>"That's so," said a dozen of the boys.</p> - -<p>This was only a specimen of the electioneering which was going on in a -dozen different places in Åbo at the same time. Only a few of the -students entered the cathedral, and not many of them could tell, when -they returned to the squadron, whether the streets of the town were -broad or narrow, or whether the houses were one or two stories high. -While the seamen were at work for Cantwell, the officers were speaking a -good word for Captain Lincoln, whom they desired to reëlect to his -present position.</p> - -<p>At six o'clock most of the students were in the vicinity of the bridge, -ready to repair to the boats when the boatswains gave the signal. Dr. -Winstock and Lincoln were at the hotel on the quay called the Society's -House, which is said to be the most northern one in the world. Students -were arriving in the droskies, which many of them had employed for the -sake of a ride; and when they came to pay their fare there were many -amusing scenes, for neither party understood a word of the language of -the other. Most of the students, too, had changed their Swedish money -into Russian in Stockholm, and were unprovided with Finnish currency, -for they supposed that Russian money was current in Finland. The drivers -would not take the rubles and copecks, and some very cheerful rows -ensued. But the principal, with Professor Badois—who spoke<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> -Swedish—at his elbow, interfered, and paid the fares. The students -embarked, the line of boats was formed, and the squadron moved down the -river, with half of Åbo on the quay, gazing in solemn silence at the -departure of the strange visitors, for as such they certainly regarded -them. In less than an hour the boats were alongside the vessels to which -they belonged, and were soon hoisted up to the davits.</p> - -<p>The signal for sailing was shown on board of the Young America, and a -lively scene followed. Anchors were hove short, sails shaken out, and -the Finnish pilots were at their stations. As the breeze was fresh and -fair, the principal desired to take advantage of it; and, after a stay -of only five hours at Åbo, the squadron was under way again, threading -its course through the channels among the numerous islands. In the watch -on deck, and that below, the business of electioneering was continued -with the utmost vigor. Scott and his friends were busy everywhere, and -even the stale expedient of a secret society among the "anti-De -Forresters" was proposed, and enthusiastically adopted. Scott and Jones -were intrusted with the task of furnishing a constitution, and inventing -the necessary dark-lantern machinery for the organization.</p> - -<p>Boys have a decided taste for secret associations, though, as the -experience of the present time shows, not more than adults, male and -female. The number of these "orders" among full-grown men is on the -increase, and the boys, in all parts of the United States, have -manifested a strong desire to keep up with the times, and follow the -example of their elders. Secret societies had several times been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> -formed on board of the Young America, but generally for purposes of -mischief, such as running away, or capturing one of the vessels. The -present association appeared to be for political purposes—to influence -the election of officers. Scott was, in the main, a very sensible -fellow; and his only idea of a secret society was to make some fun out -of it, though he was quite willing to have it used for accomplishing his -purpose, which, in its turn, was little more than a gigantic joke, so -far as he was concerned.</p> - -<p>The wind, which had been fresh all day, diminished in force after the -squadron sailed, and at half past eight, while the sun was still above -the horizon, there was a dead calm, and the vessels were obliged to -anchor for the night, for the pilots declined to run during the darkness -in the intricate navigation of these seas. The squadron anchored near a -rocky island, the top of which was covered with trees. The same "eternal -silence" seemed to pervade the region as among the Aland Islands. When -everything was made snug on board, a portion of the students asked -permission to go on shore, which was readily granted to all who desired -to do so. This number was found to include the entire crew of the ship.</p> - -<p>"The Bangwhangers will meet at the farther side of the island," -whispered Scott. "Pass it along."</p> - -<p>"The what?" asked Laybold.</p> - -<p>"The Bangwhangers. Don't you belong to the night-bloomers?"</p> - -<p>"I don't understand you," replied Laybold.</p> - -<p>"You don't? Well, your head is thicker than a quart of molasses.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> -Didn't you fellows ask me to get up a secret society?"</p> - -<p>"Yes."</p> - -<p>"Well, I have done it; but you popsquizzles don't seem to know your own -chickens. The new institution is to be called the Bangwhangers, of whom -you are which. Now, don't tell any one who isn't a Bangwhanger anything -at all about it."</p> - -<p>"I see."</p> - -<p>"I should think you might, if your ears were only half as long as a -donkey's."</p> - -<p>The students tumbled into the boats; and, as most of the officers were -busy preparing ballots for the election on the following day, none of -them went on shore, the boats being in charge of the several coxswains. -Ordinarily the seamen would not have been permitted to visit the shore -without at least one officer in each boat; but as it did not seem -possible that any mischief could be done on this uninhabited island, the -rule was waived. The students landed; and in a few moments several boats -from the Josephine and Tritonia brought a majority of the crews of these -vessels. Scott and several of his most intimate friends went to the -highest part of the island.</p> - -<p>"Every Cantwell man may join our society; no one else," said Scott, -after he had told them the name.</p> - -<p>"All right."</p> - -<p>"And we will give them the first degree at once."</p> - -<p>"What's that?"</p> - -<p>"The first degree is next to nothing; only to get the fellows together -to organize," said Scott, as he leaped upon a rock. "Come up here, -Jones; I'll give you the first degree."</p> - -<p>Jones joined the joker on the rock.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Do you agree to vote for Cantwell, to say nothing to nobody, and never -to eat soup with a darning-needle?" asked Scott, in a low tone.</p> - -<p>"Of course I do," laughed Jones.</p> - -<p>"Answer in these words:—</p> - -<p>"To all these three I do agree."</p> - -<p>Jones repeated the words in due form.</p> - -<p>"All right. I appoint you R. P. F. <i>pro tem.</i>"</p> - -<p>"R. P. F.! What does that mean?"</p> - -<p>"I can't tell you till you have taken your second degree; only remember -the letters. Now, bring the fellows to me, one at a time."</p> - -<p>Wainwright was the next one, who was obligated in the same manner, and -Jones was instructed to tell the candidates what to say in token of -their assent.</p> - -<p>"To all these three, I do agree," replied Wainwright.</p> - -<p>"I declare you a Bangwhanger, and appoint you L. P. F."</p> - -<p>"What does that mean?" demanded the initiate.</p> - -<p>"We can't tell you till you take your second degree," replied Jones.</p> - -<p>In half an hour fifty had joined the association. The third one was -appointed I. L. M., and the fourth; O. L. M. Thus far only those who -were known to be ready to vote for Cantwell were invited to join; and -those who were admitted formed a ring to keep the outsiders at a -reasonable distance.</p> - -<p>But there were plenty of applicants, and the number increased as those<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> -outside of the circle heard the laughter of those on the rock. If Scott -was at the bottom of the affair, it was fun. One after another the R. P. -F. and the L. P. F. continued to bring in the candidates.</p> - -<p>"Do you agree to vote for Cantwell, to—"</p> - -<p>"No; I don't agree to that," interposed one of them.</p> - -<p>"Turn him out!" added Scott. "R. P. F., do your duty."</p> - -<p>This duty was a very simple one, and consisted only in leading the -refractory applicant outside of the ring. A dozen more that followed, -and had before refused to commit themselves, promptly agreed to all the -conditions. All on the island had joined except about twenty, who had -been turned out; but so great was the curiosity of some of these, that -they promised to accept the conditions, if admitted.</p> - -<p>"Bangwhangers, I congratulate you on your admission to this honorable -and most respectable order," said Scott, when all who wished to join had -been admitted. "But there may be some black sheep among you, and the -obligation will be repeated;" and he repeated again, loud enough for all -to hear him, "All that agree will repeat the couplet in due form, and -sit down on the ground. Officers, turn out every fellow that don't sit -down."</p> - -<p>"All down!" shouted the students, and all of them suited the action to -the word.</p> - -<p>"All good men and true; but you must prove yourselves to be such. Do as -I do;" and the joker put the forefinger of his right hand on the end of -his nose.</p> - -<p>All the members did the same.</p> - -<p>"When I meet a Bangwhanger, I put my finger to my nose, and say, 'Bang.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> -In reply, he puts his finger to his nose, and answers, 'Whang.' Now I -will do it with the R. P. F. Bang!"</p> - -<p>"Whang!" replied Jones: putting his finger to his nose.</p> - -<p>"Right. You can try it on with the brother nearest to you."</p> - -<p>While the fraternity were practising this important part of the work, -Scott instructed Jones still further in the mysterious art. When the R. -P. F. fully understood his part, the joker called the members to order -again, and told them to learn the dialogue which he would rehearse with -Jones, for it was the form by which a Bangwhanger was to know a brother -of the order.</p> - -<p>"Bang!" said Scott, putting his finger to his nose.</p> - -<p>"Whang!" replied Jones, doing the same.</p> - -<p>"Who knows?"</p> - -<p>"Eye, nose," answered Jones, drawing his finger over his right eye, and -then placing it on the end of his nose, as he mentioned the name of each -organ.</p> - -<p>"Who knows?"</p> - -<p>"Eighty noes."</p> - -<p>"Right, Brother Bangwhanger; come to my arms," added Scott. "But the -number is to be modified so as always to show the exact strength of this -honorable and most respectable order."</p> - -<p>The joker and his companion went through the dialogue several times, -till every member was familiar with it, and then they practised it among -themselves, amid peals of laughter.</p> - -<p>"Now, Brother Bangwhangers, we are to elect officers. The first and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> -highest is the C. B.," continued Scott.</p> - -<p>"What does it mean?" asked half a dozen or more.</p> - -<p>"I can't tell you till you take the second degree," replied the joker. -"Please to nominate."</p> - -<p>"Scott!" shouted the members.</p> - -<p>"Brother R. P. F., spare my modesty, and put the question," said the -joker.</p> - -<p>Jones put the question, and of course Scott was unanimously elected.</p> - -<p>"The next office, is the D. C. B. Please to nominate."</p> - -<p>"Wainwright."</p> - -<p>He was elected.</p> - -<p>"Now for the Q. D."</p> - -<p>"Hobbs." And he was chosen.</p> - -<p>"The Y. D. K."</p> - -<p>"Edson." And no one objected.</p> - -<p>"The I. L. M."</p> - -<p>"Merrill." And the vote was unanimous.</p> - -<p>"The O. L. M."</p> - -<p>"Hall." And he went in.</p> - -<p>"The R. P. F."</p> - -<p>"Jones." And the nomination was confirmed.</p> - -<p>"The L. P. F."</p> - -<p>"Brown." And he was the choice of the members.</p> - -<p>"Eight officers, and they are all chosen. They will constitute the -original second degree men, and, after they have been instructed, we -shall be ready to admit you all to that enviable distinction. Now, the -Q. D. and the Y. D. K. will count the members."</p> - -<p>The number reported was eighty-two, which was nearly a majority of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> -students in the squadron.</p> - -<p>"Who knows?" called the C. B.</p> - -<p>"Eighty-two knows," replied several.</p> - -<p>"That's enough to put a veto on the De Forresters. Now, remember the -solemn pledge you have taken, to vote for Cantwell, to say nothing to -nobody, and never to eat soup with a darning-needle."</p> - -<p>"To all these three I do agree," responded the members, laughing.</p> - -<p>"Although the last is the most important, the first is not to be -neglected; and any member <i>who knows</i>, and don't do, shall be headed up -in a mackerel kit and thrown overboard by the R. P. F., before he takes -the second degree, in which the sublime mysteries of the order will be -fully elucidated. Who knows?"</p> - -<p>Scott coined jokes and puns for a few moments, to the intense enjoyment -of the members; and by this time four of the outsiders desired to become -members. They were immediately admitted.</p> - -<p>"Who knows?"</p> - -<p>"Eighty-six noes."</p> - -<p>"Good! All hands to the boats."</p> - -<p>The coxswains called their crews, and the students returned to their -vessels.</p> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> -</div> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> - -<p class="center mt2 title5">AN EXCITING ELECTION.</p> - - -<p>It was the last day of the month, and the instructors in the three -vessels of the squadron were very busy in adding the merit-rolls on the -record books. It was necessary that all this work should be very -carefully done, for a mistake of a single mark might send a cabin -officer into the steerage, or a seaman from the steerage into the cabin. -Every addition was verified, therefore, by a second person. The students -had abundant opportunities to canvass and electioneer, as all the -instructors were at work in the main cabin. While the seamen were on -shore, the officers had been using the Novelty presses and the types in -printing the ballots for the next day. And they had just as much -difficulty in "making up the slate" as a ring of older politicians. -While few of the officers were willing to stand as candidates for -positions lower in rank than those they held at the time, some desired -to go a little higher. There were no little compromising and -"log-rolling" but it ought to be said that Commodore Cumberland and -Captain Lincoln, while they were willing to place themselves "in the -hands of their friends," refrained entirely from pressing their claims. -On the other hand, De Forrest and Beckwith had used their influence to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> -better their own condition. The former was afraid his merit-rank would -be lower than his present position, and he agreed with the latter to -make him second lieutenant, if Beckwith would work to nominate and elect -him as first. The nominations were full of difficulty. De Forrest, as -the originator of the plan which had been adopted, felt that he had some -claims to consideration. Of course, as Judson and Norwood were to be -displaced if De Forrest and Beckwith were advanced, it was necessary for -the latter aspirants to work privately and carefully. But the secret -could not long be kept, and when the first and second lieutenants -learned that there was a movement on foot to displace them, they were -very angry and indignant, and protested with all their might against the -injustice. The De Forrest plan was already at a discount with a -considerable portion of the cabin officers.</p> - -<p>The discussion in the after cabin was becoming violent and noisy; and at -the suggestion of Captain Lincoln, it was voted to appoint a committee, -who should retire to a state-room and prepare a ticket. The commodore, -the captain, and Sheridan, the first midshipman, constituted this -committee; and after an absence of an hour, they reported that the -several officers should be nominated in the order of their present rank. -This report, if accepted, would defeat the aspirations of Beckwith, and -he refused to assent to it. De Forrest, who felt that his claims were -not recognized by the report, was not satisfied with it. As each of -these aspirants had several friends, the compromise was not agreeable.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> -The name of Cantwell had not been mentioned for any position. He sat in -a corner of the cabin, a silent but interested listener, until the vote -on the report of the committee was about to be taken.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Chairman," said he, addressing Ryder, the fourth lieutenant, who -had been chosen to this position, "it strikes me that these proceedings -are slightly insular. Who are expected to vote this ticket when it is -made up?"</p> - -<p>"All who are willing to do so, of course," answered Ryder.</p> - -<p>"Then you are selecting candidates for the crew to vote for, as well as -the officers?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly."</p> - -<p>"It seems to me, then, that the seamen ought to be represented in a -meeting of this kind. They are to cast four fifths of the votes, but are -not permitted to say a word in regard to the nominations," continued -Cantwell, in a very quiet tone, in strong contrast with the one he had -usually adopted, showing that Scott's lesson on Sunday had done him some -good.</p> - -<p>"How can we hold a caucus of the whole ship's company?" inquired De -Forrest.</p> - -<p>"It can be done on deck without the least difficulty."</p> - -<p>"It don't seem practicable to me," added Beckwith.</p> - -<p>"I suppose the ticket nominated here is not binding upon any one," -suggested Captain Lincoln. "For my part, I quite agree that the crew -ought to be consulted. Mr. Chairman, I move that this report be laid -upon the table. If my motion prevails, I shall offer another, looking to -a caucus of the whole ship's company."</p> - -<p>"I second the motion," added Cantwell.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Mr. Chairman, I don't see the use—"</p> - -<p>"The motion to lay on the table is not debatable," interposed Ryder. "It -is moved and seconded that the report of the committee be laid on the -table."</p> - -<p>The motion was rejected, only half a dozen of the officers voting in -favor of it. The report of the committee was accepted by a bare -majority.</p> - -<p>"As I said before, I suppose the action of this meeting is not binding -upon any one," continued Lincoln, "but is simply an arrangement among -ourselves."</p> - -<p>"I think it is binding upon all who are present at this meeting," -replied the chairman, who was decidedly in favor of the report, for he -foresaw that, if De Forrest and Beckwith were advanced, Judson and -Norwood would be crowded down, and he would not be a candidate for -either of the five highest places in the ship.</p> - -<p>"I certainly do not consider myself bound by it," said Cantwell.</p> - -<p>"Nor I," added De Forrest.</p> - -<p>"Nor I," repeated Beckwith.</p> - -<p>But the business was finished, though nothing had really been done. One -Novelty press was immediately set at work in printing what Ryder, -Judson, and Norwood called the regular ticket, while De Forrest and -Beckwith seized upon the other to print their own ticket, in which Ryder -was utterly ignored. By the time the seamen returned from the island, -three hundred of each of these tickets had been printed.</p> - -<p>Scott had carefully instructed the members of the new order to "say -nothing to nobody" in regard to the strength of the organization, or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> -anything else relating to it. Of course those who had been to the -island, but refused to join the order, knew something about the matter. -They were aware that the members were all pledged to vote for Cantwell; -but they had not estimated the number who had accepted the obligation.</p> - -<p>As soon as the boats had been hoisted up, the friends of the two tickets -which had been made up in the cabin went to work upon the seamen. De -Forrest and Beckwith had made all sorts of promises to various officers -to support them at the election following that of the next day, if they -would go for the "independent ticket," as they styled their own, at the -present time. When the advocates of the "regular ticket" understood what -the "bolters" were doing, they crossed out De Forrest's and Beckwith's -names, and substituted that of Ryder for third lieutenant, and that of -Murray, the second master, for fourth. The young gentlemen were having a -foretaste of the complications of politics, and a great deal of ill -feeling was aroused. It was evident enough to the fair-minded, unselfish -ones in the cabin, that the new plan was not working well, and they were -very much disgusted at the conduct of De Forrest and Beckwith in -particular. It was nothing but a scramble for office, without much -regard for fitness among the candidates. The only redeeming feature of -the business was the fact that Lincoln's name was on both of the cabin -tickets; but then he was so popular, and so thoroughly competent for the -captaincy, that neither of the factions dared to think of displacing -him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I say, Longwood, I want you to go for the independent ticket," said De -Forrest, addressing one of the students who had declined to join the -Bangwhangers.</p> - -<p>"The opposition have just formed a secret society, and all its members -are pledged to vote for Cantwell," replied Longwood.</p> - -<p>"Cantwell! nonsense! He can't be elected to any office."</p> - -<p>"No use; the fellows know him too well. We had a meeting in the cabin, -and there will be two tickets. This will be the winning one;" and the -third lieutenant handed Longwood one of the printed ballots.</p> - -<p>"What's the other ticket?"</p> - -<p>"The present officers; but I have just found out that they are taking my -name off the ticket, and putting on Murray's. What do you think of that? -Is it fair play?"</p> - -<p>"Well, I don't know; but if you are working against the regular ticket, -you can't expect its friends to go for you," replied Longwood.</p> - -<p>"But they want to shove me down, and I hope my friends won't let them do -it. I got up this plan, you know, but the fellows don't seem to give me -any credit for it. Vote this ticket—won't you?"</p> - -<p>"I'll see," answered the voter, as the candidate passed on to another.</p> - -<p>The first lieutenant, Judson, knowing the influence of Scott among the -crew, went to him the moment he came on board, to present the claims of -the regular ticket.</p> - -<p>"I'm a Cantwell man," replied Scott.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> - -<p>"It's no use to go for him; he can't be elected," said Judson.</p> - -<p>"Who knows?" added Scott.</p> - -<p>"We have had a meeting in the cabin, and have regularly nominated a -ticket."</p> - -<p>"Probably it didn't occur to you that the crew had any right to meddle -with the matter."</p> - -<p>"Yes; we considered the subject; but we hadn't time to call a meeting of -the whole ship's company."</p> - -<p>"Time is short," laughed Scott.</p> - -<p>"If the fellows in the steerage wish it, perhaps we can put Cantwell on -the regular ticket as fourth lieutenant, instead of Murray."</p> - -<p>"I am not authorized to speak for our fellows; and I don't know that -they would vote your ticket even if you put Cantwell's name on it."</p> - -<p>"Cantwell's name wouldn't strengthen our ticket at all."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps not."</p> - -<p>Scott took one of the ballots, but would not even promise to consider -it.</p> - -<p>"The officers have had a caucus in the cabin, Scott," said Cantwell.</p> - -<p>"So Mr. Judson informs me; and they haven't put your name on the -ticket?"</p> - -<p>"No; of course I didn't expect them to do it. I told them the crew ought -to be consulted, and Captain Lincoln tried to make a motion to that -effect, but they wouldn't do it."</p> - -<p>"Never mind what they do; none of their tickets will be elected."</p> - -<p>"I don't know about that. They have two tickets, and every fellow in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> -cabin except me, is at work for one or the other of them. Whichever one -is elected, I shall be thrown overboard."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps not—who knows?" said Scott. "You may be elected captain, after -all—who knows?"</p> - -<p>"Impossible! I should be satisfied if I were fourth lieutenant, and I am -sure my merit-rank would give me that place. But it's no use; I'm -counted out."</p> - -<p>"Not yet; wait till after election before you give it up. The fellows -like fair play; and if you hadn't put on airs before this plan came up, -they would make you commodore, just because the cabin nobs are trying to -count you out. That's what's the matter. They like your cause a good -deal better than they like you. As it is, they mean to see that you have -fair play to-morrow. If you should happen to be elected to any office -to-morrow, I hope you will try to be a good fellow."</p> - -<p>"I certainly shall," replied Cantwell.</p> - -<p>De Forrest was waiting for a chance to speak to Scott, and the C. B. -passed on, leaving Cantwell in a very desponding state of mind. The -situation had taken the conceit out of him. Conscious of his ability to -win even the highest position, he had taken no pains to conciliate his -associates, and he was reaping the legitimate harvest of his selfish -conduct and his overbearing manner. Certainly the De Forrest plan had -already done him a great good. His manners were changed, for he had -learned that he was not of half so much consequence as he supposed; and -his present depression of spirits did not permit him to put on airs,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> -he had learned that, in all communities, every individual owes something -of respect, kindness, and consideration to every other individual, even -the superior to the inferior. It was a lesson which he would have been -compelled to learn a few years later, if the circumstances had not -obliged him to accept it at the present time. It is certainly true that -young men are older and wiser at eighteen than at any subsequent period -of their lives, and in Cantwell's case this self-importance was -considerably exaggerated above the average. Most young men have to be -"taken down," and the rough circumstances of life generally do it in the -course of a few years, without any earthquake or other violent -commotion.</p> - -<p>Scott's party did no electioneering. Knowing what the next day was to -bring forth, they were particularly jolly, and listened good-naturedly -to all the cabin politicians had to say. They were remarkably cautious -and prudent, and though the fact of the secret organization was known -throughout the ship, the officers did not suspect that it numbered -members enough to control the election. The canvass was lively till the -anchor watch was stationed on deck, and all hands were compelled to turn -in.</p> - -<p>The next morning a dense fog hid even the nearest island from view. The -Finnish pilots declined to take the vessels through the intricate -channels among the islands, except under the most favorable -circumstances. After breakfast the principal sent a note to each of the -vice-principals. Scott pulled an oar in the boat which delivered them. -While the messenger was in the cabin, he went on the deck of the -Josephine, and walking about among the crew with the forefinger of his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> -right hand on his nose, he soon discovered half a dozen making the sign.</p> - -<p>"Bang!" said he, selecting one of them.</p> - -<p>"Whang," laughed the seaman.</p> - -<p>"Who knows?"</p> - -<p>"Eye, nose," answered the other, making the proper signs.</p> - -<p>"Who knows?"</p> - -<p>"Eighty-six noses."</p> - -<p>"Right, Brother Bangwhanger; come to my arms. Vote for Lincoln for -commodore," said Scott; "and pass it along to every member."</p> - -<p>After repeating this direction in due form to several others, the C. B. -returned to the boat, and did the same thing on board of the Tritonia. -In each of the two consorts, the members of the order were to nominate a -ticket to suit themselves; and so far as they were concerned, the pledge -to vote for Cantwell was meaningless. When the boat returned, all hands -were piped to muster, and the principal, with the merit-roll in his -hand, mounted the rostrum over the main hatch.</p> - -<p>"Young gentlemen, in accordance with the change in the method of -appointing the officers, announced at Åbo yesterday, the election of -commodore of the squadron will take place at ten o'clock to-day," said -Mr. Lowington. "The result of the balloting in the consorts will be -transmitted without delay to the ship. The election of captain will -immediately follow, and then of the four lieutenants, each in the order -of rank, and on separate ballots."</p> - -<p>"We have printed ballots containing the names of all the candidates," -said De Forrest.</p> - -<p>"I think it best to elect only one officer at a ballot."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I hope the election will be postponed till eleven o'clock then, in -order to give us time to prepare the separate ballots."</p> - -<p>"Very well; I consent to the change of time; and the consorts shall be -notified at once," replied the principal, who went to the cabin, wrote -two notes, and sent them to the vice-principals by the adult forward -officers.</p> - -<p>"Now, let us understand the method of proceeding thoroughly," continued -Mr. Lowington, as he returned to his position on the hatch. "Only a -captain is eligible to the office of commodore, or the present incumbent -may be reëlected. Only the present cabin officers can be candidates for -the five highest offices in the ship; and agreeably to the proviso -relating to the ship, no officer who falls below the rank of No. 16 is -eligible to any office, but must return to the steerage. Are these rules -fully understood?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir," responded the crowd.</p> - -<p>"Further, if any student who is now the commodore, the captain, or a -lieutenant, should not be elected to one of these positions, what would -his rank be for next month?"</p> - -<p>"Just the same as it would have been, if the new plan had not been -adopted," replied De Forrest.</p> - -<p>"I am glad you understand it," added the principal, with a significant -look at the third lieutenant. "I will now read the merit-roll, in order -that you may know who are, and who are not, eligible to the elective -offices. Lincoln is number 1; Cumberland, 2; Norwood, 3; Judson, 4; -Murray, 5; Cantwell, 6; Sheridan, 7; Ryder, 8; Vroome, 9; Beckwith,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> -10; De Forrest, 11; Wainwright, 12; Jones, 13; Orlof, 14; Messenger, 15; -Brown, 16. All but three of these may be candidates for the first six -offices; and those not elected to higher positions will take their rank -by the merit-roll."</p> - -<p>Three of the cabin officers had dropped into the steerage, and three in -the steerage had risen to the cabin; and when the names of the latter -were read, they were greeted with earnest applause. The rest of the -names on the roll were read, and the ship's company dismissed. The -Novelty printing presses were again in demand. Scott obtained one, and -De Forrest the other; and so rapidly was the printing of the ballots -accomplished, that by ten o'clock the required number were printed. -Promptly at six bells, or eleven o'clock, the ship's company were piped -to muster again. The principal made careful arrangements for a fair -vote. The box was placed on a water cask, and on each side of it one of -the instructors, to see that no one put in more than one ballot. The -students were then formed in a single line, on the starboard side, and -required to march around the box, deposit their votes, and then to come -round upon the port side, the forward officers standing amidships to -prevent any from passing over and voting a second time. The principal -was aware that the most intense excitement pervaded the crew, and he -deemed it proper, even for the appearances' sake, to guard against -"repeaters" and "ballot stuffers." One officer and two seamen were -appointed to count the votes, and when all had deposited their ballots, -the committee, attended by the two instructors, retired to the main -cabin to perform their duty. While they were thus engaged, a boat from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> -the Josephine, and another from the Tritonia, brought the result of the -voting in these vessels to the ship. The returns were in sealed -envelopes, and were sent down to the committee. In a short time the -votes were counted, the returns from the consorts added, and the whole -verified by the instructors present. Murray, the officer on the -committee who had been named first was to make the report.</p> - -<p>When he came on deck, the ship's company gathered around the rostrum, -from which the result was to be announced, and there was intense anxiety -manifested by both parties.</p> - -<p>"Give your attention to the report of the committee," said Mr. -Lowington.</p> - -<p>"Whole number of votes, 170," said Murray, reading from the paper in his -hand. "Necessary for a choice, 86. Captain Wolff has 5; Captain Langdon -has 9; Commodore Cumberland has 64; Captain Lincoln has 92, and is -elected."</p> - -<p>The De Forresters looked at each other in blank amazement, for this -result was wholly unexpected by them. It had never occurred to them that -Cumberland could be defeated, and all the anxiety they had in relation -to the vote for commodore was to ascertain the strength of the -opposition, who were understood to be running another candidate.</p> - -<p>"Captain Lincoln, I congratulate you on your election," said Cumberland, -as soon as he could in some measure recover from his astonishment.</p> - -<p>"I thank you, commodore; but this is none of my doings. I am more -astonished than you can be, and don't propose to stand it," replied -Lincoln.</p> - -<p>"Three cheers for Commodore Lincoln," called one of the opposition, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> -they were given on the instant; and Cumberland joined heartily in the -tribute.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Lowington, I wish to decline!" shouted Lincoln. "I was not a -candidate for this position; I did not, and do not, desire the -position."</p> - -<p>"All the captains were candidates," replied the principal. "If you had -given notice before the vote that you did not desire the position, and -would not accept, it would have been another thing."</p> - -<p>"But I had no suspicion, till the ballot was taken, that any one -intended to vote for me," pleaded Lincoln. "I do not like to accept the -place for several reasons."</p> - -<p>"I hope he will accept it, sir," said Commodore Cumberland; "and I wish -to say that, if another ballot is taken, I must decline to be a -candidate."</p> - -<p>The opposition applauded violently. It was understood that Lincoln -declined out of regard to his friend and superior; but the noble conduct -of the commodore put to the blush some of the smaller aspirants for -office.</p> - -<p>"I do not think that Captain Lincoln can decline, under the -circumstances," said the principal. "Such a step does not seem to be in -order. Besides, young gentlemen, you desired to vote, and I shall not -interfere with the freedom of the elections. I hope you will have voting -enough to-day fully to satisfy you. We will now proceed to the election -of the captain of the ship."</p> - -<p>The boats from the Josephine and the Tritonia returned with the result -of the vote for commodore, and the balloting proceeded as before. This<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> -was really the exciting contest of the day, and the De Forresters were -somewhat demoralized by the result of the ballot for commodore. Under -the arrangement made by the principal, the most perfect order prevailed. -Every student on board had been provided with all the ballots in -circulation, and the time for electioneering had gone by. But the -unexpected election of Lincoln as commodore had deranged the plans of -all but the opposition. All others, however, voted for Cumberland for -captain, for the ballots had nothing upon them but the name of the -candidate, and "Regular," "Independent," or "Equal Rights" ticket, the -last being the rallying cry of the opposition. The votes were deposited -in silence, and it was a very anxious period for the cabin officers, for -the present ballot would effectually prove where the strength lay. The -committee retired, and all hands nervously awaited the result. In ten -minutes Murray appeared with the paper on which the state of the vote -was written. As this ballot decided the great question of all the -elective offices, the hearts of the officers were in their mouths, and -the agitation of some of them was even ludicrous.</p> - -<p>"Give your attention to the report of the committee," said the -principal; but this was an unnecessary request, for every student was -all attention the moment Murray showed his head above the companionway.</p> - -<p>"Whole number of votes, 88," said the chairman "Necessary for a choice, -45; Lieutenant Judson has 1; Commodore Cumberland has 39; Fourth Master -Cantwell has 48, and is elected."</p> - -<p>The opposition cheered lustily, and laughed their satisfaction, as they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> -beheld the blank dismay of the agitators.</p> - -<p>"I'll quit the ship!" cried De Forrest, his face red from the violence -of his wrath. "I'll run away the first chance I get."</p> - -<p>"So will I," replied Beckwith. "We are sold out."</p> - -<p>"Mr. De Forrest," said the principal, in a loud tone, which immediately -produced the silence of curiosity.</p> - -<p>"Sir," replied the malcontent.</p> - -<p>"Did I understand you to say you would leave the ship?"</p> - -<p>"I did say so, sir," replied the third lieutenant, who, however, did not -intend to be over-heard by the principal. "I didn't mean anything by it."</p> - -<p>"It is well you did not. I see that you are not satisfied with this -result."</p> - -<p>"No, sir, I am not; and I don't think any one else is. We have been -cheated."</p> - -<p>"Do you mean to say that the ballot was not perfectly fair."</p> - -<p>"That was fair enough, but there is cheating somewhere."</p> - -<p>"I don't think there is. The result is not much different from what I -expected," replied the principal, with a pleasant smile on his face. -"When I learned that the officers had held a caucus for the nomination -of candidates in the after cabin, and refused to consult the seamen on -the subject, it seemed quite probable that the regular ticket would be -defeated. I heard that Captain Lincoln attempted to have a meeting of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> -all hands to consider the subject, but was overruled. I am not -astonished that he is elected commodore. Young gentlemen, you wished to -vote, and you have voted."</p> - -<p>The opposition cheered and applauded furiously. They cheered Lincoln and -the principal, and had begun to give three groans for De Forrest, when -they were checked by Mr. Lowington.</p> - -<p>"It is weak and foolish now to say there has been cheating, when the -result does not please you," continued the principal. "It appears now -that Cantwell, who is No. 6 on the merit-roll, has been elected captain -by a majority of the votes. Captain Cantwell, I congratulate you on your -election, and you shall have every facility for discharging your duty."</p> - -<p>"Thank you, sir. I am very much obliged to those who voted for me; and I -will endeavor to do my duty faithfully, courteously, and kindly," -replied the new captain.</p> - -<p>There were two or three attempts to hiss but the demonstration was -promptly checked, even before it was drowned out by the vociferous -applause of the opposition. Commodores Lincoln and Cumberland manfully -congratulated Cantwell, and promised to support him fairly and honorably -in the discharge of his duty.</p> - -<p>"Young gentlemen, the fog is lifting, and we must proceed with the -elections," resumed the principal, "You will now bring in your ballots -for first lieutenant."</p> - -<p>Cumberland was the nominee of the opposition for this office, and as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> -the regulars voted for him also, he was elected over the independent -ticket of De Forrest, who had put himself in nomination, and who -obtained but thirteen votes. Of course he was more disgusted than -before. He declared that his friends had deserted him, and served him a -mean trick. Judson was chosen second lieutenant, and Norwood third, by -about the same vote. Sheridan, who was the candidate of the opposition, -received just the number necessary for a choice, which seemed to be the -exact strength of the Bangwhangers in the ship, the rest of them being -in the consorts. The elective offices being filled, it was necessary to -fix the rank of the remaining officers by the merit-roll. Murray was the -new first master; Beckwith's rank was the same as before; and De Forrest -was first purser—an office of trust, but generally disliked by the -students, who did not wish to be mere clerks. By the changes of the -month, three of the Bangwhangers became officers.</p> - -<p>The students were dismissed from muster, and the new officers ordered to -put on the uniform of their rank. Very exciting conversations in the -after cabin and steerage followed. Lincoln and Cumberland treated the -new captain kindly, for which he was very grateful. Wainwright, Jones, -and Brown, who had been promoted from the steerage, congratulated him, -but no other officer said a word to him. He was captain, but the -position promised to have its thorns as well as its roses. However, his -first lieutenant, the late commodore, who was one of the ablest seamen -on board, and was above any jealousy or meanness, had treated him -handsomely, and promised to support him. At dinner, after he had put<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> -on his captain's uniform, Cantwell seated himself at one end of the -table, while Lincoln sat at the other, and the first lieutenant at the -captain's right. Most of the officers looked ugly, and it was not a -cheerful meal.</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> -</div> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> - -<p class="center mt2 title5">A CALL AT HELSINGFORS.</p> - - -<p>Cantwell, since the examination in seamanship, had used every moment of -his spare time in studying the books on this subject, and in -conversation with Peaks and the other adult forward officers. When his -shipmates went on shore, he remained on board, because the veteran -boatswain was less engaged at these times. He was thoroughly in earnest, -but of course it was not possible for any one to master a profession of -so many details in a few days, or even a few weeks. The new captain was -conscious of his deficiency in this respect, and even willing to -acknowledge his unfitness for the position to which he had been elected. -Under the former rule it would have been hardly possible for him to -reach either of the first two offices of the ship until he had learned -all the details of his business, for even a single examination, such as -that which had so greatly changed his relative rank a few days before, -would have prevented his improper elevation. Ordinarily, there was such -an exercise every week, and every day instruction was given in knotting, -splicing, and other work on rigging; in sea-terms and the names and uses -of ropes, blocks, spars, sails, and other parts of a ship; while<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> -navigation and the practical working of a vessel were a daily lesson -conducted by the principal.</p> - -<p>Probably there was not a boy in the squadron who had not some taste for -nautical matters, and, with hardly an exception, every one had entered -the Academy Ship or her consorts at his own request, or at least with -his own consent. Though some found their sailor life quite different -from what they expected, all were more or less ambitious to learn their -duty as seamen. It was always the case that a large majority of the -ship's company had been connected with the institution one or more -years, and were thoroughly familiar with all the minor details of -seamanship; could hand, reef, and steer, set and furl a sail, and knew -with more or less certainty what should be done in nearly every -emergency liable to occur to a vessel. In other words, a large majority -of the officers and seamen were old sailors. These young men were not -ignorant, stupid persons, into whose heads it was necessary to hammer an -idea; but nearly all of them had a tolerable education when they entered -the institution. The fact that a large portion of them were wild and -wayward did not detract from their natural ability, for the wildest and -the most wayward are often the most brilliant and quick-witted. With -such a proportion of well-trained seamen on board, the new comers -learned more from them incidentally, than from the set exercises in -seamanship. They were interested and anxious to become familiar with the -details of their profession, for he was a dull and stupid fellow who did -not expect, some time or other, to be an officer. But Cantwell had not -been long enough in the ship to master the details; besides, his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> -manner was cold and repulsive, and the veterans were not disposed to -make much talk with him. He realized now that he had made a mistake in -not cultivating the good will of his shipmates.</p> - -<p>Captain Cantwell expected trouble among the officers. He knew that, with -half a dozen exceptions, they disliked him exceedingly. Cumberland -treated him very handsomely. Sheridan, the fourth lieutenant, had been -elected to a position higher than his merit-rank by the opposition, and -therefore the captain counted upon his influence and support; and the -second purser and first and fourth midshipmen had come into the cabin -from the crew by their own merit. But at least nine of the officers were -hostile to him; some of them bitterly hostile, as Beckwith and De -Forrest. He was confident that a few of them would do all they could to -expose his deficiencies, and to make his position uncomfortable. When he -appeared in the cabin, in the uniform of his rank, he could not fail to -see the sneer which was on the faces of several of the officers. But he -maintained his dignity, resolved not to notice any demonstration unless -it was an open and palpable insult. After dinner most of the officers -went on deck, and in a short time the principal sent for the captain.</p> - -<p>"The fog has lifted, and the pilots say they can go to sea now. You will -get under way immediately," said the principal.</p> - -<p>Captain Cantwell touched his cap, and called to Brown, the fourth -midshipman, who approached him with the proper salute.</p> - -<p>"You will ask the first lieutenant to come on deck," said the captain.</p> - -<p>"On deck, sir," reported Cumberland, touching his cap to the new<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> -captain; and it seemed very strange to Cantwell to see the late -commodore paying this mark of respect to him.</p> - -<p>"You will get under way immediately."</p> - -<p>"Under way, sir," replied the executive officer, saluting his superior -again.</p> - -<p>It is rather doubtful whether Cantwell could have given all the orders -in detail which were necessary to execute this manœuvre, and -certainly his position as captain was much less trying than it would -have been as first lieutenant. If a majority of the officers were surly -and dissatisfied, a majority of the crew were delighted when they saw -the new captain on the quarter-deck; not that they had any particular -respect or regard for him personally, but because he represented their -cause, and was the evidence of their triumph. All hands were called, and -never were orders more promptly obeyed. In a few moments the Young -America was standing off before the wind, followed by the rest of the -squadron. The vessels threaded their way through the channels among the -islands, and passed out into the broad bay, for it was not deemed -prudent to take the steamer's course, nearer the main shore. The usual -routine of study was pursued during the afternoon, as the squadron, -with a light breeze, rolled lazily along towards her next port.</p> - -<p>"Your plan does not seem to work very well, De Forrest," said the -principal to the new first purser, whose duties required his presence in -the main cabin, when he had finished his recitations.</p> - -<p>"No, sir; we didn't have fair play. Scott got up a secret society, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> -dragged more than half the seamen into it," replied De Forrest, -bitterly. "I hope such things will be prevented."</p> - -<p>"What things?" asked Mr. Lowington, mildly.</p> - -<p>"Secret societies, sir."</p> - -<p>"I am not in favor of such associations for political purposes; but I -think the crew had a perfect right to organize for this election."</p> - -<p>"But the students who joined the society had to pledge themselves to -vote for Cantwell."</p> - -<p>"That is virtually done at all caucuses and political conventions. You -think such societies ought to be suppressed—do you?"</p> - -<p>"I certainly do, sir."</p> - -<p>"Then I suppose we must begin in the cabin," laughed the principal.</p> - -<p>"We had no secret society in the cabin, sir."</p> - -<p>"No?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly not, Mr. Lowington."</p> - -<p>"Inasmuch as no seaman is allowed to enter the after cabin, your -meetings there were, to all intents and purposes, secret. You proposed -to keep the offices among yourselves, and you nominated the candidates, -without consulting the crew, who were to find most of the votes to elect -them, if they were elected. I think Scott was perfectly justified in -taking the course he did. The secret society, I suspect, is rather for -amusement than for anything else. You knew of its existence, and it is -only a fair counterbalance for your meetings in the after cabin."</p> - -<p>"We have come to the conclusion, sir, that our plan does not work very -well," added De Forrest, rather sheepishly.</p> - -<p>"It has not been tried under favorable circumstances. I have a higher<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> -opinion of it than you seem to have," replied Mr. Lowington. "It was -brought forward, I am told, by yourself and others, to prevent Cantwell -from becoming captain or first lieutenant. This was an unworthy purpose, -and in the eyes of the crew it amounted to persecution."</p> - -<p>"We did not think he was fit for either of these places."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps he was not; and if your plan had not been adopted, he would -only have been fourth lieutenant. As the matter stands now, you have -actually made an unpopular officer your captain by your attempt to -persecute him. However odd and ridiculous Scott's tactics may have been -to defeat your intentions, they were based upon a genuine love of fair -play. You have been caught in your own trap."</p> - -<p>"I confess that we have, sir; and we would like to get out of the trap," -replied De Forrest.</p> - -<p>"That is quite impossible. Cantwell has been fairly elected, and he -shall serve out his month."</p> - -<p>"But after that, sir?"</p> - -<p>"I adopted the new plan to please you, and I purpose to give it a full -and fair trial. It has some very manifest advantages, the principal one -of which is, that it makes the officers in some measure responsible to -the crew for their conduct. It encourages courtesy and kindness in the -superior. But I am aware that it has some disadvantages, not the least -of which is this electioneering, though this is inseparable from -republican institutions."</p> - -<p>"I think we shall ask to have the old plan restored," added De -Forrest.</p> - -<p>"After two or three months' trial of the present plan, if a large<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> -majority of the squadron desire it, I shall be willing to make the -change; but I hope to see one election which shall be fairly conducted, -and in which no false issues shall be introduced. In the last, the main -question was whether the officers should deprive Cantwell of his -merit-rank; and every other issue was in some manner related to this."</p> - -<p>"But Cumberland, whose rank by merit was No. 1, was displaced from his -office, though all the students like him very well; perhaps not so well -as Lincoln, but very well," suggested De Forrest.</p> - -<p>"It was known to the crew that Lincoln wished to have a caucus of the -whole ship's company—a spirit of fairness to which he owes his -election. If Cumberland desired the same thing, it was not known in the -steerage."</p> - -<p>"The fellows say that three of the new cabin officers are members of -Scott's secret society," added De Forrest.</p> - -<p>"Then they will be likely to interfere with the secret proceedings of -the after cabin."</p> - -<p>"Brown, the fourth midshipman, is one of them. He may be the next -captain;" and there was an expression akin to horror on De Forrest's -face.</p> - -<p>"He may be; and he is a better seaman than Cantwell, for he has been in -the ship two years."</p> - -<p>"But it will be too bad to jump him over the heads of all of us."</p> - -<p>"That is one of the difficulties incident to your plan. Even politicians -will acknowledge that the ablest and best statesmen in our country are -very seldom elected to the highest offices; but in the army and navy,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> -in time of war, the ablest men are almost certain to find their proper -sphere."</p> - -<p>"I hope the old plan will be restored, sir; for I don't like the idea of -a secret society jumping the lowest officer over all our heads, simply -because he is a member. It doesn't look right to me."</p> - -<p>"It isn't right; but I expect to see the same spirit of fairness at the -next election which was displayed at the last one. If the cabin officers -give the crew fair play, I have no doubt the seamen will exhibit the -same spirit. If you wish to do the business just right, have a fair -caucus, and you will nullify all the influence of the secret society."</p> - -<p>The principal went on deck then, but in the evening he had a long talk -with Scott, who declared that all he wanted was fair play, and that the -secret society would not, and could not, be used in the interest of -anything but fair play.</p> - -<p>The next morning the squadron was approaching Helsingfors. The town is -protected by the extensive fortifications of Sveaborg, planted on seven -islands, and from its great strength the fortress has been called the -"Gibraltar of the North." The scenery in the vicinity, consisting of -vast numbers of islands, is quite picturesque. The works were bombarded -by the combined English and French squadrons during the Crimean war, in -1855; but though the attack was a very fierce one, it was entirely -unsuccessful. It was the last stronghold of the Swedes in Finland, and -when it was besieged by the Russians, in 1808, it was surrendered to -them by Admiral Cronstedt, while he had still sufficient means of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> -defence; and he is charged with treachery, though it has never been -proved, for he did not enter the Russian service, and left no fortune at -his death. The Finns were indignant at his conduct, and their patriot -poet, Runeberg, has written some indignant verses, which have the ring -of Scott's minstrel poem:—</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse"> -<div class="line outdent">"Conceal his lineage, hide his race;</div> -<div class="line indent">The crime be his alone;</div> -<div class="line">That none may blush for his disgrace,</div> -<div class="line indent">Let it be all his own!</div> -<div class="line">He who his country brings to shame,</div> -<div class="line">Nor race, nor sire, nor son may claim."</div> -</div></div></div> - -<p>The appearance of Helsingfors, approaching from the sea, is very -imposing, for its public buildings are large, elegant structures, the -principal ones being on elevated ground. The inner harbor is nearly in -the shape of a square, and vessels go up to the wharves on the left.</p> - -<p>"What is that large building, Dr. Winstock?" asked Commodore Lincoln, as -the ship stood up the harbor.</p> - -<p>"That is the Russian church."</p> - -<p>"It is a magnificent building," added the young officer, as he gazed -with admiration upon the lofty building with its gilded dome.</p> - -<p>"All the Russian churches are beautiful buildings; and you will find -that those in St. Petersburg and Moscow far excel this one. The large -structures in front of us are the Lutheran church, the -University,—which was moved from Åbo to this place,—and the Senate -House."</p> - -<p>"I did not expect to find any such place as this away up here. Why, it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> -is one of the finest cities I ever looked upon!" exclaimed the -commodore.</p> - -<p>"I was as much astonished as you are when I first came here," added the -doctor.</p> - -<p>The squadron anchored quite near the shore, and after the sails had been -furled, the yards carefully squared, and everything hauled taut, the -recitations in the steerage proceeded as usual. They were continued -without interruption, except for dinner,—though of course all the -classes were not occupied at the same time,—till three o'clock in the -afternoon, when the boats were manned, and all hands were allowed to go -on shore.</p> - -<p>"The gig is ready, sir," reported the officer to whom the charge of this -boat had been given, to the captain.</p> - -<p>"I shall not go on shore," replied Cantwell.</p> - -<p>"Not go on shore, Captain Cantwell?" said Mr. Lowington, who stood near -him.</p> - -<p>"No, sir; not unless it is necessary that I should do so."</p> - -<p>"It is not necessary that you should go, but I should think you would -desire to see the town."</p> - -<p>"I cannot spare the time, Mr. Lowington," answered the captain, with a -smile. "As you are aware, sir, I am deficient in seamanship; and Mr. -Peaks, who has kindly consented to help me, has more leisure when the -ship's company are on shore than at any other time."</p> - -<p>"I commend your zeal, and I will not interfere with your purpose," -replied the principal, as he went over the side, and took his seat in -the professor's barge.</p> - -<p>On the shore, the doctor, the commodore, Paul Kendall, Shuffles, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> -ladies, made up a party, and went to the Society's House, which is the -name of the principal hotel here, as well as in Åbo and Wyborg, where -they endeavored to procure a <i>commissionaire</i> who spoke English; but -none was to be had. The elegant Greek church was the first object of -interest, and they walked over to the hill on which it is located. As if -to follow literally with the words of Christ to Peter, this church "is -founded upon a rock." It is built of brick, and, like nearly all Russian -churches, is in the form of a Greek cross. At a little distance from the -main structure, but connected with it, is the bell tower. As the party -approached, the bell began to ring for a service. Its tones were quite -different from those heard in other countries, but more melodious, and -lacking the sharp qualities. Instead of a wheel and rope to ring it, as -most bells are rung, two men were stationed in the belfry, and, by a -rope attached to the tongue, were swaying it hack and forth, till it -struck the metal on each side.</p> - -<p>As the tourists entered the building, they were passed by a man with a -long, heavy, red beard, clothed in a kind of brown gown, or robe, who, -the doctor said, was a priest. The interior of the church was different -from any other which most of the party had seen. Opposite the entrance -was a screen, or partition, extending to the ceiling, which was covered -with pictures of the saints, or other holy persons, of the Greek church. -Only the face, and sometimes the hands, of the person represented are -shown, the rest of the picture being covered with gold. In the middle -of this partition is a lofty archway closed by two doors of gold, or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> -gilt. In front there is a platform, on which the priests stand in -performing the service. In various parts of the church are pictures of -the Russian saints, before each of which is a candle, or other light. In -one corner there was a cenotaph, covered with gold, which represents the -tomb of Christ, used at Easter and Christmas in the service. There was -no seat, bench, or other convenience for sitting, for no one is allowed -to sit in a Russian church. Men were lighting the candles and lamps -before the pictures of the holy persons, reverently bowing and crossing -themselves as they approached them. The party were deeply interested, -but they obtained a better idea of the religion of the Russians in St. -Petersburg.</p> - -<p>The travellers next obtained admission to the Senate House, in which the -hall intended for the meeting of the senate on state occasions is the -principal attraction. It contains a magnificent throne for the emperor, -who has twice presided in person at the sessions of this body; but -whether he is there or not, his gaudy seat seemed to be the -representative of his power. This building contains the remains of the -library saved from the great fire at Åbo, which has been increased to -one hundred thousand volumes. After a walk through the University, -founded by Queen Christina, which has usually about five hundred -students, and a walk up the long flight of steps leading to the Lutheran -church, the party returned to the great square.</p> - -<p>"There's a costume!" exclaimed Lincoln, when, in turning a corner, they -came suddenly upon a Russian drosky, the driver of which was dressed in -the long pelisse and bell-crowned hat of his class.</p> - -<p>"Yes; and that's just what you will see in every Russian city," replied<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> -the doctor. "All the drivers are dressed just alike, and this garb is -worn only by them."</p> - -<p>The pelisse was a long green garment, reaching down to the ankles, with -bright globular buttons. The hat was similar to a European fashion which -had its day at least fifty years ago, and an occasional one was seen -even forty years ago. The diameter of the body at the top was about -twice that at the brim. The drosky was a narrow vehicle sitting low on -four small wheels. The seat for the passengers was narrow, though two -persons can crowd into it. In front, and higher up, is a seat for the -driver. At the end of the shafts was a wooden bow, or arch, over the -horse's shoulders.</p> - -<p>"What in the world is that bow for?" asked Lincoln.</p> - -<p>"That's a question which is more easily asked than answered," replied -the doctor. "I have looked at it a hundred times, but I have never been -able to see that it is of the slightest use, though I have seen a check -rein attached to it. For this purpose it is worse than useless; and if -there is a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals in Russia, I -hope it will take hold of the matter, for it is infinitely worse for the -poor beast than when the check is hooked at the saddle."</p> - -<p>"If it is useless always, and sometimes cruel, I hope all the bows in -Russia will be banished," laughed Mrs. Kendall.</p> - -<p>"Sent to Siberia," suggested Mrs. Shuffles.</p> - -<p>"Beaux are very well in their places," added Dr. Winstock; "and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> -marriage seems to be a better remedy than banishment."</p> - -<p>The driver of the drosky gathered up his petticoats and jumped off his -box, when the party paused before his vehicle. He looked vastly more -pleasant and amiable than a New York hackman, touched his hat, bowed, -and smiled blandly, as he pointed insinuatingly at the carriage. At the -same moment three more droskies rushed to the spot, the drivers intent -upon obtaining a job. They talked, but of course none of the Americans -could understand a word they said. The party intended to ride, and three -of them were taken; but it was no easy matter for either of the ladies -and her husband to crowd into the seat. Paul Kendall solved the -difficulty in his own case by taking half of the driver's place. Lincoln -and the doctor were better accommodated, and led the way, the latter -pointing in the direction he wished to go. They went up a very broad -street, with a green in the middle, like the Champs Elysées in Paris, in -which there were well-kept avenues. On the walks were several neat -stands for the sale of soda, which were attended by pretty girls, who -seemed to be doing a good business. A ride up this street, and down -another, with what they had seen before, nearly exhausted the town, -which contains twenty-four thousand inhabitants, but is spread out over -a large extent of country. All the streets were wide, some of them -disagreeably wide, when any one wishes to cross to the opposite side.</p> - -<p>Returning to the square, Dr. Winstock pointed down a street by the -steamboat landing, which extended along the west shore of the bay. The -driver understood him promptly, for this street led to the Botanical<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> -Gardens, which is a popular place of resort for the people. It was about -a mile from the town, and on the arrival of the party a band was playing -in front of a large building which contained a very handsome restaurant, -sometimes used as a ball-room. The tourists entered this place, and -seated themselves at one of the tables.</p> - -<p>"What's the use of coming in here, when we can't speak a word of the -lingo?" laughed Paul.</p> - -<p>"I never go hungry for the want of language," replied the doctor, as a -very polite waiter presented himself.</p> - -<p>"Do you speak English?" he added to this man.</p> - -<p>The waiter shook his head.</p> - -<p>"Do you speak French?" asked the doctor in this language.</p> - -<p>The attendant shook his head again.</p> - -<p>"<i>Sprechen sie Deutsch?</i>"</p> - -<p>"<i>Ya; ein wenig; nicht fiel</i>," replied the man, a gleam of sunshine -lighting up his face, when the difficulty seemed to be solved.</p> - -<p>But his knowledge of German was exceedingly limited, though after -several blunders he brought the lunch and coffee which the surgeon -ordered. The feast consisted of the same "snack" which is served in -Sweden—little fishes, thin slices of sausage, and of salmon, and the -inevitable sandwich of <i>caviar</i>, or fish spawn. As in Sweden, the coffee -was excellent; but none of the party had yet conquered their repugnance -to the slimy <i>caviar</i>. When they had about finished the lunch, the -attentive waiter appeared with half a dozen dishes of veal cutlets.</p> - -<p>"What have you there?" asked the surgeon.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> - -<p>"<i>Kalbfleisch</i>,"—which means veal,—replied the waiter.</p> - -<p>"I did not order it."</p> - -<p>"<i>Ja, mein herr.</i>"</p> - -<p>"No; I said <i>kalt Fleisch</i>," added the doctor; and Paul laughed -heartily, though this was only a specimen of the blunders the man made.</p> - -<p>The surgeon had called for <i>kalt Fleisch</i>, or cold meat, and the first -word is not unlike <i>Kalb</i>.</p> - -<p>"<i>Rechnung</i>," said Dr. Winstock, which means, "Bring me the bill;" as -the French say, "<i>Addition</i>," for the same thing, and the Austrians, -"<i>Bezahlen</i>."</p> - -<p>The bill, which doubtless included the veal cutlets, was three marks, or -sixty cents, for each person—a foretaste of Russian prices, dearer than -in any other part of Europe. It was paid, and the party took a walk -through the gardens, extending down to the sea-shore. It is simply a -pleasant place, without being very attractive. A hill near the point of -the peninsula commands a fine view of Sveaborg and the Gulf. There is an -extensive bathing-house near the rocky shore. A trip among the islands -in the vicinity is very agreeable, and little steamers may be chartered -for such excursions at three rubles an hour. The party returned to the -town, and drove to the landing-place, where they were fortunate enough -to find Professor Badois, to act as interpreter in paying the drosky -fares; for however bland the drivers were in their manners, they were -evidently familiar with the tricks of their craft.</p> - -<p>The several ship's companies went on board at once. The next morning the -squadron sailed for Wyborg, where she arrived after a day and a night<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> -at sea, though the steamers make the trip in twelve hours. Twelve versts -from the town, the vessels passed into the harbor, which is an extensive -bay, through a narrow passage, on both sides of which were vast piles of -lumber, from which craft of all sizes and kinds were loading. Off the -town the squadron came to anchor, but no one was permitted to go on -shore until after the recitations in the afternoon.</p> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p> -</div> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> - -<p class="center mt2 title5">WYBORG AND THE SECOND DEGREE.</p> - - -<p>"I should like to know what the name of this place is," said Lincoln to -Dr. Winstock, who was seated near him in the commodore's barge, which -was leading the line to the shore. "In one book it is Viborg; in -another, Wiborg; in a third, Wyborg." "The different spellings of the -same word simply indicate the attempts of authors to render the foreign -sounds into English," replied the surgeon. "We have the same variety in -many other words. On the English maps of Russia, you will find the names -of rivers, provinces, and towns given in many different ways; as, Kief, -Kiev, and Kiew, the latter being the German rendering of the word; -Nyzni, Nysni, Nezhnii, and a dozen other forms. Of course you can take -your choice. As for Wyborg, I think it will hardly pay to land, for -there is really nothing to be seen here. Like Constantinople, the best -view of the town is from the outside."</p> - -<p>"It certainly looks well from the bay."</p> - -<p>The students landed at the town, which is built on uneven ground. Most -of the streets are narrow and crooked, and the travellers soon realized -the truth of the surgeon's view. At the east side of the place is an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> -old castle in ruins. On a rock, rising from an arm of the sea, is a -lofty old tower, which has played its part in many a battle and siege, -for Wyborg was long a bone of contention between Sweden and Russia, -before the latter obtained possession, of it. Looking to the eastward of -the town, vast sheets of water may be seen, on which small steamers ply, -as at Stockholm, and a few miles distant are a garden and summer resort -for the people. A series of rivers and lakes connects Lakes Ladoga and -Saima, and a canal at Wyborg joins both of these great sheets of water -to the Gulf of Finland. Lakes Onega and Ladoga are united by the River -Svir, upon which plies a small steamer. The waters of Lake Onega also -mingle with those of the Volga. The Volkof River flows from Lake Ilmen -into Ladoga, and is navigable for barges; and Lake Ilmen, by the help of -a canal, is also connected with the Volga. A boat may, therefore, start -from the upper waters of the Finnish lakes, and go through to the -Caspian Sea.</p> - -<p>A couple of hours in Wyborg fully satisfied the party, and they returned -to the boats for an excursion by water around the town. The scenery in -the vicinity is very pleasant, and at seven o'clock the students landed -at a green island.</p> - -<p>"Now, fellows, we can attend to the second degree," said Scott, when he -had gathered some of the Bangwhangers around him, and found a retired -place.</p> - -<p>The members of the fraternity knew each other so well, that there was no -difficulty in separating themselves from the rest of the ship's company. -The eight officers assembled near the shore, on a point of land where<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> -there was a wooden shanty, that had evidently been used for cleaning and -curing fish, for a villainous smell came from it, which -was very trying to the olfactories of the members.</p> - -<p>"How will this do?" asked Jones, as he opened the door of the shanty.</p> - -<p>"First rate. We shall initiate the candidates into the mysteries of a -horrible odor at the same time," replied Scott, as the officers entered -the rude building.</p> - -<p>"A fellow that has been to sea three months needn't mind this," laughed -Jones.</p> - -<p>"All right; place the O. L. M. outside of the building, the I. L. M. -inside, near the door," said Scott, as he turned over a fish-tub for his -own throne as C. B., and placed it at one end of the building, while -Wainwright, the D. C. B., located himself at the other end.</p> - -<p>"Officers, to your stations; proceed to open a lodge of Bangwhangers. Y. -D. K., on my right; Q. D., on my left; R. P. F. and L. P. F., on my -left. Brother D. C. B., are you a Bangwhanger?"</p> - -<p>"Of course I am."</p> - -<p>"Bang!"</p> - -<p>"Whang!"</p> - -<p>"Who knows?"</p> - -<p>"Eye, nose."</p> - -<p>"Who knows?"</p> - -<p>"Eighty-six noes."</p> - -<p>"Right; come to my arms. How many officers in a lodge of Bangwhangers?"</p> - -<p>"Eight; and nothing can be done with a less number," replied the D. C.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> -B., who answered all these questions, and named all the officers.</p> - -<p>"Brother O. L. M., what are you?"</p> - -<p>"I am the Outside Lookout Man," replied Hall, who had been called in to -answer.</p> - -<p>"What do you do?"</p> - -<p>"Keep a sharp lookout on the outside of the lodge."</p> - -<p>"If any outsider approaches, what do you do?"</p> - -<p>"Give him fits."</p> - -<p>"Right; keep your weather eye open. Brother I. L. M., what are you?"</p> - -<p>"The Inside Lookout Man."</p> - -<p>"What do you do?"</p> - -<p>"Keep a sharp lookout inside."</p> - -<p>"If any outsider comes in, what do you do?"</p> - -<p>"Kick him out."</p> - -<p>"Suppose he is bigger than you are?"</p> - -<p>"Give him a stick of candy, and tell him his grandmother is waiting for -him round the corner."</p> - -<p>"Right; keep a stiff upper lip. Brother R. P. F., what are you?"</p> - -<p>"The Right Pilot Fish."</p> - -<p>"What do you do?"</p> - -<p>"Stand on the starboard side of the candidate, and tow him round."</p> - -<p>"Right; heave ahead, my hearty. Brother L. P. F., what are you?"</p> - -<p>"The Left Pilot Fish."</p> - -<p>"What do you do?"</p> - -<p>"Stand on the port side of the candidate, and help tow him around."</p> - -<p>"Right; stand by the hawser. Brother Q. D., what are you?"</p> - -<p>"The Quill Driver."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span></p> - -<p>"What do you do?"</p> - -<p>"When anything is done, make a note of it."</p> - -<p>"Right; mind your eye, my hearty. Brother Y.D.K., what are you?"</p> - -<p>"The Yellow Dirt Keeper."</p> - -<p>"What do you do?"</p> - -<p>"Keep the money."</p> - -<p>"Will you keep it?"</p> - -<p>"I'll bet I will."</p> - -<p>"Right; stand by the locker. Brother D. C. B., what are you?"</p> - -<p>"The Deputy Chief Bangwhanger."</p> - -<p>"What do you do?"</p> - -<p>"Make faces at the C. B. when he is present, and take his place when he -is absent."</p> - -<p>"Your duties are important—where do you sit?"</p> - -<p>"Opposite the C. B."</p> - -<p>"What for?"</p> - -<p>"To help him keep up his dignity."</p> - -<p>"How?"</p> - -<p>"By making faces at him."</p> - -<p>"What is the C. B.?"</p> - -<p>"The Chief Bangwhanger."</p> - -<p>"What does he do?"</p> - -<p>"Bosses the job, and is the biggest toad in the puddle."</p> - -<p>"Why is he like strong drink?"</p> - -<p>"Because he goes to the head," replied the D. C. B., with a hideous -grimace, which made all the officers laugh.</p> - -<p>"Right; you have said enough; clap a stopper on your jaw tackle," said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> -Scott. "The ship is under way, and the officers are at their stations."</p> - -<p>Scott added that they had no time to spare, and the business must -proceed at once.</p> - -<p>"Sail ho!" shouted the lookout, outside of the door.</p> - -<p>"Sail ho!" repeated the one on the inside.</p> - -<p>"Where away?" asked the C. B.</p> - -<p>"Alongside now," replied the I. L. M.</p> - -<p>"The name?"</p> - -<p>"Clyde Blacklock; and he wants to come on board."</p> - -<p>"Has he been instructed in the Rule of Three?" which meant the three -clauses of the obligation.</p> - -<p>"Ay, ay, sir."</p> - -<p>"Let him in."</p> - -<p>The R. P. F. and the L. P. F. went out, and soon returned with Clyde -Blacklock between them. On his head, and drawn entirely over it, was a -white cap. A yard of cotton cloth had been purchased at Helsingfors, -which had been sewed up like a meal bag. This was pulled down over the -candidate's face, and the square end of it hung down in front of him, -having upon it, in letters cut out of black cloth, and sewed upon the -cotton, the mysterious device AT-VI., which, however, did not relate to -"Plantation Bitters."</p> - -<p>"Hah! You have caught him!" exclaimed the C. B., in the most savage of -tones.</p> - -<p>"Ay, ay, sir! We captured him outside, and in spite of his frantic -struggles, have brought him before you to be examined," replied the R. -P. F.</p> - -<p>"What is he?" demanded Scott, in gruff notes.</p> - -<p>"A vile Indian."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Hah!"</p> - -<p>"A 'ticklarly vile Indian."</p> - -<p>"When was he caught?"</p> - -<p>"At six."</p> - -<p>"Has he been searched?"</p> - -<p>"Not yet."</p> - -<p>"Does he confess?"</p> - -<p>"Not yet."</p> - -<p>"Clyde Blacklock, answer me truly," said Scott, solemnly. "Did you steal -it?"</p> - -<p>"Answer him," said the candidate's conductor, in a low voice.</p> - -<p>"Steal what?" asked Clyde.</p> - -<p>"The bag out of which a faithless Brother of the Most Respectable Order -of Bangwhangers let the cat," added the C. B., tragically.</p> - -<p>"No, I didn't."</p> - -<p>"Let him be searched!" continued Scott, in a sepulchral tone.</p> - -<p>Whereupon the officers, who had silently gathered around the candidate, -began to punch him in the ribs, and under the ears, not to hurt, but -only to tickle him. As Clyde was sensitive in this direction, as almost -anybody would be when taken by surprise, the effect was very decided, -and the candidate wriggled, and squirmed, and roared.</p> - -<p>"He has it I We have found it upon him!" said the R. P. F., suddenly.</p> - -<p>"Hah!" cried Scott. "The vile Indian is guilty."</p> - -<p>"Guilty!" responded all the other officers.</p> - -<p>"Does he see it?" demanded the C. B.</p> - -<p>"He don't see it."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Let him see it!"</p> - -<p>Then the R. P. F. and the L. P. F. seized the white cap by the corners, -and jerked it violently from Clyde's head, and laid it on the floor -before him, with the letters right side up to him. All the officers -pointed at the cap, with the most extravagant expressions of surprise -and indignation upon their faces.</p> - -<p>"Behold the bag!" exclaimed the group, in concert.</p> - -<p>"And it has our mark upon it," replied Scott, with indignation in his -looks and tones. Then suddenly changing his voice and manner, he -continued, very gently, "Brother Blacklock, this degree is founded upon -the story of a vile Indian in the wilds of America. Some emigrants were -travelling over the prairies of the great west, intending to settle in -Nevada. One of them had a favorite Maltese cat, of which the whole party -were very fond. They were very much afraid of losing the creature, and -for greater security they carried her in a bag,—precisely like that -just found upon you,—bearing upon it the initials of the owner's name, -which was, in full, Andrew Thomas Vincent Iverson. For a guide they had -a vile Indian, who, like all vile Indians, was very fond of whiskey. One -night this vile Indian was particularly 'dry.' and wanted to 'wet his -whistle' with fire-water. After the emigrants had gone to sleep, he -searched the camp for some of his favorite beverage. He came across the -bag containing the Maltese cat. As the contents thereof seemed to be -lively, he thought it contained a bottle of whiskey. He opened the bag, -and the cat leaped out, not whiskey; in other words, he let the cat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> -out of the bag—at all times a very grave and terrible offence. When he -saw what he had done, he was alarmed, and concealed the bag within his -clothes, intending to make the emigrants believe that the cat had run -away, carrying the bag with her. But, vile Indian that he was, his -employers suspected him, and punching him in the ribs, they discovered -the bag. Then they knew that he had let the cat out of the bag, and as -the penalty of his crime, they compelled him to eat Bologna sausage -until he couldn't help barking. Brother Blacklock, this solemn ceremony -is intended to convince you that, should you ever let the cat out of the -bag, you will be subjected to the same penalty as the vile Indian, who -was A 'Ticklarly Vile Indian. This bag bears our mark,—AT-VI.,—which -relates to the hour you were caught—at six. It also means A 'Ticklarly -Vile Indian, and alludes, besides, to the rallying number of our -order—AT., eighty; VI., six. Brother Blacklock, it is your next move. -Take a seat where you find one."</p> - -<p>"This will never do," interposed the D. C. B. "Some of the members will -die of old age before we can give them the second degree at this rate."</p> - -<p>"I was thinking of that myself," replied Scott; "and I have the remedy. -We will go through the first part with the candidates singly, and -explain the meaning of it to the crowd all together. Then it won't take -two minutes apiece."</p> - -<p>"Right, Most Respectable C. B.," replied the D. C. B.</p> - -<p>Another "vile Indian" was easily captured outside of the fish-house,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> -and was passed through the same ceremony. He was duly tickled till he -rolled on the ground, pronounced guilty of stealing the bag, allowed to -see it; and when the mark upon it was indignantly identified, the -candidate was sent to a seat. About twenty went through this part of the -performance, and then, when all of them were placed in front of the C. -B., he told them the story of "A 'Ticklarly Vile Indian." All of them -were solemnly warned not to let the cat out of the bag; and in closing -the lodge, those who had just been "elevated" to the second degree, were -permitted to learn the meaning of the mysterious initials. All who had -participated in the ceremonies, either as active or passive agents, were -delighted with the fun, and those who were patiently waiting their turn -to be elevated, were very much disappointed when obliged to go on board -their respective vessels without their second degree, especially as -those who had taken it looked wise and mysterious, and would not even -hint at anything which had transpired in the lodge.</p> - -<p>"How's that for high?" asked Scott, as they left the fish-house.</p> - -<p>"Tip-top," replied Wainwright, the D. C. B., who was now the second -purser of the ship; "but we may not get a chance to do anything more for -weeks."</p> - -<p>"I think we can find some place to do it in the ship. The mess-rooms are -rather small, but we can make one of them answer on a pinch," replied -Scott. "By the way, Wainwright, I don't know that you want to belong any -longer."</p> - -<p>"Why not?"</p> - -<p>"Because you are an officer now."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p> - -<p>"That won't make any difference. The seamen can't go into the cabin; but -the officers can go into the steerage. I think the lodge makes rare fun, -and I, for one, enjoy it hugely. I would rather go back into the -steerage than lose the sport."</p> - -<p>"You'll do," laughed Scott. "I was thinking it was about time for you to -begin to put on airs."</p> - -<p>"You will begin about the time I do. You are my superior officer in the -Bangwhangers."</p> - -<p>"But I will give up my office to a bigger fellow."</p> - -<p>"No fellow that belongs would be willing to have you give it up."</p> - -<p>"You are very kind."</p> - -<p>"Now, can't we get up another degree?" asked the second purser.</p> - -<p>"When we have given all the fellows the second degree, it will be time -enough to talk about the third. How does Cantwell get along in the -cabin?"</p> - -<p>"First rate. What you said to him did him a heap of good, for he don't -put on airs, and don't exhibit so much selfishness as the officers say -he did. I suppose you know that the De Forresters are sick of their -bargain?"</p> - -<p>"I concluded that they were. It was a hard nut to have Cantwell elected -over them."</p> - -<p>"De Forrest has already got up a petition to the principal to restore -the old way of electing the officers; but the fellows in the cabin don't -like the idea of signing it yet. It looks too much like backing down."</p> - -<p>"I rather like the present plan," laughed Scott; "and I want it to have -a fair trial."</p> - -<p>"That's just what the principal says," added Wainwright.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p> - -<p>The students embarked, and were soon on board of their vessels.</p> - -<p>"What were you fellows up to in that old shanty?" said De Forrest to -Wainwright, as they met in the cabin.</p> - -<p>"That's telling," replied the second purser.</p> - -<p>"It was that secret society."</p> - -<p>"Well, what if it was?"</p> - -<p>"What are you up to now? Are you getting ready for the next election."</p> - -<p>"That's our affair."</p> - -<p>"I don't believe in a secret society to control the elections."</p> - -<p>"You are entitled to your own belief."</p> - -<p>"It isn't right."</p> - -<p>"But it's just what you fellows in the cabin did before Cantwell was -elected," answered Wainwright.</p> - -<p>"We hadn't any secret society: we only met in the cabin to talk over the -matter."</p> - -<p>"In the cabin, where no one but yourselves could come."</p> - -<p>"We are going to do away with this thing, anyhow, and go back to the old -plan," added De Forrest.</p> - -<p>"And confess that your famous plan was good for nothing?"</p> - -<p>"The plan was a good one, but the fellows won't be fair."</p> - -<p>"Which means that they wouldn't make you first lieutenant."</p> - -<p>"It don't mean that. It means that a majority of the fellows—all of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> -them in the steerage—voted for a fellow for captain whom they did not -like, and who, they knew, was not fit for the place, out of spite to the -officers. If they had voted on their own judgment, instead of following -Scott's lead—"</p> - -<p>"They would have elected you," laughed Wainwright.</p> - -<p>"No; they would have chosen Lincoln captain."</p> - -<p>"But they did choose him commodore."</p> - -<p>"And shoved Cumberland down to first lieutenant."</p> - -<p>"And you down to first purser—the ship's chief clerk."</p> - -<p>"I think I ought to have had a better position than the one I got."</p> - -<p>"But you have your merit-rank; and it looks now as though your plan was -intended to save yourself from a bad fall, rather than to keep Cantwell -from being captain."</p> - -<p>"I wasn't thinking of myself at all."</p> - -<p>"All the fellows say that you nominated yourself for first lieutenant."</p> - -<p>"I suppose all the officers wanted to get as good places as they could."</p> - -<p>"If that was what they were driving at, they needn't blame the fellows -in the steerage for taking things into their own hands."</p> - -<p>"I say, Wainwright, can't a fellow join the secret society?"</p> - -<p>"That depends upon who the fellow is."</p> - -<p>"One about my size."</p> - -<p>"Yes, if the society will take him in."</p> - -<p>"Will they take me in?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I want to join."</p> - -<p>"Because you want to be captain, or something of that sort," laughed the -second purser. "I don't believe it would do you any good. Are you -willing to vote for Cantwell for commodore next month?"</p> - -<p>"No! I am not. Is that your game?"</p> - -<p>"I didn't say it was."</p> - -<p>"If it is, I won't join."</p> - -<p>"No one has asked you to do so."</p> - -<p>"Cantwell for commodore!" exclaimed De Forrest, in disgust, as he walked -away from his companion.</p> - -<p>In ten minutes he had told half of the officers that the secret society -intended to make Cantwell commodore next month, and when his duties as -first purser required him to visit the main cabin soon after, he -revealed the momentous secret to Mr. Lowington.</p> - -<p>"If this is a secret society, how do you know?" asked the principal.</p> - -<p>"Wainwright, who is a member, said as much to me," replied the purser.</p> - -<p>The second purser was called.</p> - -<p>"I have heard a great deal about your secret society, Wainwright," -continued the principal. "You have just had a meeting on the island?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir."</p> - -<p>"I do not believe in secret societies for political purposes. Do you -intend to make Cantwell commodore next month?"</p> - -<p>"We have no such plan at present."</p> - -<p>"Didn't you ask me, when I spoke of joining, if I would vote for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> -Cantwell for commodore?" asked De Forrest.</p> - -<p>"I did."</p> - -<p>"I think that's enough, sir," added the first purser.</p> - -<p>"If Cantwell is using this society to make himself commodore, it is time -to suppress the society."</p> - -<p>"Cantwell is not a member of it, sir," replied Wainwright. "It was got -up simply to defeat the plan of the officers to control the election. At -the meeting on the island to-day, not a word was said about the -elections in any way. If the nominations are fairly made next time, I -don't believe the society will meddle with them."</p> - -<p>"I hope not," added Mr. Lowington.</p> - -<p>"If the officers nominate in the cabin, without consulting the seamen, -very likely the society will do something."</p> - -<p>"In that case, I should not object; for a secret society in the steerage -is no worse than one in the cabin."</p> - -<p>"But what is the society for?" asked De Forrest, dissatisfied with the -situation.</p> - -<p>"Simply for fun, for amusement—nothing else." replied Wainwright.</p> - -<p>"Where do you meet?" asked the principal, curiously.</p> - -<p>"We met in that old fish-house on the island. We have no place in the -ship. I was going to ask you, sir, if we might fit up a place in the -hold," added Wainwright.</p> - -<p>"The hold is not a fit place for any meeting. I can do better, if -assured that your society is a proper one."</p> - -<p>"I think it is, sir. There is nothing in it contrary to the rules of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> -the ship. In all the colleges there are secret societies, such as the -Φ. Β. Κ."</p> - -<p>"You may have the main cabin one evening in a week."</p> - -<p>"Thank you, sir. We shall be very grateful to you," replied Wainwright, -utterly confounded by the generosity of the principal.</p> - -<p>De Forrest was disgusted, and went away with "a flea in his ear." Of -course the action of the principal was immediately known among all the -officers. Cumberland only laughed, while others looked grave, and -proposed that they should get up a society among the officers. The -proposition was hailed with a shout of satisfaction, and a committee -appointed to prepare a plan. Wainwright hastened to Scott with the -pleasant news he had to tell, and the main cabin was obtained for that -evening. As the instructors spent most of their unoccupied time on deck, -this was no hardship to them. The lodge opened again, with those present -who had taken the second degree. In older to make the thing more -ludicrous than before, the officers enveloped themselves in blankets, -sheets, and such other fantastic apparel as they could lay hands upon, -and each one placed his small tin wash-bowl on his head, the handle of -which stuck out like a queue behind. The curtain over the skylight was -drawn so that no one on deck could see into the cabin. The pantry was -built out from the bulkhead, which separated it from the main cabin, -into the steerage, forming a space, or gangway, four feet wide, between -the pantry and the mess-rooms, from winch one of the doors opened into -the cabin. A blanket was extended across from the front of the pantry,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> -before the starboard door, making an apartment four feet square, in -which the O. L. M. was stationed. The candidate was admitted to this -place, and when the bag was drawn over his head, he was conducted into -the lodge. The ceremonies were performed with even more spirit than in -the old fish-house, and the roars of laughter that went up from the main -cabin assured those within hearing that the members were having a good -time. All the rest in the ship who had taken their first degree were -"elevated" to the second on this occasion. At the close of the -initiation, a vote of thanks to the principal was unanimously passed, -for his kindness in granting the society the use of the cabin; and after -some debate, he was also elected an honorary member of the order, with -the privilege of attending any and all its meetings—a privilege of -which, however, he magnanimously declined to avail himself.</p> - -<p>The next morning the squadron sailed for Cronstadt, and, as the weather -was beautiful, the trip was a very pleasant one. The gulf was lively -with steamers, and sailing vessels of all kinds, from the smallest -Russian fishing shallop up to the largest man-of-war. There were -iron-clads and steamers of all sizes belonging to the Russian navy, and -the students gazed with interest at half a dozen monitors. These war -vessels were all engaged in various manœuvres and evolutions for -practice.</p> - -<p>"What flag is that, Mr. Lowington?" asked Captain Cantwell, as a vessel -passed them.</p> - -<p>"The Russian flag," replied the principal, surprised that the captain of -the ship should ask such a question.</p> - -<p>"But I thought that on the men-of-war was the Russian flag."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Both of them."</p> - -<p>"I saw this white flag, crossed with a stripe of blue from the corners, -on the Russian fleet which came to America several years ago, and I -supposed that was the Russian flag."</p> - -<p>"It is the Russian man-of-war flag. The Russian merchant flag consists, -as you see, of three equal strips of bunting, extending lengthwise—the -top one white, the bottom red, and the middle one blue. The Russian -royal standard is a yellow flag, with the double eagle in the middle. -Most of the European nations have several flags. You will find diagrams -of all these flags, standards, and jacks, in several volumes in the -library."</p> - -<p>"Thank you, sir. I will study them," replied Cantwell, touching his cap.</p> - -<p>In the afternoon, as seven bells struck, the squadron was approaching -Cronstadt. The channel was indicated by a light-house on the port side, -and a light-ship on the starboard. The water in the vicinity was covered -with fishing boats, from which men were engaged with lines, seines, and -hoop-nets. Around the town are several islands, all of them fortified, -some of them having three-story forts, and others extensive earthworks. -In 1854 the Baltic squadron, under Sir Charles Napier, visited this -locality, but made no attack, though the British vessels found a channel -by which it was possible to pass the fortifications; but it has since -been closed. The town, which contains a population of thirty-seven -thousand (two thirds of it constituting the garrison), is built on an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> -island, and is cut up by two canals, one leading to the "Merchants -Harbor," and the other to the naval repairing dock South of the town is -an immense harbor, capable of holding thousands of vessels.</p> - -<p>Cronstadt is Russia's principal naval station, and contains vast -manufactories and storehouses belonging to the government. Scores of old -seventy-four gun ships, built of wood, and now practically useless for -modern warfare, are laid up here. The town is the port of St. -Petersburg, seventeen miles distant and all large vessels are obliged to -discharge and load here, though most of the steamers from foreign -countries run up to the city. The bar of the River Neva has only from -eight to ten feet of water.</p> - -<p>The squadron ran into Merchants' Harbor, and came to anchor there. -Within it, vessels were loading and unloading at the very doors of the -warehouses. The students were allowed to land at once, but there was -little to be seen in the town, which is simply a commercial place, -though the government buildings are lofty and substantial structures. A -better idea of the fortifications was, however, obtained, and the boys -realized that St. Petersburg was safe from capture by sea, until -something even more terrible than iron-clads should be invented.</p> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span></p> -</div> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> - -<p class="center mt2 title5">THE LECTURE ON RUSSIA.</p> - - -<p>On the day after the arrival of the squadron at Cronstadt, when the -usual recitations of the day had been completed, all hands were summoned -to the steerage of the ship to listen to the preliminary lecture on -Russia. As the students knew less of this vast country than of most of -the others of Europe, they were more interested in the exercise than -usual. Mr. Mapps had a large map of Russia in Europe suspended to the -foremast, upon which he had drawn the railroads completed up to that -time, and made such other additions as the recent changes in the country -demanded.</p> - -<p>"Russia is probably the largest empire, territorially, that exists now, -or ever has existed," the professor began.</p> - -<p>"Can you tell us how to pronounce the name?" asked Commodore Lincoln.</p> - -<p>"I do not speak Russian, but Professor Badois does, and I have asked him -to give us the name in Russian characters or letters," replied Mr. -Mapps, pointing to a large sheet of printing paper, upon which this name -and certain statistics were written. "Here it is—РОССІЯ."</p> - -<p>"That R is backward," suggested the commodore.</p> - - -<p>"No," interposed the professor of languages; "that letter has the value<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> -of ya in English. The first letter is the same as the English R; the C's -have the value of S, and the I sounds like long E. In Russian the name -is pronounced as though it were spelled <i>Ro-see´-ya</i>."</p> - -<p>"It looks like <i>poke ear</i>," laughed Scott.</p> - -<p>"You will not be able to read even a word of Russian, the letters are so -different from ours," added Mr. Badois.</p> - -<p>"Like other countries, it has different names in different languages," -continued Mr. Mapps. "In German, it is Russland; in French, Russie; in -Italian, Russia, but pronounced <i>Roo´-see-ah</i>; in Spanish, Rusia. The -best English authorities pronounce it <i>Rush´ee-a</i>, though it is often -given with the <i>u</i> like <i>oo</i>. It was formerly called <i>Muscovy</i>. It has -an area, in Europe and Asia, of about seven and one quarter millions of -square miles; or one seventh of all the land on the globe. The United -States,—including Alaska, has about one half as much territory; but -Russia in Europe contains only one third of this vast area. It has a -population of seventy-four millions—I give you the figures in round -numbers,—of whom four millions only are in Asia. It has about double -the population of the United States, which would give the same number of -people to the square mile, on the average. Russia consists mostly of two -great plains rather indefinitely separated by the water-shed between the -rivers that flow south into the Black and Caspian Seas, and those which -flow north and west into the Baltic and the Arctic Ocean. The Valdai -Hills, in the west-central part, which are not over a thousand feet -above the level of the sea, are the only elevations or any consequence,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> -except on or near the frontiers, where we find the Ural and Caucasus -ranges. Some portions of the country are uneven, as Russian Poland and -the Crimea; but there is very little variety of scenery in the greater -part of this vast region. In such a country you would, of course, expect -to find large rivers. The largest of these is the Volga, twenty-two -hundred miles long, and navigable to within fifty miles of its source. -The Don and the Dnieper are about a thousand miles long. The Ural, the -Dwina, the Petchora, and the Vistula are important rivers. Russia -contains thousands of lakes, most of them in the northern and -north-western part. Lake Ladoga, the largest in Europe, is about the -size of Lake Ontario; Onega is half as large; Lake Peipus is twice as -large as Lake Champlain; and Lake Ilmen is a little larger than -Moosehead, in Maine. Nearly all these rivers and lakes are navigable for -steamers and barges. You may take a boat,—the commodore's barge, if you -please,—go up to St. Petersburg, through the Neva to Lake Ladoga, by -the Volkof to Lake Ilmen, by canals, lakes, and rivers, into the Volga, -which becomes navigable for steamers at Tver, a town on the railroad -from Petersburg to Moscow. Continuing on your voyage down the river to -Nijni Novgorod, where the traveller by steamer takes a larger boat, -fifty-three miles below Kazan, or eight hundred and fifty from Tver, you -will reach the Kama River, the longest tributary of the Volga. Pursuing -your voyage up this river, you would arrive at Perm,—if you went by -steamer;—in about a week; and this town is within two hundred miles<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> -of Asia. This is the usual route to Siberia below Nijni, and the one by -which convicts are sent. Instead of going up the Kama, you could -continue down the Volga, passing the large towns of Simbirsk, Saratoff, -to Tsaritsin, from which there is a railroad to Kalatch, on the River -Don, down which steamers descend to the Crimea. From Tsaritsin you may -proceed down the river to Astrakhan, on the Caspian Sea, on which -steamers ply to ports in Persia and elsewhere. The Volga is the -Mississippi of Russia, and of quite as much importance to that country -as the Father of Waters to us. The Baltic and the Black Seas are also -connected by a canal which unites the Beresina, a branch of the Düna, or -Western Dwina, to the Dnieper. There are several other canals which -connect the great natural water-ways, so that boats may go from either -of the seas on the border of Russia to either of the others.</p> - -<p>"A grand system of railroads has also been projected, as you may see on -the map. The first important one built was that from St. Petersburg to -Moscow, which was constructed by Americans at a vast expense, -considering the nature of the country through which it passes. An -English gentleman waited upon the Russian minister of finance with a -letter of introduction.</p> - -<p>"'Then you have come to see Russia,' said his excellency.</p> - -<p>"'Hardly the whole of it; I only desire to see what is most curious in -the country,' replied the tourist.</p> - -<p>"'Ah! I then I will first show you the contract with the Americans to -build the railway to Moscow,' added the minister.</p> - -<p>"Doubtless it was a very curious document, especially in the price which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> -his imperial majesty agreed to pay for the work. When he was asked where -he would have the road located, he took a ruler, and drew a straight -line on the map between the two cities; and except one deviation to -avoid the erection of an expensive bridge, this line was followed, and -consequently very few towns are upon the road. A line extends south from -Moscow to Kief, over six hundred miles, and the communication of St. -Petersburg with Odessa will soon be completed. Lines from Cracow and -Warsaw to Odessa are also in course of construction. One may now go all -the way by express train from Paris, Ostend, or Calais, to St. -Petersburg, in three days. Russia has now forty-seven hundred miles of -railway open for traffic; and nearly ten thousand miles more are to be -completed in four years.<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a></p> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> The United States had, January 1, 1870, 48,860 miles of -railroad in operation, and 27,507 miles projected and in progress.</p> -</div> - -<p>"The principal productions of Russia are grain, hemp, flax, linseed, -tallow, and lumber. Wheat is by far the most important crop, and is -raised in vast quantities on the plains of Central Russia, and the -<i>steppes</i> of the south. It exported, in 1867, nearly one hundred -millions of rubles' worth of this grain. Next in value is the flax crop, -of which the exports amounted in the same year to about twenty million -rubles."</p> - -<p>"How much is a ruble?" asked Captain Cantwell.</p> - -<p>"That is rather a difficult question to answer," replied the professor.</p> - -<p>"Harper's Hand-book says in one place, a ruble is eighty cents; in -another, that it is seventy; in another, eighty-three," suggested -one of the students.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span></p> -<p>"Nearly all the money in circulation is paper, subject to varying -discounts, from ten to twenty per cent. Our money is also paper, and at -a discount of twelve or fifteen per cent. I have made a careful -comparison of the values of a dollar and a ruble, using the weight of -<i>pure</i> silver in each as a basis, and I find that a ruble is 74.88+ -cents; call it seventy-five cents. When gold bears a premium of twenty -per cent, in Russia,—which I understand is the usual rate at the -present time,—a ruble is worth sixty-four cents; but with our gold at a -premium of twelve and a half per cent., its value would be raised to -seventy-two cents."</p> - -<p>"Of course these figures are useful only in comparing values as they -exist in the two countries," interposed Dr. Winstock.</p> - -<p>"Precisely so. I make no account of exchange."</p> - -<p>"With your permission, I will make an actual statement of a case," added -the surgeon; and the boys were interested in the discussion. "Being in -St. Petersburg, I want money, and go to Asmus, Simonsen, & Co., bankers. -My letter of credit is payable in pounds sterling, and the bankers draw -on Bowles Brothers & Co., London, for the amount which they pay me,—say -twenty pounds,—and Bowles Brothers & Co. draw on New York or Boston. My -twenty pounds, with gold at sixteen and two thirds, and exchange at ten -per cent., costs me in New York $114.07. With exchange between St. -Petersburg and London at twenty-nine and a half pence to the ruble, -twenty pounds produces R 162.71 copecks. Deducting one half per cent.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> -commission, 81 copecks, and 40 copecks for postage, my net return is R -161.50 copecks. Now, comparing what I pay in New York with what I -receive in St. Petersburg, I find that my <i>paper</i> ruble has cost me -seventy and one tenth cents in currency, which reduced to gold; at -twenty per cent. premium, is sixty one and two thirds cents."</p> - -<p>"And in England, France, North Germany, with the exchange at the same -rate, that would be the real value of the money you receive," added Mr. -Mapps. "On account of the depreciation of the money in Russia, the -prices are higher. I was speaking of the value of the exports, and when -I speak of twenty million rubles, it means three fourths as many -dollars. Flaxseed, or linseed, brings in almost as much money as the -flax itself."</p> - -<p>"What is it for?" asked a student.</p> - -<p>"For making painters' oil. The exports of tallow and lumber are each -about twelve million rubles. The chief imports are raw cotton, metals, -machinery, tea, and manufactured goods. The soil of Russia varies -greatly, and large portions of it consist of sandy plains and vast -morasses. The condition of agriculture is improving under the -encouragement of the government, but does not yet compare favorably with -most of the western countries of Europe. Nearly half the land is -unimproved, and one fourth is forest land, which, however, is so badly -managed that it produces but a small fraction of what it might yield. -Iron, copper, gold, silver, and platinum are mined in the Ural Mountain -region and in Siberia. Iron is produced in excess of the wants of the -empire, and almost all the platinum in use in the world comes from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> -Russia. Vast quantities of salt are mined, and manufactured from the -brine springs. Peter the Great and all his successors have encouraged -manufactures, and the empire has made great progress in this direction. -Raw cotton, to the value of about forty million rubles, is imported for -the use of the mills. Woollen and silk goods are also manufactured in -considerable quantities.</p> - -<p>"Nearly the whole of Russia is in higher latitude than the United -States, the Crimea, or southern portion, being in the latitude of Maine, -and St. Petersburg on about the same parallel as the northern point of -Labrador and the southern point of Greenland. About the middle of -November the Neva freezes, and is not open again till the last of April. -In December and January the thermometer sometimes indicates twenty-five -degrees below zero; but the average temperature at St. Petersburg in -winter is eighteen degrees above zero; in Moscow, fifteen degrees; in -Archangel, nine degrees. The average in summer is sixty degrees in St. -Petersburg, sixty-five degrees in Moscow, and fifty-eight degrees in -Archangel. The climate is generally healthy, though there are various -maladies peculiar to different regions, as scrofula and scurvy.</p> - -<p>"The government of Russia is an absolute hereditary monarchy; in other -words, the Czar or Emperor, is the legislative, executive, and judicial -power of the empire, which is the same thing as saying that his will is -the law of the land. But it ought to be added, that certain traditions -and rules are considered of binding force by the sovereigns; as the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> -law of succession to the crown, established by the Emperor Paul; -otherwise the Czar might select the next ruler; every sovereign, his -wife and children, must be of the Greek church. The heir apparent is -deemed to be of age at sixteen, which proves that a boy of this age may -be good for something. The members of the imperial family cannot marry -without the consent of the Emperor; and the children of any union -without his permission cannot inherit the throne. The present Emperor is -Alexander II., son of Nicholas I. and the Princess Charlotte, of -Prussia, who was the daughter of King Frederick William III., and sister -of the present king of that country. The Empress, his wife, is the -daughter of the late Grand Duke Ludwig II., of Hesse Darmstadt. They -have six children, of whom the oldest is the Grand Duke Alexander, heir -apparent to the throne. He was born in 1845, and is, therefore, -twenty-five years old. At the age of twenty-one he was married to Maria -Dagmar, daughter of the King of Denmark. The style of the emperor is -Autocrat of all the Russias, Czar of Poland, Grand Duke of Finland, &c. -His sons are called Grand Dukes. The hereditary Grand Duke is often -called the Czarowitz. The term <i>Czar</i>, which evidently comes from -<i>Cæsar</i>, is variously spelled. In the Slavonic, which is the church -language of Russia, it is <i>Tsar</i>.</p> - -<p>"The government of Russia, under the Emperor, is in the hands of four -great councils, the principal of which is the council of the empire, -consisting of the Ministers, the Grand Dukes, and such other members as -the sovereign may appoint. Though this board has a president, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> -emperor often presides at its sessions. Its general duties are to -propose new laws, or alterations in old ones, and to attend to the -execution of the laws. The second council is called the Directing -Senate, and it is also the high court of justice, controlling all the -inferior tribunals. It is resolved into eight committees, five of which -sit at St. Petersburg, and three at Moscow, each of which has its -peculiar function. Appeals from the lower courts go to this council, -either in committee or as a whole, though the former may decide certain -cases. This body examines into and reports upon the revenues and -expenditures of the empire, appoints many public officers, and advises -the sovereign in matters within its jurisdiction. The third council is -the Holy Synod, having charge of all matters pertaining to religion. It -is composed of the chief dignitaries of the church, of which the emperor -is the head, and its decisions have no force without his approval. The -fourth board is the Council of Ministers, consisting of eleven members, -whose functions are substantially the same as in other countries. Of -course the emperor has absolute control over these councils, to the -extent he pleases to exercise it.</p> - -<p>"You have already noticed that this map is cut up into small divisions. -These are governments, corresponding to departments in France, and -counties in America. Besides these, the country is divided into -vice-royalties, or general governments, at the head of each of which is -a viceroy, or general governor, who represents the emperor, commands the -troops, and has the supreme control of all affairs, civil and military. -In each government, or province, a civil governor is appointed to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> -represent the general governor, who is advised by a council. Governments -are divided into districts, which are again subdivided into smaller -ones. The officers of these smaller districts are elected by the people. -Every five houses in a place may choose one delegate to the assembly of -the commune, who elect delegates to the district assembly, one for every -ten houses. There are certain village courts, presided over by two -members elected by the commune, called 'conscience men,' who try cases -relating to property in which no more than five rubles is involved. You -see that the Russians vote under their absolute monarchy.</p> - -<p>"The Russian nation is composed of more than a hundred different races, -speaking forty languages. The Russians—properly so called—are the -inhabitants of Great and Little Russia, who are from the Slavic races. -Besides these, there are Tartars, Poles, Germans, Jews, Finns, Mongols, -Persians, and others, who have been united in one nation. The government -has permitted these people, as their territory was conquered and annexed -to the empire, to retain their own laws and customs, so far as they were -not inconsistent with the general code of Russia.</p> - -<p>"The original nobility of the country were the boyars; but Peter the -Great established a new order, and there are now in the empire over half -a million whose titles are hereditary, and a quarter of a million who -have only personal rank. The citizens of towns are ranked in six -classes, the first owning real estate; the second, having a certain -amount of taxable property; the third, mechanics; the fourth, resident -foreigners in business; the fifth, artisans, soldiers, and scholars;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> -and the sixth, all others. There are forty-seven million peasants, of -whom twenty-two millions were serfs, emancipated in 1863, though -indirectly they are obliged to pay for their freedom, for the government -compensated the owners of the land to which they were attached, and -collects the amount paid by an annual assessment on the emancipated for -the succeeding forty-nine years.</p> - -<p>"The state religion, which is professed by a great majority of the -people, is the Greco-Russian, officially Styled 'Orthodox-Catholic -Faith.' When the Roman empire was divided into two portions, the -Eastern, or Byzantine, empire retained the Catholic religion, and the -bishop, or patriarch of Constantinople, was officially recognized as -second only to the Pope at Rome. But there was a schism in the Eastern -division, which resulted in a total separation in 1054. Then the -Patriarch of Constantinople became the head of the Eastern church, of -which the Russian church was a part. In 1588 a separate patriarchate was -established in Russia, and the Greek church is now made up of ten -independent organizations. The Russian church is governed by the Holy -Synod, at the head of which is the emperor, who has greater power than -the Pope of Rome in the external affairs of the church, but cannot -render a decision himself on theological questions. In critical -doctrinal cases, the patriarchs of Constantinople, Jerusalem, Antioch, -and Alexandria are consulted, and when a decision is reached, the -emperor is as much bound by it as the prelates; and he does not -officially style himself the Head, but the Protector and Defender of the -Church.</p> - -<p>"The Greco-Russian church differs from the Roman Catholic in denying the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> -supremacy of the Pope, and in not prohibiting the marriage of the -clergy. No priest can perform his spiritual functions before he is -married, and he is incompetent to do so at the death of his wife. As he -is forbidden to marry a second time, his occupation as a priest is gone, -though he may go into a monastery, and be eligible to office in the -church. There are important differences of doctrine also. Russia has -five hundred cathedrals and twenty-nine thousand churches of the -established religion, with two hundred and fifty-four thousand clergymen -of all ranks. There are four hundred and eighty monasteries for men, and -seventy convents for women. Peter the Great and Catharine II. -confiscated the immense wealth of the church not required for the actual -service, and the salaries of the clergy are very small, hardly -sufficient to support them. Jews are not allowed to settle in Russia -proper, but there is no other restraint on the non-Russian sects. The -Russian cannot renounce his creed. The subject of education among the -common people is receiving considerable attention at the present time, -and there are over one million pupils in the schools.</p> - -<p>"There are in Russia fifteen cities having over fifty thousand -inhabitants, four of which have over a hundred thousand—St. Petersburg, -five hundred and forty thousand; Moscow, three hundred and fifty-two -thousand; Warsaw, one hundred and sixty-three thousand; and Odessa, one -hundred and ninety-two thousand.</p> - -<p>"The army of Russia is raised by conscription, by the adoption of the -sons of soldiers, and by voluntary enlistment. The period of service<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> -is from twenty-two to twenty-five years; but of late years the soldiers -are sent home after ten or fifteen years' service, to be recalled in -case of war. The Cossacks of the Don are not taxed, but do military duty -in payment for their exemption; and in case of necessity, every man -among them between the ages of fifteen and sixty is obliged to serve. -These are all in the cavalry service, and every Cossack is obliged to -keep his own horse, and to arm, equip, and clothe himself, except when -sent out of the country. The number in the service is fifty-six -thousand, and more than double this number are available. On a peace -footing the army has eight hundred thousand men, on a war footing over -one million.</p> - -<p>"The navy of Russia contains two hundred and ninety steamers and -twenty-nine sailing vessels, with sixty thousand seamen.</p> - -<p>"We are now prepared to sketch very briefly the history of Russia. It -contains a great many exciting incidents; but the time does not permit -me to give many of them. The Scythians and Sarmatians of the Greek and -Roman historians inhabited Russia in classic times. The Slavonians are -believed to be the same people, and they founded the towns of Novgorod -and Kief, which were the capitals of separate empires. These people were -savage and warlike races, and were at war with similar tribes around -them. The Varangians of the north attacked them, and were nearly -overwhelmed, when they invited the Russian prince Rurik to Novgorod; and -he came with his two brothers. From that time the different tribes were -united, and called Russians, but the Slavic language and customs were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> -retained. This was the foundation of the Russian empire. Rurik died in -879, and left the regency of the empire to his cousin, Oleg, his son -Igor being only four years old. He conquered Kief, and annexed it to his -realm. He then got up an expedition against Constantinople, and secured -an advantageous treaty. He also subdued all the tribes within reach of -his armies. He had a favorite horse, which the soothsayers declared -would be the death of him; whereupon he sent the animal away, and heard -no more of him for years. Recalling the prediction, he asked what had -become of the horse, and was told he had long been dead. Exulting over -the defeat of the seers, he wished to see the bones, and was conducted -to the place where the skeleton lay. 'So this is the creature that was -destined to be my death,' said he, putting his foot on the skull. At -that moment, a serpent, coiled up within the skull, darted out and gave -Oleg a bite, from the effects of which he died. This is the story.</p> - -<p>"The son of Rurik, Igor, came to the throne at the age of forty, and -after, much fighting was killed. His son, Sviatoslaf, was too young to -reign, and Olga, Igor's widow, was the regent. She was a bold and cruel -woman, and her adventures were very curious and romantic. After severely -chastising the Drevlians,—who had killed her husband,—they offered her -a tribute of honey and fur, which she declined, saying she would be -satisfied with a dove and three sparrows from each house, which were -promptly supplied. Having tied lighted matches to their tails, she let -them all loose in the evening, and flying back to the nests, they set -all the houses on fire, and the whole town was consumed. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> -inhabitants escaped only to fall upon the swords of Olga's army. You -need not believe any more of these stories than you please, young -gentlemen," said the instructor, with a smile. "Olga went to -Constantinople to be baptized and instructed in the Christian religion. -When she exhorted her son to follow her example on her return, he wanted -to know if she wished him to be the laughing-stock of his friends. Her -son was a great warrior, won many victories and was killed in battle. -His empire was divided among his three sons, Yaropolk, Oleg, and -Vladimir. They soon quarrelled; Oleg was slain, and Vladimir fled, -leaving the entire realm to Yaropolk. But Vladimir returned, and with -the aid of the Varingians, conquered Novgorod and Kief, and put his -brother to death. He was a pagan at first, and gave honors to his -heathen deities. The neighboring nations, recognizing his power and rude -greatness desired to convert him to their own faith, and he was induced -to examine the religion of the Greeks, the Roman Catholics, and the -Jews. Olga, his ancestress, had been a Greek Christian, and he was -inclined to follow her example. When he had decided to embrace it, his -pride would not permit him to be baptized in his own capital in the -ordinary way, and he insisted that only bishops from the parent church -were worthy of so great a achievement as the conversion of himself and -his people. He resorted to a remarkable expedient to accomplish his -purpose: he made war upon Greece, marched into the Crimea, and laid -siege to Cherson, near Sevastopol, intending to extort the rite of -baptism. He demanded its surrender, saying he was prepared to stay<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> -before its walls for three years. For six months he made no progress, -and was on the point of abandoning the conquest, when a priest sent an -arrow to which was tied a letter, informing him that the city was -supplied with water from a certain spring outside the walls. Removing -the pipes by which the water was conducted to the town, Vladimir -subjected the inhabitants to the pangs of thirst, and thus compelled -them to surrender. Everything was now favorable for his baptism; but he -had other views also. He demanded the sister of the Greek emperors, -Basilius and Constantine, in marriage, and threatened to take -Constantinople if his demand was refused. He was too powerful to be -denied, and the lady was sent to him. Vladimir received his -instructions, and was baptized with the name of Basil on the day of his -marriage to the princess, in 988. Returning to Kief, he destroyed the -wooden gods, and built churches and towns. His nature was changed, and -he became gentle and humane. He established seminaries of learning, -labored to extend Christianity in his dominions, and is now enrolled -among the Russian saints. At Moscow, if you go there, you will see the -remarkable cathedral of St. Basil. In history he is called Vladimir the -Great.</p> - -<p>"This powerful prince divided his empire among his twelve sons, who, as -usual in such cases, went to war, and Sviatopolk I., after murdering -three of his brothers, obtained the throne. In 1019, Yaroslaf, the -brother who had received Novgorod as his portion, procuring the -assistance of Henry II. of Germany and of the King of Poland, after a -battle on the Alma which lasted three days, wrested the crown from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> -Sviatopolk, who died while fleeing into Poland. Another brother -compelled Yaroslaf to divide the empire with him; but at the death of -the former it was united again, in 1036. He was a powerful prince, and -greatly enlarged his territory. He built many churches, encouraged -learning, and caused the first code of Russian laws to be compiled. At -his death he gave the empire to his four sons, requiring the three -younger to be subject to the eldest; but his will was disregarded, and -Russia became a confederacy, instead of an empire, with four rulers. The -division and anarchy in the country enabled the Poles, Lithuanians, -Danes, and others to wrest large territories in the west from the -Russians. The progress in civilization which had continued during the -two preceding reigns was barred; famine and pestilence raged in the -land, and Genghis Khan, with vast hordes of Asiatics, invaded and -conquered the country. From the year 1054, when the civil wars -commenced, to 1462, when the Tartar power and influence were finally -broken, Russia was torn with dissensions, overrun by her powerful -neighbors, often visited by famine and pestilence; yet within this -period are recorded many great events. Moscow was founded in 1147; -Alexander, Grand Prince of Novgorod, won a great victory over the Swedes -and others on the Neva, which gives him the name of Alexander Nevski.</p> - -<p>"With Ivan III., or Ivan the Great, in 1462, begins a more glorious -period of Russian history. He was the Grand Prince of Moscow, and -conquered Novgorod, Kazan, Perm, Tver, and other principalities. He -married Sophia, niece of the Greek emperor Constantine XIII., on which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> -occasion he adopted the double-headed black eagle as his standard, and -was the first prince who claimed the title of 'Autocrat of all the -Russias.' He was succeeded by his son Basil IV., in whose reign the -empire was still further united, and the Tartars completely subjugated -at Kazan. Basil was followed, in 1533, by his son Ivan IV., only three -years old at his accession. During his minority the empire was torn by -anarchy and civil war; but when Ivan was only fourteen years old, he -seized the reins of power, and commenced the career of cruelty and -tyranny, which gave him the name of the 'Terrible.' But he did more for -Russia than any of his predecessors. He conquered Kazan again, which had -asserted its independence during his minority, added Astrakhan, the -Crimea, Siberia, and the country of the Don, to his empire. He -encouraged commerce, and established a printing office in Moscow. He was -a cruel tyrant, and caused the massacre of sixty thousand people in -Novgorod, and thousands in Moscow and Tver. Finally he murdered his -eldest son, and the only one who had the capacity to succeed him, with -his own hand. His son Fedor, who came to the throne at his death, was -weak in body and mind. His brother-in-law, Boris Godunoff, was an -ambitious man, and sought to obtain the crown. He put out of the way -several rivals and members of the imperial family, and finally -accomplished his purpose in 1605; but his cruelty caused great -dissatisfaction, and the people were ripe for revolt. At this time -appeared in Poland a very remarkable impostor, claiming to be the -Czarovitz of Russia, who was more successful than the pretenders that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> -sought the crown of England. In carrying out his ambitious project, -Boris Godunoff had procured the assassination of Dimitri, the youngest -son of Ivan the Terrible, a lad only ten years old. A Polish prince, -irritated by the negligence of a young man who had been in his employ -but a short time, gave him a blow on the side of the head, which was -accompanied by a very opprobrious epithet.</p> - -<p>"'If you knew who I am, prince,' replied the young man, with tears in -his eyes, 'you would not treat me so, nor call me by that name.'</p> - -<p>"'Who are you, and where do you come from?' asked the prince.</p> - -<p>"'I am the Czarovitz Dimitri, son of Ivan IV.'</p> - -<p>"He then detailed the manner of his escape from Boris's assassin, and -exhibited a Russian seal, bearing the names and arms of the Czarovitz, -and a gold cross adorned with jewels, which he declared was the -baptismal gift of his godfather. The prince believed his story, and -rendered him efficient help. He was presented to the Palatine of -Sandomir, whose daughter was plighted to him in marriage. He procured -the favor of Sigismond, King of Poland, by promising to bring Russia -over to the church of Rome. With a considerable army, including many -Polish knights, he marched into Russia, and after some discouragements, -took the city of Novgorod, and finally, by the treachery of some of -Boris's dependants, entered Moscow, and was duly crowned. Though he had -renounced the Greek Church, he concealed the fact. The widow of Ivan IV. -was brought from a convent to see him, and after a private interview -between them, she acknowledged that he was her son. His affianced wife<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> -came to him in Moscow, attended by a numerous retinue of Polish knights. -The marriage was solemnized according to the rites of the Russian -church. But Dimitri was not skilful in concealing his religion, and -excited the suspicion of the priests and others. While he was generous -even to his foes, his heterodoxy was the ruin of him. A conspiracy was -organized, and he was murdered in cold blood, with many of his -followers, and his corpse exposed to great indignities.</p> - -<p>"After his death the boyar Shuiska was crowned as Czar, under the title -Basil VI. Encouraged by the example of the false Dimitri, another -appeared, and many Polish knights supported his claim with arms. The -Czar appealed to Sweden for aid, which compelled the King of Poland to -espouse the cause of the pretender. The Swedes soon went over to the -Poles, Moscow was captured, and Basil VI. died in a Polish prison. The -Poles compelled the boyars to elect Vladislas, son of Sigismond, their -Czar. The new power treated Russia as a subdued province, which caused -an insurrection, and the Poles were driven from the country.</p> - -<p>"The throne was now vacant, and in 1613 Michael Romanoff, the first -sovereign of the present royal family, was chosen emperor. He made peace -with the Swedes, and restored the commercial ties which had been broken -by the wars. In 1645 he was succeeded by his son Alexis, who won the -allegiance of the Cossacks of the Don, and regained the western part of -Russia, which had been held by the Poles. In this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> reign a third false -Dimitri appeared; but he obtained few adherents, and was executed by -Alexis. This Czar was followed by his son Fedor, in 1676, who lived but -six years after his accession, leaving no children; but he had a brother -and several sisters, children of his own mother, and a half brother and -half sister, children of his father's second wife. The heir apparent was -his own brother Ivan, who was weak in body and in mind, while the half -brother, Peter, was a brilliant youth of ten. An attempt was made to set -Ivan aside; but his sister, the Princess Sophia, frustrated the plan so -far as to cause both to be declared sovereigns of Russia, and she was -proclaimed the regent, who was practically to rule the country. It is -alleged that Sophia and Prince Galitzin, her minister, organized a -conspiracy to take the life of Peter, when he was about seventeen, in -order that she might continue in the regency during the reign of his -imbecile brother. Peter fled to a monastery, followed by a portion of -his party, and there organized a counter movement. He managed his case -so well that it was entirely successful.</p> - -<p>"The conspirators were severely punished; some of them were cruelly -tortured. Prince Galitzin escaped with his life, but forfeited his -immense property, and was banished to the northern regions of Russia, -while Sophia was shut up in a convent during the rest of her life. Ivan -declined to take any share in the government, and Peter was the sole -ruler in fact, if not in name. He is the Peter the Great of history, and -the founder of Russian greatness. In a brief period he made his country -one of the most powerful in Europe. In 1703 he founded St. Petersburg,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> -in a very unfortunate location, it must be confessed, for at times the -city has hard work to keep itself above water. His ruling passion was to -extend his empire, as well as to build it up, by developing its -resources. Though he suffered great defeats, he finally carried all his -plans. He made war on Sweden, and crushed Charles XII. in the battle of -Pultowa. He conquered the Ukraine, and carried his conquests to the -Caspian. He was a wonderful man; but he was a drunkard and a brute in -his manners. He was a genius in mechanics, and possessed remarkable -energy in the execution of his purposes; but he was passionate, -cold-blooded, and cruel. It is no wonder that his country venerates his -name, for no single man ever did so much for a nation as he for Russia.</p> - -<p>"Peter hated his first wife, who was the mother of the Czarovitz Alexis, -and he extended his hatred to his son, whom he first disinherited, and -afterwards poisoned with his own hands, in the fortress of St. -Petersburg. Though the fierce Czar had quarrelled with Catharine, his -wife, and had some doubts in regard to her character, she was his -successor. She was almost as remarkable a person as he was, and had a -powerful influence over him. She was born in Sweden, but spent her -earlier years as a servant in Livonia, one of the Baltic provinces of -Russia, which formerly belonged to Sweden. At the age of sixteen she was -married to a Swedish dragoon, who was ordered away two days after the -marriage. The town in which she lived was captured by the Russians, and -she was employed as a servant in the family of the Princess -Mentchikof, where Peter first saw her. He carried her away with him, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> -perceiving that she had a large capacity for assisting in the mission of -his life, he privately married her in 1707, and repeated the ceremony -publicly four years later.</p> - -<p>"From a common servant girl of the humblest parentage, she became the -empress of a mighty nation. After her husband's death, she endeavored to -carry out his progressive measures, during the two years of her reign; -but she softened the rule of the Czar by lowering the taxes, and -recalling the exiles from Siberia. Mentchikof was perhaps the real -ruler, though her gentleness and humanity are apparent in public -measures. Peter II., the son of the unfortunate Alexis, succeeded her, -according to the will of the empress. He was only twelve years old, and -a council of regency was appointed to rule during his minority; but -Prince Mentchikof soon seized the supreme control, and the young emperor -was betrothed to his daughter. He was so arrogant and brutal, that he -finally disgusted his imperial master, and with his whole family, -including the affianced of Peter, was banished to Siberia, and his -wealth confiscated. He had nine million rubles in notes and securities, -one million in cash, one hundred and five pounds of gold utensils, four -hundred and twenty pounds of silver plate, and a million rubles' worth -of precious stones, besides his palaces, and numerous landed estates, -all over Russia. His property was not less than forty millions, or -thirty millions of our money, most of which he had stolen from the -public treasury. Prince Dolgoruki took his place at the head of the -government.</p> - -<p>"Peter died of small-pox, three years after his accession. He was the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> -last male member of the Romanoff family. Instead of following the line of -succession indicated in the will of Catharine I., who had daughters -still living, the nobles elected, as their empress, Anna, Duchess of -Courland, daughter of Ivan V., half brother of Peter I., who had -nominally reigned with him. It was intended that the boyars should be -the real rulers, and they induced Anna, before she was crowned, to sign -an instrument which placed all power in their hands; but when she became -empress, she repudiated the compact, and retained the absolute power of -her predecessors. In a civil war for the throne of Poland, Anna sided -with Augustus III., whose success gave Russia a controlling influence in -the affairs of this unhappy kingdom. Her favorite, Duke Biren, her prime -minister, and the actual ruler, was an arrogant and cruel man, whose -influence over the empress was all-powerful. By his advice, she named, -as her successor, the son of her niece Anne,—a child in the -cradle,—with Biren as the regent. He was Ivan VI.</p> - -<p>"The unpopularity of the regent soon caused his overthrow, and Anne was -appointed in his place; but in a year after the death of the Empress -Anna, Elizabeth Petrovna, the daughter of Peter the Great and -Catharine,—a woman of no character,—usurped the throne. In a single -night her adherents captured the palace, and completed the revolution. -She reigned twenty-one years, and founded several universities, and -other literary and scientific institutions. She abolished the death -penalty and the rack, but the knout and other tortures took their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> -place, and the exiles to Siberia were numerous. In the Seven Years' War, -Russia was on the side of Austria. Elizabeth was a vain and extravagant -woman. She impoverished her treasury, and left a bad reputation behind -her.</p> - -<p>"By her will she made her nephew Peter, late Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, -emperor; and from him, the present royal family is called the House of -Holstein-Gottorp. He attempted many reforms, and closely allied himself -to Frederick the Great, of Prussia; but many of his measures were -imprudent and impolitic. His wife Catharine was the daughter of a -princess of Holstein-Gottorp. Peter neglected her, and incurred her -hatred. She got up a conspiracy against him, which resulted in the -dethronement of her husband, only a few months after his accession, and -she was proclaimed empress as Catharine II. Peter was thrown into -prison, and there strangled. Her reign of thirty-four years was -brilliant for Russia, which became one of the Great Powers, without -dispute. She greatly enlarged its territory by the infamous partition of -Poland, the conquest of the Crimea, and the addition of Courland, on the -Baltic. Her most noted ministers and favorites were Orlof and Potemkin.</p> - -<p>"Her son Paul I. succeeded her in 1796. His mother had neglected him in -early years, and hated him when he became a man, keeping spies near him, -compelling him to live away from the court, and depriving him of all -power and influence. She had caused the murder of his father, and the -hatred was reciprocal. After his accession, he gave funeral honors to -his father, disinterred his mother's last favorite, Potemkin, and threw<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> -his remains into a ditch. His temper had been soured by his mother's -treatment, and he took a malicious pleasure in undoing what she had -done. The revolution in France was in progress when he came to the -throne, and Paul joined the coalition against her, sending his armies -into Switzerland, Italy, and Holland, to fight against the French -republic. Suvarof, in these campaigns, proved himself to be one of the -greatest generals of his age, and is still held in the highest -veneration by the Russians. But the emperor, dissatisfied with his -allies, withdrew his armies from the coalition, and, with Denmark and -Sweden, joined in the armed neutrality, of which I have spoken to you -before.</p> - -<p>"Paul was capricious, despotic, and subject to fits of partial insanity, -which aggravated his ill temper, and caused him to commit the most -atrocious deeds. By his second wife he had ten children, the oldest of -whom was Alexander, the Czarovitz; the second, Constantine; and the -youngest but one, Nicholas. Paul's humors were unendurable, and -Alexander consented to his dethronement, to avoid greater evils to the -empire. He signed a proclamation, announcing his assumption of the -crown. The conspirators found the emperor in his palace. Breaking into -his chamber, they required him to sign his abdication, and his refusal -brought on a struggle, in which, after a desperate resistance, he was -strangled with a sash. Alexander had not consented to the assassination -of his father, and the event filled him with passionate grief. This was -in 1801, and the new emperor was twenty-five years old, and a man of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> -decided ability. He was in favor of peace; but it was impossible for him -not to take part in the general war against Napoleon, though he first -entered into an alliance with him.</p> - -<p>"The Russians and Austrians were defeated at Austerlitz in 1805. -Alexander joined his army to that of Prussia, and both were disastrously -defeated at Friedland in 1807, and the emperor was obliged to conclude a -peace with Napoleon at Tilsit, in which he was arrayed against England -and Sweden. The French stirred up a war in Turkey, in which the Russians -obtained Moldavia and Wallachia. A war with Sweden resulted in the -conquest of Finland. In 1810 Alexander, finding that he had nothing more -to gain by an alliance with France,—that his commerce was suffering -under the provisions of the treaty of Tilsit, and that the marriage of -Napoleon with Maria Louise would prevent him from obtaining any more -territory from Austria,—broke the treaty, and prepared for war. In 1812 -Napoleon marched into Russia late in the season, with half a million -soldiers, intending to crush Russia. The Russians lost the terrible -battle of Borodino, near Moscow, and even this city fell into the hands -of the French; but those who could not defend it burned it. The winter -suddenly set in, and the army of Napoleon, robbed of their expected -supplies and shelter in Moscow, commenced that disastrous retreat which -ended only in the total destruction of the Grand Army. Prussia and -Austria joined Russia the next year; in the battle of Leipsic, the power -of the French was effectually broken, and in 1814 the allies entered -Paris, and Napoleon was sent to Elba. He returned, and was finally<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> -defeated in the battle of Waterloo, and sent to St. Helena. The war -ended, and Alexander turned his attention to the internal affairs of the -nation. He labored earnestly to promote the civilization of his people, -and to develop the immense resources of his vast empire. In 1825 he set -out on a tour through his dominions, and died at Taganrag, near the -mouth of the Don, of the Crimean fever. He had been the champion of -absolute power, and had welded more closely the chains of Poland; yet, -judged by the Russian standard, he was an amiable and good man.</p> - -<p>"At his death his brother Constantine was the Czarovitz; but this prince -had voluntarily renounced his right to the throne in favor of his -younger and only surviving brother Nicholas, who was proclaimed Czar. A -conspiracy, fomented before his accession, was sternly and severely -suppressed. Nicholas, like his brother, was despotic in his ideas, and -remorselessly crushed the insurrection in Poland in 1830, making the -kingdom a province of Russia. He enlarged his dominions, and carried on -the war in Circassia, which lasted fifty years. In 1853 Nicholas -demanded of the Turkish government certain guarantees of the rights of -Greek Christians in Turkey, which the latter could not give without -yielding its sovereign rights, and a war ensued, in which England, -France, and Sardinia took part with the Turks. It was the evident design -of the Czar to conquer Turkey, and extend his dominions to the -Mediterranean.</p> - -<p>"Nicholas did not live to see the end of this war, and was succeeded by -his son, Alexander II., in 1856. Sebastopol was captured after a siege<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> -of about a year, and a treaty of peace was signed, by which Russia lost -her naval superiority in the Black Sea.<a name="FNanchor_B_2" id="FNanchor_B_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_B_2" -class="fnanchor">[B]</a> The war in the Caucasus was -continued, and ended by Alexander II., who is still the reigning -emperor."</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_B_2" id="Footnote_B_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_B_2"><span class="label">[B]</span></a> -This provision of the treaty was abrogated by Russia in -1870.</p> -</div> - -<p>The professor closed his lecture, which, though longer than usual, was -listened to with interest to the end by the students.</p> - -<p>"Young gentlemen," said the principal, "I desire to give you an -opportunity to see as much as possible of Russia, and for this purpose -you will all have an opportunity to visit Moscow; but I do not purpose -to go there in a body. There will be no ship's duty done at present. We -will divide you into four squads; the ship's companies of the consorts -forming two of them, the starboard watch of the ship the third, and the -port the fourth squad. A fifth party will make a more extended trip to -Nijni Novgorod and Kazan, down the Volga. The captain of each vessel may -appoint one to go on this journey, and four more will be elected by -ballot to-morrow night, two for the ship, and one for each of the -consorts, after your return from St. Petersburg."</p> - -<p>Mr. Lowington retired amid the applause of the students.</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> -</div> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> - -<p class="center mt2 title5">SIGHTS IN ST. PETERSBURG.</p> - - -<p>"Appointed by the captain!" sneered De Forrest, as the students left the -steerage.</p> - -<p>"I wonder what that's for," added Beckwith.</p> - -<p>"I don't know; it's a puzzler to me. But the principal seems to be -trying to make Cantwell as big a man as he can."</p> - -<p>"Well, I don't think you ought to find any fault about it. You worked -this thing up, and made him captain," interposed Sheridan, the new -fourth lieutenant, who had been raised to his present rank from first -midshipman, by the votes of the Bangwhangers.</p> - -<p>"I made him captain!" exclaimed De Forrest.</p> - -<p>"Certainly you did; his merit-rank would only have made him fourth -lieutenant. We don't always do just what we intend," laughed Sheridan. -"It was your idea to make the captain dependent upon the crew for his -office."</p> - -<p>"I think it's a good thing to do so," replied De Forrest.</p> - -<p>"Then it's a good thing also to make the crew dependent upon the -captain. If he can appoint one of the party for the Volga excursion, his -favor is worth something," added Sheridan, good-naturedly.</p> - -<p>"I would give fifty dollars out of my spending money for the privilege<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> -of going," said De Forrest.</p> - -<p>"Suppose you make the captain the offer?"</p> - -<p>"I! Humph! Do you think I would go down on my knees to Cantwell?" -sneered De Forrest.</p> - -<p>"Don't you do it! There's no law to compel you to do so," laughed -Sheridan.</p> - -<p>"Of course the captain will reward some one of his friends," said -Beckwith.</p> - -<p>"Yes, I suppose he will."</p> - -<p>"Would you appoint a fellow that had worked against you?" asked -Sheridan.</p> - -<p>"I should try to be fair," answered the first purser, with a struggle to -look dignified.</p> - -<p>"Precisely so! Just as you nominated yourself over the heads of Judson -and Norwood, and tried to cut them out."</p> - -<p>"They worked for themselves, and I only did the same."</p> - -<p>"If every fellow works for himself, we shall not come out anywhere."</p> - -<p>"You needn't say anything, Sheridan. You went from first middy up to -fourth lieutenant by the voting," said De Forrest.</p> - -<p>"I went just one place higher than my merit-rank, while you were No. 11, -and tried to get into No. 3."</p> - -<p>"Never mind that now," interposed Beckwith. "Whom shall we elect? That's -the question."</p> - -<p>"I don't think we need trouble ourselves much about that matter," -replied De Forrest, gloomily. "The fellows in the steerage will attend -to all that, and neither of the two will be taken from the cabin."</p> - -<p>"I will venture to say that one of the two will be elected from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> -cabin," said Sheridan.</p> - -<p>"Do you belong to that secret society, Sheridan?" asked Beckwith.</p> - -<p>"I do not; but I think that the fellows that manage it mean to be fair."</p> - -<p>"Humph! They lifted you up."</p> - -<p>"That's so. They did; but I never asked them to do it, or electioneered -with any of them," responded Sheridan.</p> - -<p>"But can't we do something?" suggested Beckwith. "The vote for captain -stood forty-eight to forty; and Cantwell's vote was the strength of the -opposition. If we can change five votes, we can elect our men."</p> - -<p>"Very true; but can you unite your forty votes on two candidates."</p> - -<p>"Yes; why not?" asked De Forrest, encouraged by this presentation of the -subject.</p> - -<p>"Who shall the candidates be?" inquired Sheridan, with a twinkle of the -eye. "You want the two most popular fellows in the ship."</p> - -<p>"Lincoln for one," said Beckwith.</p> - -<p>"Good! He runs well with both parties. You can elect him. Who next?" -continued Sheridan.</p> - -<p>"I should like to go for the other," said De Forrest.</p> - -<p>"I thought so," laughed Sheridan.</p> - -<p>"Why shouldn't I go, as well as any other fellow?" demanded the first -purser.</p> - -<p>"And why should you in preference to any other fellow? If you want to -carry your ticket, you must nominate the other candidate from the -steerage. That's fair."</p> - -<p>"I don't believe in it," protested De Forrest. "I won't vote for a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> -fellow in the steerage."</p> - -<p>"Precisely so. Then you, and such fellows as you, will throw the -election into the hands of the secret society. That's the whole of it. -Be fair, and the steerage will go with you."</p> - -<p>"Whom do you say in the steerage?" asked Beckwith.</p> - -<p>"Any good fellow; say Scott."</p> - -<p>"No, sir!" exclaimed De Forrest, decidedly. "I would jump overboard -before I would vote for him."</p> - -<p>"Suppose the captain should select Lincoln," continued Sheridan, his eye -still twinkling merrily.</p> - -<p>"Then we should have to take some other fellow from the cabin," replied -Beckwith.</p> - -<p>"There your chance comes in, De Forrest," winked the fourth lieutenant.</p> - -<p>"I think I have just as good a right to go as any other fellow."</p> - -<p>"Say De Forrest and Scott; and Scott's name on the ticket will carry the -other name," chuckled Sheridan, though he spoke as soberly as he could.</p> - -<p>"That alters the case," added De Forrest, musing. "If Lincoln is not to -be on the ticket, it makes it altogether a different affair."</p> - -<p>"But if you are going to scratch Scott's name, and jump overboard, -rather than vote for him, it's no use of talking."</p> - -<p>"I should like to have all these differences healed up, so that my plan -may have a fair trial," said the first purser.</p> - -<p>"Well, think of it," continued Sheridan; "and if the fellows conclude<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> -to nominate the ticket I suggested, I have no doubt it can be elected."</p> - -<p>"I think, under the circumstances, I should conclude to vote for Scott."</p> - -<p>"Well, that would be a great concession on your part," laughed Sheridan, -as he went forward to talk with others about the matter which so deeply -interested all hands.</p> - -<p>Of course he spoke with Scott first on the subject, and suggested a -general caucus of officers and seamen, to which the joker readily -assented, and promised, if the business was fairly conducted, to keep it -out of the secret society. The matter was talked over till the lights -were put out.</p> - -<p>The next morning, after the decks had been washed down, and breakfast -disposed of, a small steamer, which had been engaged by the principal, -came alongside, and all hands went on board of her. All the students -from the consorts, with their instructors, joined them, and the steamer -started. Though she was Russian, she was not very different from any -other of her class. After passing out of the harbor, the boat entered -the broad estuary which forms the mouth of the Neva. It was shoal water, -and the channel was narrow and very crooked, and the craft twisted about -almost as much as on one of our western rivers. As the distance from -Cronstadt to the capital is only seventeen miles, the expectant -excursionists were soon in sight of St. Petersburg. Though the city is -built on low, level ground, the aspect of it, seen from the sea, is very -striking. It was different from any other city the students had seen.</p> - -<p>"There's a gilded dome," said Commodore Lincoln.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span></p> - -<p>"That's St. Isaac's Cathedral," replied Dr. Winstock. "And you see blue, -green, and white domes."</p> - -<p>"There is one with stars on it."</p> - -<p>"A very common decoration," added the doctor, as the steamer entered the -Great Neva.</p> - -<p>At the city the river divides into several branches, and forms half a -dozen large islands, and some forty smaller ones, on which a portion of -the town is built. The southern branch is called the Great Neva, on -which are most of the landing-places of the steamers. Another branch is -called the Little Neva, and the two on the north are the Great and -Little Nevka.</p> - -<p>"This is the English Quay," continued the surgeon, pointing to the right -as the steamer approached the long iron bridge, which takes the name of -Nicholas, in whose reign it was built, and is eleven hundred feet long.</p> - -<p>"This seems to be about the end of this cruise," added Lincoln, as he -glanced at the bridge.</p> - -<p>"The steamer stops at this floating stage on the left; but there is a -draw in the bridge, by which vessels may go up into Lake Ladoga."</p> - -<p>The boat came up to the stage, on which was a house. Mr. Fluxion, the -first vice-principal, was there, for he had been sent up the day before -to make the arrangements for the visit. A dozen omnibuses stood in the -broad street, in and on which the students bestowed themselves. The -surgeon and the commodore took places with a driver. The two horses at -the pole were harnessed as in America; but on the nigh side was a third -horse attached to the carriage by an extra whiffletree. Some of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> -omnibuses had four horses, but they were all abreast. The two wheel -horses were driven by four reins, while the outsiders had only a single -rein. Half a dozen <i>commissionaires</i>, who spoke very indifferent -English, had been engaged, and one of them was with the surgeon. The -procession started, and crossed the Nicholas Bridge, near which is the -English Church. At the north end of it is the Academy of Arts, an -immense structure, which conveys a good idea of the general size and -splendor of the public buildings of the city.</p> - -<p>Turning to the left, after crossing the bridge, passing Nicholas Palace, -the Senate, and Synod, the line entered St. Isaac's Square, in the -middle of which stands the church, one of the most imposing in the -world. Admiralty Square is opposite, in which is the equestrian statue -of Peter the Great. The great Czar is represented as reining in his -horse at the verge of a precipice. The artist modelled his design from a -bold Russian officer, who rode a spirited Arabian steed up an artificial -slope. The horse is gracefully poised on his hind feet, beneath which is -a serpent, emblematic of the difficulties that Peter overcame. The tail -of the animal appears to rest lightly on the serpent, but is in reality -part of the support of the figure. The rock upon which the statue is -elevated was brought from a Finnish village, four miles from the city, -and weighs fifteen hundred tons. It is forty-three feet long, fourteen -feet high, and twenty feet wide.</p> - -<p>Passing the immense Admiralty building, the procession paused for a few -moments in front of the vast edifice called Hôtel de l'Etat Major, which -is the headquarters of the army. The front is semicircular, and in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> -centre of the building is a triumphal arch, over which is the chariot of -Victory, the horses of which are headed towards at least half the points -of the compass, though the team is only a pardonable exaggeration of -those which draw the omnibuses.</p> - -<p>In the vast square in front of the structure is the Column Alexander I. -Opposite this monument are the Hermitage and the Winter Palace, which -are on the river. Looking across the Great Neva, where the Little Neva -branches off, the Exchange may be seen on the point of land between the -two streams. It is an imposing structure, with lofty columns around it, -and flights of steps leading down to the river. On each side of it is a -lofty pillar, one hundred feet high, adorned with the prows of ships, -which project from the sides, and give it a very singular appearance -when seen from a distance.</p> - -<p>The omnibuses turned, and went back to the Admiralty, some of whose -windows command a view down the Nevski Prospect, which is the principal -street of the city. As the procession passed down this avenue, which is -wider than Pennsylvania Avenue, at Washington, in places, the students -had to keep their eyes wide open, in order that nothing should escape -them. The droskies were as thick as snow-flakes at Christmas, and -rattled at great speed through the streets. Every driver wore the long -pelisse and the bell-crowned hat. A horse railroad extended through this -street. There were plenty of omnibuses, drawn by three or four horses -abreast, the driver having a whole handful of reins. The wagons, on -which merchandise is conveyed from one part of the city to another,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> -were really ludicrous to the students, and seemed to be constructed so -as to give the horses the greatest possible amount of work. The wheels -were quite small, and ran on wooden axletrees, with at least six inches' -"play" between the hub and linchpins, so that, in rough places, the body -slid on the wheels from right to left. From the end of each forward -axletree, a rope, or a wooden bar, extended to the shafts. The vehicle -was very heavy and clumsy, and evidently ran hard. The bow or arch over -the ends of the shafts was very large and heavy, adding a useless burden -to the labor of the poor horses.</p> - -<p>"That's a singular-looking building," said Lincoln.</p> - -<p>"That is the Cathedral of Kazan," replied the doctor, "or the Church of -Our Lady of Kazan. It is a poor imitation, on the outside, of St. -Peter's. There is a Don Cossack."</p> - -<p>The surgeon pointed to "a solitary horseman," who was riding slowly -along the sheet. He wore a short jacket, with stripes across the front, -and secured by globular buttons. He had on a Tartar cap, and carried in -his hand a lance.</p> - -<p>"He don't look like the terrible being we have read about," laughed -Lincoln.</p> - -<p>"No; the Cossacks are a well-disciplined body; but perhaps, in their -wild condition, they are all you imagine."</p> - -<p>A canal crossed the Nevski Prospect, under a stone bridge near the -church. At one side of it was moored a vast flat-boat, as it would be -called on the Mississippi, loaded with firewood, sawed and split ready<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> -for use. Several canals like this one extend quite through the city, so -that the merchandise from the Caspian Sea, the White Sea, and almost -every part of the interior of Russia, may be delivered at the very doors -of the warehouses.</p> - -<p>Opposite the Great Market, which is the business centre of the city, the -conductor stopped the omnibuses, to enable his charge to see the several -objects of interest which were presented at this point. The <i>Gostinnoi -Dvor</i> is an institution in every Russian city, but is more like the -Bazaar of Constantinople than anything to which other Europeans apply -the name of market. In St. Petersburg it is a vast structure, occupying -an immense square, in which every article of commerce is exposed for -sale. It consists of little shops and stalls, in front of which the -merchant stands, ready for a trade. He importunes the passers-by to -purchase, and it is not always prudent to stop and examine the goods, -unless one wishes to be dragged into the shop. The bazaar itself has -outgrown the building, large as it is, and extends into the neighboring -streets; indeed, the whole territory in the rear, and to the eastward of -it for a considerable distance, is appropriated to its uses. The Nevski -Prospect, in front of the great market, is very wide, and a large -portion of it is used for booths and stands, at which every conceivable -article is offered for sale, such as provisions, fruit, fancy goods, -furs, clothing, boots and shoes.</p> - -<p>"You can see here the national costume of the Russians, commodore," said -the doctor.</p> - -<p>"I don't see anything very peculiar," replied Lincoln.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span></p> - -<p>"You observe that every man here has his pants stuffed into the tops of -his boots. I don't know of anything that is more national than this, -though in the interior you will see something more peculiar. Look at -that fellow," added the surgeon, pointing to a fruit-seller. "He doesn't -indulge in the luxury of a shirt, but has under his coat a calico tunic, -which he wears outside of his pants."</p> - -<p>"They don't look particularly clean."</p> - -<p>"The common people are not; but the higher classes are as neat and -refined as any people in Europe."</p> - -<p>"What is this tower?" asked Lincoln.</p> - -<p>"That is on the Town Hall, in which the business of the city is -transacted. It is a watch-tower, and those poles upon it are for the -purpose of hoisting signals, to indicate the location of a fire. Men are -on the watch on that tower at all times of day and night. The street -opposite is St. Michael Place, in which the Hôtel de Russie, commonly -called Klée's Hotel, is situated. Next to the tower is one of the street -chapels, which you will see in every Russian city. It is a church in -miniature, erected by the contributions of the people in the bazaar. You -see within it pictures of the saints, with lights burning before them. -There is generally a priest on duty there, and you perceive that many -people enter, or pause in front of the door, and salute the -representatives of the holy persons."</p> - -<p>"Yes, and even on the other side of the street," added Lincoln, who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> -had been observing the devotions of the Russians.</p> - -<p>Men paused on the sidewalk of the crowded avenue, knelt, crossed -themselves many times, and bowed low, with their faces towards the -chapel. The poorer and the more humble the individual, the lower he -bowed, and the more earnest were his devotions.</p> - -<p>The drive in the omnibuses was continued for a couple of hours longer, -until the students had seen the principal streets of the city and the -public buildings. Finally, the line stopped at the Taurida Palace, a -long, low building, near the Neva, at the eastern extremity of the city. -It was built by Catharine II., and presented to her favorite Potemkin, -who conquered the Crimea, the Russian name of which is Taurida. The -party entered the great ball-room, which is about all that is shown of -the palace, for it is occupied by the superannuated ladies of honor of -the court. It is an enormous apartment, the ceiling supported by columns -covered with plaster. In this hall Potemkin gave balls in honor of his -imperial mistress, when it was lighted by twenty thousand wax candles. -On the columns were hoops to contain candles, for the room is -occasionally used at the present time for balls and feasts. At one end -was a full-rigged brig, of miniature proportions, formerly in the water, -but now set in the floor, and used for the amusement of the royal -children.</p> - -<p>The party had entered this room, which certainly had the appearance of -"some banquet hall deserted," for a purpose, and the students were -collected around the little brig, upon the deck of which, as a rostrum, -Mr. Mapps took his place.</p> - -<p>"The region in which St. Petersburg is situated was formerly Ingria, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> -belonged first to Novgorod, and then to Moscow," said the professor. -"The Swedes obtained it in 1617; but it was reconquered by Peter the -Great, who laid the foundations of this city in 1703, in order, as he -expressed it, to have 'a window looking out into Europe;' or, in other -words, to obtain a seaport by which he could carry on commerce with -other parts of the world. He gathered together a vast number of Russian -and Finnish peasants, and went to work, drafting forty thousand men -annually, some of them from the most distant parts of his vast empire, -to perform the labor. Peter superintended the laying out of the city -himself, living in a small cottage, which exists at the present time, -and which we shall soon visit.</p> - -<p>"As I have said before, the location is most unfortunate. The Neva is -the outlet of Lake Ladoga, and when the ice breaks up in the spring, the -city is peculiarly liable to an inundation, if a westerly storm forces -in this direction the waters of the Gulf of Finland; and at other -seasons there is great danger from these storms. It is said that Peter -was warned of this peril. After he had laid the foundation of a portion -of the city in the marshes, he happened to see a tree with a ring cut -around the trunk. He asked a Finn what the mark meant, and was told that -it indicated the height to which the water rose in the inundation of -1680. He angrily told the man that he lied, for what he said was quite -impossible, and with his own hand he felled the tree. It was practically -saying, 'So much the worse for your facts,' when they conflicted with -his theory. There have been seven terrific floods in the city, the last<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> -of which was in November, 1824. A driving westerly storm heaped up the -waters in the Neva till they overflowed the low banks, and swept in -floods through the streets. Wooden houses were lifted from their -foundations, and floated about still occupied. Carriages had to be -abandoned in the streets, and the horses were drowned. The Emperor -Alexander I. gathered together a few resolute men in a large boat, and -went himself to the relief of the sufferers, exposing his own life, and -saving many from destruction.</p> - -<p>"After the water subsided, many buildings fell, and much sickness -followed from the dampness in the houses. The damage was estimated at a -hundred million rubles. A gardener, surprised by the storm, sought a -place of safety on the roof of a summer-house, to which also an army of -rats was driven, and he was fearful that they would devour him; but a -cat and a dog swam to the roof, and neutralized his dangerous enemies, -so that all of them passed the night in safety. A Protestant merchant -hauled in at his second story window, from a fragment of a bridge, an -Orthodox Greek, a Jew, and a Mohammedan Tartar, supplying them with -food, raiment, and shelter."</p> - -<p>The professor finished his remarks, and the party, after a glance at the -handsome gardens of the palace, resumed their places in and on the -omnibuses. Looking down the street, the students could see the Smolni -Church, on the bank of the river, which here makes a sharp turn to the -south. The structure is of white marble, with fine blue domes, spangled -with golden stars. At one side of it is a large building, in which the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> -daughters of citizens are educated; at the other, one in which those of -the nobles are educated. The procession moved through several streets, -and passed between the Michael and the Summer Palace, attached to the -latter of which are the gardens of the same name, forming the park most -used by the people of the city. The middle one of the three openings at -the grand gateway is now occupied by a small chapel, dedicated to St. -Alexander Nevski, for on this spot an assassin attempted to take the -life of the present emperor in 1866. Over the principal entrance is -placed, in gold letters, the text, "Touch not mine anointed." The chapel -was built by subscription, as a token of the love of the people for -their sovereign.</p> - -<p>The omnibuses crossed the river on the Troitsa, or Trinity Bridge, which -is built of boats, and removed in winter, when the people cross on the -ice, and stopped at the cottage of Peter the Great, where the students -alighted. The original house is contained within another, built by -Alexander I. to preserve it from decay. It is fifty-five feet long by -twenty in breadth, and has three rooms. One of these is now used as a -chapel, and contains the miraculous image of the Saviour which Peter -carried with him in his battles, and to which he ascribed his victory at -Pultowa. In front of it is a circular board, full of holes of all sizes, -in which the faithful place their lighted candles, as a votive offering -to the picture. Near the door is a stand for the sale of these candles, -which are in size from twice the thickness of a pipe stem, up to double -the ordinary size. They are sold at from five to twenty-five copecks -apiece. Near the picture are some glass cases, in which are a great many<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> -small legs and arms of silver, and other valuable articles, presented by -people who had recovered from various maladies, in token of their -gratitude. These cases were robbed by a soldier in 1863, who murdered -the two keepers of the house. The building contains many relics of the -great Czar.</p> - -<p>A short ride brought the tourists to the fortress and Cathedral of St. -Peter and St. Paul. The fortress is separated from Petrofski Island, on -which Peter's cottage is situated, by a moat crossed by two bridges. It -is completely walled in, and has been used as a state prison. In one of -its gloomy dungeons, Alexis, the son of the great Czar, perished by the -hand of his father, and the rebels of 1825, who conspired against -Nicholas, were confined, tried, and some of them executed in this -castle.</p> - -<p>In the centre of the enclosure rises the cathedral, the spire of which -is tall, slender, and tapering, so that it looks like a needle in the -air, and is really one of the curiosities of the city. The spire itself -is one hundred and twenty-eight feet high. It is crowned with a globe, -five feet in diameter, on which is an angel supporting a cross, -twenty-one feet high, though no one would suspect them to be of these -dimensions, for they look like toys in the air. The summit of the cross -is three hundred and eighty-seven feet from the ground. The spire is -covered with copper, and gilded, and twenty-two pounds of pure gold were -used upon it. The students gazed with wonder and admiration at the -shadowy spire, and listened eagerly to the explanations given by Mr. -Mapps.</p> - -<p>"What do you think of climbing that spire, as you would go aloft?" asked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> -Mr. Mapps, with a smile.</p> - -<p>"I don't aspire to do it," replied Scott.</p> - -<p>"It has been done," added the instructor. "In 1830 the angel on the ball -was out of repair, and it was found that the stage for the purpose would -cost an immense sum of money."</p> - -<p>"Did the man who did it think of going up in a stage?" asked Scott, -demurely.</p> - -<p>"No; he intended to go up on the outside of the stage," replied the -professor.</p> - -<p>"He might have leaped up, if he could only have taken a spiral spring," -said Scott.</p> - -<p>"Among those who looked at the spire was a Russian workman, a roofer of -houses, by the name of Telouchkine."</p> - -<p>"I should think he would have 'gone up,' if he had such a name."</p> - -<p>"This man offered to make the repairs without staging or assistance, on -condition that he should be well paid, and his offer was accepted. -Provided with a quantity of strong cord, he went as high as he could go -in the interior, and then stepped out at the highest window. He had cut -off two lengths of his cord, and made loops in the ends. The heads of -the nails which secured the sheets of gilded copper projected enough to -enable him to fasten a loop of each cord upon them. In these stirrups he -placed his feet. Clinging to the edges of the copper, where the joints -were made, with one hand, he raised one of the stirrups with the other -hand, until he passed the loop over a nail head higher up. Repeating the -process for the other foot, he slowly ascended till he could clasp the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> -spire in his embrace and finally reached the ball, where his troubles -seemed to begin. Passing the cord around his waist, he made it fast to -the spire, with a considerable spare line between it and his body. -Planting his feet against the needle, he dropped back, and straightened -out, with nothing but the cord to support him. In this position, his -body at right angles with the spire, he threw a coil of line over the -ball, and with it hauled himself up to the summit of the globe. Then -Telouchkine stood by the side of the angel, and listened to the applause -of the vast crowd which had gathered below to witness the feat. -Fastening the cord securely above the ball, he descended with -comparative ease. The next day he carried up a rope ladder, by the aid -of which he was able to make the needed repairs at his leisure."</p> - -<p>"Bully for Telouchkine!" said Scott. "I shouldn't think any cord he -could carry up that height was strong enough to bear him."</p> - -<p>"But it seems it was."</p> - -<p>"It must have had some of the Russian bear in it, else it wouldn't have -held him."</p> - -<p>"I hope your bear will eat up your bully," added the professor. "Now we -will go into the church."</p> - -<p>Several soldiers offered their services as guides, and conducted the -students to the interior. The walls are nearly hidden by the standards, -flags, shields, battle-axes, and other trophies taken from the French, -Poles, Turks, Persians, and Swedes. All the sovereigns of Russia, since -the foundation of the city, with the single exception of Peter II., have -been intombed in this church. Their remains are placed in the vaults<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> -beneath the pavement, but the situations of their several resting-places -are indicated by white marble sarcophagi, with gilded corners, crosses, -and other ornaments. The tomb of Peter the Great is near the south door, -opposite an image of St. Peter, which is just the size of the Czar at -his birth. Next to him is Catharine I. Near the tomb of Paul is an image -of St. Paul, of this Czar's size at his birth. The diamond wedding-ring -of Alexander I. is affixed to an image by his tomb. On that of the Grand -Duke Constantine, who waived his right to the throne in favor of -Nicholas, are placed the keys of the Polish fortresses he captured. On -the tomb of Nicholas there was a quantity of flowers, and also upon that -of his daughter, who died in 1844.</p> - -<p>"This is the tomb of the present emperor's oldest son, Nicholas, who -died at Nice in 1865," said Dr. Winstock. "It has been erected since my -last visit, and you see it is covered with fresh flowers. He was only -twenty-two, and had just been betrothed to the Princess Dagmar, of -Denmark."</p> - -<p>"I thought Mr. Mapps said she was married to the present heir of the -throne," added Lincoln.</p> - -<p>"That was quite true also. She was only engaged to Nicholas, and was -married to his brother two years after the death of the former. It is -said that the Czarwitz, on his death-bed, expressed a wish that his -brother Alexander might succeed him in all things, including his -intended wife."</p> - -<p>The party were then conducted to a building where the boat of Peter the -Great is kept. As he built it with his own hands, it is a great -curiosity, and the students were willing to believe that the Czar had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> -done his work well. The excursionists returned to the omnibuses, and -were driven to the Hotel Klée, where dinner had been prepared for them. -The meal was not at all Russian, for the people in the hotel are German -in their tendencies. It was at this hotel that Mr. Burlingame, of the -Chinese mission, died; and several of the students visited the room in -which he breathed his last.</p> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span></p> -</div> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> - -<p class="center mt2 title5">BILLY BOBSTAY AND FRIENDS.</p> - - -<p>The omnibuses had been dismissed for the day, for the afternoon was to -be used in visiting two of the principal churches, which were within -walking distance of the hotel, and on the way to the English Quay, where -the party were to embark at six o'clock for Cronstadt. The students -separated into small squads, the more studious and thoughtful ones -clinging to the guides and others who knew something about the city, in -order to obtain proper explanations of what they saw. All of them walked -through the bazaar, and most of them looked into the little chapel near -it, and studied the signals on the watch-tower above the Town Hall. Some -amused themselves by trying to read the signs; but they could make -nothing of them, though there was occasionally one in French. All the -educated Russians speak French fluently, and in the larger stores there -is generally one or more who converse in this language. A short walk on -the Nevski Prospect brought the tourists to the Kazan Cathedral.</p> - -<p>This church was founded in 1802, and consecrated in 1811, and cost about -three million dollars. The cross above the dome is two hundred and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> -thirty feet from the ground. In the semicircle formed by the colonnade -in front are statues of Kutuzoff and Barclay de Tolly, two generals who -distinguished themselves in the Moscow campaign against Napoleon. The -interior of the church contains fifty-six columns of Finland granite, -each being a single stone, thirty-five feet high, which support the dome -and roof. The screen, or partition,—in Russian, <i>ikonostas</i>,—that -separates the altar from the body of the church, is of silver, the -material for which was captured from friend and foe by the Cossacks in -the Moscow campaign, and became an offering to the Madonna of this -church. In the centre of the middle doors of the screen is inscribed, in -precious stones, the name of God. In a conspicuous place in the -partition is placed the miraculous picture of the Virgin, found unharmed -in the ashes of the convent in which it was kept, after the burning of -Kazan carried to Moscow by Ivan the Terrible, and removed to St. -Petersburg in 1821. It is loaded with gold and precious stones to the -value of seventy-five thousand dollars, enough to build half a dozen -churches in the country in America. This is the church of the imperial -family, which the emperor attends on special occasions. After his escape -from the assassin at the gate of the Summer Garden, he came twice to -give thanks; and when the Princess Dagmar was escorted through the -streets, as the betrothed of the present Grand Duke Alexander, the -procession paused in the street while the royal party entered the church -to return thanks for her safe arrival. Opposite the <i>ikonostas</i> is a -chair for the Czar, who is the head of the church and the only one to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> -whom the privilege of being seated is allowed. The walls and columns of -the interior are hung with flags, banners, keys, and other military -trophies. In a glass case is the baton of Davoust, one of Napoleon's -generals. A great many keys of towns and fortresses are exhibited, and -the church has somewhat the appearance of an arsenal.</p> - -<p>From this church the students walked to St. Isaac's, in the square of -the same name, a large, open space, flanked by some of the finest public -buildings and monuments in the city. On this spot Peter the Great built -a wooden church, in 1710, which gave place to another, built by -Catharine I. The present edifice was commenced in 1819, and consecrated -in 1858. The ground is swampy, and the piles which were driven to -support the foundation cost a million dollars—enough to build a dozen -substantial churches in any city in America. It is in the form of the -Greek cross, with four grand fronts, which are similar to that of the -Pantheon at Paris, with columns sixty feet high and seven in diameter, -of highly-polished Finland granite, of a reddish hue. The dome is nearly -like that of the Capitol at Washington, and is gilded, so that it is a -"shining mark" for a great distance. On the four corners are smaller -bell-towers, each containing several bells, though such a thing as a -chime is unknown in Russia. Externally, this church is one of the -grandest and most beautiful in the world.</p> - -<p>The walls of the interior are covered with marble, and are adorned with -pictures of the saints, decked with gold and precious stones, before -which are the circular stands for the offerings of candles. Near the -door is an official, who is authorized to sell these candles to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> -worshippers. As in all the Russian churches, the <i>ikonostas</i>, or -altar-screen, is the most prominent object, which is almost covered with -the gilded plates which form the raiment of the holy persons, with -spaces cut out to exhibit the faces, hands, and feet of the painting. -Before the principal saints elaborate lamps are suspended, which are -lighted during service. In the screen are three doors, the double ones, -in the middle, being "the royal gates," so called because the emperor -passes through them at his coronation. On each side of them is a pillar -of lapis lazuli, set on iron columns, the two costing sixty thousand -dollars. The doors are of bronze, of very elaborate construction. The -space behind the screen, which occupies about one eighth of the interior -of the church, is the altar, in which stands a small round temple, with -eight columns of malachite, eight feet high, the material for which cost -a hundred thousand dollars. This temple is really the altar, the shrine -of the church, in which are placed a richly-bound volume, called the -"Gospels," a gold cross used in the service, the vessel for the sacred -elements, and the silk in which they are placed when consecrated. Behind -the altar, on the window, is an immense painting of Christ.</p> - -<p>Services are held three times every day in most of the churches; and -when the students entered the edifice, the preparations were in -progress, and they remained to witness the worship. All who entered -crossed themselves, and many purchased candles and made offerings of -them to the saints, St. Isaac of Dalmatia being the principal one, and -women and children kissed the hands of the Virgin, and other holy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> -persons represented by pictures. The church gives a literal -interpretation of the commandment, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any -graven image," and no part of the person—only the raiment—of the -saints can be sculptured for purposes of worship. The service consisted -of intoned readings by the priests and deacons, the former being within -the royal doors a portion of the time, and is interspersed with singing, -generally in recitative style, by the choir, at the end of the platform -in front of the screen. The singers seem to break in upon the priests' -prayers at times, often with a short phrase or single word. No female -voices are allowed in the choir, and no organ or other musical -instrument is permitted.</p> - -<p>During the service the worshippers in front frequently cross themselves, -the more devoted kneeling and bowing till their foreheads touch the -pavement. Only a few, however, bend thus lowly, and it is noticeable -that these are of the lower order. Well-dressed ladies and gentlemen are -not seen to do anything more than cross themselves, though all appear to -be devout and solemnly engaged in the exercises. Outside of the doors -there are always a number of beggars, who stand with hand extended, as -the people come out of the church. Besides the chance alms-giving of the -worshippers, wrung from them by importunity, one is occasionally seen -evidently roused by the service to a keener sense of duty, who makes a -systematic business of it, bestowing upon each of the beggars a smaller -or larger sum, according to his means. After the service some of the -students were permitted to enter the altar, which is the Holy of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> -Holies, as in King Solomon's Temple. Paul Kendall and his wife were -about to follow them, when the uniformed official interposed, and shook -his head earnestly. Paul did not understand him, and one of the guides -was called.</p> - -<p>"No female is allowed to enter the sanctuary," the man explained.</p> - -<p>"Woman's rights haven't been attended to here," replied Paul, as he -retired with Grace.</p> - -<p>But there was nothing particular to be seen in the altar space, except -the consecrated articles used in the service. Lincoln was on the point -of passing between the altar itself and the royal doors, when the church -official stopped him, saying that none but the priest and the emperor -were allowed to pass in that direction.</p> - -<p>"I wish I could understand more of it," said Lincoln, as he walked with -his friend, the doctor, towards the quay.</p> - -<p>"The language of the Russian church is the ancient Sclavonic," replied -the surgeon, "as Latin is of the Roman Catholic; and probably not many -of the people understand it. But they are very devout."</p> - -<p>"I have seen that about the streets. Did any one ever hear such bass -voices as some of these singers have? Why, they sounded like the -rumbling of an earthquake."</p> - -<p>"That is one of the great peculiarities of the churches in Russia; and -these deep, heavy bass voices are considered very desirable. You will -find that the wealthier the church, and the more popular the service, -the deeper and heavier are the tones of the bass singers. Doubtless -those in St. Isaac's are among the most celebrated; but in the Kazan<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> -Cathedral, and the Church of St. Alexander Nevski, you will hear those -of about the same volume and power. Of course it requires much -cultivation to develop such a voice; but these singers are so much in -demand that they are amply compensated for their labor."</p> - -<p>"I suppose this religion is very much like the Roman Catholic," added -Lincoln.</p> - -<p>"Yes, it is quite similar; but there are important differences. The -Russian church rejects purgatory, predestination, indulgences, and -dispensations. In baptism, the body must be completely submerged, and -anointed with consecrated oil. The people have not the same respect for -the clergy which you will find in Catholic countries, for though they -venerate the office, they often despise the priests, who are a peculiar -class; and the office is, in a measure, hereditary among them, though -not closed to others. The nobility do not take the priestly office. A -clergyman's sons generally follow him in the choice of a profession, and -his daughters are oftener than otherwise married to priests. Sometimes -the candidate for a position as priest gets his office by marrying the -daughter of a deceased incumbent. The consistory, which has the giving -of these places, knows the affairs of the whole diocese. If a priest -dies, leaving a marriageable daughter, the council often provides for -her and the church at the same time, by giving the vacant place to one -who will take the maiden. The priests are not very well educated, though -in this respect they are improving. An ecclesiastic cannot marry a -widow, and when his wife dies he cannot perform the service, but may<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> -be a monk, and be eligible to the highest offices in the church. The -scriptural injunction that a bishop must be the husband of one wife, -does not mean, to the Russian, <i>at least</i> one, as with the Mormon, but -only one, not even one at a time, as other Christians interpret it. Any -one who marries a second time cannot partake of the communion for one -year; and a third time, for four years."</p> - -<p>"The priests take good care of their wives, I suppose, since their -office depends upon them."</p> - -<p>"Yes, such is the fact," added the doctor, as they went on board of the -steamer.</p> - -<p>The students were on the quay promptly at the hour appointed, and the -steamer departed for Cronstadt. Although the sights in St. Petersburg -had been unusually interesting, the boys could not entirely forget the -subject of the delegates who were to go down the Volga, and some -electioneering was done. De Forrest had been at work upon what he called -the compromise ticket. He had even made some advances to Scott, but had -not found a favorable opportunity to discuss the subject with him. On -board of the steamer he made the occasion.</p> - -<p>"I want to talk with you, Scott," said he.</p> - -<p>"Right; say on," replied the joker.</p> - -<p>"I suppose you feel some interest in the question of going that -journey."</p> - -<p>"You are a wizard! Who told you I did?"</p> - -<p>"No one; I suppose every fellow wants to go. I do, for one."</p> - -<p>"And I, for another; and there will be a great many fellows -disappointed."</p> - -<p>"The ship's company are to vote for two, you know," added the first<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> -purser, feeling his way to the question.</p> - -<p>"That's so; if you want to say anything about it, speak right out; you -needn't beat about the bush any more."</p> - -<p>"I think the other one ought to have been elected, instead of being -appointed by the captain."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps Captain Cantwell will select you," suggested Scott.</p> - -<p>"Of course he will not; and if he did, I could not accept the privilege -from him," said De Forrest, stiffly.</p> - -<p>"On your dignity—eh?" laughed Scott.</p> - -<p>"I was opposed to him in the election, and I have no doubt he dislikes -me as much as I do him. I neither ask nor will take any favors from him. -But there is a chance for me to go by the election."</p> - -<p>"There is a chance for any of us."</p> - -<p>"It has been suggested that you and I may be voted for on the same -ticket. What do you say to that?"</p> - -<p>"If any of the fellows want to vote for me, tell them to fire away; I -can stand it as long as they can. If they want to vote for you, I have -no doubt they will do it."</p> - -<p>"But won't you do something to help the ticket along?"</p> - -<p>"No, sir!" replied Scott, decidedly. "I won't nominate myself or any -other fellow. Let the crowd do that."</p> - -<p>"They will do it, of course; but every fellow has some influence, you -know. It will be a fair thing to take one from the cabin, and one from -the steerage."</p> - -<p>"Yes; but whom from the cabin, and whom from the steerage?"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span></p> - -<p>"You and me. I don't see why we haven't just as good a right to it as -any one."</p> - -<p>"I made up my mind that I should go for Commodore Lincoln for one," -added Scott, to bring the matter to a head, for he did not like to see -any student working for himself.</p> - -<p>"I think the fellows did enough for him when they made him commodore," -growled De Forrest, disgusted at the want of appreciation on the part of -the joker.</p> - -<p>"Perhaps the commodore will go for me, if I do for him," laughed Scott.</p> - -<p>"Then you won't go in for the arrangement which the fellows are talking -about?"</p> - -<p>"Who were talking about it?" asked Scott, who had his doubts whether any -one had spoken to De Forrest on the subject.</p> - -<p>"Sheridan, for one. If you won't do anything for this ticket, I will say -no more about it."</p> - -<p>"Don't say any more, then," replied Scott; and De Forrest left him, -angry and disgusted.</p> - -<p>"What's up now, Scott?" asked Sheridan, stepping up to the joker at this -point.</p> - -<p>"The first purser's dander," answered Scott. "I hear that you proposed -my name with his for the journey."</p> - -<p>"I did mention it, certainly; but he had told me in the beginning that -he would not vote for you; he would jump overboard first. I suggested -the names, then, by way of jest, and he snapped at the idea as a codfish -at a clam."</p> - -<p>"I see," laughed Scott. "I couldn't give him any comfort, and declined<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> -to vote for the ticket. I won't vote for any fellow that goes around -electioneering for himself."</p> - -<p>"My sentiment exactly," replied Sheridan. "But we ought to agree on some -fellows to vote for."</p> - -<p>"I go for Lincoln, for one."</p> - -<p>"I'm with you!" exclaimed the lieutenant. "I am sure that he has not -asked anybody to vote for him. Now, we want another real good fellow, -from the steerage. Who shall it be?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know; we have so many good fellows it is hard to fix upon any -one. I will look them over and let you know."</p> - -<p>"But do you know whom Cantwell will select?" asked Sheridan.</p> - -<p>"I don't. I'm not in the way of seeing much of him since he went into -the captain's cabin. He don't go on shore at all now, and I suppose he -has been studying rigging, and making knots and splices, all day with -Peaks."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps he will select himself," suggested Sheridan.</p> - -<p>"If he does I will never vote for him again for anything. But he won't -do it."</p> - -<p>"I don't see that we can agree on anything till we know whom he chooses. -He may pick out the very one we decide to vote for."</p> - -<p>"I go in for a caucus of all hands."</p> - -<p>"So do I; that is the fairest way," replied Sheridan, as the steamer -stopped at the side of the ship, and the students, without waiting for -planks and steps, leaped to her deck.</p> - -<p>After supper all hands were called, and Captain Cantwell was requested<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> -to appoint the student for the journey to the interior. The ship's crew -were all silent, curious and anxious to know who the favored one was to -be. The captain mounted the rostrum with the principal, and took off his -cap.</p> - -<p>"I appoint Thomas Scott," said he.</p> - -<p>The announcement was greeted with the most emphatic applause on the part -of the seamen, in which a few of the officers joined.</p> - -<p>"Of course Scott knew he was to be appointed before," sneered De -Forrest.</p> - -<p>"He did not know it," replied Sheridan; "and if he did, I don't know -that it alters anything."</p> - -<p>"Scott made him captain, and this is his reward."</p> - -<p>"You made Cantwell captain," retorted Sheridan. "Scott worked for him, -and I am glad to see that he remembers his friends."</p> - -<p>"I supposed the captain would appoint himself."</p> - -<p>"You judged him by yourself. I can tell you one thing, De Forrest: these -fellows that work for themselves don't accomplish much."</p> - -<p>"The ballot for the other two will be taken in half an hour," said the -principal, who had been studying the effect of the captain's choice upon -the students.</p> - -<p>"I congratulate you, Scott," said Sheridan. "You are sure of going, for -one."</p> - -<p>"Thank you. I am sure, and I hope I shall have good fellows to go with -me," replied Scott.</p> - -<p>"How about the caucus?"</p> - -<p>"I have talked with some of the fellows forward, and they prefer to have -every fellow vote as he likes."</p> - -<p>"All right. I am satisfied."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span></p> - -<p>Scott went to the captain, and thanked him heartily for the favor he had -bestowed upon him.</p> - -<p>"I am glad to serve you," replied Cantwell, "We are not even yet. I owe -my position to you, and I am grateful for your interest."</p> - -<p>"Not at all; you may thank De Forrest more than me for your election, -for if those fellows in the cabin had not got up a conspiracy against -you, we could not have carried you in."</p> - -<p>"I am trying hard to make myself worthy of the place; and I want to add, -that what you said to me that Sunday did me a great deal of good. I -shall try to make my shipmates like me," added the captain, as he went -aft.</p> - -<p>"He's a good fellow, after all," said Scott to himself.</p> - -<p>Certainly he had improved wonderfully since his election, for he was -gentlemanly and kind to all, and used no offensive condescension to his -inferiors, as all were to him now except the commodore. He had found his -weak points with the help of Scott, and was doing his best to correct -them.</p> - -<p>In half an hour the balloting was commenced, and was conducted in the -same manner as that for the officers had been. The two persons to be -selected were voted for separately. No one had a majority; and a great -many had a single vote, leading to the suspicion that a considerable -number had voted for themselves. Among the latter was De Forrest, who -had done more electioneering on his own account than any other student -in the ship. Lincoln had the largest number, and it lacked only a few -votes of the required majority. The balloting was repeated, and this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> -time Lincoln was elected by a very handsome majority. De Forrest had one -vote again. The indications of the first two ballotings were a guide for -the next one. A little fellow, who had been nicknamed Billy Bobstay, had -thirty-one votes, which was next to the commodore's vote. His real name -was Bradshaw, and he was an orphan. He had lived in Brockway with his -uncle, who did not use him well, and the boy had attempted to run away -to sea, but had been returned to his guardian, who was a poor man, and -perhaps would have been glad to get rid of him, though he gave him an -unmerciful flogging. He compelled the boy to work beyond his strength, -thus exciting the sympathy of the neighbors. Mr. Lowington was at home -at this time, and heard about the case. He examined the matter himself, -and having satisfied himself that the little fellow was abused, he -offered to take him on board of the ship, feed, clothe, and educate him. -The uncle did not object, since he was thus wholly relieved of the -support of the boy, whose labor, hard as it was for the youth, was not -worth much to him, and Billy went on board of the Young America, -delighted both with the idea of going to sea, and of getting away from -his cruel and exacting uncle.</p> - -<p>Though Billy had a great deal of spirit and energy, he was very kind and -obliging to all his shipmates, and soon became a great favorite among -them. As his education had been neglected, he could not compete with his -fellow-students yet, though he was making rapid progress in his studies. -His story was well known in the ship, and it excited the sympathy of -all the good-hearted boys on board, and these included many of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> -wild and rude ones. If any one wanted to "pick" upon Billy, he had a -dozen champions always at hand to take his part. He was very active and -daring, and seemed to have been born for a sailor. His station in making -and furling sail was on the main royal, for though he was nearly -sixteen, he was one of the "lightest weights" on board. Though he never -had any money, except the small sums given him by the principal, who was -not a strong advocate of pocket-money for boys, he shared the luxuries -of the steerage as fairly as though he had purchased his portion. -Perhaps it was a freak on the part of a few of the boys to vote for him, -which had become contagious. At any rate, on the next ballot, Billy -Bobstay had a clean majority of all the votes, and the result was hailed -with lusty cheers by the crew.</p> - -<p>"I can't go," said Billy, when his shipmates began to congratulate him.</p> - -<p>"Why not?" asked one.</p> - -<p>"I haven't any money," replied Billy, frankly and innocently. "Besides, -I don't want to take this chance when so many of the others wish to go."</p> - -<p>"You shall have the money, my dear Billy," said Scott. "But who pays the -bills for this little excursion?"</p> - -<p>No one knew; nothing had been said on this subject; and a messenger was -sent to the principal to ascertain his purpose in this important -particular.</p> - -<p>"The expenses of all will be paid to Moscow; beyond that the party will -pay their own expenses," replied Mr. Lowington. "If, however, when -they return, I think it proper to reimburse them, I shall do so. Of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> -course any one may decline the privilege extended to him. It is not -forced upon him."</p> - -<p>"Of course I can't go, then," said Billy Bobstay, decidedly. "I haven't -a dollar, nor a ruble, nor a copeck."</p> - -<p>"Don't you decline yet, Bubby," interposed Scott.</p> - -<p>"Yes, I shall. It wouldn't be fair for me not to do so."</p> - -<p>"Don't you do it. We'll raise the money for you," persisted Scott.</p> - -<p>"But I don't want to take any other fellow's chance. I am much obliged -to those that voted for me, but I can't go."</p> - -<p>"Steady, now, my darling baby," continued Scott. "I want you to go, so -as to help me, for I have a big job on my hands."</p> - -<p>"I tell you I can't go. It's no use to think of it."</p> - -<p>"Then you won't help me?" added Scott, in sad tones.</p> - -<p>"I shall be glad to help you. What can I do?"</p> - -<p>"You can do a big thing for me—the greatest kindness that one good -fellow ever did for another. You are generally very obliging, William -Bobstay."</p> - -<p>"What can I do for you?" asked Billy, much troubled at the thought of -disobliging any one.</p> - -<p>"You can help me spend my money," pleaded Scott. "I have always been -willing to help any fellow in this way, even when he didn't have half as -much in his trousers pocket as I have."</p> - -<p>"O, nonsense, Tom Scott. You are making game of me!" laughed Billy.</p> - -<p>"Making game of you, my beloved infant! I should like to see the fellow<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> -that would do it! I would make him up into Bologna sausages, and then -make him eat them. You are going, my child, and I'm going to take care -of you. Not another word; if you do it will choke you;" and Scott ran -off to execute a little scheme of his own, no less than to take up a -collection for the favorite.</p> - -<p>"What's the matter?" asked Captain Cantwell, as Scott rushed by him.</p> - -<p>The joker explained the situation, and said he was going to get up a -subscription.</p> - -<p>"Don't do it, Scott. I shall not go on shore this month, and you shall -take my allowance for Billy. He shall go, and I will pay all his -expenses."</p> - -<p>"That's handsome, captain," replied Scott, heartily; "but the fellows -that like Billy can give him a small sum each."</p> - -<p>"They will all want their money on shore; I shall not. Wait a moment -till I go below for my rubles;" and the captain hastened down into the -cabin.</p> - -<p>"Billy Bobstay, I will give you twenty rubles for your chance," said De -Forrest to the little favorite.</p> - -<p>"I can't sell it."</p> - -<p>"Yes, you can; just go to the principal, and tell him you would like to -have me go in your place. Don't say a word about the rubles, and he will -let you do it."</p> - -<p>"I can't; the students elected me to go, and it wouldn't be right for me -to sell my chance," replied Billy, very respectfully, but firmly.</p> - -<p>"Nonsense! Say quick, and run to the principal. I'll go with you."</p> - -<p>"I can't do it."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Do what?" asked Scott, coming up at this instant.</p> - -<p>"It doesn't concern you. I didn't speak to you," said the purser, -sourly. "I order you to go forward."</p> - -<p>Scott touched his cap, and obeyed; but De Forrest dared not say anything -more to Billy about the bribe, except to tell him not to mention what he -had offered.</p> - -<p>"Here, my darling Billy!" exclaimed Scott, as the little fellow went -forward. "Here is a hundred rubles to pay your bills on the journey. It -is the free gift of Captain Cantwell, who insists upon paying all your -expenses, and declares that you must go. You see, my darling, he has so -much money he can't possibly get rid of it without your aid, and you -must do him the favor you refused me."</p> - -<p>Scott repeated the story of the captain's generous gift so that all the -students on deck could hear it.</p> - -<p>"Three cheers for Captain Cantwell!" roared one of the big fellows; and -they were given with a will.</p> - -<p>The principal wanted to know what it meant, and Scott told him. He -smiled, and approved the act; and Billy Bobstay was actually crying, he -was so overcome by the kindness of his friends. Then Scott hugged him, -and made him laugh; and with the tears dropping down his cheeks, he went -to Cantwell and thanked him for his liberal gift. With but few -exceptions, the ship's company were pleased with the result. The growing -popularity of the captain troubled De Forrest, Beckwith, and a few -others, and they were thinking how they could safely turn the tide -against him.</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span></p> -</div> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> - -<p class="center mt2 title5">PALACES AND GARDENS.</p> - - -<p>At half past seven the next morning, breakfast had been disposed of, and -the little steamer came alongside the ship to convey the students to St. -Petersburg again. At nine o'clock she landed them on the English Quay, -near the Nicholas Bridge. A procession was formed, which was but the -work of a moment, for every student knew his place in the line. The -column moved along the quay to the Winter Palace, under the guidance of -an officer of the emperor's household, who had been detailed for the -purpose, when Mr. Fluxion applied for permission to see the palace. -Every courtesy had been extended to the tourists, and not a word was -said about passports.</p> - -<p>At the Hotel Klée, Kendall and Shuffles had sent their passports to the -police office. They had been <i>visé</i> at the Russian consulate in -Stockholm, and permission was indorsed upon them for the owners to abide -in the city. The people at the hotel attend to all this business, and -ask for the traveller's passport as soon as he arrives, charging the -fees, which are quite small, in the bill. In every additional city or -town in which the tourist remains over night, his passport must be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> -sent to the police, who indorse upon it the permission to remain. -Letters from abroad are delivered to travellers, but newspapers, unless -they are on the permitted list, are detained. A few New York papers are -on this list, and it is useless to send any others into Russia, for they -will not be forwarded to their address. The custom-house officers were -formerly very strict in regard to the admission of books, and are so -still where there is any suspicion of revolutionary works, or of those -directed against the Orthodox Greek church. Such books as ordinary -travellers desire to carry, as the Bible, Prayer-books, and Guidebooks, -are permitted to pass.</p> - -<p>The students had seen the Winter Palace and Hermitage, which are -connected by galleries, when they rode through the streets the day -before. The grand entrance is on the Neva, but there is another opening -into the square in front of the Etat Major. The exterior, except in -size, is hardly as imposing as many other European palaces, though the -building has the reputation of being one of the most elegant on the -continent. It is four hundred and fifty-five feet long by three hundred -and fifty wide, and eighty feet high. In winter it accommodates six -thousand persons, forming the emperor's household. On the site of the -palace was the estate of the high admiral of Peter the Great, who -bequeathed it to Peter II. The Empress Anne commenced a palace on the -spot, which was completed in the reign of Catharine II., but it was -destroyed by fire in 1837. In two years more the present vast structure -was completed. The entrance from the Neva side is by a magnificent -staircase of marble. The students went in at the entrance on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> -square, and walked through all the apartments which visitors are -permitted to enter, and all of them were magnificent. The White Hall, as -its name indicates, is of clear white, adorned with gold, and is the -room in which the court balls and other festivities are held. St. -George's Hall, which is one hundred and forty feet long by sixty wide, -is the apartment in which the ambassadors are received; and there is -another throne room, in which the emperor meets the diplomats on New -Year's Day. There were hundreds of other rooms, all of them hung with -pictures, which are mostly portraits of persons noted in Russian -history, and battle-pieces in which the armies of the czars have been -victorious. In the Romanoff Gallery are the pictures of all the -sovereigns of this line, from Michael down to the present time. In this -hall is a tablet, covered with a curtain, on which are inscribed the ten -rules that Catharine II. enforced at the meetings of her friends. The -visitor was enjoined to leave his rank, and his right of precedence, -outside the door; to be gay, and sit, stand, or walk, as he pleased, -without regard to any one; to talk gently, and argue without excitement; -to eat what was good, and drink moderately, so that each might find his -legs when he wanted to use them; that all should join in any innocent -game when one proposed it, and tell no tales out of school. The penalty -of a violation of these rules was the drinking of a glass of cold water, -and the reading of a page of a poet who appears to have been the Martin -Farquhar Tupper of Russia. If any one broke three of the rules in the -same evening, he was condemned to commit six lines of this poet to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> -memory; and the one who told tales out of school was not again admitted.</p> - -<p>The students were conducted to a room on the second floor, which is -guarded day and night by officers of the household, where the crown -jewels are kept. On the sceptre is the great Orlof diamond, the largest -in Europe, presented to Catharine II. by her favorite, whose name it -takes. It is said that it once formed the eye of an idol in India, and -was stolen by a French soldier. After passing through various hands, it -was purchased by Count Orlof, who paid four hundred and fifty thousand -rubles for it, besides conferring a patent of nobility, and an annuity -of two thousand rubles upon the seller. The crown of the emperor is -shaped something like a bishop's mitre, and is covered with diamonds and -pearls. On the top is an immense ruby, which supports a cross formed of -five beautiful diamonds. The crown of the empress is a mass of diamonds -of the most perfect hue and lustre. There are many other treasures, such -as the plume of Suvaroff, presented by the Sultan of Turkey; the "Shah," -a diamond from Persia; and necklaces, bracelets, brooches, and other -articles, glittering with diamonds, and studded with immense pearls. -Millions upon millions of rubles in value lie idle and useless in this -apartment, which would plant a common school in nearly every town of the -vast empire.</p> - -<p>On the lower floor is the room in which the Emperor Nicholas died, in -1855, with everything just as it was on the day he breathed his last. It -is one of the smallest and plainest apartments of the palace, and a -grenadier of the guard is always on duty within it to protect the sacred<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> -relics of the czar. It is furnished with a narrow iron camp bedstead, on -which he expired. On it lies his military cloak, and his sword and -helmet are just as he left them. On the table is a quartermaster's -report, given to him on the day he died. Everything in the room is of -the simplest manufacture, with nothing of the luxuriousness of the other -parts of the palace.</p> - -<p>From the palace the students passed into the Hermitage, which is a -museum and gallery of paintings, and is hardly equalled in all Europe. -It is somewhat larger than the palace, enclosing two large courts. It is -a perfect labyrinth of apartments, and all of them filled with -paintings, works of art, and historical relics. All the old masters are -represented in the picture galleries, and rooms or suits of rooms are -devoted to each school of painting. Not many of the students were able -to appreciate the treasures of art, and most of them preferred the -military and naval pictures in the Winter Palace. In the vast numismatic -collection are many very rare Greek coins. In the gem room is a -mechanical clock, which a poor woman drew in a lottery, and sold for -fifteen thousand dollars. It played overtures with all the effects of -the modern orchestrion, and was wound up for the gratification of the -visitors. In the gallery of Peter the Great, the party were disposed to -linger for a long time. It contains works of art and industry in the -time of the Czar whose name it bears, and the turning lathes and carving -tools he used himself. His spy-glasses, mathematical instruments, books, -canes, and other articles are exhibited. The gilded chariot in which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> -he occasionally rode, his dogs, and his war horse, stuffed, and various -casts and portraits of him, taken after death, were examined with -interest. A broken clock, with wonderful mechanical movements, excited -the attention of the boys. It consists of a peacock, which, at the -striking of the hour, expands his tail, while a rooster flaps his wings, -an owl rolls his eyes, and a grasshopper feeds on a mushroom. Near it is -a collection of snuff-boxes, which belonged to various sovereigns of -Europe. In this room, enclosed in cases, was a great variety of -curiosities, including articles which had belonged to the members of the -royal family.</p> - -<p>On the lower floor are the galleries of ancient sculpture. In the Kertch -collection are medals and other articles proving the existence of a -Greek colony on the northern shores of the Black Sea six hundred years -before Christ. In 1820 a tomb was found at Kertch, which is at the -entrance to the Sea of Azof, containing a chamber of hewn stone, in -which were the remains of a Scythian prince, with his wife, his horse, -and his chief groom. His crown, weapons, ornaments, and golden robes, -with vases of bronze and other material containing the remains of -provisions, were found where they had lain for two thousand years, and -were conveyed to this museum. The tomb of a priestess of Ceres, buried -with her ornaments, and with four horses, was found in 1866. The -Scythian collection is equally rich in the treasures of a former race.</p> - -<p>The students wandered during the forenoon through these numerous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> -apartments till most of them were very tired; for there is no harder -work for the human frame than that of exploring museums and galleries. -The party dined again at the Hotel Klée, and in the afternoon walked to -the Arsenal Museum, which contains specimens of arms and accoutrements -of many periods, and a vast quantity of historical curiosities. Among -the former are some curious guns, pistols, revolvers, and warlike -machines; and among the latter are many relics of Peter the Great, as -the hat and sword he wore at Pultowa; the leather coat in which he -worked at Saardam; the uniforms in which he passed through the several -military grades of private, captain, and colonel; and a cabriolet in -which he measured distances on the road by means of machinery like that -of a clock connected with the wheels. At the head of the staircase is a -Russian eagle, the body, neck, and legs made of gun-flints fixed on the -wall, the wings of sword blades, and the eyes formed by the muzzles of a -pair of pistols, in the same manner as the several objects in the Tower -of London are composed.</p> - -<p>The Museum of Imperial Carriages was next visited. After passing through -several rooms in which some beautiful Gobelin tapestries are exhibited, -the students entered the large hall which contains the vehicles. The -first was the carriage presented by Frederick the Great, of Prussia, to -the Empress Elizabeth, in 1746, and in which the Princess Dagmar rode -into St. Petersburg with the empress. It is gilded, with paintings on -the panels and doors. There are a dozen of these large, clumsy state -carriages, glittering with gold, and rich with silk, satin, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> -embroidery. Some of them are over a hundred years old, and have been -"restored" several times. Those used by the various sovereigns, from -Peter I. to the present time, were pointed out. After the party had -critically examined one of them, the only interest the others had was -the fact that Catharine II. had spread herself in one, and Nicholas had -sternly looked out from the windows of another. Besides these state -coaches, there were many modern vehicles from different parts of Europe, -and a number of sleighs, used by the court in carnival time, some of -which are very ingeniously constructed. By all odds, the greatest -curiosity in this collection is the sledge of Peter the Great, in which -he travelled, in winter, on his long journeys to the distant parts of -his vast empire. It is a kind of coach on runners, and was entirely -constructed by the Czar's own hands. Behind it is a trunk in which he -carried his clothes and provisions. Peter made a journey in this sledge -to Archangel, on the White Sea, and there came a thaw which compelled -him to return to his capital on wheels. Alexander I. caused the sleigh -to be brought to St. Petersburg. It is placed in a large glass case, to -protect it from injury. A sleigh in the form of St. George and the -Dragon is unique. A mechanical drosky, invented by a Siberian peasant, -has an apparatus which records the time and distance travelled, besides -playing several tunes. Near Peter's sledge stand two or three diminutive -carriages for the use of the royal children.</p> - -<p>In another room are kept the harnesses and trappings used for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> -imperial state carriages, with liveries for eight hundred men. In one -set, each horse has to carry about one hundred and twenty pounds. The -carriages are all in the second story of the building, and there is a -kind of platform elevator, by which they are hoisted up. The state -coaches are used at the coronation of the emperors, and this ceremonial -always takes place at Moscow, whither they have to be transported, -though, since the railroad was completed, this is not so difficult a -matter as formerly.</p> - -<p>The students walked on the quay to the vast Admiralty building, and went -into the Naval Museum, in which there are models of all kinds of boats -and vessels, which were full of interest to the nautical young -gentlemen. This completed the labors of the day, and the company -returned to Cronstadt in the steamer.</p> - -<p>At the usual hour on the following morning they embarked again, and were -soon landed at Peterhoff, which is sometimes called the Versailles of -Russia, on account of the number and variety of the fountains in the -palace grounds. The place is on the south side of the broad bay inside -of Cronstadt, and about ten miles distant from it. It is a favorite -summer resort of the people from the capital, steamers plying frequently -between the two places. It has a great many attractions, the principal -of which is the palace, erected in 1720, under the direction of Peter -the Great, on an elevation of sixty feet,—a considerable hill in -Russia,—and the magnificent grounds, laid off in parks, lawns, -terraces, groves, and gardens. The buildings are extensive, but not very -elegant outside. The apartments contain a great many paintings, -including portraits of three hundred and sixty-eight beautiful young<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> -girls, from fifty different provinces. The rooms for use contain the -usual gilded chairs, sofas, tables, and other furniture, which soon -become very tiresome to the traveller in Europe, for they are about the -same thing in all the palaces, and, to a republican, would have a cheap -look, if it were not for the silks, velvets, and brocade with which they -are upholstered.</p> - -<p>The palace faces the sea, and the slope of the hill is cut into -terraces, which are adorned with fountains, waterfalls, and basins with -Neptunes, swans, nymphs, tritons, and other aquatic ornaments. Beneath a -fountain, which throws a jet eighty feet high, is a kind of canal, -extending five hundred yards down the slope to the bay, in which there -is a succession of cataracts. The fountains play at five o'clock every -Sunday afternoon in the summer, but on this occasion the water was let -on as a special favor, which can perhaps be obtained at any time by -paying a ruble or two. The effect was very fine, and compared favorably -with the water works at Versailles. On fête days, lamps are placed under -the sheets of water in the evening, and the appearance is said to be -both unique and brilliant. In the garden below, near the sea-shore, are -the small structures called Marly and Montplaisir. In the former Peter -used to look out upon his fleet at Cronstadt. In the latter the great -Czar died, and his bed is still preserved, as he used it, with his night -clothes and dressing gown on the pillow. It is a small, Dutch-built -house, and the interior looks very much like that of a country -farm-house. Peter's boots, slippers, writing-desk, sedan-chair, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> -other articles belonging to him, are to be seen in the several -apartments. The Hermitage is the cottage of Catharine. A table in the -dining-room is provided with a contrivance by which dishes are sent down -through the floor, or sent up, without the servants coming into the -apartment. The same thing is shown in one of the palaces at Potsdam, -where Frederick the Great used to carouse, without any menials to -witness his revels. In an oblong pond a vast number of tame fish are -kept, and regularly fed. The man in charge of the straw cottage goes to -the edge of the water and rings a bell, with some parade, when visitors -are present, and the fish are supposed to come at his call; but Scott -protested that it was all a humbug, for not a fish was seen until the -man had thrown the food into the water. Then they scrambled for the bits -of black bread, piling themselves up in stacks, to the intense amusement -of the boys. There are several other palaces near Peterhoff, one of -which was occupied by Nicholas as his summer residence; and Stretna, the -palace of the Grand Duke Constantine, is about half way to St. -Petersburg by railroad. At ten the company took the train, and stopped -at <i>Krasnoé Sélo</i>, where there is an immense camp, containing forty -thousand troops or more, during the summer season. The soldiers were -drilling, marching, and manœuvring in large bodies. In every Russian -camp there is a quantity of simple gymnastic apparatus, on which the men -are required to exercise regularly. Near the end of August the emperor -reviews the troops, when sham fights and other kinds of mimic warfare<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> -are exhibited. Taking the next train, the party reached St. Petersburg -in season for dinner.</p> - -<p>In the afternoon, omnibuses were again in demand and the students rode -to the Monastery of St. Alexander Nevski, on the river at the end of the -Nevski Prospect. This establishment is the seat of the Metropolitan, or -Patriarch of St. Petersburg, and is therefore of a higher order than the -ordinary monastery. It is called a <i>Lavra</i>, and only ranks below two -others in the empire—the one at Moscow, and the other at Kief. It was -founded by Peter the Great in honor of the Grand Duke Alexander, who -defeated the Swedes on the Neva in 1241, which battle gave him his -surname. His remains were brought to this monastery with the most solemn -pomp, and he was canonized. He is the patron saint of the present -emperor, who takes his name. The shrine of St. Alexander Nevski in the -principal church, beneath which his remains repose, is of solid silver, -and weighs thirty-two hundred and fifty pounds. Over it hang the keys of -Adrianople. The establishment encloses a considerable tract of land, and -includes several churches, buildings for the monks, cells, refectories, -towers, gardens, and a cemetery. It is endowed with immense wealth, and -contains many costly gifts of the Persians, as well as valuable works of -art. In one of the chapels is the tomb of Suwaroff—which is only a -plain marble tablet—and many other noted men. The cemetery is regarded -as peculiarly holy ground, and wealthy families pay large sums for the -privilege of burying their dead in its consecrated earth. The party -walked through the churches, visited the dining-room of the monks, -whose fare is certainly very plain, looked into one of their cells, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> -inspected some of the curious monuments in the cemetery.</p> - -<p>The omnibuses then conveyed the company to some of the public gardens of -the city, several of which are situated on the islands. Kamannoi, or -Stone Island, situated on the Great Nevka, a drive of three miles from -the Nevski Prospect over a broad avenue, is covered with the villas of -the nobles and other wealthy people of the city. Upon it there is an -extensive public garden, with an immense refreshment establishment and a -summer theatre, while the grounds are filled with towers, temples, -kiosks, and almost every appliance for the amusement of the visitors. In -the theatre the plays and songs are generally in French, and one will -observe that a large proportion of the people who frequent this place of -resort speak the "polite language" in their conversation, as they walk -about the grounds, listening to the concert. Up the Neva, three miles -from Trinity Bridge, are the Tivoli Gardens, which may be reached by -small steamers that ply on the river. In the winter there is a skating -rink at this place, where this amusement may be had under cover. The -visit to the gardens finished the excursion for the day, and the -tourists returned to the squadron at Cronstadt. The next day was Sunday, -and in the forenoon the students attended service at the British Chapel -in the town; in the afternoon, in the steerage of the ship. As in most -of the countries of Europe, Sunday is a holiday in Russia. The people -attend church in the morning, and devote the afternoon to recreation and -amusement.</p> - -<p>On Monday the company went up to St. Petersburg again, and walked from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> -the English Quay to the station of the Czarskoé Sélo Railroad. On the -way they halted in the square upon which the Great Theatre and the Marie -Theatre are situated. As in Paris, the government pays large sums for -the support of the theatre, and for the Great Theatre, which -accommodates three thousand people, the best operatic talent of Europe -is engaged. Dancing is an especial attraction to the people, and a -school for the training of actresses and dancers is maintained. The -finest performances are given on Sunday. Masked balls are also given in -this theatre in the winter, which are attended by the emperor and other -members of the imperial family. The Marie Theatre is more especially for -the representation of Russian dramas and the opera.</p> - -<p>There are four railway stations on the south side of St. Petersburg, -the Peterhoff, the Warsaw, the Czarskoé Sélo, and the Moscow, though the -latter is at the bend of the Nevski Prospect. Czarskoé Sélo, fifteen -miles from the city, is the principal summer residence of the emperor. -The railway to this place was the first one built in Russia. A ride of -forty minutes brought the party to their destination. The grounds of the -palace, which are entered by a gateway with two towers, covered with -Egyptian figures and hieroglyphics, are eighteen miles in circumference. -They are kept in the nicest order by six hundred old soldiers, who are -pensioned off in this way. Not a dry leaf, a cigar stump, or any unclean -thing is permitted to remain in the walks, for the veterans capture it -as an invader, and put it out of sight. The front of the palace is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> -seven hundred and eighty feet long. Peter the Great erected a building -here, but the present edifice was built during the reign of Elizabeth, -and was embellished by Catharine II. Originally, every statue, pedestal, -capital of a column, and all the ornaments, were gilded, the gold for -which was worth over two millions of dollars. In a short time the -gilding was badly injured by the weather. The contractors employed in -repairing the building offered Catharine half a million silver rubles -for the gold leaf which remained on the ornaments, to whom she replied, -"I am not accustomed to sell my old clothes." The front of the palace is -now gaudily painted with white, green, and yellow, the only gilding -being on the dome and cupolas of the church. Parts of the interior, -however, are very lavishly gilded, as the chapel, the ceiling of which -is one sheet of gold. One small apartment has strips of lapis lazuli -inlaid upon the walls, and the floor is of ebony, ornamented with -mother-of-pearl. In another room the walls are panelled with amber, -wrought into a variety of designs. The amber was presented to Catharine -by Frederick the Great, and their initials and arms are blended in the -panels; that of the Czarina being an E, for her Russian name was -<i>Ekaterina</i>. There seems to be enough of this costly material to make -mouth-pieces for all the pipes in Christendom. Catharine's sleeping -apartment has pillars of purple glass, and the walls are decorated with -porcelain. The bed-clothes are those under which she slept the last time -she dwelt in the palace. The banqueting-rooms and the ball-rooms are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> -profusely gilded, and, as may be seen in several of the palaces of -Europe, especially those of Poland, Russia, and Sweden, there is a -Chinese room, in which everything is fitted up in "Celestial" style. The -rooms of Alexander I. are kept just as he left them when he started for -Taganrog, where he died. In his cabinet is his writing-desk, all in -confusion, with blotted paper, and quill pens, stained with ink, as -though he had but just used them. Next to this is his bed-room, which is -plain enough for an ordinary farmer. In an alcove is a camp bedstead on -which the Czar slept. His toilet articles are on the table, and on a -chair is his well-worn overcoat under which are his boots.</p> - -<p>The party walked through the Alexander Palace built by Catharine for her -grandson, and occupied by Nicholas, whose military tastes are apparent -in the pictures, models, and other ornaments. From this they went to the -Arsenal, in which there is a vast collection of ancient armor, arms, and -Oriental trappings. In a glass case are a miniature drum and trumpet of -silver, given by Catharine to Paul in his childhood. The grounds were -very attractive to the students, for they are filled with towers, -kiosks, Chinese pagodas and other odd structures. The mast of a frigate, -full rigged, afforded the present High Admiral, the Grand Duke -Constantine, the means of obtaining some experience aloft without going -to sea. On one of the ponds there is a fleet of miniature vessels, which -was used for the amusement of the same young gentleman. A Chinese -village, an aerial flower garden, supported on an Ionic pillar, a marble -bridge, columns erected by Catharine to her favorites, hermitages, -ruins, Roman tombs, grottoes, and waterfalls add to the wonders of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> -place. On a small lake is a pavilion, in which the daughter of Nicholas, -who died in 1844, used to feed her swims. Since her death, black swans -have been kept in the pond. In the pavilion are a picture and a marble -statue of the youthful Grand Duchess.</p> - -<p>"I think I could pass a summer here very comfortably," said Lincoln, as -he gazed with admiration upon the beautiful grounds and the many curious -structures it contains.</p> - -<p>"Perhaps you would alter your mind before the season closed," replied -the doctor. "I was in Russia one year in August, and I think I wore an -overcoat every day for a fortnight, not at night merely, but in the -middle of the day. Still the weather is sometimes very warm here. On the -whole, I think I should prefer to be here in the winter. St. Petersburg -is very lively then, the court is in town, and there is a variety of -amusements."</p> - -<p>"I should like to see the fun for a while, and the strange sights which -are to be seen only in winter, such as the sleigh-riding, skating, and -frolics on the ice," added Lincoln.</p> - -<p>"I think the want of ventilation in the houses must be one of the -greatest evils of a residence here," continued Dr. Winstock, as the -party left the palace gardens.</p> - -<p>The company returned to St. Petersburg, and spent the rest of the day in -visiting palaces and other places of interest. At the usual hour they -embarked on the steamer, and returned to the squadron.</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span></p> -</div> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> - -<p class="center mt2 title5">THE JOURNEY TO MOSCOW.</p> - -<p>"I think it is absolutely villanous to let that little pauper go down -the Volga, when there are so many of us who pay our bills, that wish to -go," said De Forrest, angrily, when it was rumored that the first -division of the students, with the Volga party would start that day for -Moscow.</p> - -<p>"Well, he was fairly elected, I suppose," replied Beckwith.</p> - -<p>"Elected!" sneered De Forrest. "Scott elected him. When he takes snuff, -all the fellows in the steerage sneeze."</p> - -<p>"I thought you were going to get up a petition to the principal to have -the old method of giving out the offices restored, and have this voting -business done with."</p> - -<p>"I talked with some of the fellows about it, but most of them said they -wouldn't sign."</p> - -<p>"Why not?"</p> - -<p>"Some of them said they rather liked the fun and excitement of the -election; others said they had gone in for the thing, and didn't like to -take the back track. I shouldn't wonder if they had joined the -Bangwhangers. Between you and me, Beckwith, I am getting a little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> -tired of the ship."</p> - -<p>"Tired of it? I thought you considered it the biggest thing in the -world."</p> - -<p>"Well, I did; but it is about played out. I worked hard to be captain, -but never got higher than third lieutenant; now I'm only a purser."</p> - -<p>"You didn't work very hard last month," suggested Beckwith.</p> - -<p>"I didn't think it was any use when I saw such fellows as Cantwell, -Sheridan, and Murray getting in ahead of me, in spite of all I could do. -No matter for that; Russia is a big country."</p> - -<p>"That's so."</p> - -<p>"A fellow could easily get lost in it, for none of us speak a word of -Russian, and most of us not much French or German," added De Forrest, -dropping his voice down to a whisper.</p> - -<p>Beckwith looked at him, and tried to comprehend his meaning.</p> - -<p>"Those fellows that ran away in Sweden, pretending they couldn't find -the ship, got off easy," added the purser.</p> - -<p>"Not one of them has been punished, except Stockwell, who was only -deprived of his position as coxswain of the second cutter," replied -Beckwith, beginning to understand his friend. "All of them have been -allowed to go on shore with the rest."</p> - -<p>"I should like to take just such an excursion on the same terms," -continued De Forrest.</p> - -<p>"But those fellows owned up, made a clean breast of it, and promised to -be good boys. The penalty hung over them for a week, and only their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> -good behavior saved them."</p> - -<p>"Do you want to go down the Volga, Beck?"</p> - -<p>"Of course I do. I would buy out any fellow's chance if I could."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps we may go yet," replied De Forrest, with a wink.</p> - -<p>"How?"</p> - -<p>"Never mind it now. We are both in the first division, and shall go to -Moscow with the others. We will talk about it when we get there. I -expect to drop into the steerage next month, and I had as lief be hanged -for an old sheep as a lamb. Don't say anything."</p> - -<p>"Of course not; but you don't mean to run away—do you?"</p> - -<p>"Dry up!"</p> - -<p>"Nobody is near us."</p> - -<p>"I never was so disgusted with anything in my life as I am with this -election business. If I say anything, the fellows tell me it is a -chicken of my own hatching. Now, Cantwell pretends to be one of the -chaplain's lambs, affects a gentlemanly bearing, and studies seamanship -when all of us are on shore. Then he gave that Billy Bobstay a hundred -rubles, and the fellows all cheered him for it. I am so mad, I can -hardly hold in. I would rather be in a slave ship than here. I'm nobody -now."</p> - -<p>De Forrest's schemes for his personal advancement had been utterly -defeated, and this fact was the key to his disgust. Though he had been a -wild boy on shore, he had done very well on board of the ship, -stimulated by the hope of promotion, and by the enjoyment of his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> -position in the cabin. His fall from the rank of lieutenant had a bad -effect upon him, for instead of working to recover his lost position, he -permitted evil thoughts to take possession of his mind, and chose to -regard himself as an abused individual. Like many men in public life, he -had frittered away whatever influence he had by laboring for self, -instead of the general good. The students of the Academy "saw through -him," and realized that he acted only from selfish considerations, just -as the sensible people penetrate the motives of the politicians. If he -was "nobody" now, it was clearly his own fault.</p> - -<p>"What are you going to do, De Forrest?" asked Beckwith.</p> - -<p>"We won't talk about it now, for there will be plenty of time to -consider that matter when we get to Moscow. Do you know who will have -charge of our party?"</p> - -<p>"I heard some one mention the chaplain."</p> - -<p>"Good!" exclaimed De Forrest. "He is not particularly sharp."</p> - -<p>"But Dr. Winstock will go to Moscow with us, and accompany the Volga -party to Kazan."</p> - -<p>"All right; he will leave us in a day or two," replied the purser, with -a significant smile, as though the arrangement just suited him. "How -much money have you, Beckwith?"</p> - -<p>"I drew twenty pounds in St. Petersburg the other day, and I changed my -money in Stockholm into Russian paper. I have nearly two hundred -rubles."</p> - -<p>"Is that all you have?"</p> - -<p>"I thought that was a pretty big pile."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I have a letter of credit for a hundred pounds, upon which I can draw -in any city of Europe," added the purser.</p> - -<p>"Well, I can get more when I write for it."</p> - -<p>"You had better write, then, for you haven't enough left to last you -three weeks."</p> - -<p>"I don't know where we are going next," said Beckwith.</p> - -<p>"The squadron is going to Hamburg, I believe, and from there on a long -cruise, which may use up five or six weeks."</p> - -<p>"You mean up the Mediterranean."</p> - -<p>"Yes; and if I were you, I would have a letter of credit sent to me at -Constantinople."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps I will; but what's up, De Forrest?"</p> - -<p>"Don't say a word now. All our chances for a soft thing are gone in this -ship, and if you want to enjoy yourself for the rest of the season, keep -your weather eye open, and follow my lead—that's all for the present."</p> - -<p>At ten o'clock in the forenoon, the first division of the tourists, with -the Volga party, embarked in the steamer for St. Petersburg. Each of the -students had his pea-jacket and small bag. Mr. Agneau, the chaplain, was -in charge of the division, and the surgeon, of the Volga party. On their -arrival they took omnibuses for the Moscow station. Tickets for the -party were procured, with places in the <i>voiture au lit</i>, or sleeping -car. The distance to Moscow is six hundred and four versts, or four -hundred miles. The fare is nineteen rubles, first class, and thirteen -rubles, second class. The time is twenty hours by the express train,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> -and four or five more by ordinary trains. Twenty miles an hour is rather -slow for a fast train, but it is about the usual rate in Russia.</p> - -<p>"That's it; this is a Yankee invention," said Scott, as Dr. Winstock -handed him his ticket, which was precisely like those of the patented -system used on most of the American railroads. "This looks like home. It -is stamped with the date, and I suppose they have the machine for doing -it. Here, doctor; the date is wrong."</p> - -<p>"Wrong?" replied the surgeon, glancing at his ticket. "June 2; that's -right."</p> - -<p>"To-day is the 14th, sir."</p> - -<p>"The 2d in Russia, my boy," laughed the doctor, hastening away to -distribute his tickets.</p> - -<p>"I suppose you know what Old Style means, Scott—don't you?" said -Lincoln.</p> - -<p>"Well, I have heard of such a thing, but I didn't suppose any nation was -insane enough to use it."</p> - -<p>"The Russians are, and consequently are just twelve days behind the -times."</p> - -<p>"More than that."</p> - -<p>"Pope Gregory reformed the calendar, and for this reason the Russians -will not adopt the Gregorian system, but use the Julian, or Greek -calendar."</p> - -<p>"I say, commodore, don't your head ache?"</p> - -<p>"No; why should it?"</p> - -<p>"Because it is so full. I couldn't carry so much useful knowledge around -with me, unless I had a basket to tote it in."</p> - -<p>"I have looked the matter up since I came here. Have you drawn any money -in St. Petersburg."</p> - -<p>"Unfortunately, I have before me the melancholy duty of spending nearly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> -two hundred of these yellow paper rubles. Sad—isn't it?"</p> - -<p>"Have you your <i>bordereau</i>?" asked the commodore.</p> - -<p>"My what?"</p> - -<p>"Your <i>bordereau</i>."</p> - -<p>"No, no; I haven't that. I ate it instead of pickled onions for my -dinner yesterday," replied Scott, gravely.</p> - -<p>"Indeed!"</p> - -<p>"Yes; and if you have one you had better eat it, for they are first -rate."</p> - -<p>"Here is mine," added Lincoln, taking from his pocket the memorandum, -which the banker had given him, of the rate of exchange and amount of -money paid him. "You see the date is back in May, for I drew on the 10th -of June."</p> - -<p>"Just so; and that is a <i>bordereau</i>—is it?"</p> - -<p>"Yes."</p> - -<p>"Well, it looks like one."</p> - -<p>"Would you like to eat it instead of pickled onions?"</p> - -<p>"No; instead of <i>caviar</i>. But suppose we look into the cars," added -Scott, as they passed into the room from which passengers step upon the -trains.</p> - -<p>They entered the second-class sleeping-car. It was altogether a -different affair from that used in the United States; but only two -rubles extra are charged for this accommodation, though that is all it -is worth. It was a large, clumsily-built carriage, with a door in the -middle of each side, and one at each end opening upon a platform. On the -top was a second story, which, however, was only about half the size of -the lower part. The side doors open into an apartment in the middle of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> -the car, furnished with one large arm-chair in a corner, and seats on -the sides. From this room a flight of steps ascends to the second-story -apartment. From this central corridor two long passage-ways, on opposite -sides of the car, lead to the ends. From each of these passage-ways -three or four compartments are entered, each with two seats facing each -other. The passengers lie upon these seats at night, being provided with -a pillow, but with no covering of any kind. Each compartment has one or -two swinging shelves, or berths, besides, which are placed above the -windows. Of course only three or four passengers can be accommodated in -each compartment. There is no ventilation except at the windows; and if -a Russian cannot sleep, he lights a paper cigar every half hour, while a -dozen others may be smoking in their seats. There are conveniences at -each end of the car, which are hardly to be found on the trains of any -other country in Europe.</p> - -<p>The first-class sleeping-car is precisely like the second, except that -it is fitted up in a little better style. The train also includes other -carriages, some like those in common use on the continent, and one or -two quite different. In one first-class there were two apartments, one -at each end, with seats at the sides, and containing a table for -card-playing. These rooms are sold at one hundred rubles the trip, -whether occupied by one or a dozen persons, for they will seat sixteen. -Between these apartments is one for general use, fitted up with stuffed -arm-chairs. When the private apartments are not taken by parties, a -ruble or two, given to the conductor, will procure admission to them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> -after the train has passed a certain station. The conductors generally -speak German, and some of them French.</p> - -<p>The doctor, Lincoln, Billy Bobstay, and Scott, took one of the -compartments in the second-class sleeping-car. They made some -comparisons between the vehicle and those in use at home, and wondered -why the people of Europe insist upon making night travel by railroad as -uncomfortable as possible. At half past two the train started, and the -students were fully occupied for a time in observing the suburbs of the -city; but in half an hour there was nothing to be seen but the low, -level, marshy country, which is the same thing all the way to Moscow, -with hardly anything to vary its monotony.</p> - -<p>"We haven't seen any of the triumphal arches of St. Petersburg," said -Dr. Winstock. "The Moscow Gate is one of them, and is a very elaborate -work of art."</p> - -<p>"Where is it?" asked Lincoln.</p> - -<p>"On the road to Moscow, just outside of the city. It was erected in -honor of the Russian armies that fought in Persia, Turkey, and Poland. -The Triumphal Arch of Narva, on the road to the Baltic provinces, is -also a beautiful work, and commemorates the victories of the Russian -troops, who returned in 1815."</p> - -<p>"There's a village," said Lincoln.</p> - -<p>"I should think it was a collection of pigsties," added Scott.</p> - -<p>The houses were of the rudest construction, and looked more like -shanties than the abodes of human beings. They are built of logs<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> -generally, some hewn and others just as they fell, with roofs of boards, -the ends in many instances not squared. There was nothing like order in -their location. After running over two hours the train stopped at a -station. Like all the others on the road, it was a large and substantial -brick structure, with everything about it kept in good condition.</p> - -<p>The trains stop from ten minutes to half an hour at these stations, and -most of the students got out of the cars, anxious to see what they could -of the place and the people. The principal room was a large hall, in -which was a table set for meals. At one end was a bar, and in other -places were minor stands for other refreshments. One was for dispensing -tea, which may be said to be the national beverage of the Russians, -though they drink <i>vodka</i>—a strong liquor, not unlike the <i>finkel</i> of -the Swedes—to excess. A woman usually serves the tea in the station. In -front of her is an array of tumblers, in which the people drink their -tea, with a bowl filled with square lumps of sugar. Little pitchers of -milk are available, but the Russians seldom use this article. There is -also a plate of thinly sliced lemons. The traveller takes one of the -glasses, puts about three lumps of sugar in it, and the woman fills it -with the beverage, upon which is placed a slice of lemon. The tea is -quite yellow, and its flavor is excellent. It is brought from China over -land, and without doubt is the best to be had in Europe. The Russians -drink their tea very hot, and in enormous quantities. In the course of -his journey to Moscow, a passenger often drinks half a dozen glasses of -strong tea before he goes to sleep, and then the mystery is, how he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> -can go to sleep at all. The lemon is not squeezed in the beverage, but -is simply stirred about with the spoon. One not skilled in the art of -tea-drinking would hardly know that the lemon had been added.</p> - -<p>Coffee may be obtained at the same stand, but not one in twenty calls -for it. The tables are well supplied, and excellent roast beef is -served, with a variety of other simple dishes. At another station, -similar to the first, the students had their supper, or more properly -their dinner.</p> - -<p>"Can we eat Russian provender?" asked Scott.</p> - -<p>"Why not? It doesn't seem to be at all different from the diet of other -Europeans. Here is roast beef, and there are veal cutlets. The bread, -you perceive, is most excellent," replied Dr. Winstock. "Indeed, I think -the whitest and best bread in Europe is to be had in Russia."</p> - -<p>"But I had an idea that the Russians ate strange messes," added Scott.</p> - -<p>"There are peculiarly Russian dishes, but you do not find them to any -great extent in the restaurants on the railroads. <i>Kvas</i> is a beverage -of fermented rye. From this they make an iced soup, into which they put -meat, chopped herring, and cucumbers."</p> - -<p>"Whew!" whistled Scott, as the party seated themselves at the table.</p> - -<p>"They have cabbage soups and fish soups, which we should call chowder. -The finest fish in Russia is the sterlet, which is very expensive. The -poor people live on buckwheat and other coarse grains, and among them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> -the common dish is cabbage soup thickened with buckwheat or barley meal, -with meat or fish when it can be afforded, which is not often among the -poorest."</p> - -<p>"I shouldn't like that kind of grub."</p> - -<p>"Probably not; but you need not starve while you can get roast beef as -good as this, though it is a little tough."</p> - -<p>"No, sir; but I should starve on another article I see here; that is, -<i>caviar</i>—the abominable fish spawn. I tried it in Sweden, and didn't -get the taste of it out of my mouth for three weeks."</p> - -<p>"Yet it is esteemed a great delicacy in this country, and many -foreigners so regard it."</p> - -<p>"Their mouths and stomachs must be lined with cast-iron," laughed Scott.</p> - -<p>The party returned to the train, and the journey was continued. The -country was still level, with hardly anything like a hill to be seen. -Much of it was covered with pine and birch wood. A village of shanties -was occasionally passed, and around it were fields of grain, but there -were no fences. The view from the windows of the cars was ever the same, -and the travellers were soon weary of it. Scott wandered through the -carriage to see the passengers, for a few Russians had taken places in -it. He made a study of the conductor, who was certainly a fine-looking -fellow. He wore a Cossack cap, a short frock coat with a belt, and large -trousers stuffed into the top of his boots. At dark, which was late in -the evening in this high latitude, nearly ten, the students tried to go -to sleep, and most of them succeeded.</p> - -<p>At five o'clock in the morning, nearly all of them were awake when the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> -train stopped at Tver, which is the head of steamboat navigation on the -Volga. Those who had their eyes open went into the station for a cup of -coffee and a roll.</p> - -<p>"Now's our time," said De Forrest, in a low tone, as he finished his -coffee, and paid for it.</p> - -<p>"What do you mean?" asked Beckwith, as he followed the purser to the -rear of the station, where no one observed them.</p> - -<p>"Have you pluck enough to go with me?" replied De Forrest.</p> - -<p>"Go where?"</p> - -<p>"Down the Volga."</p> - -<p>"Run away?"</p> - -<p>"Yes."</p> - -<p>"I don't know about that. It is played out."</p> - -<p>"No, it isn't. We can have a good time, and not be under the nose of any -one. While the rest of them go to Moscow, we will go down to Nijni and -Kazan."</p> - -<p>"But I want to see Moscow."</p> - -<p>"We will see that by and by. We will go down the river, and keep out of -the way till all hands have returned to the ship. Then we will go it to -Berlin or Warsaw."</p> - -<p>"I haven't money enough to go such a trip."</p> - -<p>"I will lend you some when you are short."</p> - -<p>De Forrest argued the matter until Beckwith yielded the point, but -rather reluctantly. They wore their pea-jackets, and had their bags in -their hands, for the purser said they would change their seats when they -returned to the train. Retreating from the station, they kept out of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> -sight till the cars had started, and then hastened to find the steamer -on the river. The captain was a Finn, and spoke a little English, so -that they had no difficulty in obtaining tickets and places. As De -Forrest had declared that they intended to change their places, the two -students with whom they had occupied a compartment in the car, did not -suspect that they had been left behind when the train moved off, and -they were not missed till the party arrived at Moscow, at ten o'clock.</p> - -<p>The students piled into the droskies,—two on the seat, and one with the -driver,—and were driven to the Hôtel d'Hambourg, which is kept by -Madame Billet, an English lady, in the Rue Lubianka, near the centre of -the city. The lady proprietor is a most excellent woman, very attentive -to her guests, able and willing to give all needed information in regard -to the city. Either she or her charming sister presides at the table, -and to an American or an Englishman there is no more home-like -establishment on the continent. When the roll of the first division was -called, in assigning rooms to the party, the absence of De Forrest and -Beckwith was discovered; but it was not supposed that they had -absconded, and a servant was sent back to the station to find them. The -chaplain was very much troubled; but the surgeon assured him that no -possible harm could have come to the absentees.</p> - -<p>Lincoln, Scott, and Billy Bobstay were assigned to one room. It was in -no respect different from a chamber in an English hotel, except that a -large stove or furnace was set in the wall, the fire-door opening into -the hall. Every room was provided with this heating apparatus. Having<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> -arranged their toilets, the party gathered again in the coffee-room for -breakfast. The meal was in English style, consisting of cold tongue, -cold chicken, and capital coffee. When it was finished, Dr. Winstock -gave a brief description and historical account of Moscow.</p> - -<p>"Moscow was until 1720 the capital of the Russian empire," said he. -"This part of it was called Muscovy, and came to include Novgorod and -Tver, the two provinces, or governments, through which we passed in -coming from St. Petersburg. What is called Great Russia comprises -sixteen governments, among which are nearly all the ancient grand -dukedoms. It was founded in the middle of the twelfth century, and was -taken and plundered by Tamerlane in the fourteenth century; nearly -consumed by fire in 1536, and again in 1572, when it was fired by the -Tartars, and one hundred thousand people perished in the flames and by -the sword; the Poles fired it in 1611, and in 1812 it was burned by the -Russians to prevent the French from wintering in it. Moscow is the Holy -City of the Russians. It is a place of great commercial importance, -having a vast trade, extending into Asia, and it is also a large -manufacturing place. The emperors are crowned here, and on account of -its holy character and sacred associations, no Czar would dare to -neglect at least a semiannual visit; and custom requires that he should -present his oldest son and heir in this city soon after he becomes of -age.</p> - -<p>"Moscow is one of the most irregularly built cities in the world. The -Kremlin is in the centre. Half a mile from it there is a series of -streets nearly encircling it, on the site of which was formerly the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> -moat of the castle. A mile and a half distant there is another series of -avenues, which form a complete circle. Within this line the map of the -city looks very much like a well-constructed cobweb; but the town -extends far beyond this line, and has a circumference of twenty miles. -The Moscow river, a branch of the Oka, runs through the city, with a -great bend extending up to the Kremlin."</p> - -<p>"What is the Kremlin, sir?" asked a student.</p> - -<p>"It was originally the citadel or fortress of the city. It was first -enclosed with oak walls, and afterwards with stone. It is in the form of -a triangle, with a perimeter of about a mile, and contains the palace, -the holiest churches, and many other public buildings. Moscow has -between three and four hundred churches, the number being variously -estimated, for some writers include several in one establishment, while -others count all as one. A monastery may have two or three churches -within its walls. Now we will walk to the Kremlin, and ascend the Tower -of Ivan Veliki, or John the Great, from which you will obtain a fine -view of the whole city."</p> - -<p>In Moscow it is difficult, if not impossible, to obtain a guide who -speaks English; but a German was procured, and the students left the -hotel under his direction. The walk through the streets was full of -interest, and there was no lack of variety. There is not a straight -avenue in the city, and there seems to be no fixed line upon which the -houses are erected. Now the street is narrow, and then it suddenly -doubles its width for a short distance, and some of them are nearly in -the shape of a wedge. They twist about even worse than in Boston, where<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> -the tradition is that the early fathers followed the cow-paths when they -laid out the streets. They are paved with irregular stones, and there -seem to be no particular localities in which the wealthier class erect -their elegant residences, for next to a lofty and beautiful mansion may -be the humble low house of the poor man. The buildings are painted or -colored in nearly all the hues of the rainbow.</p> - -<p>One cannot walk far without coming to a church, either small or large, -and at least a dozen domes are always in sight—gold, green, and blue. -The signs in the streets, too, are peculiar, and more intelligible than -in most Russian cities, for pictorial effects seem to be the fashion, -and the butcher, baker, grocer, and other merchants cover all the -available space in front of their shops with representations of their -various wares.</p> - -<p>In many of the open spaces there are drosky stands and several new -varieties of carriages were presented to the students. Most of the -droskies have hoods, or covers, like a chaise, and are wider than those -of St. Petersburg. One kind of vehicle consists of a board, covered and -stuffed, extending from the forward to the hind axletree. The drivers -are dressed as in other Russian cities, and carry their white gloves, -while waiting for a job, in their belt. These men are very polite, and -take off their hats when they solicit employment.</p> - -<p>"There is the Kremlin," said the doctor, as he pointed to the high -walls, upon which, at intervals are several elaborate towers. "You will -enter by the 'Sacred Gate,' or 'Porta Triumphalis.' Be sure and take -off your caps, and do not put them on till you have passed entirely<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> -through the archway."</p> - -<p>This opening was under a Gothic tower, and is sometimes called the -"Redeemer's Gate," from the picture of the Redeemer, of Smolensk, which -is placed above it. It is held in the highest reverence by the Russians, -who believe that the Tartars were driven back by it, and that miraculous -clouds concealed the defenders of the fortress, who sought its -protection from the eyes of the enemy. It is in a glass case, and a huge -lamp, raised and lowered by a large chain over a pulley, is always -burning before it. It is said that the French, supposing the frame to be -of gold, wished to plunder it, but every ladder planted beneath -instantly broke in twain. The invaders then loaded a cannon to batter -down the wall, but the powder would not burn till they made a great fire -of coals over the vent, and then it went off the wrong way, blowing out -the breech of the gun, and killing some of the artillerists. The -Frenchmen then acknowledged the miraculous character of the picture, and -retired, leaving it unharmed. It was borne in the battle-field by the -armies of Pojarski, and the Poles fled before it. On account of the -signal service it has thus rendered, every one must bare his head as he -passes through the gate, be he Czar or peasant, Greek or Christian. At -the entrance stood a soldier with a drawn sabre in his hand, who -enforced this behest of custom. Umbrellas must be closed, and care is -taken to prevent dogs from entering the enclosure by this gate. The -students uncovered, and passed through. The Russians bowed, knelt, and -crossed themselves repeatedly, as they did so.</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span></p> -</div> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> - -<p class="center mt2 title5">IN THE KREMLIN OF MOSCOW.</p> - - -<p>The guide led his party directly to the Tower of Ivan Veliki, though the -students saw the great bell and a dozen other objects which challenged -their attention at the same moment. The curious spires, domes, and -cupolas, so different from anything they had seen before, were full of -interest. They were covered with gold, and glittered in the sunshine. -These domes are not such as are seen in the United States, but are -purely Oriental. They are somewhat in the shape of an inverted onion. -But there are also cupolas of almost every other shape—round, square, -and octagonal, and even all three in the same one. The doctor hurried -the boys into the tower, wishing them to obtain a general view before -they attended to the details.</p> - -<p>This tower is a very singular structure. It was built in 1600, by Boris -Godunoff. It is three hundred and twenty-five feet from the ground to -the top of the cross, and contains five stories, the first four of which -are square, and the last circular, with a dome. In the lower story is a -chapel, and the next three contain thirty-four bells of all sizes, the -largest of which weighs sixty-four tons. Though it is a pygmy compared<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> -with the great bell at the foot of the tower, it is a monster beside -those in ordinary use, for our church bells rarely exceed one sixth of -its weight. There are forty or fifty bells in the entire tower, all of -which are rung at Easter, to proclaim anew that "Christ is risen." The -great bell thunders forth the glad tidings, which are also gently -chanted in the sweet tones of the small silver bells.</p> - -<p>From each story of the tower a view of the city is obtained, but in the -highest beneath the dome, the most sublime panorama is presented. There -is no such city as Moscow in the world, and the sight is therefore as -unique as it is beautiful. For half an hour the students gazed with -wonder and admiration upon the beautiful picture.</p> - -<p>The party descended, and hastened to the Great Bell, called the <i>Czar -Kolokol</i>, or Czar of Bells. Some say that it was never hung, though a -Polish traveller, in 1611, speaks of a bell he saw that required -twenty-four men to swing the clapper in ringing it. The present bell was -recast by order of the Empress Anne, in 1733, its predecessors having -fallen in the several fires, and been broken. This one also had a fall -in a fire in 1737, which knocked a piece out of the side. It lay buried -in the ground where it fell till Nicholas caused it to be placed on a -stone platform in 1836. The bell weighs about two hundred and twenty -tons. The piece broken out weighs eleven tons. The interior is twenty -feet high, with a diameter of twenty-one feet. It is two feet thick, and -has figures in relief of Alexis and Anne, and of some sacred subjects, -with an inscription relating to its origin and size. On the summit is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> -a cross, and the interior has been consecrated as a chapel. The bell is -regarded as holy by the people. At five cents a pound, the material -would be worth over twenty thousand dollars. As the thing is utterly -useless either for service or as a work of art, and perpetuates no -historical event, this dead capital would be better employed in planting -school-houses in the villages, the influence of which would soon -transform the shanties into houses, and add wealth to the nation by the -more intelligent and rapid development of its vast resources.</p> - -<p>The party next visited the palace occupied by the members of the royal -family when they visit Moscow. On this locality stood the palaces of the -ancient sovereigns, which were partially destroyed by fire, and rebuilt. -The present structure was built in the reign of Nicholas, and all that -was left of the old palaces was incorporated in it. A porter was -detailed to accompany the students, and they passed through the private -apartments of the emperor and empress, which are very elegant, and the -boys looked with no little curiosity into bed-rooms, cabinets, -bath-rooms, where royalty slept, wrote, and took its bath in marble -tubs. The guide was very particular to show an elevator in which the -empress is raised to her apartments above; but it was hardly a curiosity -to the young Americans, who had seen vastly superior machines of this -kind in the hotels of their own country.</p> - -<p>In the palace are three magnificent halls, which are not surpassed by -anything in Europe. The one devoted to the order of St. George is two -hundred feet long. The old parts of the palace, which have been -restored in the ancient style are as curious as they are interesting.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> -Connected with the main building are the throne-room and -banqueting-hall, where the emperor, after his coronation in the church, -sits in state, wearing for the first time the imperial insignia; and -here also he dines with the nobles. Near this is the Terema, a most -singular edifice, four stories high, but each of them diminishing in -size till the upper one contains but a single room. In ancient times it -was occupied by the Czarina and her children. Above the first, each -story opens upon a balcony on which the inmates could walk. The affair -looks more like a pyramid than a house. It contains many relics of the -ancient sovereigns.</p> - -<p>Near the palace is the treasury, in which are kept the venerable relics -of Russian history. It contains vast quantities of armor, weapons, -banners, and other military trophies. In one room are original portraits -of the Romanoff family, and the coronation chairs of several sovereigns. -In the next room is the throne of Poland, brought from Warsaw; an ivory -throne brought by Sophia from Constantinople on her marriage with Ivan -III. Another throne came from Persia, and is studded with diamonds and -rubies, nearly a thousand of the former. An orb sent by the Greek -emperor to Vladimir is covered with precious stones. In a wardrobe are -the masquerade dress of Catharine I., her coronation robes, and articles -of dress which belonged to Peter the Great, Peter II., and Paul I. There -are also in this room the crown of the Kingdom of Kazan, and several -others, all of them glittering with jewels; that of Anne, containing -over twenty-five hundred diamonds; with more thrones and coronation<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> -robes. Millions upon millions of dead capital lie here, which, however, -would make diamonds and rubies a drug, if thrown upon the market. The -walking-stick of Ivan the Terrible, having a sharp point, with which the -fiery Czar used to punch the feet of those who vexed him, may be seen. -Another room, up stairs, is filled with curious plate, cups, jugs, jars, -candlesticks, and other articles of silver—most of it presented to the -Czars. But the students were tired of curiosities, and hardly glanced at -the old carriages of the court in the last apartment.</p> - -<p>Opposite the great bell is the little palace, in which Nicholas -sometimes lived, and in which the present emperor was born. One of the -rooms contains a number of loaves of bread presented to the emperor on -his visits to the city. When the sovereign arrives at Moscow, it is -the custom for the chief magistrate to present to him a silver salver, -on which are a gold vessel filled with salt, and a loaf of bread, -requesting him to taste the bread of Moscow. The emperor nibbles the -loaf, and invites the official to dine with him in the palace. By this -time the Cathedral of the Assumption was open, and the party entered. -It does not conform to the idea of a cathedral in other countries, for -it is rather contracted in its dimensions. It is crowded with pictures -and shrines. On the screen is a picture of the Holy Virgin of Vladimir, -which the visitor is informed was painted by St. Luke, adorned with -jewels to the value of over two hundred thousand dollars. On the other -side is the shrine of St. Philip, the patriarch of the church, who had -the courage to say to Ivan the Terrible, "As the image of the Divinity, -I reverence thee; as a man, thou art but dust and ashes," and who was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> -finally murdered at a monastery in Tver by Ivan's order. His tomb is in -this church, which also contains the remains of other holy men. Behind -the altar-screen there is a gold model of Mount Sinai, in which is a -gold coffer to contain the Host, the whole worth about a quarter of -a million dollars. Under it are deposited some of the most important -state papers, including the Act of Succession, decreed by Paul I., -the abdication of Constantine, and similar documents. Belonging to -the cathedral is a Bible, presented by the mother of Peter the Great, -weighing a hundred and twenty pounds, the cover of which is studded -with precious stones, worth nearly a million dollars.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> -<img src="images/i_252.jpg" width="500" height="354" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p class="center"> -<span class="smcap">Royal Palace, Moscow.</span></p> -</div></div> -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> -<img src="images/i_252b.jpg" width="500" height="340" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p class="center"> -<span class="smcap">The Temple of the Saviour, Moscow.</span></p> -</div></div> -<p class="center mt2 title6">MOSCOW PHOTOGRAPHS.</p> - -<p>In front of the platform is a throne for the empress, another for the -Patriarch, and a third is the ancient throne of Vladimir. Behind the -screen are several chapels, one of which contains tombs of the -patriarchs; in another are some sacred relics, as a nail of the true -cross, a robe of the Saviour, and part of one worn by the Blessed -Virgin, with a picture of the latter, said to have been painted by one -of the apostles. The Assumption is the holiest and most highly venerated -church in Russia. The coronation of the emperor, which takes place here, -is a most solemn ceremonial, for it is the consecration of the -sovereign. It is preceded by fasting and seclusion for preparation. The -Czar recites aloud the confession of faith, and on his knees offers the -prayer for the empire. He places the crown upon his own head, and -walking through the royal gates, takes the bread and wine from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> -altar without the aid of the priest, as in ordinary cases, the recipient -is not permitted to touch the elements himself.</p> - -<p>Close by the Assumption is the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael, which -is the mausoleum of the sovereigns of the Rurik and Romanoff families -from an early period down to the time of Peter the Great, and of Peter -II. since that time. The cenotaphs are covered with faded crimson palls, -badly spotted with grease from the candles above them. The tomb of young -Dimitri, son of Ivan the Terrible, murdered by Boris Godunoff, is -venerated by the faithful, because, after the anarchy and bloodshed -produced by the false Dimitris, the coffin and body of the true one were -discovered by a miracle. The tomb of Ivan the Terrible is next to the -altar, though he often broke the canons of the church. His cross, set -with very large pearls and an emerald a third of an inch in diameter, is -preserved here.</p> - -<p>The churches of the Annunciation and of the Redeemer are close by; but -the students declared that they had seen churches enough for one day, -and they entered the House of the Holy Synod, containing the wardrobe -and treasury of the church, where robes, mitres, and crosiers, decked -with precious stones, are exhibited. In this house is prepared the holy -oil used in baptism, in consecrating churches, and in anointing the -emperor at his coronation. The vessels used in compounding it are of -solid silver, weighing thirteen hundred pounds. It is composed of thirty -different ingredients, the principal of which is pure Florence oil,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> -with wine, fragrant gums, balsam, and spices. It is made according to -the ancient rule, and a few drops of the chrism brought from -Constantinople is mingled with it. Some say this is a part of the -ointment used by Mary Magdalen in anointing the feet of the Saviour; and -a portion of the new chrism is returned to the "Alabaster," which -contains it, each time any is used. All the children of Orthodox parents -are anointed with this oil at their baptism.</p> - -<p>The baptism of the child consists of four ceremonials. By its sponsors -it first makes the confession of faith. The priest, after crossing the -child and saying prayers, blows upon it, to drive away evil and unclean -spirits. After the prayer the parents leave the room, thereby -symbolizing the entire giving up of the child to the sponsors; and this -custom is followed even in the imperial family. The second step is the -immersion; and the priest, in full canonicals, blesses the water, and -anoints the infant, for the first time, on the breast for "the healing -of body and soul;" on the ears for "the hearing of the Word;" on the -hands, because "Thy hands have made and fashioned me;" on the feet, that -they "may walk in the way of thy commandments." He then rolls up his -sleeves, takes the child in his hands, stopping the ears with his thumb -and little finger, the eyes with two other fingers, and the mouth and -nose with the palm of his right hand, and holding up its body with the -left, he skilfully plunges it into a font three times, in the name of -the three persons of the Trinity.</p> - -<p>The next step is the sacrament of unction, in which the child is again -anointed with the holy oil, the brow, eyes, nose, ears, lips, breast,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span> -hands, and feet being touched with the chrism, by means of a pencil or -feather: it is "the seal of the gift of the Holy Ghost." The last step -is the washing of the child, and the cutting off its hair in four -places, forming a cross, which is regarded as a sacrifice, its hair -being the only gift the infant has to offer to its Maker. As it is cut, -the priest says, "The servant of God, Nicholas, is shorn in the name of -the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." The service is accompanied by prayers -and litanies.</p> - -<p>Near the Redeemer Gate of the Kremlin are the Miracle Monastery and the -Ascension Convent, in which are the tombs of many Czarinas, including -the mother of Ivan the Terrible, and four of his six wives, the wife of -Michael, the first wife of Peter the Great, and others. The arsenal -contains the cannon lost by the French in the disastrous campaign of -1812, represented by three hundred and sixty-five guns.</p> - -<p>The huge piece at the corner of the building weighs forty tons. Outside -of the original Kremlin, in the part added by Helena, the mother of Ivan -the Terrible, and the regent during his minority, and called the <i>Kitai -Gorod</i>, or Chinese Town, is the most remarkable building in Moscow, the -Cathedral of St. Basil. It has no less than eleven domes, each different -in shape and color from the others, over as many chapels, with other -spires and cupolas. It looks like a little forest of grotesque temples. -One dome is gilded; another is checkered with green over a ground of -yellow; another is bright red, with white stripes; another looks like a -honeycomb, and another like a coat of mail. Some forty years ago a -mechanical diorama was exhibited in the United States, called<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span> -"Maelzel's Burning of Moscow," in which the French troops marched into -the place, the Russians fired the city, the show ending with the -"terrific explosion of the Kremlin." The prominent object was a building -like the church of St. Basil, which was popularly understood to be the -Kremlin, and which was blown sky high at the conclusion. Happily it is -still safe, though other buildings in the Kremlin fared worse. The -visitor winds about in the little circular chapels inside, open to the -roof of the domes, and perhaps thinks he has fallen into a nest of -chimneys. They are dedicated to different saints, and are half filled -with relics and holy vessels. On the site of it stood an ancient church -and cemetery, where St. Basil, a prophet and miracle-worker, was buried -in the middle of the sixteenth century. He was said to be "idiotic for -Christ's sake." Ivan the Terrible ordered a church to be built over him, -and this was erected by an Italian architect. The cruel tyrant was so -delighted with the curious edifice, that he ordered the eyes of the -architect to be put out, so that he could not see to build another to -equal or surpass it.</p> - -<p>The view of St. Basil closed the labors of the day, and the tired party -walked back to the hotel, where dinner was served. Mr. Agneau's first -inquiry was for De Forrest and Beckwith, but nothing had been seen or -heard of them.</p> - -<p>"Can anything have happened to them?" asked the troubled chaplain.</p> - -<p>"I think not," replied the surgeon. "Probably they have done as others -have—run away for a time."</p> - -<p>"Impossible!" exclaimed Mr. Agneau. "They were officers, and -well-behaved young gentlemen."</p> - -<p>"Very likely; but they have been much dissatisfied since the election. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> -have feared that De Forrest would make trouble."</p> - -<p>"But in a strange land, like Russia, unable to speak a word of the -language, they would not be likely to run away."</p> - -<p>"We have the fact, which is better than theory."</p> - -<p>"Who saw them last?" asked the chaplain, turning to the students.</p> - -<p>"They were in the compartment with me," said Vroome, the third master. -"Early this morning, when we crossed the river,—I forget the name of -the place—"</p> - -<p>"Tver," suggested the surgeon.</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir; that was it. They took their bags and said they were going to -change their seats," added Vroome.</p> - -<p>"That makes it all plain. They have taken the steamer down to Nijni -Novgorod, and very likely we shall find them there. Give yourself no -uneasiness about them, Mr. Agneau. I will warrant that they are safe -enough, and will return when their money is gone, if not before. I will -look out for them."</p> - -<p>Dr. Winstock, who had been in the ship since she was launched, -understood the boys better than the meek, gentle-hearted clergyman, and -had seen too much running away to be alarmed for the safety of the -absentees. The party were somewhat rested in the evening, and, taking -carriages, drove to the Petrofski Park and Gardens, where a band played, -and where the people of the city in large numbers were to be seen. On -the return they visited an immense restaurant, in order to see more of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span> -the people. In this place there was a large orchestrion, a musical -instrument, which, being wound up, plays a variety of airs with all the -effects of a full orchestra, with drums, cymbals, and trumpets. It -executed the Russian National Hymn nearly as effectively as a band could -do it. The waiters in this establishment were all Tartars, dressed in -loose white pants and tunics. The visitors were drinking tea generally, -but a few indulged in beer and stronger drinks.</p> - -<p>The students slept soundly that night, for they were generally very -tired, and even Scott's jokes were of the most sickly character. But at -eight o'clock in the morning they were on their feet again, exploring -the city on their own hook, in the vicinity of the hotel. Lincoln find -Scott ventured to enter a shop to purchase some photographs. One of the -salesmen spoke French very well, and the business was made easy to them. -After breakfast, the party started together again, and their first point -was the Romanoff House, the birthplace of Michael, the first sovereign -of the present dynasty. The original was built in the sixteenth century, -but it has been carefully restored after suffering much from fire and -the sack of the invading French. It is filled with relics of the ancient -time, and in the nursery are a cradle, and the toys and playthings of -the Czar. The furniture of the bed-room is rather curious, and in a box -are the slippers of the monarch, and the night-dress of his wife. The -walls are covered with stamped leather.</p> - -<p>From this house the party went to the Bazaar in the <i>Kitai Gorod</i>. Its -stalls contain everything that can possibly be wanted by a Russian or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> -anybody else, from old clothes up to paintings and statuary. Second-hand -articles of every description form a considerable portion of the trade. -Siberian and Circassian wares, and specialities from other remote -regions of the empire, are on view and sale here. The Bazaar is a -perfect labyrinth of stalls, and the scene is sometimes quite exciting. -Opposite the principal entrance are the statues of Minin and Pojarski; -the former, a peasant, urging the latter, a boyar, to deliver Moscow -from the dominion of the Poles, which was accomplished by their -inspiration and labor. Outside of the walls of the <i>Kitai Gorod</i> is the -Winter Market. As soon as the cold weather comes, the farmers slaughter -their live stock in vast numbers, and the carcasses are immediately -exposed till they are frozen, and then sent to market. Housekeepers then -lay in a large supply of frozen provision, which is always ready for -use, the quantity required for cooking at any time being first thawed in -cold water. Frozen oxen, sheep, calves, and other animals stand up in -the market, ready to be chopped and sawed into pieces. Fish from the -White Sea, the northern lakes, and the great rivers, are brought to the -market in this condition. Sometimes, but very rarely, a sudden thaw -produces sad havoc among the frozen provisions.</p> - -<p>Between the two gateways which form the principal entrance to the -Chinese Tower is the chapel of the "Iberian Mother of God." It Is a -picture brought from Mount Athos, a holy mount of the Greeks, where four -thousand monks dwelt, during the reign of Alexis, who is said to have -invited the saint to take up her abode in Moscow. The picture, placed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> -in a sanctuary at the end of the chapel, is believed to have the power -of working miracles, and is regarded with the deepest veneration by the -Russians. All who pass bow and cross themselves, and many kneel and -prostrate themselves on the ground. On a holiday several hundred may be -seen at their devotions. Elegantly dressed ladies leave their carriages, -and bow down with the beggars. The emperors frequently visit it, and -Nicholas, when he could not sleep at night, is said to have roused the -monks at midnight to enable him to attend to his devotions in this -chapel. The religious zeal of the people in Moscow even exceeds that of -St. Petersburg. Donations for the church are received at this chapel to -the amount of about fifty thousand dollars a year, of which thirty-five -thousand is appropriated to the salary of the Metropolitan of Moscow, -who need not starve on this sum, though it is not the whole of his -income.</p> - -<p>The party next walked to the <i>Manège</i>, or Great Riding School, which is -believed to be the largest apartment in the world with the roof -unsupported by columns. It is five hundred and sixty feet long, one -hundred and fifty-eight feet wide, and forty-two feet high. Two -regiments of cavalry can go through their evolutions at the same time in -this vast space. It is heated by twenty immense stoves, so that it can -be used in the coldest weather. At this point carriages were taken for a -ride to Sparrow Hills. On the way, not far from the Kremlin, the -tourists stopped at the new Temple of the Saviour, in process of -erection. It is the noblest church in Russia, and was built to -commemorate the expulsion of the French. It was to have been erected -at Sparrow Hills, from which Napoleon had his first view of the city,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span> -and doubtless his last; but a good foundation could not be obtained, and -it was commenced on the present site, more than fifty years ago. Like -other Russian churches, it is in the form of a Greek cross. Though -sculpture is not often seen on Greek churches, this one is ornamented on -the outside with scenes from Scripture and the national history in high -relief, the figures being of colossal size. As these "human and divine -forms" are not for purposes of worship, they do not seem to be -inconsistent even with the Russian belief. The stone is of a light -color, and the structure is crowned with a magnificent golden dome, -which surpasses everything else in beauty in the country. The interior -was filled with stagings, though a glimpse of the rich and beautiful -paintings on the inside of the dome could be obtained. The walls are -covered with variegated marble. The building has already cost ten -million rubles, and it is said that the entire cost will be fifteen -millions.</p> - -<p>Crossing the Moskva River, the carriages proceeded by a very broad, -straight avenue, through a gate, into the suburbs. The ascent of the -hill is by a soft, oozy road, so trying for the horses that most of the -students preferred to walk. The summit was gained. On it is a villa of -the empress, and an estate of Prince Galitzin; but the party went to a -cottage, where tea, coffee, and other refreshments are furnished. In the -rear of it is a spacious veranda, with tables, where the students seated -themselves, and from which a splendid view of Moscow is obtained. -Beneath them flowed the Moskva, which could be seen for miles, winding -through the level plain. The party drank coffee, enjoyed the view for an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span> -hour, and then returned to the city, visiting one of the monasteries on -the way. Near the Kremlin they encountered a funeral on a grand scale, -and the drivers of the carriages stopped at once. The aspect of the -street was suddenly changed, for all business was suspended, all heads -uncovered, and every passer-by halted. The procession was headed by a -body of priests, clothed in black robes, and bearing lighted tapers and -various religious emblems in their hands. The hearse was drawn by four -horses, caparisoned in black, which covered their legs, with plumes on -their heads. The vehicle was an open platform on wheels, upon which lay -the coffin, covered with a pall. It had steps at the sides, on which -stood priests, holding images over the body, while others followed it. -The bells were tolling, and a strange chant rose from the procession. -The spectators uttered prayers for the repose of the dead, which they -always do on meeting a funeral, though the deceased be an entire -stranger to them. The students took off their caps, and this custom, not -entirely unknown in our own country, is worthy of respect.</p> - -<p>"In Russia, it is believed that a person cannot die easily, if at all, -when there is a pigeon feather in his pillow," said Dr. Winstock, as the -carriages continued on their way. "When the sufferer seems to die hard, -they think there must be a pigeon feather in the pillow under his head, -and they often change it, so as to be sure on this point."</p> - -<p>"What harm does the pigeon feather do?" asked Lincoln, curiously.</p> - -<p>"The dove, or pigeon, is the emblem of the Holy Ghost, and the bird is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span> -never eaten by the most rigid believers; and on no account would they -use its feathers to make a pillow, for the bird is held in the highest -respect."</p> - -<p>The party arrived at the hotel, where an early dinner was ready for -them, after which the Volga partook droskies for the Nijni Novgorod -Railroad. The first division, visited the Troitsad Monastery, forty -miles distant, the next day. It was founded by St. Sergius, in the -fourteenth century. He was the most holy of all the monks, and the -monastery is the most sacred shrine. Russian tradition says that he was -visited in his cell by the Virgin, attended by the apostles Peter and -John. It is a fortress, in fact, and has withstood many sieges. Neither -plague nor cholera has ever entered its walls. It includes ten churches, -is endowed with immense riches, and at one time held over a hundred -thousand serfs. The monks in Russia are called the Black Clergy, to -distinguish them from the White Clergy, who are the priests that -officiate in the churches. When the wife of one of the latter dies, he -must either secularize himself or enter a monastery. The highest -officers in the church and the members of the Holy Synod, however, are -taken from the monks.</p> - -<p>The division returned to Moscow in the afternoon and on the following -day took the train for St. Petersburg. The second division arrived on -the forenoon of the same day, and proceeded to see the sights already -described.</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span></p> -</div> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> - -<p class="center mt2 title5">DOWN THE VOLGA.</p> - - -<p>A difference of three rubles in the fare does not compensate the -traveller for the discomforts of the second-class cars from Moscow to -Nijni Novgorod, and Dr. Winstock took first-class tickets for his little -party; indeed, it does not pay to go there at all, except during the -great fair. The cars were very good, in one of which was the innovation -of a door connecting two compartments, and our party took possession of -it, though one gentleman had already seated himself there. He was very -polite, and spoke French, so that the doctor was not at all anxious to -get rid of him. The train started. The landscape was about the same as -on the road from St. Petersburg; consequently there was little to be -seen from the windows.</p> - -<p>The train was late, and did not arrive at its destination till nine -o'clock in the morning. Most of the students, by doubling up on the -seats, had slept very well, and were tolerably fresh. They entered the -fine brick station, and seated themselves in the restaurant. The Tartar -waiters were all attention.</p> - -<p>"Breakfast—<i>Déjeûner</i>—<i>Frühstück</i>," said Lincoln who had seated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span> -himself with Scott and Bill Bobstay.</p> - -<p>The waiter smiled blandly, and shook his head.</p> - -<p>"<i>Café</i>," added the commodore.</p> - -<p>"<i>Da</i>," which is the Russian for "yes."</p> - -<p>"<i>Bifstek?</i>"</p> - -<p>"<i>Da.</i>"</p> - -<p>"Will you have the same, Scott?" added Lincoln.</p> - -<p>"No; I think not. Please to ask him for mutton chops, boiled eggs, and -fried potatoes," replied Scott.</p> - -<p>"Suppose you ask him yourself," laughed the commodore.</p> - -<p>"I don't speak any Russian. I'm afraid to learn it; think it would knock -my teeth out."</p> - -<p>"What will you have, Billy?" added Lincoln.</p> - -<p>"The same that you do."</p> - -<p>"I don't see that I can get anything else. Where is Mr. Blownynozeoff?" -continued Scott.</p> - -<p>"Who is he?"</p> - -<p>"Why, the Russian that rode with us."</p> - -<p>This gentleman now appeared with the doctor, whom he had been assisting -to procure tickets for the steamer, and he was kind enough to order -breakfast for the whole party. It was good, and well served, with -nothing peculiar about it, except that the butter was in glass jars, the -inside of metal, and very dirty and cheesy. There were plenty of -droskies at the door, and three of them were taken for the ride to the -steamer.</p> - -<p>"Go ahead, Switchemoff," said Scott, as he seated himself with Billy -Bobstay.</p> - -<p>The Russian gentleman directed the drivers where to go, and they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span> -started. Descending a gentle slope, the party came to the fair grounds; -but they were not to examine these till their return from Kazan. The -road was very dusty, and in wet weather the mud is very deep. Crossing -the Oka River on a bridge of boats, the travellers entered what is -properly the town, and soon reached the point on the river where the -steamers lay. There were several of them at the quay, and it was -difficult to determine which was the right one, since neither the doctor -nor the students could read her name on the ticket or on the boat. But -the card was shown to a man, who pointed to the right steamer, and they -went on board of her. As in other parts of Europe, porters always stand -ready—too ready, sometimes—to carry the travellers' baggage, and one -who cannot speak the language has only to show his ticket to one of -them, and he will be conducted to the right place.</p> - -<p>The party, having first-class tickets, hastened aft to where the best -cabin is usually located, and went below. The accommodations were not -elegant, certainly. There were no berths, only divans around the -apartment, which the students made haste to secure, by placing their -bags upon them. Having performed this necessary duty, they returned to -the deck to examine the steamer, and see the strange sights. The craft -was rather odd in shape, her bow and stern being depressed more than the -part amidships, so that the deck sloped down, going forward or aft. The -"bridge" is a platform between the paddle-boxes, of considerable size, -which only first-class passengers are permitted to occupy. Upon it is -the steering-wheel, which is about six feet high.</p> - -<p>"See here! How's this?" said Scott, as he led the way forward. "What is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> -this coop for?"</p> - -<p>It was a house on deck, containing a stairway, and a small room with a -table in it. The apartment was handsomely furnished, and was even -luxurious compared with the after cabin.</p> - -<p>"Let us go in, and see," replied Billy Bobstay; and they entered.</p> - -<p>Descending the stairs, they came to a cabin in the forward part of the -vessel, with a broad divan around it, like the other, but covered with -drab cloth. It was very neatly furnished, and provided with every -convenience except berths.</p> - -<p>"We are first-class, and we have got into the wrong coop," said Scott.</p> - -<p>"That's so," added Lincoln. "We will change our baggage."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps we may be mistaken. This may be the Czar's cabin," suggested -Scott.</p> - -<p>At this moment a short man, wearing a very long black frock coat, -entered. When he saw the passengers, he promptly removed his cap, and -bowed, so that the students concluded he was one of the stewards.</p> - -<p>"I say, Knockmyheadoff, is this the first-class cabin?" demanded Scott.</p> - -<p>The man smiled sweetly, and shook his head.</p> - -<p>"He don't speak English," said Lincoln, producing his ticket, and -showing it to the steward.</p> - -<p>The man glanced at it, bowed, smiled, and swung his hands about to -indicate that it was all right.</p> - -<p>"Do we belong in here, or not?" asked Scott.</p> - -<p>"What's the matter?" said a short, stout man, entering the cabin at this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span> -moment.</p> - -<p>"Do we belong here, sir?" added Lincoln, showing him the ticket.</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir; this is the first-class cabin."</p> - -<p>"Do you belong to the boat, sir?"</p> - -<p>"I do. I am the captain."</p> - -<p>"Good! and you speak English like an American," added Scott.</p> - -<p>"I can speak it some. I have been in New York."</p> - -<p>"Have you? Give me your hand!" shouted the joker. "I am glad to see a -man who has been in the United States."</p> - -<p>The captain took the joker's offered hand.</p> - -<p>"I have been in New York and San Francisco," he added.</p> - -<p>"You are my friend for life. My name is Scott."</p> - -<p>"And you are a seaman?"</p> - -<p>"Salt as the inside of a pickle barrel. Allow me to introduce you to -Commodore Lincoln, in command of our squadron at Cronstadt."</p> - -<p>The captain took off his cap to Lincoln, and accepted his offered hand; -but he seemed to be a little puzzled at his title.</p> - -<p>"What steamer is this, captain?"</p> - -<p>"The <i>Stafet</i>, Captain Ekovetz."</p> - -<p>The conversation was continued for some time. The steward was sent for -the bags in the other cabin, and orders given to make the Americans as -comfortable as possible. The captain was very zealous to serve his -passengers, and they all went on deck together.</p> - -<p>"Can you tell me, captain, when a steamer, which left Tver on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span> -Wednesday, arrives at this place?" asked the doctor, who had joined the -students below.</p> - -<p>"She should be here now, sir," replied the captain; "but I think she has -not come yet."</p> - -<p>"Two of our young men ran away from us at Tver, and must have taken this -steamer."</p> - -<p>"Ran away—did they?" laughed the captain. "This is a bad country for -them, then, for we don't have any <i>habeas corpus</i>, or anything of that -sort. The police will stop them, if you wish it."</p> - -<p>"I do wish it."</p> - -<p>The obliging commander of the steamer went on shore with the doctor to -the police office, attended by Vroome, the third master. A description -of the fugitives was given through the captain, and the police officer -made a note of Vroome's uniform, as like those worn by De Forrest and -Beckwith. The party returned to the steamer, and as the hour for -starting had arrived, the fasts were cast off, and the Stafet was soon -making her way down the mighty Volga. Her deck was crowded with -third-class passengers, who were the peasants and laboring men of the -country. They were abominably dirty and miserably dressed, several of -them wearing the long sheep-skin coats, the wool inside. Others wore -long, light-colored coats, very ragged. Not a few of them, instead of -boots, had coarse cloths wound around their feet and ankles, bound on -with strings nearly as large as a bed-cord. Some of them were eating -their dinners, which they carried with them, consisting of the blackest -of bread and dried fish. These men were the serfs who had been liberated -by the noble policy of the present emperor.</p> - -<p>The Volga, at Nijni, is about two thirds of a mile wide, and is covered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span> -with boats of all sorts and sizes. The depth of water between this point -and Kazan does not admit of the passage of the largest passenger -steamers. The voyager from Tver to the Caspian would change steamers for -larger ones at Nijni and at Kazan. Merchandise is transported on the -river in boats, the largest of which are about a hundred and fifty feet -long, with a single mast, well forward, and appear to be very -substantially built. In the middle there is a house on deck, generally -with an Oriental dome, painted green, which is possibly a chapel. There -are other smaller boats, and a tug steamer tows from four to eight of -the different sizes. These boats are owned by corporations, such as the -Volga Transportation Company. Vast quantities of wheat are conveyed from -Saratoff, and other places, to the head of navigation.</p> - -<p>The students gathered on the bridge, or hurricane deck would be a more -proper name for it. Two Russian pilots were at the tall wheel, and they -looked as little like sailors as it is possible to conceive. They wore -the long sheep-skin pelisse, with pants stuffed into their boots, and -Cossack or Tartar caps. They looked particularly solemn; but they are -said to know their business perfectly.</p> - -<p>The navigation of the river is very difficult in some places, and it -requires not a little skill and experience to keep the boat in the -channel. In shoal places, dikes have been built to turn the course of -the current, or to keep it within certain limits. Large sums of money -have been spent by the government in dredging and otherwise improving<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span> -the navigation. In August the river is generally low, and there is an -extensive prospect of sand-bars between the banks of the stream. The -Volga flows through a flat country, but there is a ridge on the right -bank, which, in places, causes the formation of a considerable bluff.</p> - -<p>The regulations for steamers passing each other appear to be excellent, -and collisions to be impossible. The boat going down stream has the -right of way. She whistles, and the officer of the deck waves a flag in -the daytime, a lantern at night, on the side which the other boat is to -pass him. The steamer going up stream whistles in reply, and a flag is -waved in the direction the down boat is to take. If they are to pass on -the starboard hand, both officers go to the starboard side, on the -paddle-boxes, raise the flag, and drop it over on this side, repeating -the movement several times; if on the port side, the signals are made -accordingly.</p> - -<p>There is nothing like variety of scenery on the river, and in a short -time the view becomes very monotonous. There are occasional villages to -be seen on the shore, but they are composed only of log-houses. The -larger towns have one or more fine churches. Late in the afternoon the -Stafet made a landing at one of these places, and the greater part of -the deck passengers left the boat. On the bluff was a church with a -green dome, and the Russian cross at the summit. As soon as they landed, -all the peasants turned their faces towards the church, crossed -themselves, and bowed reverently. A few dropped upon their knees, and -bent to the ground. In this manner they thank God for bringing them in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span> -safety to their journey's end. No one seems to notice them, or to regard -their conduct as at all singular.</p> - -<p>The boat stopped long enough at this place to "wood up," the work of -which was done by women, while scores of stout men stood by, looking on. -These women were of all ages; but none of them were handsome enough to -excite the sympathy of cold-blooded foreigners. They wore calico -dresses, with the belt or waist directly under the arms. The wood was -carried on two poles, forming a hand-barrow, and the women bore loads -which would have strained the backs of ordinary men.</p> - -<p>"That's mean," said Scott. "I don't see how those men can stand by, and -not lend a helping hand."</p> - -<p>"You are in Russia," replied Lincoln.</p> - -<p>"Don't men have souls in Russia?"</p> - -<p>"Yes; and customs too. This seems to be one of them," laughed the -commodore.</p> - -<p>"See that little one. She is not more than sixteen. She isn't bad -looking, either; at least, not so bad looking as the rest of them."</p> - -<p>"If you feel bad about it, Scott, you can take a hand in the job -yourself."</p> - -<p>"I will," said the joker, as the girl passed him, laughing merrily, with -the pole in her hand. "Let me carry it for you;" and Scott attempted to -take the pole.</p> - -<p>She stoutly resented this interference, till Captain Ekovetz spoke to -her, for he had heard the conversation. The girl laughed, and so did the -old woman who worked with her. The poles were laid down and loaded,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span> -and Scott picked up his end. His share of the weight was all he could -stagger under, and the solemn Russians laughed heartily at his -gallantry.</p> - -<p>"That's enough for me," said the joker, when he had dumped the load. -"Here, Miss Maidenoff, I'm off."</p> - -<p>The girl tittered, and Scott gave her a twenty-copeck piece, which she -accepted with surprise and pleasure.</p> - -<p>"Don't back out, Scott," said Lincoln.</p> - -<p>"I thought I would back out while I had a back to back out with. The -idea of that girl carrying such a load is cruel. It is enough for a pack -mule."</p> - -<p>"But the old woman sold you," laughed Billy Bobstay.</p> - -<p>"Sold me?"</p> - -<p>"She evidently understands the mechanical powers in practice, if not in -theory, for she loaded the poles so that you carried two thirds of the -weight. Probably she takes the other end with the girl."</p> - -<p>"These women claim this work as their privilege," said the captain. "If -the men should attempt to bring the wood on board, the women would think -it was mean in them."</p> - -<p>"Their education has been neglected," replied Scott. "This is going in -for women's rights with a vengeance."</p> - -<p>"At every railroad station where I have bought tickets, they were sold -by ladies, and all of them spoke French," added the doctor. "Women have -a sphere in Russia, and some of them are well educated. You will find -the women at work in the fields in every country of Europe, and in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span> -some of them they do all the worst drudgery. In Holland we saw women -dragging boats on the canals, while a man stood at the tiller, with a -pipe in his mouth, smoking."</p> - -<p>The steamer started again, and the party went into the cabin to order -their dinner; but with the Russian steward this was no easy matter, -though he knew half a dozen words of German. He set the table, and -brought on the dinner, which, however, was anything but what was -ordered. The first dish after the soup was meat, chopped fine, made into -cutlets, breaded, and fried. It was followed by a course of small birds -with jelly, and ended with a dessert of dried fruit. It was a very good -dinner, and the party were well satisfied with it.</p> - -<p>On the bridge Scott got acquainted with the mate, a short man, and about -as thick as he was long. Though he could not speak a word of English, -and the joker not a word of Russian, they had some long talks, to the -great amusement of the other students. The mate laughed prodigiously -when he spoke, and permitted Scott to make his speeches, the joker being -equally indulgent to him.</p> - -<p>"I say, Mr. Fatmanoffsky, don't you think that wheel is twice as big as -it need be?" said Scott.</p> - -<p>The mate laughed, and talked Russian, but, as he pointed at the wheel, -he was evidently talking about it. Even the solemn pilots were amused, -either at what the Russian said, or at the absurdity of two persons -talking together when neither could understand the other.</p> - -<p>The party retired early. There was a pillow to each divan, but no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span> -bed-clothes—none are furnished on any of the Volga steamers, and -travellers usually carry a robe or two. They slept very well, for all of -them were accustomed to "turning in" with their clothes on. In the -morning the country appeared to be about the same, though the bluff on -the right was higher, and a range of hills was seen in the distance, on -the same side. At eleven o'clock, the steamer arrived at Kazan, in just -twenty-four hours from Nijni. The city is seven versts from the river, -though there is a small village on the bluff. The shore is lined with -steamers and boats, loading and unloading. There was nothing attractive -in the locality, and nothing interesting except the Tartar teamsters, on -shore, who wore white felt hats, and sheep-skin coats; some of them with -their feet and legs tied up in rags, others in boots or straw sandals. -Four droskies were hired at three rubles apiece for the day, to go up to -the city and return. Dr. Winstock wished to find the Professor of -English of the University of Kazan, to whom he had a letter of -introduction. It would be impossible for the party to speak a word to -anybody, and the captain kindly sent the steward with them to the -university.</p> - -<p>The ride is a dreary one, over a region which is covered with water when -the Volga floods its banks. On the left of the road is a curious -pyramidal monument to the memory of the Russians who fell in the capture -of the city from the Tartars. It was the capital of the Kingdom of -Kazan, founded in the thirteenth century by the Golden Horde, a tribe of -Tartars who invaded Russia. They were continually at war with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span> -people of Muscovy, and after repeated expeditions on the part of the -Russians against the city, it was finally subdued by Ivan the Terrible, -and the kingdom incorporated in his dominions.</p> - -<p>"I suppose we shall not go any farther east than we are now," said -Lincoln, who was riding with the doctor.</p> - -<p>"No; we are within three hundred and twenty miles of Asia now, the -nearest part of which lies a little east of south of us."</p> - -<p>"What do you suppose the people of New York and Boston are doing just -now, doctor?"</p> - -<p>"They are asleep, I hope."</p> - -<p>"It is quarter past twelve now," added Lincoln, looking at his watch, -which he had set by Kazan time. "In Boston it is two minutes of four -o'clock in the morning, and in New York fourteen minutes of four. It -seems very odd."</p> - -<p>"I don't know that it does."</p> - -<p>"My father and mother haven't begun to think of getting out of bed yet!" -laughed Lincoln. "I shall remember this place as the farthest easting I -have made."</p> - -<p>After a ride of an hour the vehicles entered the city, and turned into a -wide street, with fine buildings. Presently they stopped at the -university, which is a very large establishment, with four hundred and -fifty students. The steward led the way into the vestibule, and spoke to -the porter. Then there was a difficulty which the man could not explain. -He talked, made signs, and gesticulated; and it was clear that the -professor was not in. The doctor spoke English, French, and German to -the porter, who could not comprehend a word of either. But suddenly his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span> -face lighted up with a smile, and beckoning to the party to follow him, -he led them up three flights of stairs, unlocked a door, and entered. -Conducting the surgeon to a glass case, he triumphantly pointed to a -small Egyptian mummy! The visitors courteously examined it, and other -curiosities in the room, which was the museum of the university. While -the party were thus engaged, an elderly Russian entered the apartment, -and looked curiously at the strangers. The doctor attacked him in all -the languages he could speak, but without avail.</p> - -<p>"Professor <i>Anglisky</i>!" shouted Dr. Winstock.</p> - -<p>"That ought to fetch him," said Scott; but it did not.</p> - -<p>"<i>Anglisky</i>," repeated the surgeon.</p> - -<p>"<i>Da!</i>" replied the old man, at last, his face beaming with smiles, as -though he had solved the problem.</p> - -<p>Making a gesture to indicate that the party were to follow him, he led -them down one flight of stairs, through a hall a hundred feet long, up -another flight, through another long hall, and opened a door. The -travellers entered, and he led them to a case of minerals, to which he -pointed with an expression of the utmost satisfaction on his wrinkled -face.</p> - -<p>"No, no, no!" exclaimed the doctor, impatiently; and the party -retreated, without taking a second look at the case.</p> - -<p>The porter led them back to the entrance hall, where Lincoln and the -surgeon began to ask the people who passed if they could speak English, -French, or German. No one could; but at last the puzzled steward<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span> -seemed to have obtained an idea, and made signs for the party to return -to the droskies. They did so, and were driven away again; but the doctor -expected to be taken to a church or a cemetery. He was mistaken, for the -steward's idea was really a brilliant one, and he set his party down at -the residence of the professor. He rang the bell, and sent in a message -by the servant, who in a moment returned and conducted the tourists to -the second floor, where Professor Beresford received them. The letter -was delivered, and the professor extended a cordial welcome to the -party. For an hour he entertained them with his accounts of the -Russians, and then volunteered to show them some of the sights of the -city. They went to the Kremlin, which contains a cathedral; a tower in -the form of a pyramid, nearly two hundred and fifty feet high; the -convent built for the miraculous picture of Our Lady of Kazan, now in -St. Petersburg, though it has a copy of the original, on which glitters -a crown of diamonds, presented by Catharine II.</p> - -<p>The city of Kazan has a population of sixty thousand, of whom more than -half are Tartars. They live by themselves, in their own quarter of the -town, and retain their own manners and customs. They are Mohammedans, -and have twelve mosques. Under the guidance of the professor the party -drove to this section. The houses were generally of two stories, but the -lower one among the poorer classes is devoted to the horses and other -stock, or used as a store-room, while the family occupy the second -story. The Tartars were easily distinguished from the Russians by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span> -their Asiatic faces and their costume. The men of the better class wear -a calico tunic, and trousers of the same material. Over these they wear -a long coat. The trousers are stuffed into the boots, which are -generally of colored morocco, fancifully ornamented; and most of them -wear overshoes, doubtless for convenience in entering the mosque. The -head is close shaved, and they wear a skull-cap, often richly -embroidered, but on the street they have a fur cap over it.</p> - -<p>"It's easy enough to catch a Tartar here," said Scott.</p> - -<p>"Don't try," replied Billy Bobstay.</p> - -<p>"High O! What's that? A Tartar carriage, with two ladies! That's the -kind we read of."</p> - -<p>It was an odd vehicle. The fore and hind wheels were at least twelve -feet apart, and connected by two strips of board, on which rested the -body of an ordinary wagon. Seated in this carriage were two Tartar -ladies, in the full costume of Mohammedan countries, including the -robes, and the bandages over the face, which concealed all but the nose -and the eyes. Both of them were young, and they looked mischievous, as -they glanced at the Americans; but they were not pretty. Scott had the -presumption to touch his cap and bow as they passed. The droskies -stopped at this moment.</p> - -<p>"You will catch a Tartar if you do that, young gentleman," laughed the -professor. "You mustn't take any notice of the ladies here."</p> - -<p>"Can't one be civil and polite to them?"</p> - -<p>"No; give them the cold shoulder."</p> - -<p>"They smiled, and looked roguish," persisted Scott. "Their faces are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span> -painted, too."</p> - -<p>"All the Tartar women paint. Here is a mosque; we will go in, if you -please. But you must scrape your feet, and use the mat vigorously. The -Tartar gentlemen take off their overshoes before they enter, and in most -Mohammedan countries they compel strangers to remove their shoes; but -they are not so particular here."</p> - -<p>The party complied with these directions, and a man admitted them. The -interior of the mosque was very plain, with a gallery on one side. On -the floor were dirty and ragged carpets for the faithful to kneel upon. -There were no seats, and the only furniture was a stand some eight feet -high, on which the Koran is read and expounded. This was one of the -plainest and simplest mosques, and a few months later the students had -an opportunity of seeing them in all their glory in Constantinople. The -party now drove to Commonens's restaurant for dinner; after which they -took another drive through the streets. Most of the students were again -astonished, as they had been before, to find that a city in the eastern -part of Russia is so much like one in America, though they did not -cherish this view when they stood before such a quaint structure as the -Cathedral Nicolski. Thanking Professor Beresford for his kindness, the -party started for the steamer again, which was to leave at eight o'clock -the next morning, and they had decided to sleep on board.</p> - -<p>At an early hour they were awaked by the advent of a number of -passengers coming into the cabin. Several of them were Tartars of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span> -highest class, and Scott called them "Cream Tartars," for they were very -richly dressed. The boat started, and the students in the cabin -continued to gaze at their singular companions. They called for tea, and -produced their own provisions, consisting of bread and <i>caviar</i>, upon -which they made their breakfast. It would be considered rather shabby -for first-class passengers in America to carry their own provisions, but -it is all right on the Volga. At noon these Tartars attended to their -devotions on the bridge without any regard to the bystanders. They -spread a robe on the top of the paddle-box, and taking off their -overshoes, knelt upon it. Then they put their hands behind their ears, -and over their eyes, bowing their heads to the floor, and repeating -their prayers.</p> - -<p>In the afternoon the steamer passed a large boat going down the river, -towed by a steamer. It had a cabin, extending nearly the whole length of -it, with small, grated windows. The captain said this was a convict -boat, in which prisoners were conveyed down the Volga, and up the Kama -to Perm, from which they have to march to Siberia. When they reach their -destination, they are compelled to work in the mines. The captain said -that many of them returned, and made good citizens. At three o'clock on -the afternoon of the next day, the Stafet arrived at Nijni Novgorod.</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span></p> -</div> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> - -<p class="center mt2 title5">THE MOVEMENTS OF THE RUNAWAYS.</p> - - -<p>While the voyagers were taking leave of Captain Ekovetz, who had been so -attentive to them, an officer spoke to him in Russian.</p> - -<p>"The police have your runaways," added the captain.</p> - -<p>"Indeed! Where are they?" asked the doctor.</p> - -<p>"At the police office. They came down in the boat from Tver, and were -about to take the steamer for Kazan," said the captain, after some -further conversation with the officer. "This man will conduct you to the -police office."</p> - -<p>The party followed him, and in a short time came to the place where De -Forrest and Beckwith were held, not exactly "in durance vile," but in -the office of the police. The runaways looked decidedly crestfallen.</p> - -<p>"This is rather unexpected. I thought you were going only to Moscow; but -it appears that you have not even been there at all," said Dr. Winstock.</p> - -<p>"No, sir, we have not," replied De Forrest. "I suppose you will think we -ran away; but we did not."</p> - -<p>"I must acknowledge that the course you have taken is open to that -interpretation," added the doctor.</p> - -<p>"I knew you would think so," said Beckwith, trying to look honest and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span> -innocent.</p> - -<p>"Nothing of the sort, sir," continued De Forrest. "We took a cup of -coffee at Tver, and then stepped out in the rear of the station to get a -sight of the town and the river. The conductor told me the train would -not start for fifteen minutes, or I didn't understand him. I don't know -which."</p> - -<p>"Did he tell you in Russian?"</p> - -<p>"No, sir; in German."</p> - -<p>"Do you remember what he said?"</p> - -<p>"'<i>Fünfzehn minuten.</i>'"</p> - -<p>"What question did you ask him?"</p> - -<p>"'<i>Wie lange bleiben sie hier?</i>'"</p> - -<p>"You asked him how long he remained at the station, after he had been -there ten minutes?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir."</p> - -<p>"Your German was better than your logic."</p> - -<p>"I supposed he meant fifteen minutes more."</p> - -<p>"You had no right to suppose so, if you did suppose any such thing. -However, it is not for me to decide on this case."</p> - -<p>"The train went off in less than five minutes. We ran after it, and -yelled with all our might. Didn't you hear us, sir?"</p> - -<p>"I confess that I did not," replied the doctor, with a smile; "but that -doesn't prove that I am hard of hearing. You came down the Volga?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir. I thought Moscow was on the Volga, but Beckwith said it was -not," replied De Forrest.</p> - -<p>"I knew it was not, and told him so," protested Beckwith.</p> - -<p>"But still you went with him?"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span></p> - -<p>"The captain spoke English a little, and told us we could take the train -to Moscow. We didn't like to wait in that station till five o'clock the -next morning."</p> - -<p>"A train left Tver at about eleven that forenoon, and I supposed, if you -were left, that you would come down in that."</p> - -<p>"We didn't know it."</p> - -<p>At this moment Captain Ekovetz came into the office, and through him it -was ascertained that the runaways were captured while they were going on -board of a steamer about to start for Kazan, and had their tickets, for -which the police compelled the seller to refund the money. De Forrest -attempted to explain, but his statement was rather improbable—quite as -much so as the rest of his story.</p> - -<p>"How long have you been here?" inquired the doctor.</p> - -<p>"Three days, sir."</p> - -<p>"As prisoners?"</p> - -<p>"We staid at the Hotel Odessa, but the police and the servants watched -us all the time."</p> - -<p>"This isn't a good country to run away in," laughed the doctor.</p> - -<p>"We had no idea of running away, sir."</p> - -<p>"Getting left is about the same thing. But we will move on, for we have -not much time to spare."</p> - -<p>Droskies were taken, and the captain directed them to drive to Minin's -Tower. It is on a bluff, where the old town stood, including a part of -the Kremlin, and commands a fine view of the river and the fairgrounds, -on the tongue of land between the Volga and the Oka. The party entered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span> -the Cathedral of the Transformation, where Minin is buried.</p> - -<p>"Who was Minin?" asked Lincoln, as they stood by the obelisk erected to -his memory.</p> - -<p>"You remember Mr. Mapps told you about the false Dimitris, and that, in -the confusion and anarchy brought about by them, the crown was offered -to Vladislas, son of the King of Poland, for the Poles were really the -masters of the country. The Russians had been beaten by them in many -battles, for the former had no suitable leader. When everything seemed -to be lost, Kosma Minin, a butcher of this town, obscure and uneducated, -but possessed of good judgment, brave, honest, and unselfish, roused his -fellow-citizens to a sense of their peril. His words and his example -induced the people to take up arms, and appropriate all their fortunes -for the deliverance of the nation from its oppressors. This spirit of -patriotic devotion extended to other places, and Prince Pojarski, was -soon able to take the field at the head of a large force. Minin seconded -all the efforts of the prince, and by this sudden uprising the Poles -were driven from the country. The movement was followed by the election -to the throne of Michael Romanoff. The bronze statues which you saw in -Moscow, opposite the bazaar, represents Minin urging Pojarski to deliver -Moscow from the Poles."</p> - -<p>The tourists returned to the droskies, and the doctor directed his -driver by pointing in the direction of the fair grounds.</p> - -<p>"This does not look much as it does during the fair," said the surgeon, -as they drove across the bridge of boats. "The rivers are crowded with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span> -boats of every description, from all parts of the vast empire. The Oka -here is literally filled with them, so that there is hardly a channel -for the passage of others. These craft are quite a study, for they -comprise an immense variety, and it is said that the <i>floating</i> -population of this vicinity during the fair is about fifty thousand. -This bridge is quite as crowded as London Bridge during business hours, -and mounted Cossacks are stationed upon it to keep it from being -obstructed. These soldiers are also on duty in the crowded streets, to -preserve order. The mud here is sometimes a foot deep—at least it was -when I visited the fair several years ago. Even the paved streets are -ploughed and furrowed by the wheels of heavily-loaded vehicles."</p> - -<p>"It is a hard road to travel now," added Lincoln; for the vehicle jolted -so that it was not easy for the passengers to keep their seats.</p> - -<p>"Most of the goods for the fair come in boats, and have to be hauled to -the shops in wagons, making bad work of the roads. When not muddy, it is -very dusty."</p> - -<p>The party entered the grounds of the fair, the doctor instructing his -driver by signs. The entire space between the Volga and the Oka is laid -out in streets and squares. There are ten miles of wharf on the two -rivers. There are about four hundred steamers on the Volga, many of -which were built in England, Belgium, and other countries, and have been -brought to the river through the various canals, or in pieces, and put -together again; but Russia can build her own steamers now. The streets -are lined with shops, most of the buildings being of brick, a few of -stone. Some of the open spaces are covered with booths and tents. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span> -stores are generally quite small, not more than twenty by fifteen feet. -In the rear of them are living-apartments for the merchants and their -employees. In the centre of the fair are the headquarters of the -governor; but the ground floor of the building is devoted to a bazaar -for the sale of fancy articles and manufactured goods, and a band of -music usually plays here. Concerts are also given in the square by a -military band. Near the official residence are theatres and exhibitions -of every description.</p> - -<p>The Great Fair is the harvest time of beggars, and thousands of them -visit it, some of them coming from great distances. The lame, the halt, -and the blind come, and very many of them are impostors, who pretend to -have bodily ailments, or who have produced sores on their persons by -artificial means, to excite the sympathies of the benevolent.</p> - -<p>The number of persons in attendance on the fair is estimated by the -amount of bread consumed, and the bakers are required to make daily -returns to the governor of the quantity sold. By this means it is -ascertained that the fair is visited, during the season of eight weeks, -by from one hundred and fifty thousand to three hundred thousand -persons. The amount of business transacted by sale and purchase, is -about one hundred million dollars.</p> - -<p>There is as much variety in the shops as in different parts of a large -city. Certain sections are devoted to the wholesale trade, and others to -the retail. Many of the shops are filled with large bundles and bales, -while others glisten with ornamental articles. Some of the avenues<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span> -hardly differ in appearance from Broadway in New York, except in the -uniformity of the buildings. The windows are filled with displays of -jewelry, fancy goods, toys, dry goods, clocks, and watches, furs, silks, -and, indeed, everything that one would see in a great city. Some shops -are devoted exclusively to furs, and the assortment is large and fine. -Dried fish is a great article of commerce here. The value of the -sturgeon fisheries on the Volga is estimated at two and a half million -rubles, while thirty thousand casks of <i>caviar</i> have been sent up from -Astrakhan in one year. The productions of Asia are largely represented -at the fair, the most important of which is the tea of China. The -Chinese quarter is fitted up in Celestial style, with verandas and -pagodas; but very few Chinese attend the fair of late years. Fifteen -million pounds of the finest tea are brought into Russia, most of it to -this bazaar. It is transported to Perm by boats, sledges, and camels, -and thence by the Kama and Volga to Nijni.</p> - -<p>Along the rivers are the coarser articles of merchandise—iron in bars -and sheets, and manufactured into kettles and household utensils, -millstones, vast quantities of wheat, rolls of leather from Kazan, boxes -of candles from Asia, copper and platinum from the Ural Mountains, and -bells of all sizes, hung so that their tone can be tested.</p> - -<p>Perhaps the most interesting feature of the fair to an American or -Englishman is the people that gather there, especially the Asiatics. But -the variety is by no means as great as the visitor will expect to find -after reading the descriptions of them which have been published. There -are plenty of Persians and Tartars in full costume, the former with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span> -knives and pistols in their belts, placed there for ornament rather than -use. A few grave Chinamen may also be seen; but the great majority of -the people are Russians. Unless one wishes to make it study of it, a few -hours are enough to enable the stranger to see the fair.</p> - -<p>A canal extends through the ground, as a protection against fire, and no -smoking is allowed in the streets, on penalty of twenty-five rubles, and -the rule is enforced by the Cossacks on duty. Under the streets there is -a system of sewers for the draining of the land and the carrying off of -refuse matter. A stream of water is made to flow through them several -times a day, to remove the deposits there. In the streets there are, at -regular intervals, small white towers over staircases to descend into -the sewers, where are small apartments for men, in which alone they are -allowed to smoke. These improvements have cost large sums of money, and -the merchants are taxed to the amount of forty thousand dollars a year -to pay the expenses.</p> - -<p>The tourists drove through the principal avenues of the deserted -grounds, and the doctor told them what he had seen there during his -former visit when the fair was held. During the ride De Forrest and -Beckwith were not much interested in the sights to be seen, or in the -descriptions of the surgeon. They realized that the explanation of their -absence was not accepted by the surgeon, and probably would not be -better received by the principal.</p> - -<p>"We have made a mess of it," said Beckwith. "I didn't believe in the -scrape at all."</p> - -<p>"You wouldn't have come with me, if you had not," replied the purser.</p> - -<p>"We haven't been to Kazan, or down the Volga, and we haven't even seen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span> -Moscow, as the rest of the fellows have."</p> - -<p>"We are going there to-night."</p> - -<p>"Yes; but we leave in two or three hours after we arrive. We shall go on -board at Cronstadt, and not be allowed any liberty again. That's all we -shall make by running away."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps not. You may go back to the ship, but I shall not," replied De -Forrest, doggedly.</p> - -<p>"What will you do?"</p> - -<p>"I told you what I wouldn't do, and that is just the same as telling you -what I will do. As you seem to be dissatisfied with what you have done, -you can do as you please," growled the purser.</p> - -<p>"I don't think we have made anything so far by the course we have -taken," added Beckwith.</p> - -<p>"Of course we haven't; we were tripped up."</p> - -<p>"We may be tripped up again. These Russian policemen don't make anything -of stopping a fellow."</p> - -<p>"We ran right into a trap here in Nijni. The doctor and his party got -here before we did, and were looking for us. We shall do well enough if -we take another track."</p> - -<p>"But where do you mean to go?"</p> - -<p>"If you are going to back out, I won't say anything about it."</p> - -<p>"I'm not going to back out. I will go with you to the end of the earth."</p> - -<p>"All right. That sounds like something. We will go right through from -Moscow to Warsaw. You know that German <i>Cours-Buch</i> we found at the -hotel yesterday?"</p> - -<p>"Yes; but I couldn't make anything of it."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I laid out a route, and wrote it down on a piece of paper."</p> - -<p>"But how will you get away? The doctor will keep watch of us all the -time now," suggested Beckwith. "Besides, the other divisions of the -squadron are coming to Moscow, and the principal may be there by the -time we arrive."</p> - -<p>"No matter if he is; we can easily manage it. You follow my lead, and I -will bring you out all right."</p> - -<p>By this time the droskies arrived at the railroad station, where the -travellers dined, and obtained their tickets for Moscow. As the students -paid their own fare, they were permitted to take first or second class -cars, as they preferred. Following the example of the surgeon, most of -them went first class, and when they came to take their seats it was -found that only Scott and Beckwith had elected to go by the second -class. There were very few passengers, and as the doctor gave the -conductor a ruble, he disposed of the party so that there were only two -or three in a compartment, which afforded them plenty of room to lie -down and sleep. As a specimen of the Russian letter, we give a copy of -the surgeon's ticket:—</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/ticket.jpg" width="400" height="148" alt="Surgeon's Ticket" /> -</div> - -<p>It is translated:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span></p> - -<p class="center">Nijni Novgorod.<br /> -Moscow.<br /> -1st <span style="word-spacing: 3em;">Class 12</span> R. 30 C.</p> - -<p>The train arrived at Moscow at nine the next morning, and the tourists -went to the Hotel de Hambourg. The third division of the squadron had -come, and the second was to leave that day. Mr. Lowington and Mr. -Fluxion were both at the hotel, and as soon as De Forrest saw the doctor -shaking hands with the principal, he decided that he would not wait to -be introduced to him. Nodding to Beckwith, he led the way through one of -the long halls of the hotel, and found a staircase which led down to an -arch under the house. On the other side of it was the dining room, which -they entered. This room was on the ground floor, and the windows were -open. No one was in sight, and they stepped out through one of them into -the street.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 490px;"> -<img src="images/i_294.jpg" width="490" height="800" alt="" /> -<div class="caption">MOSCOW PHOTOGRAPHS.</div> -</div> -<ul class="lists"> -<li><span class="smcap">1. Drosky Driver.</span></li> -<li><span class="smcap">2. The Metropolitan of Moscow.</span></li> -<li><span class="smcap">3. Tower of Ivan Villikof.</span></li> -<li><span class="smcap">4. Cathedral of St. Basil.</span></li> -</ul> - -<p>"Where are you going, De Forrest?" asked Beckwith, nervously.</p> - -<p>"I thought we had better keep out of the principal's sight," replied the -purser, as he led the way up the <i>Rue Lubianka</i>. "Here is another -hotel," he added, as they came to the corner on which is the house kept -by Mr. Billot.</p> - -<p>"But we can't do anything here, without a word of the language."</p> - -<p>"We will go into the hotel;" and De Forrest entered, followed by his -companion.</p> - -<p>"Good morning, young gentlemen," said the proprietor, in good English.</p> - -<p>"Good morning, sir," replied De Forrest; "can you give us a room?"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span></p> - -<p>"O yes."</p> - -<p>"And send breakfast to the room?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly."</p> - -<p>"That suits our case," said De Forrest; and a servant was sent up stairs -with them.</p> - -<p>The apartment to which they were shown was on the second floor, with -windows opening into the Rue Lubianka, so that the runaways could -observe the movements of the party. Presently the landlord called to see -them, and asked if the room suited them. Then he inquired who and what -all the young men in uniform were whom he had seen during the past week, -and De Forrest explained the whole matter to his satisfaction.</p> - -<p>"But why don't they come to my hotel?" asked Mr. Billot.</p> - -<p>"I don't know, sir; it must have been a mistake on the part of the -principal."</p> - -<p>"A very great mistake," added the landlord, laughing.</p> - -<p>"We preferred to come here, but very likely the principal will blame us -for it; so, if you please, don't mention to any one that we are here."</p> - -<p>"I will not."</p> - -<p>"Thank you."</p> - -<p>The landlord was vexed to have his house passed by, and, afraid that he -should lose his two customers if he mentioned them, he was content to -keep still. Breakfast was sent up to the runaways, at an extra charge. -They staid in their room all day, not daring to leave it lest they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span> -should be seen by some of their shipmates. If they had been condemned to -such an imprisonment on board of the ship, even for running away, they -would have called it tyranny. They looked through the apertures at the -sides of the curtains, and saw the second division depart for St. -Petersburg, and the third starting for the Kremlin. They dined in their -room at five, and at half past eight in the evening, when the party at -the other hotel had gone to the Petrofski Gardens, they paid their bill, -and took a drosky for the Kief Railway station. The lady who sold the -tickets spoke French, so that they had no difficulty there. At noon the -next day they arrived at Orel, from which they departed at half past one -for Dunaburg, on the line from St. Petersburg to Warsaw. They reached -this town at six o'clock on the evening of the next day, and were -obliged to wait till two o'clock the next morning for a train, by which -they proceeded to Warsaw. They had been three days on the road, and had -slept three nights on the train, travelling eleven hundred miles, and -paying fifty rubles each for the fares, besides six more for meals. They -were tired out, and utterly disgusted with railroad travelling. Taking a -carriage at Praga, a suburb of Warsaw, where the station is located, -they crossed the high bridge over the Vistula, and were left at the -Hotel de l'Europe. They were shown to a room twenty feet square, for -which the charge was two rubles a day.</p> - -<p>In the restaurant on the lower floor, where the waiters spoke German as -well as Polish, they found themselves seated near a party who were -conversing in English. It consisted of a gentleman and two ladies, one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span> -of the latter being but about seventeen years old. They were dressed in -black, and the younger was very pretty,—so pretty that De Forrest could -not help looking at her, as opportunity favored him. But the young lady -seemed as much inclined to look at the runaways, and their eyes often -met. The party spoke in a low tone, and were evidently talking about the -young officers. Presently the gentleman rose from his chair and -approached them.</p> - -<p>"I beg your pardon," said he; "but I think we have met before."</p> - -<p>"Indeed! I was not aware of it; though I am very glad to see any one who -speaks the English language," replied De Forrest.</p> - -<p>"You belong to the school ship, if I mistake not. We went on board of -her at Christiansand; you had just arrived from America, and we had come -in the Orlando from Hull."</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir; I remember that steamer, and the party that came on board the -ship."</p> - -<p>"My name is Kinnaird."</p> - -<p>"I am happy to see you, Mr. Kinnaird. My name is De Forrest, and my -friend is Mr. Beckwith."</p> - -<p>"Now permit me to present you to the ladies, who were much interested in -your ship, and especially in her young officers," added the polite -gentleman, as he conducted them to the table his party had taken. "Mrs. -Kinnaird, my wife."</p> - -<p>De Forrest and Beckwith made their best bows.</p> - -<p>"Miss Julia Gurney, my wife's sister," added Mr. Kinnaird.</p> - -<p>"I am delighted to make your acquaintance, Miss Gurney," answered De<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span> -Forrest, as he bowed to the pretty young lady.</p> - -<p>"I was so pleased with the ship in which you sail, and the nice-looking -young officers, that I have been wishing I might meet them again," said -Miss Gurney.</p> - -<p>For half an hour they talked about the ship and the other vessels, and -each party told where they had been.</p> - -<p>"And you are one of those fine young officers," said the young lady, -suddenly, laughing her satisfaction as she spoke.</p> - -<p>"I am," replied De Forrest, though he had some doubts on this point.</p> - -<p>"And where is your ship now?"</p> - -<p>"At Cronstadt. The squadron will go to Königsberg or Danzig next; then -to Stettin or Swinemünde. The students will make a trip to Berlin and -Dresden."</p> - -<p>"O, then I shall see them again," exclaimed Miss Gurney. "But don't you -sail with the others?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, yes; but you see we make journeys on shore. We all went to Moscow, -and some of us down the Volga to Kazan."</p> - -<p>"How delightful! I wish I was a boy! If I were I would be a sailor, and -join your ship. It must be elegant?"</p> - -<p>"O yes—yes; very," replied De Forrest, glancing at his shipmate, who -could hardly keep from laughing.</p> - -<p>"I think I should like it so well, that I wouldn't go on shore. It is so -stupid to be dragged through all these old palaces, and churches, and -tombs, though I like to look at the pictures."</p> - -<p>De Forrest was fascinated by the beauty and sprightliness of Miss <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span> -Gurney. Her innocence and simplicity imparted a candor to her speech -which pleased him, and, fatigued as he was, he was sorry to lose sight -of her when the party retired to their rooms. Then her image went with -him, and followed him into his dreams. He met her again in the morning, -and the runaways were invited to accompany the party to Villenoy, and to -see the sights of the capital of Poland. In a few days they left for -Bromberg, and though Beckwith protested, De Forrest insisted upon -accompanying them. Then he could not resist his inclination to go with -the party to Königsberg, where Mr. Kinnaird desired to see a friend; but -he hoped the squadron would not come there. It did not go to Königsberg, -because the water was not deep enough, but it anchored at Pillau, the -port of the city, twenty-six miles distant. While the runaways were -dining with their new friends at the <i>Hôtel de Prusse</i>, feeling -perfectly secure because they had heard nothing of the squadron, the -officers and students marched through the room to another, where dinner -had been prepared for them.</p> - -<p>"O, I am so delighted to see them!" exclaimed Julia. "How glad you must -be, Mr. De Forrest!"</p> - -<p>"Yes—yes—very glad," stammered the purser. "Will you excuse us for a -few moments? I want to speak to some of them."</p> - -<p>"O, certainly! How delighted you must be!" chattered the pretty Miss -Gurney.</p> - -<p>Before they had time to retire, the principal confronted them, and -prevented their escape.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> -<img src="images/i_302.jpg" width="500" height="315" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><span class="smcap">De Forrest and Julia. Page 294.</span> -</div></div> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span></p> -</div> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> - - -<p class="center mt2 title5">SOMETHING ABOUT PRUSSIA AND GERMANY.</p> - - -<p>Dr. Winstock grasped the hand of the principal when they met in Moscow, -and briefly reported the incidents of his trip down the Volga, with the -little party.</p> - -<p>"Of course you knew that De Forrest and Beckwith left us at Tver?" added -the doctor.</p> - -<p>"Yes; Mr. Agneau informed me, and, poor man, he was very much worried -about the absentees," replied Mr. Lowington.</p> - -<p>"I concluded they had gone down the Volga to Nijni. I asked the police -to detain them, and they did so. On my return from Kazan, I found them -in custody, and not at all satisfied with the results of their runaway -excursion. I brought them up with me, so that they are all right now. -They claimed to have been left by the train at Tver by accident."</p> - -<p>"I suppose they tried that plan because they thought it succeeded in -Norway and Sweden; but I did not punish those because they made a full -confession, and seemed to be sorry for what they had done. Where are the -runaways?"</p> - -<p>"They are here, sir. I saw them come into the hotel with the others."</p> - -<p>The word was passed along for De Forrest and Beckwith, but they were not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span> -there to answer. A dozen had seen them come into the house, and a party -who were standing at the door were sure they had not gone out. They -could not be found, and the doctor was even more chagrined than the -chaplain had been.</p> - -<p>"Never mind, doctor; I shall not run after them. Running away has been -so common that I have ceased to worry about it," said the principal. -"They will come back when their money is all gone, if not before."</p> - -<p>"Probably they intend to see Moscow," added the surgeon; "and they may -appear before the fourth division returns."</p> - -<p>The Volga party returned to St. Petersburg with the second division, and -the next afternoon were on board of their vessel, attending to their -studies, for the students on board were kept at work, because it is -easier to be busy than to be idle.</p> - -<p>On the 25th day of June, all hands had returned, having seen all of -Russia it was practicable to see, and the squadron went seaward, bound -for Königsberg. The officers below Beckwith and De Forrest were moved up -two grades, to fill the vacancies caused by the absence of the runaways, -and the two highest in rank in the steerage were sent into the cabin. On -the passage there were two examinations in seamanship, in which Cantwell -obtained very high marks. On the voyage, which lasted four days,—for -there was very little wind,—the captain performed his duty to the -entire satisfaction of the principal, and without being obliged to ask -for instructions.</p> - -<p>On Tuesday afternoon the squadron anchored off Pillau, a town of four<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[297]</a></span> -thousand inhabitants, having a strong fortress at the entrance of the -<i>Haff</i>, a nearly landlocked bay, at the head of which Königsberg is -situated.</p> - -<p>"All hands, attend lecture," called the boatswain, after breakfast the -next morning, and while the signal was flying on the ship.</p> - -<p>The students gathered in the steerage, where the professor of geography -and history had hung up a map of Prussia on the foremast, which he had -colored to suit the occasion, so as to show the rapid enlargement of the -country by annexation.</p> - -<p>"Young gentlemen," Mr. Mapps began, "Prussia is now one of the most -powerful states of Europe. We may say of her as of the United States, -'Westward the course of empire takes its way,' for Prussia had a small -beginning in the eastern part of its present territory, and now extends -westward beyond the Rhine. Contrary to my usual custom, I shall commence -with the history of the country. At the present time, Prussia is divided -into eleven provinces, the most eastern of which is Prussia Proper—the -part in which we now are. The region was originally inhabited by the -Lithuanians, who were conquered by the Goths. They were compelled to -embrace Christianity by the Poles in the eleventh century; but the -conquerors were soon repelled, and in their turn defeated, the -barbarians holding a part of Poland for a time. In the thirteenth -century they were the terror of the adjoining countries, and repelled an -army sent against them by Germany. The Teutonic Knights finally -conquered Prussia."</p> - -<p>"What were they, sir?" asked a student.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[298]</a></span></p> - -<p>"They were a powerful military order, formed during the crusades, who -fought for the Holy Sepulchre in Palestine. After the siege of Acre, a -charitable society for the care of the wounded and sick was organized by -the people of Lübec and Bremen, which was made into an order of -knighthood similar to the Templars. Only nobles were admitted to its -membership, and the Grand Master lived in Jerusalem at first, then in -Venice, and afterwards in Germany. After the crusades, they regarded -themselves as called to convert the heathen, which benignant work they -did, by first conquering the pagan territory. The order became immensely -rich and powerful, holding the territory from the Oder to the Gulf of -Finland, and deriving from it an immense revenue. They were constantly -at war with Poland, which, with their extravagant demands upon the -people, turned the nobility and the people against them. The oppressed -called upon the King of Poland for assistance, and a war of twelve years -followed, in which the order lost West Prussia, holding the rest by -paying tribute to the conquerors. The knights were deprived of much of -their power and wealth, though they still retained vast possessions. The -Grand Master became a kind of spiritual potentate in Germany, and -collected his revenues till 1805, when they went to the Emperor of -Austria. In 1809 Napoleon abolished the order, and its territories -reverted to the sovereigns in whose dominions they were located.</p> - -<p>"The nucleus of the present kingdom of Prussia was the margraviate of -Brandenburg, of which Berlin is near the centre. By the extinction of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span> -the family of its ruler, it was inherited by Sigismond, Emperor of -Germany, who sold it to Frederick VI., Burgrave of Nuremburg, in 1417. -He was of the house of Hohenzollern, from which the present King of -Prussia is descended, and with the territory the electoral dignity was -conferred upon him. His successors ruled the electorate for over two -hundred years, one of whom signed the protest at Spires, from which the -Protestants obtained their name.</p> - -<p>"Poland held Prussia after it had conquered the Teutonic Knights, and in -1525 gave the sovereignty of the country to Albert of Brandenburg; but -it was not till 1656 that Prussia was declared independent by treaty. In -1618 John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg, acquired the Duchy of -Prussia, in the right of his wife, who was the daughter of Duke Albert -II. By the Thirty Years' War the united country was reduced to misery -and desolation, when, in 1640, Frederick William, commonly called the -Great Elector, succeeded to the government. He annexed considerable -territory to his dominion, and added greatly to its power and influence. -His son Frederick, the third elector of that name, by the consent of -Leopold, Emperor of Germany, obtained by a bribe, tendered through the -imperial confessor, raised his domain into a kingdom, and placed the -crown upon his own head at Königsberg, in 1701, taking the title of -Frederick I. This was the origin of the kingdom of Prussia. Frederick I. -extended his domain, which has been the policy of all his successors. He -was succeeded by his son, Frederick William I., who reigned -twenty-seven years, and left a well-disciplined army, and six millions<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span> -of dollars in cash in the treasury, to enable his son Frederick II. to -commence business. This son was the renowned Frederick the Great. He -used his capital stock to the best advantage for himself, wrested -Silesia from Austria, and took part in the partition of Poland. He -reigned forty-six years, and at his death had increased his territory -from forty-eight thousand to seventy-seven thousand square miles.</p> - -<p>"Prussia now ranked as one of the great powers of Europe. Frederick the -Great left for his successor an army of two hundred and twenty thousand -men, and treasure to the value of fifty million dollars. He was -succeeded by his nephew, Frederick William II., in 1786, who added forty -thousand square miles to his kingdom by engaging in the second and third -partitions of Poland. In 1797 he was followed by his son Frederick -William III., who was the father of the present King of Prussia. He -lacked the decision necessary to carry his kingdom safely through the -troubles of his time. His armies were defeated by Napoleon, and for six -years the conqueror held him in subjection, and deprived him of half his -domain. The Prussian soldiers under Blucher, however, took an important -part in the overthrow of the Emperor of the French, and in the Congress -of Vienna, when the affairs of Europe were readjusted, his territory was -restored, and even increased, so that the kingdom, at his death, -consisted of one hundred and seven thousand square miles. In 1840 he was -followed by his son Frederick William IV. In 1848 an insurrection broke -out in Berlin, the result of which was a considerable modification of -the absolutism of the government. A constitution was adopted, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span> -repeatedly altered and amended. But the king had the best of it in the end, -and Prussia was finally pacified. In 1857 the king was attacked by -disease of the mind, and his brother William became regent, and in 1861 -succeeded him as king, under the title of William I. He is decidedly -absolute in his tendencies, and claims to hold his crown by the grace of -God, and not by the will of the people.</p> - -<p>"In speaking of Denmark, I told you in what manner the war of 1866, -between Prussia and Austria, was produced. In the terrible battle of -Sadowa, Austria was completely humiliated. Prussia dictated her own -terms of peace, and annexed a territory nearly equal in size to the -state of Maine, including Hanover, Schleswig-Holstein, Hesse Cassel, -Nassau, and other German states. The population of Prussia, with these -additions, is nearly twenty-three millions. The real engineer of -Prussia's magnificent fortunes is not the king, but Bismarck—Count Otto -von Bismarck-Shönhausen. He was born in 1814, was liberally educated, -and elected a member of the Constituent Assembly in 1848. He served as -minister or ambassador to Russia, France, and the Diet at Frankfort, and -was appointed minister of foreign affairs and chief of the ministers in -1862.</p> - -<p>"Prussia is a constitutional monarchy, and the crown is hereditary in -the male line, in the Hohenzollern family. The executive and part of the -legislative power are vested in the king, who is of age at eighteen. The -legislature is composed of a House of Lords and a Chamber of Deputies. A -bill passing both branches and being approved by the king becomes a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[302]</a></span> -law. Bills may originate with the king or either of the chambers. A bill -vetoed by the king, or rejected by either house, cannot be moved again -during the same session. The upper house is composed of the princes of -the royal family who are of age, and a few other princes; the heads of -certain noble families, life peers chosen by the king from rich -land-owners, great manufacturers, and celebrated men, eight noblemen -chosen by the eight former provinces of Prussia; representatives of -universities, the burgomasters of towns having over fifty thousand -inhabitants; and any number of members nominated by the king for life, -or for a limited period. The lower house consists of four hundred and -thirty-two members, chosen indirectly by the people.</p> - -<p>"The royal family of Prussia are Protestants, but all denominations of -Christians have equal rights and privileges. Nearly two thirds of the -people are Protestants, and about one third Catholics. Education is -universal, and compulsory. Every town must maintain schools, and all -parents are obliged to send their children to them. A small tuition fee -is charged,—about two or three cents a week,—but this is not exacted -when the parents are too poor to pay it. The compulsion applies only to -the elementary schools; but the higher schools are open to the poor at a -very small charge. There are eleven grades of schools, from the -elementary up to the university, including normal, industrial, and -veterinary, schools for agriculture, mining, and architecture.</p> - -<p>"The military system under which Prussia has obtained such tremendous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[303]</a></span> -successes in war was established in 1814, on the principle that every -man capable of bearing arms should be instructed in military tactics, -and actually serve in the army for a specified period. No substitutes -are allowed, and there are very few exemptions, and these only of the -most obvious character. Every man is enrolled as soon as he is twenty, -and must serve seven years, the first three in the regular army, and the -other four in the reserve. At the end of this term he belongs to the -Landwehr, or militia, for nine years, during which time he is liable to -be put into the regular army in case of war. At the expiration of this -period he is thirty-six years of age, and then he is enrolled in the -Landsturm, until he is fifty; but this body are not sent out of the -country, and are called into service only in case of invasion. For -thirty years of his life, therefore, the Prussian is a soldier. The -military organizations, such as companies, regiments, brigades, -divisions, corps d'armée, are always kept up; the officers are ever -ready, and in case of war it is only necessary to call in the men. It -requires only two weeks to organize the reserves and Landwehr. On a -peace footing, the army consists of about four hundred thousand; on a -war footing, double this number.</p> - -<p>"Nearly the whole of Prussia is in the great plain of Northern Europe. -It contains no high mountains, the most important range being the Harz, -the highest elevation of which is thirty-five hundred feet. The -acquisition of Schleswig-Holstein and Hanover has added largely to the -extent of Prussian sea-coast. There are but few good harbors on the -Baltic, for the water is shoal, and full of sand-banks. There are many<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[304]</a></span> -<i>haffs</i>, or lagoons, like the one on which Königsberg is situated. -Prussia has an immense number of lakes, especially in the eastern part, -the largest of which is the Spirding See, with an area of thirty-seven -square miles; but all these lakes are too shoal for navigation. The -rivers of Prussia flow into the Baltic and North Seas. The principal are -the Niemen or Memel, the Weichsel, or Vistula, the Oder, the Elbe, the -Weser, and the Rhine, all of which are navigable. These river systems -are connected by canals.</p> - -<p>"The climate of Prussia is healthy, the average temperature varying in -different parts from forty-three degrees to fifty degrees. The soil is -generally fertile, though there are some sandy plains, and desolate, -hilly regions. The agriculture, fostered by the government, is of the -highest efficiency. All kinds of grain are produced in abundance, and -largely exported. Two hundred million pounds of sugar were made from -beets ten years ago. Thirty million tons of coal were mined last year, -and the country is rich in minerals. In its agriculture, commerce, and -manufactures, Prussia is remarkably prosperous. The country has a -complete network of railroads, about seven thousand miles in all.</p> - -<p>"Berlin has a population of seven hundred and two thousand, and is the -fifth city of Europe. Next to it is Breslau, with one hundred and -seventy-two thousand. Cologne has one hundred and twenty-five thousand; -Königsberg, one hundred and six thousand. All the others have less than -a hundred thousand. New York has a larger German population than any -German city except Berlin.</p> - -<p>"The money of Prussia is in thalers, silver, or new <i>grosschen</i> and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[305]</a></span> -<i>pfennings</i>. A thaler is about seventy cents of our money. Thirty new -grosschen, of two and one third cents each, make a thaler, and twelve -pfennings make a new grosschen.</p> - -<p>"And now, young gentleman, I will close with a brief statement in regard -to the Germanic Confederation, which is a union of states for certain -purposes, similar to that of the United States. In modern times the two -most powerful members have been Austria and Prussia; but the events of -1866 broke up the confederation, and caused the expulsion of Austria, -leaving Prussia as the ruling power. The North German Confederation, -consisting of twenty states, was then formed under the leadership of -Prussia. The six remaining states, the principal of which are Bavaria, -Baden, and Würtemberg, cannot be said to be united. Prussia had ratified -treaties with the three states mentioned, by which each of the -contracting powers guarantees the integrity of the others' territory. In -other words, in case of war, each is to assist the others; but it is -stipulated that Prussia is to have the command of the armies.</p> - -<p>"A German Parliament, elected by the people, at the rate of one member -for every hundred thousand inhabitants, met at Berlin in 1867, and -adopted a charter, or constitution, drawn up by the Prussian government, -which means Bismarck."</p> - -<p>Mr. Mapps proceeded to explain the nature of the constitution, which has -again been changed by the events of 1870. After the humiliation of -Austria in 1866, and Prussia's consequent increase of power and -influence, France, which has always held a commanding place among the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[306]</a></span> -powers of Europe, felt that her position was threatened. Prussia had -attained a degree of power and influence which overshadowed France. A -war in the future was certain, and it came in 1870. The desire on the -part of France to check the ambition of Prussia, to cripple her power, -and diminish her influence, was the real cause of the war, and the -immediate events which led to the conflict are now of little -consequence. The attempt to place Leopold of Hohenzollern on the throne -of Spain was undoubtedly a real grievance to France. The French and -their supporters say he was brought forward to provoke a quarrel; that -Bismarck desired a war, in order to complete the unification of Germany. -The prince was withdrawn from the candidacy for the Spanish throne, but -France was not satisfied without a guaranty, which Prussia would not -give. France seemed to be determined to fight, and declared war. -Probably Louis Napoleon depended upon the coöperation of Austria and -Italy in humiliating a power whose rapid growth threatened the integrity -of all her neighbors' territory. But Italy had practically received -Venetia from the hands of Prussia, after the struggle of 1866, and -Austria was not in condition to carry on another war with her powerful -opponent. The emperor counted, too, upon the disaffection of Bavaria, -Baden, and Würtemberg, if not Saxony and Hanover, all of which had been -hardly used by Prussia in the war of 1866; but the South German states -promptly placed themselves on the side of Fatherland, led by Prussia. -France was obliged to fight her battles all alone. She was thoroughly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[307]</a></span> -beaten, and absolutely crushed, by the vast legions of Germany. France, -which had been demanding the Rhine provinces, so that the river should -be her boundary line, was deprived of the greater portion of Alsace and -Lorraine, lying next to Germany, and on the Rhine.</p> - -<p>Bismarck's plan to unite all Germany under one emperor was fully -realized, for, while the army of King William was still laying siege to -Paris, the King of Bavaria proposed to the sovereign princes of Germany -to urge William to assume the title of Emperor of Germany. A bill passed -the German Parliament at Berlin, almost unanimously, by which all the -states were united into an empire. The king was elected emperor by the -Diet, and accepted the honor; Bismarck was appointed chancellor of the -empire.</p> - -<p>The members of the Diet, or Parliament, are elected for three years by -the people. As in the United States, each of the sovereignties is -independent in its local government, and exercises all powers which are -not expressly delegated to the Diet. All legislation relating to trade, -commerce, emigration, colonization, and insurance companies, belongs to -the Parliament. The empire also regulates the tariff, coinage, weights -and measures, banking, patents and copyrights, navigation, both internal -and external, post office and telegraphs, the army and navy, and laws -relating to the press.</p> - -<p>The legislature consists of two branches, the Federal Council and the -Diet, or Parliament, the latter of which has nearly four hundred -members. The Federal Council is composed of the representatives of the -several governments. Prussia has seventeen votes in this body;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[308]</a></span> -Bavaria, six; Würtemberg and Saxony, four each; Baden and Hesse, three -each; Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Brunswick, two each; and all the others, -one each, making fifty-eight in all. Each state may send as many members -as it has votes, but all from one state must vote together, representing -but one opinion.</p> - -<p>The emperor represents the empire, concludes treaties, sends -ambassadors, and receives the ministers of other powers. He declares war -in the name of the Confederacy, but unless its territory is invaded or -menaced, he must have the consent of the Federal Council. The executive -power is practically delegated to the King of Prussia, whose navy now -belongs to Germany, and the army is under his command. To all intents -and purposes Prussia is Germany.</p> - -<p>The Zollverein, or Customs Union, controls all matters relating to the -trade and commerce of the German states. It has a council and -parliament, like those of the empire. Its object is to levy uniform -duties on imported merchandise, to superintend the collection of the -revenues, and to regulate trade. All the receipts of the Zollverein are -paid into a common treasury, and distributed according to the population -among the several states.</p> - -<p>As soon as the professor finished his lecture, a steamer came alongside, -and took off the students who were to make an excursion to Königsberg.</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[309]</a></span></p> -</div> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> - -<p class="center mt2 title5">FROM KÖNIGSBERG TO DANZIG.</p> - - -<p>"Do you remember that amber chamber we saw in the palace of Czarskoé -Sélo?" asked Dr. Winstock, as the steamer left the ship.</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir; the amber was presented by Frederick the Great," replied -Lincoln.</p> - -<p>"Probably he obtained it from this vicinity, where it is largely -gathered on the sea-shore, after a storm. It is also dug out of the -ground in the interior of the country."</p> - -<p>"What is amber?" inquired Norwood, who was listening to the -conversation.</p> - -<p>"It is a resin, or gum, of vegetable origin, supposed to come from a -kind of tree now extinct, hardened into a mineral. It is noted for its -electrical properties. About one hundred and fifty hogsheads of it are -annually collected on this coast. A piece weighing a pound is worth -fifty dollars; but like diamonds, its value increases in a much greater -ratio than its size. The Grand Masters of the Teutonic Knights took -possession of the trade, and derived large revenues from it. At the -present time the King of Prussia receives an income of sixteen or -seventeen thousand dollars from its collection. Amber is exported in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[310]</a></span> -large quantities to Mohammedan countries, where it is used for -mouth-pieces of pipes and for ornaments. In the city you will find many -amber-workers, and a large assortment of goods made from it."</p> - -<p>The steamer ran up into the Pregel River, and the company landed. -Königsberg was once the capital of Prussia Proper, and for a long time -the residence of the Electors of Brandenburg. The old palace was the -residence of the Grand Masters of the Teutonic Knights, and of the Dukes -of Prussia. In the church connected with it, Frederick I. placed the -crown upon his own head; and here, also, the present king followed his -example. The Cathedral is a Gothic building, five hundred years old, -which contains the tombs of many Teutonic Knights, and that of Kant the -philosopher, whose house is also pointed out in the city.</p> - -<p>"There isn't much here to be seen," said Lincoln, as he walked about the -parade-ground.</p> - -<p>"No, not much; but it has been a royal residence, and visiting it makes -the facts of history more real to us," replied Dr. Winstock. "Great -events have transpired here and in this vicinity. Twenty-two miles south -of this city is Eylau, where Napoleon defeated the Russians in 1807, and -a dozen miles from there is Friedland, where he again routed them in the -same year. These events led to the treaty of Tilsit, which is some -ninety miles north-east of this city, on the Niemen, near the frontier -of Russia. The treaty was signed on a raft, moored in the middle of the -river, on which was a pavilion magnificently fitted up. The three -sovereigns of France, Russia, and Prussia met upon it. By this treaty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[311]</a></span> -Prussia lost nearly half her territory, as Mr. Mapps told you, though -she regained it in the treaty of Vienna."</p> - -<p>"What did they meet on a raft for?"</p> - -<p>"It was evidently a whim of Napoleon, and in our time the idea would be -considered rather sensational," laughed the doctor.</p> - -<p>Having exhausted the sights of the city, the party walked to the Hôtel -de Prusse, where dinner had been ordered for them. They passed through -the restaurant, in which De Forrest and Beckwith were dining with the -Kinnairds. If the runaways had been prudent they would have removed the -gold lace from their coats and caps; but as Miss Julia Gurney liked the -appearance of it, and it seemed to obtain consideration for them in -hotels and other places, they did not lay it aside. Beckwith suggested -the idea of doing so, but De Forrest thought it would cause the pretty -English girl to ask hard questions, and he declined to adopt the -suggestion. When the students entered the restaurant, De Forrest asked -to be excused, and they tried to get out of sight; but the quick eye of -Mr. Lowington was upon them, and he placed himself in their way.</p> - -<p>"Ah, young gentlemen, I'm glad to see you," said the principal. "It was -unfortunate that you missed the train at Moscow, or took the wrong one."</p> - -<p>The runaways studied the floor.</p> - -<p>"Perhaps you had better dine with us," suggested the principal, as he -pointed to the adjoining room.</p> - -<p>"We have been with a party of English people for some time," stammered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[312]</a></span> -the late purser. "Will you allow me to speak to them before I leave?"</p> - -<p>"It is unnecessary. You were not so particular when you left our party -at Moscow. If any explanations are required, I will make them for you;" -and the principal pointed to the door again.</p> - -<p>Seats were assigned to them at <i>table d'hôte</i>, but somehow their -appetites were not very sharp.</p> - -<p>The Kinnairds hardly missed the runaways, for Miss Gurney began to -recognize the young officers who had been so attentive to her on board -the ship, when she visited her at Christiansand. As Lincoln, Cumberland, -and others were only human, probably they had been more polite to her -because she was very pretty, than they otherwise would have been. -Lincoln promptly recognized her, and so did Cumberland.</p> - -<p>"I am very happy to meet you again," said the former.</p> - -<p>"Thank you. I am delighted to see you," replied Julia.</p> - -<p>"Is your ship here?" asked Mr. Kinnaird.</p> - -<p>"No, sir; she is at Pillau," answered the commodore.</p> - -<p>"That is unfortunate, for Julia very much desires to go on board of her -again."</p> - -<p>"We must go to Pillau, Mr. Kinnaird," laughed the pretty maiden. "We -have been travelling with two of your officers for more than a week, and -my interest in your ship is greater than ever. You are one of the -lieutenants, if I remember rightly."</p> - -<p>"I was third lieutenant at the time I met you, but I am not now," -replied Lincoln.</p> - -<p>"He is commodore of the squadron—the highest office," interposed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[313]</a></span> -Cumberland.</p> - -<p>"What a great man you must be!" exclaimed Julia. "And you were captain -when I saw you," she added to Cumberland.</p> - -<p>"Yes; but I have fallen to the rank of first lieutenant."</p> - -<p>"Not by any fault of his own, let me add," said Lincoln.</p> - -<p>"Will you allow us to go on board of the ship if we go to Pillau?" asked -the young lady.</p> - -<p>"Certainly; but we sail for Danzig to-night," replied the commodore.</p> - -<p>"We are going to Danzig to-morrow," suggested Mr. Kinnaird.</p> - -<p>"Then we shall certainly see your ship. But I wonder where Mr. De -Forrest and Mr. Beckwith are," added Julia.</p> - -<p>"They are in the next room, with the rest of our people," answered -Lincoln, who had seen the principal pointing the way for them.</p> - -<p>"They must be delighted to see all their friends again."</p> - -<p>Lincoln thought not, but he did not say so. The two officers entered the -dining-room, and joined their companions. After dinner, the principal -had an interview with the Kinnairds, and as Miss Gurney manifested so -much interest in the ship, Mr. Lowington invited them to go to Danzig in -her, and the pretty maiden leaped with rapture at the idea. The -invitation was accepted, and at seven o'clock in the evening all hands -were on board. De Forrest and Beckwith had looked about them for a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[314]</a></span> -chance to escape; but none was offered, and they were compelled to go to -the ship. They were required to take off their uniform, and clothe -themselves in seamen's dress at once. They were stationed without delay -by Cumberland, the first officer. Of course they were heartily -disgusted, for both of them had occupied places in the cabin for several -months, and it was not pleasant to return to the steerage, and do duty -before the mast. The fact that Miss Julia Gurney was on board added a -hundred fold to their mortification. De Forrest determined not to appear -on deck till he was obliged to do so; and then, unhappily, he was -stationed on the mizzen topsail-yard in furling and setting sail, and at -the spanker sheet in tacking and wearing.</p> - -<p>Two spare state-rooms in the after cabin of the Young America were -appropriated to the guests. The principal was always glad to have ladies -come on board of the vessels of the squadron, because he believed that -female society had a refining influence upon the students. During the -preceding winter he had remodelled the interior of the ship, so as to -have more state-rooms for the accommodation of occasional passengers. -Miss Gurney was delighted with her room and the cabin, and perhaps more -than anything else with the gentlemanly young officers, who were, of -course, put on their good behavior. At supper she was placed on the -right of the commodore, while Mr. and Mrs. Kinnaird were on the right of -the captain. Lincoln was very much pleased with the fair girl, and, -after the meal, escorted her to the deck.</p> - -<p>There was not a breath of wind, and the German pilot on board was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[315]</a></span> -unwilling to sail without a good breeze, so that the ship would work -lively. The runaways, therefore, were not obliged to show themselves -that evening. The commodore conducted his charge to every part of the -ship which it was proper for a lady to visit. The students gazed at her -with admiration, and some of them doubtless wished they were the -commodore, in order to be in a situation to perform such agreeable duty. -The breeze did not come during the night, and at seven bells the next -morning the squadron was still at anchor.</p> - -<p>"If you are tired of waiting, Miss Gurney, we will send you ashore," -said Commodore Lincoln.</p> - -<p>"Indeed, I'm not tired. I enjoy every moment of the time. I think it is -delicious."</p> - -<p>"I am glad you like it; but I am sure if you were not here, I should -think it was very dull indeed," added Lincoln, laughing.</p> - -<p>"Thank you, Mr. Commodore. You are very kind," continued Miss Gurney, -blushing just a little.</p> - -<p>"We have to go to work in a few moments; but I hope you will find some -way to amuse yourself."</p> - -<p>"To work?"</p> - -<p>"Yes; we have to study and recite our lessons; but there are plenty of -books in the library."</p> - -<p>"May I go into the school-room, and see what is done?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly, if you please. You may come into our class. It is Greek, -navigation, and French to-day."</p> - -<p>"I will join the class, for I have studied Greek and French, but I don't -know anything about navigation."</p> - -<p>"The lesson to-day in navigation is, 'To regulate a chronometer by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[316]</a></span> -means of a transit instrument;' and I have no doubt you will find it -very interesting," laughed the commodore.</p> - -<p>"I have no doubt I shall, but I'm afraid my interest will centre in your -perplexity."</p> - -<p>"Thank you; but I have learned my lesson, and don't intend to be -perplexed. Just as soon as a breeze comes, we shall get under way."</p> - -<p>"That means to start, I suppose."</p> - -<p>"'Only this, and nothing more;' but if I should say start, my shipmates -would laugh at me, and declare that I was not fit to be an officer."</p> - -<p>The recitations commenced, and the guests were as much interested in -them as they had been in other proceedings on board. But at ten in the -forenoon, there was a good sailing breeze, and the students were -dismissed from the steerage.</p> - -<p>"Now you are going to start—I mean, to get under way," said Miss -Gurney.</p> - -<p>"We are," replied the commodore, as he gave the order to run up the -signal for sailing at once. "Captain Cantwell."</p> - -<p>"Commodore Lincoln," replied the captain, touching his cap to his -superior.</p> - -<p>"You will get the ship under way immediately."</p> - -<p>"Dear me! how fine!" exclaimed Julia. "But why don't he do it?"</p> - -<p>"Pass the word for Mr. Cumberland," added the captain to one of the -midshipmen.</p> - -<p>The first lieutenant reported himself, and received his orders from the -captain. The boatswain's whistle rang through the ship, and the call was -heard from the consorts.</p> - -<p>"All hands, up anchor!" shouted the executive officer, when the crew had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[317]</a></span> -mustered; and the anchor was heaved up to a short stay.</p> - -<p>"Stations for loosing sail," continued Cumberland; and the order was -repeated by the officers forward, "Lay aloft, sail-loosers!"</p> - -<p>The seamen scrambled up the rigging like cats, and Miss Gurney expressed -her delight in many exclamations. In a few moments the white sails -dropped down, and all hands aloft, except a few whose duty it was to -remain and overhaul the rigging, descended to the deck.</p> - -<p>"Sheet home and hoist away!" said the first lieutenant; and up went the -yards. "Top up the spanker boom."</p> - -<p>At this last order the sheet men were obliged to take their stations, -and De Forrest cast off the sheet.</p> - -<p>"Why, that is Mr. De Forrest," said Julia, as she recognized her late -travelling companion.</p> - -<p>"That's De Forrest, certainly; but we don't call anyone mister, unless -he is an officer," replied Lincoln.</p> - -<p>"But how different he looks!"</p> - -<p>"A little change in his appearance."</p> - -<p>"Good morning, Mr. De Forrest," said the fair girl, seeing that he was -disengaged, while the other hands were walking away with the lift.</p> - -<p>"Good morning, Miss Gurney," replied the runaway, sheepishly, as he -counted the seams in the quarter-deck.</p> - -<p>"But I thought you were an officer," added the astonished maiden. "Where -are your gold lace and gold-banded cap?"</p> - -<p>"I'm not an officer now."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[318]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Belay the sheet," said the fourth lieutenant.</p> - -<p>"Man the bars!" shouted the executive officer; and De Forrest had a -chance to escape.</p> - -<p>"What does it mean? Mr. De Forrest said he was an officer," continued -Julia.</p> - -<p>"He was; but when he came on board yesterday, he was reduced to the -steerage."</p> - -<p>"That's too bad! But why was it?"</p> - -<p>"I am sorry to tell you the truth, but he ran away from the ship."</p> - -<p>"Is it possible? Such a nice young man!"</p> - -<p>"Unfortunately it is true."</p> - -<p>As the jib and flying-jib were run up, the ship began to move through -the water, and De Forrest was called aft again to help set the spanker. -In a few moments everything was drawing, and the ship went off on the -port tack. The starboard watch had the deck, and the port watch went -below to attend to their lessons again. The commodore was obliged to -leave his pretty friend, who preferred to remain on deck. De Forrest was -one of the two hands at the wheel, in charge of a quartermaster, and his -mortification was as long continued as it was deep.</p> - -<p>"I didn't see you again after you left us yesterday, Mr. De Forrest," -said Julia.</p> - -<p>"You will excuse me, but I am not allowed to talk with any one while at -the wheel," stammered he.</p> - -<p>"His conduct was such that I declined to permit him to return, and I -promised to explain the matter to you," interposed the principal.</p> - -<p>And he did explain the matter in full, and in the culprit's hearing. -De Forrest could not help seeing that he had sunk to zero in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[319]</a></span> -estimation of the fair girl, who, after this, hardly looked at him. At -eight bells the commodore came on deck again, and entertained Miss -Gurney, till the squadron anchored off Neufahrwasser, the port of -Danzig, at an early hour in the afternoon.</p> - -<p>"I am sorry we have arrived so soon," said she, when the ship had -anchored.</p> - -<p>"Why?"</p> - -<p>"Because I suppose I must leave you now."</p> - -<p>"Aren't you tired of going to sea?"</p> - -<p>"No, indeed! I think it is so delightful!"</p> - -<p>"Then I hope you will stay with us longer. We are going to look at -Danzig, and then sail for Swinemünde."</p> - -<p>"Will you allow us to stay any longer?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly; we shall be very glad to have you remain on board as long as -you will."</p> - -<p>The principal indorsed this request, and the Kinnairds assented.</p> - -<p>"You will see something new on board to-morrow, if you stay," added -Lincoln. "To-morrow will be the first day of the month, and we have an -election of officers."</p> - -<p>"And will you be the commodore next month?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know," laughed Lincoln. "Perhaps I shall not have votes -enough."</p> - -<p>"O, I hope you will!"</p> - -<p>"Thank you, Miss Gurney; my position is certainly a very comfortable -one, for I have but little to do, except to entertain the ship's guests, -which in this instance is an exceedingly pleasant duty."</p> - -<p>"You are very kind, Commodore Lincoln. I wish I was a young man," added<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[320]</a></span> -Miss Gurney.</p> - -<p>"I don't; I'm afraid I shouldn't like you half so well if you were."</p> - -<p>"But if I were I should be a sailor, and would study till I became a -commodore," replied the young lady, blushing.</p> - -<p>"You overrate the office."</p> - -<p>"Nothing could be more delightful than to live in the cabin, and go from -place to place in this beautiful ship."</p> - -<p>"If you were on board in a gale of wind, perhaps you would not think her -so very beautiful."</p> - -<p>"Well, I think so now."</p> - -<p>The conversation was interrupted by the call for all hands to go on -shore. The boats were lowered, and the ship's guests were invited to -take passage in the commodore's barge. De Forrest pulled the stroke oar -in this boat, and his disgust was intolerable. The fair Miss Gurney sat -directly in front of him, chatting with the commodore. He had flattered -himself that this young lady had some regard for him, and he had -accompanied her party from city to city, solely for the sake of being -with her—she was so fascinating. He had permitted her to lead him to -the shores of the Baltic, where he had been captured by the principal. -And this was the reward of all his devotion! Thus she gave him the cold -shoulder, and bestowed her smiles upon the commodore! It was real agony -to him, and the coxswain was obliged to call out to him more than once -to mind his stroke.</p> - -<p>The company landed, except De Forrest and Beckwith, whose liberty had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[321]</a></span> -been stopped, and they were handed over to the care of Peaks, the -boatswain, who put them both into the fourth cutter, and pulled back to -the ship, leaving the other forward officers in charge of the rest of -the boats. The party took the train at Neufahrwasser, and in a quarter -of an hour were in Danzig.</p> - -<p>"Large vessels used to go up to the city," said Dr. Winstock, who was in -the compartment with Lincoln and the Kinnairds; "but on the breaking -away of the ice in the Vistula in 1840, a new passage to the sea was -opened, and the water was diverted from the deep channel."</p> - -<p>"Danzig is a great grain city—isn't it?" asked Lincoln.</p> - -<p>"Yes; immense quantities of wheat come down the Vistula from the grain -regions of Prussia, Poland, and other countries. It was formerly the -greatest grain port in the world, but is now far surpassed by Chicago. -It is five miles from the Baltic. The granaries are on an island in the -river, where no dwelling-house can be built, and no fires or lights are -allowed."</p> - -<p>The company left the train in the city, and went to the cathedral, -commenced by one of the Grand Masters of the Teutonic order in the -fourteenth century, and finished in the sixteenth. It is a fine church, -and has fifty chapels, founded by the chief citizens as burial-places -for their families. The principal curiosity in the church is a picture -of the Last Judgment, painted for the pope, but captured by pirates on -its way from Bruges to Rome. It was retaken by a Danzig vessel, and -placed in this cathedral, but in 1807 was carried to Paris by the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[322]</a></span> -French. It was reclaimed after the war by the King of Prussia, who -offered forty thousand thalers for the privilege of retaining it in -Berlin; but when the owners declined the offer, he returned it to them.</p> - -<p>Danzig is one of the oldest cities in Germany, and resembles Nuremburg -in the quaint old structures which it contains, and the walk through the -<i>Langgasse</i>, the principal street, and the Long Market, was full of -interest to the students. At half past seven all hands had collected at -the railroad station, and before nine were on board the vessels. As the -breeze was both fresh and fair, the squadron got under way, and the next -day it was far out in the Baltic.</p> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[323]</a></span></p> -</div> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> - -<p class="center mt2 title5">THE STRANDED STEAMER IN THE BALTIC.</p> - - -<p>On the morning of the first day of July, at nine o'clock, the squadron -had accomplished half the distance from Danzig to the mouth of the Oder, -or rather to Swinemünde, on the outlet of the Haff to the Baltic. This -Haff is the estuary of the Oder, and forms a considerable lake inside of -the two islands which separate it from the sea.</p> - -<p>All hands were called, and the merit-roll for the preceding month was -read by the principal, so that the students might know who were eligible -to the elective offices. There was hardly a change in the relative rank, -for very little had been done upon the lessons during the month. The -most remarkable event was, that Scott came out No. 16, which gave him -the rank of fourth midshipman. The joker was a first-class seaman, and -probably he owed his good fortune largely to the several examinations in -nautical matters, though he had exerted himself more than ever before in -the scholastic department. The reading of his name in this connection -called forth a shout of applause. As usual, Lincoln and Cumberland had -the highest number of marks, and Cantwell was the third. De Forrest -and Beckwith stood at the foot of the list, for they had been absent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[324]</a></span> -from most of the recitations during the month. Cumberland was not -eligible to the office of commodore. Lincoln, Cantwell, and the two -captains of the consorts were the only candidates for this position.</p> - -<p>"Of course Cantwell will be chosen," sneered De Forrest. "This thing is -played out, and all I want is a chance to get off."</p> - -<p>"I don't believe you will find any such chance," replied Beckwith. "I -don't think we have made anything by running away."</p> - -<p>"We had a good time while we were away."</p> - -<p>"I didn't. You tagged after that girl, and made me follow you. Now she -has cut you."</p> - -<p>"I'll get even with Lincoln on that yet."</p> - -<p>"I don't believe you will. It isn't his fault. When the girl found out -that you had run away from the ship, she wouldn't look at you again. -That's the whole of it," replied Beckwith.</p> - -<p>While they were talking, the word was passed for all hands to assemble -in the waist to hold a caucus for the nomination of officers.</p> - -<p>"Scott has got into the cabin, and I don't believe he will lead all the -fellows in the steerage by the nose now," said De Forrest. "I suppose he -will try to make Cantwell commodore."</p> - -<p>The meeting was organized by the choice of Ryder, the second master, as -chairman, and Vroome as secretary.</p> - -<p>"The meeting is ready for business," said the chairman.</p> - -<p>"I move that Captain Langdon, of the Josephine, be nominated for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[325]</a></span> -commodore," shouted De Forrest.</p> - -<p>"Second the motion," added Lincoln, promptly.</p> - -<p>"Question," called several.</p> - -<p>The motion was put, and voted down without a count.</p> - -<p>De Forrest tried again with the name of Captain Wolff, of the Tritonia, -in order to throw out Lincoln and Cantwell, and Beckwith seconded his -motion.</p> - -<p>"I don't think this is a fair thing, Mr. Chairman," said De Forrest. "A -great deal has been said about fair play; but now the ship's company of -the Young America want to nominate for commodore, without giving the -students in the consorts any voice in the matter."</p> - -<p>"I desire to say, for the information of the last speaker, that an -arrangement has been made by which the ship is to have the office of -commodore for two months out of four, while the consorts are to have it -the other two months," interposed Cumberland.</p> - -<p>"I don't recognize any such arrangement," replied De Forrest, angrily.</p> - -<p>This remark was greeted with a shout of laughter, for the runaway spoke -as though he had the control of the whole matter.</p> - -<p>"If the speaker had been on board at Cronstadt when the agreement was -made, he would understand it better," said the chairman. "The question -is upon the nomination of Captain Wolff."</p> - -<p>It was voted down almost unanimously.</p> - -<p>"I move that Captain Cantwell be nominated," said Billy Bobstay, who was -filled with gratitude at the generous conduct of the captain towards -him.</p> - -<p>"I second the motion," added Lincoln.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[326]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Mr. Chairman, I wish to decline being considered a candidate. I cannot -accept the nomination on any conditions," said Cantwell, in a loud, -clear, and decided voice.</p> - -<p>His remark was hailed with the most emphatic applause; and Cantwell -hastened to Billy Bobstay, and begged him to withdraw his motion, which -he did.</p> - -<p>"If there is no objection, the motion may be withdrawn," said the -chairman.</p> - -<p>"I object," interposed Lincoln.</p> - -<p>"Then I hope the ship's company will vote it down, as a favor to me, if -for no other reason," added Cantwell.</p> - -<p>"Question!" called the impatient seamen.</p> - -<p>It was voted down, but in a mild and gentle manner, which indicated that -the students did not do so from any ill will to Cantwell.</p> - -<p>"Now, Mr. Chairman, I nominate Commodore Lincoln for reëlection," -continued the captain.</p> - -<p>The motion was seconded, and carried with only a single voice against -it, and that was De Forrest's, his "no" being uttered in the most -malignant tone.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Chairman," shouted Scott, as soon as this question was settled, "I -made a speech somewhere up north of here, among the eternal solitudes of -nature, and all that sort of thing, you know. I went in for fair play -then, as I do now. Some of us didn't vote the regular nominations at the -election, and the consequence was, that Captain Cantwell was chosen. I -think he has made a very good captain, and been very courteous and -gentlemanly to all hands. I shall therefore move that he be nominated -again."</p> - -<p>"Mr. Chairman," said Cantwell, interrupting the applause which followed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[327]</a></span> -the joker's speech. "I am very much obliged to those who have supported -me, and for this kind response to the motion of the last speaker; but I -have already made up my mind not to accept the nomination of captain. In -the excitement of the last election, I was chosen to a position for -which I was not as competent as many others. I have done my best to -improve in seamanship, but I will no longer occupy a place for which -others are better fitted than I am."</p> - -<p>Scott persisted, and Cantwell was nominated; but he positively declined -to accept the nomination, though most of the students supposed he was -declining for effect, at first. Finally, the principal interposed, for -there could be no doubt that the captain was fully in earnest. -Cumberland was then nominated for captain, and Cantwell for first -lieutenant. Judson, Norwood, and Sheridan were selected for the other -three elective places. The balloting was commenced, and all the nominees -of the caucus were chosen. The result of the vote for commodore was -signalled from each of the consorts, and Lincoln was reëlected.</p> - -<p>"That's what I call fair play," said Scott.</p> - -<p>"Yes, it is; but those same fellows will be chosen as long as they -remain in the ship," replied Wainwright, who was now the fourth master.</p> - -<p>"Well, they don't remain much longer," replied Scott. "Nearly all of the -fellows in the highest offices will be graduated this summer, and I -suppose they will leave. That will open the way for others. I wonder how -I shall feel in a frock coat."</p> - -<p>"Probably you will feel good, as all the others do," answered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[328]</a></span> -Wainwright, as he led the way into the cabin, where he was presented by -the commodore to Miss Gurney and the Kinnairds.</p> - -<p>"I am glad to see you here, Scott," said Cantwell, taking him by the -hand.</p> - -<p>"I'm afraid there is some blunder in the reckoning," replied Scott.</p> - -<p>Lincoln had been most heartily congratulated by the ship's guests on his -reëlection, and Miss Gurney could not help expressing to Cantwell her -admiration of his unselfish conduct. Everybody seemed to be satisfied -with the result of the election, except De Forrest. The new plan, of -which he claimed the authorship, worked very well, and the students were -obtaining some experience in the machinery of politics. Clyde Blacklock, -who, when he found it was useless to attempt to run away, or to resist -the authority of the ship, had exerted himself to learn and to do his -duty, was particularly pleased with the result of his struggles during -the month. He was a young man of good parts, and had the English love of -invigorating sports. He had taken kindly to his duty, and had made great -proficiency during the two months he had been on board. He was the -coxswain of the second cutter, and he was prouder of the position than -many who had won places in the cabin. Some of the crew of the boat were -inclined to sneer at him, but he took especial pains to conciliate them.</p> - -<p>On the afternoon of the election day it rained, and the guests were -compelled to remain in the cabin; but the young officers who were not on -duty did their best to entertain them. At night a dense fog set in;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[329]</a></span> -but the wind was fair, and the squadron held on its course, and having -the starboard tacks aboard, the fog-horns were blown every two minutes. -The next morning, at seven bells, pilots were taken, just as the fog -began to lift, though it still lay over the land on the port bow. -Repeated whistles, as of a steamer, were heard from this direction, and -the pilot of the ship declared that some vessel was in distress, -probably a steamer, which had run ashore in the fog.</p> - -<p>"Steamer aground on the port bow," shouted the lookout forward, half an -hour later.</p> - -<p>"I see her!" exclaimed Captain Cumberland, who had placed himself in the -lee mizzen-shrouds. "She is on a sand-bank."</p> - -<p>The ship was within half a mile of the steamer, but the pilot declared -that it was not prudent to go any nearer. Two guns from the grounded -vessel announced that she needed assistance.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Cantwell, call all hands; clear away the second cutter," said the -captain.</p> - -<p>"All hands, on deck; second cutters, clear away your boat!" piped the -boatswain, when the first officer had given the order.</p> - -<p>"Now, heave her to," added the captain.</p> - -<p>"Man the main clew-garnets and buntlines!" shouted Cantwell; and his -orders were repeated by the other officers at their stations. "Let go -the lee braces! Down with the helm, quartermaster!"</p> - -<p>"Down, sir," responded the quartermaster at the wheel.</p> - -<p>"Up mainsail! Brace her aback!"</p> - -<p>The ship rounded up into the wind, the main topsail swung round, and in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[330]</a></span> -a few moments the headway of the vessel was checked.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Scott, in charge of the second cutter!" continued the first -lieutenant.</p> - -<p>Scott leaped lightly into the boat.</p> - -<p>"Lower away!" said Cantwell, as soon as it was prudent to drop the boat -into the water.</p> - -<p>"Up oars!" shouted Clyde Blacklock, the new coxswain, proud and happy to -have a real duty to perform. "Let fall! Give way together!" And away -went the second cutter over the waves towards the stranded steamer.</p> - -<p>Mr. Lowington thought it best to send another boat, and the first -cutter, pulling twelve oars, was despatched, in charge of Sheridan. The -second cutter was far ahead of her, and was the first to reach the -unfortunate vessel, which proved to be one of the mail steamers from -Stockholm. She had run her bow hard on a sand-bank, and then toppled -over on her starboard side, her stern nearly submerged in the deep -water.</p> - -<p>"Way enough!" said Clyde, as the cutter approached her gangway.</p> - -<p>Scott stood behind the bowman, ready to step on board as soon as the -boat was secured.</p> - -<p>"O Clyde! My son!" shouted a lady among the passengers. "Save us! Save -us!"</p> - -<p>"That's my mother!" exclaimed the coxswain, as Scott leaped upon the -deck.</p> - -<p>"Don't be alarmed, madam. You are perfectly safe," said the fourth -midshipman, as he approached the captain, whom he easily recognized by -his dress and appearance. "You seem to be in a tight place."</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> -<img src="images/i_330.jpg" width="500" height="324" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><span class="smcap"> -The Stranded Steamer. Page 330.</span></div></div> - -<p>The captain, who was a German, did not seem to understand -this remark, though he spoke English. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[331]</a></span></p> - -<p>"You belong to the boy-ship?" said he.</p> - -<p>"The Academy Ship, sir. What can we do for you?" replied Scott.</p> - -<p>"I want a steamer to pull me off."</p> - -<p>"Then I don't know that we can do anything for you."</p> - -<p>"You can send a steamer, if you are going on to Swinemünde. My -passengers are very much frightened, though there is no danger, unless -we have a storm."</p> - -<p>"We will take off your passengers, sir."</p> - -<p>"Thank you; that will relieve them. I have only ten."</p> - -<p>The second cutter was swung round, and the officers of the steamer -assisted the passengers into the boat. As the first cutter soon arrived, -a part of them were placed on board of her.</p> - -<p>"O Clyde, Clyde!" exclaimed Mrs. Blacklock, as she hugged her boy. "I -thought I should never see you again."</p> - -<p>"Come, mother, don't be too demonstrative. You will make all the fellows -laugh at me."</p> - -<p>"I'm so glad to see you, Clyde!" added Miss Celia Blacklock, his sister.</p> - -<p>Clyde kissed them both, and then begged them to allow him to attend to -his duty.</p> - -<p>"Up oars!" shouted he, with vigor. "Shove off!"</p> - -<p>"I am so glad to get out of that steamer!" added Mrs. Blacklock. "I -thought we should all be drowned."</p> - -<p>"Let fall!" said Clyde, too much interested in his new duties even to <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[332]</a></span> -heed his mother. "Stern, all! Give way!"</p> - -<p>"And I'm very, very glad to find you again, Clyde!" continued the lady.</p> - -<p>"Oars! Now give way together!" and Clyde gathered up his tiller-ropes, -and for the first time had an opportunity to attend to his mother, whom -he had not seen for nearly three months.</p> - -<p>The young Englishman was an only son, and his mother a widow, who had -been utterly unable to manage him, after she had spoiled him by early -indulgence. The youth had a freak, when he saw the Academy Ship, that he -should like to join her, but soon changed his mind. As the institution -seemed to be the only means of saving him from his own folly and -wilfulness, Mrs. Blacklock had reluctantly permitted Mr. Lowington to -take the control of him. Though he had run away, and had been subjected -to sharp but excellent discipline, he had done very well as soon as he -found it was no longer possible for him to have his own way.</p> - -<p>"I have been looking for you these two months, Clyde," said his mother. -"Where have you been?"</p> - -<p>Clyde told her where he had been.</p> - -<p>"I went to St. Petersburg, but the ship had not been there, and I -returned to Stockholm, and have spent the last month in Sweden."</p> - -<p>"We were rusticating among the islands in the Gulf of Bothnia while you -were looking for me."</p> - -<p>"Why haven't you written to me, Clyde?"</p> - -<p>"I did not know where you were."</p> - -<p>"I hope you have had enough of the sea," sighed his mother.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[333]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I am just beginning to like it first rate. Don't you see I am an -officer?"</p> - -<p>"Are you the captain of the ship?"</p> - -<p>"Well, no; not exactly that, mother; but I am in command of this boat."</p> - -<p>Scott turned away, and laughed, as did the stroke oarsman, who also -heard the remark.</p> - -<p>"I want you to go with me now. I am very, very lonely without you," -added Mrs. Blacklock.</p> - -<p>"Not much, as the Americans say," replied Clyde, shaking his head.</p> - -<p>"Much what, my son?"</p> - -<p>"I don't want to leave the ship. I have done very well, and I am going -to be the captain of her one of these days. I have been studying -geometry, and algebra, and navigation, and French, and German; and a -fellow can learn something in that ship. It's the best school I ever -went to.—Way enough!" said the new coxswain, as the cutter approached -the gangway of the Young America, the steps of which had been rigged out -as soon as it was seen that ladies were coming on board.</p> - -<p>The passengers of the stranded steamer were assisted to the deck, the -boats hoisted up, and the ship filled away. Mrs. Blacklock and her -daughter, as well as the others, were cordially welcomed on board by the -principal. Breakfast was immediately served for them, and they were made -as happy as possible by the young officers, though only a few of the new -guests spoke English.</p> - -<p>"I want to take Clyde away now, Mr. Lowington," said Mrs. Blacklock, as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[334]</a></span> -the ship was entering the harbor of Swinemünde.</p> - -<p>"I would not, madam. He is doing exceedingly well on board," replied the -principal. "He was surly and dissatisfied for a time, but now he takes -an interest in his studies, and is making rapid progress. He is a good -sailor, too."</p> - -<p>"But I miss him very, very much."</p> - -<p>"I dare say you do; but you ought to think of the boy's good. I never -had a more hopeful case in the ship than he is just now. I am confident -we shall make a man of him if you allow us to do so."</p> - -<p>Clyde was called up to speak for himself, and he begged that his mother -would not think of such a thing as removing him. He would write to her -every week. The weak lady finally consented, when the youth declared -that he would be captain of the ship in due time.</p> - -<p>The squadron came to anchor at Swinemünde, and a boat was immediately -sent on shore, with the passengers who wished to land, and with an -officer to inform the agents of the steamer of her condition.</p> - -<p>Arrangements had already been made for sight-seeing in this part of -Germany, and the whole ship's company were to make an excursion to -Berlin and other places. The Kinnairds and the Blacklocks were to go -with them. The party, after remaining on board over Sunday, embarked in -the regular steamer for Stettin, which is a four-hours' trip, on Monday -and arrived at two o'clock in the afternoon. Having an hour or more to -spare before taking the train for Berlin, they had an opportunity to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[335]</a></span> -see the principal street of the town, and to visit the old castle, but -there was nothing of special interest in the place.</p> - -<p>The train left Stettin at half past three, and arrived in Berlin at six. -The officers and seamen had again been arranged in four divisions, so as -not to overwhelm any hotel, and to enable those in charge of them to -exercise a proper supervision. Dr. Winstock had gone up to the city to -make arrangements for their accommodation, and was at the station on the -arrival of the tourists with omnibuses and droschkes enough to convey -them to the hotels. The Kinnairds, with the surgeon and the commodore, -went to the Hotel de Rome, <i>Unter den Linden</i>, as the principal street -of the city is called.</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[336]</a></span></p> -</div> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> - -<p class="center mt2 title5">BERLIN, POTSDAM, AND DRESDEN.</p> - - -<p>Berlin is built on a plain, and there is nothing in the site to -recommend it. Like a drunken man, it is on the Spree, which wanders -through the centre of the city, with a branch that forms an island, and -a canal that winds around the city, and through the adjacent country, so -that the Oder on the east and the Elbe on the west are united. The -streets are generally broad, with plenty of squares and other open -spaces. The houses are of brick, covered with stucco, upon which the -Baltic fogs that prevail here have a bad effect, injuring the appearance -of the buildings. The principal street, on which the palaces, museum, -and hotels are situated, a very wide avenue, in imitation of the Champs -Elysée in Paris, but not at all to be compared with it, is <i>Unter den -Linden</i>. The middle of it is a broad gravelled walk, with double rows of -lime and other trees to shade it for pedestrians. On each side of this -is a narrow roadway for equestrians. Outside of these roads, and -separated from them by a fence and a line of trees, are two streets for -general use.</p> - -<p>The weather was warm and pleasant, and Dr. Winstock proposed a ride<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[337]</a></span> -through <i>Unter den Linden</i>, which is about a mile in length, terminating -in the palace at one end, and the Brandenburg Gate at the other. Two -<i>droschkes</i>—four-wheeled carriages, with one or two seats, similar to -the <i>voitures de place</i> of Paris—were procured. Lincoln and Miss -Gurney, with the doctor, occupied one of them. The great avenue was full -of people, and the scene was very lively. The party drove towards the -palace first, near which the hotel is located. In a moment the doctor -stopped the carriage at the colossal statue of Frederick the Great, one -of the most magnificent monuments in Europe. The Statue itself is -seventeen feet high, resting on a granite pedestal twenty-five feet -high, on the sides of which are bronze figures in high relief, life -size, of thirty-one persons, including the heroes of the Seven Years' -War, and the eminent men of the great monarch's reign.</p> - -<p>"The king lives in that house," said Dr. Winstock, pointing to a very -plain edifice nearly opposite the statue. "He may often be seen sitting -at the corner window. There is the queen now, at the second story -window."</p> - -<p>Of course this was a genuine sensation, and the party gazed at her -majesty, who stood before the window. She wore a white dress, and though -she was nearly sixty, she looked much younger.</p> - -<p>"Is that the queen?" asked Lincoln.</p> - -<p>"That is Queen Augusta," replied the surgeon.</p> - -<p>"She don't look like a queen."</p> - -<p>"Of course she is human," laughed the doctor.</p> - -<p>"But she looks like any other woman."</p> - -<p>"Certainly she does. If you met her in the street you could not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[338]</a></span> -distinguish her from any other lady."</p> - -<p>"Have you seen Queen Victoria, commodore?" asked Miss Gurney.</p> - -<p>"I have not."</p> - -<p>"I have seen her several times; and she isn't a bit different from any -other woman; but I suppose on state occasions, when she wears the crown -and her robes, she looks like a queen."</p> - -<p>"Did you think, Lincoln, that kings and queens went about with crowns on -their heads and sceptres in their hands?"</p> - -<p>"Well, no, sir; but I had an idea that they must appear different from -other people."</p> - -<p>After a drive to the garden opposite the Royal Palace, the party -proceeded through <i>Unter den Linden</i>, pausing a moment at the -Brandenburg Gate, an immense triumphal arch, on which is a car of -Victory, carried to Paris by Napoleon, but returned, after much -negotiation, in 1814. Beyond this is the <i>Thiergarten</i>, or "garden of -animals," a vast tract of land, covered with trees, with roads and paths -through it. Very little has been done to make a park of this territory, -so that it does not compare with the Bois de Boulogne in Paris, or with -Central Park in New York, which is, without doubt, the finest in the -world. It was well filled with people at this hour; but generally it is -dull and monotonous, like a drive through the woods in the country. Half -an hour's ride brought the party to the Zoölogical Gardens, which -contains a very large collection of animals, and a fine park. Part of -the latter is used as a beer garden, in which there is a large, -semicircular, covered stage for the music. There are also several<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[339]</a></span> -buildings for restaurants, though most of the people were seated at -little tables under the trees. A band of about one hundred pieces was -playing German airs when the tourists entered, and two or three thousand -people were present in the grounds. Ladies and gentlemen, in groups of -three or four, were seated at the tables. Nearly all the men were -smoking and drinking wine or beer. A few of the ladies drank beer, but -most of them were partaking of chocolate, ice-creams, tea, and coffee. -The scene was peculiarly German, and everybody seemed to be happy. From -this place the party went to Kroll's Garden, where the same scene -appeared, though it contains a large hall, with a stage where opera is -given at twenty-five cents a ticket, with a good seat. The excursionists -returned to the hotel, and the next morning the business of sight-seeing -was commenced in earnest by the entire company.</p> - -<p>They walked to the Lustgarten, an open space at the end of <i>Unter den -Linden</i>, on the three sides of which are the Royal Palace, the -Cathedral, and the Museum. The first is a vast structure, owing more of -its grandeur to its size than to its beauty. At the gate are some bronze -horses, held by grooms, like those on Monte Cavallo, at Rome, presented -by Nicholas of Russia. The ascent to the second story is by a winding -inclined plane, up which a carriage can be driven. In the guard-room the -visitors were provided with felt slippers, worn over the boots or shoes, -to avoid scratching the polished floors. The apartments are -magnificently furnished, but they need not be described, for every<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[340]</a></span> -palace contains substantially the same series of rooms. The White Hall -is the most elegant, containing the statues of the Brandenburg Electors, -and allegorical figures of the eight Prussian Provinces before the -recent wholesale annexation. In one room there is a silver gilt mantel, -representing one of pure metal which Frederick the Great melted down to -obtain the money to build the new palace at Potsdam, in order to show -the princes of Europe that his funds were not exhausted. The new chapel -is very rich, and has a lofty dome, from which it is lighted. The floor -is of the most beautiful marble, and the walls and ceiling are elegantly -frescoed. The palace formerly had the reputation of being haunted by a -"White Lady" who appeared only to announce the death of a member of the -royal family.</p> - -<p>The company passed through the Cathedral, and entered the Museum, which -is a very handsome edifice. Its art collections are hardly excelled in -Europe. Besides vast galleries of painting and sculpture, it contains -antiquities from the north, and from Egypt, and curiosities from distant -lands, which are among the finest in the world; but the students were -more interested in the historical collection than in anything else, -particularly the relics of Frederick the Great. Among the latter are the -cast of him taken after death, the bullet with which he was wounded at -Rossbach, a wax figure of him, clothed in the uniform he wore on the day -of his death, his books, cane, and a flute. A dress of the Great -Elector, his pipes, and a glass case containing the stars, orders, and -decorations of Napoleon, taken at Waterloo by the Prussians, in the -carriage now at Madame Tussaud's exhibition in London, are also to be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[341]</a></span> -seen in this Museum. The beautiful frescoes in the grand hall were -carefully examined, and their allegorical meaning explained.</p> - -<p>The party went through the Arsenal, and then visited the Aquarium, a -private exhibition. The various apartments were in the shape of grottoes -of artificial rocks, in which the tanks were ingeniously arranged. The -animals were fishes, reptiles, and birds, of which there was an endless -variety; and the students generally were more pleased with this -exhibition than with anything else they saw in Berlin.</p> - -<p>After dinner, a portion of the party went out to Charlottenberg in the -horse car. The town contains a palace built by Frederick I. The gardens -are prettily laid out, but almost the only attraction of the place is -the monument of Queen Louisa, the most beautiful and amiable princess of -her day. She was the wife of Frederick William III., and the mother of -the present king. The monument is the reclining form of the queen in -marble, on a sarcophagus. It is the work of Rauch, the great sculptor, -and is universally appreciated. By its side is a similar monument to the -king, her husband. They are contained within a Doric temple.</p> - -<p>Some of the party who did not visit Charlottenberg went to the Town -Hall, under which is a vast beer hall and restaurant, where they had an -opportunity to see the manners of the Germans. The same students went to -the Jewish synagogue, a large building in Oriental style, holding four -thousand people, which cost a million dollars. It contains a gallery for -the women, and has a lofty dome. On the backs of the settees were the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[342]</a></span> -names of persons who had purchased seats at a thousand thalers each. It -is said that those who built this synagogue realize a handsome -percentage on their investment from the letting of seats. The Bourse is -a handsome building, the interior of which is seventy feet high, with a -gallery for visitors extending across the middle, over a partition which -divides the grain and the stock exchanges.</p> - -<p>The next day the entire company went to Potsdam, which may be called the -city of palaces, for there are not less than five royal residences in -the town. It is eighteen miles from Berlin, and was the favorite -summer-home of Frederick the Great, as it is of the present king. -Carriages of all sorts and kinds were gathered for the use of the party, -and they drove to Babelsberg, which is several miles from the railroad -station. As they approached their destination, they crossed the River -Havel, which here widens in a broad lake. The carriages were left at the -entrance of the grounds, and a walk through a pleasant grove brought the -tourists to a lovely lawn, bordering on the river, and presenting one of -the most beautiful landscapes to be found in any country. This region is -diversified by gentle elevations, on one of which stands the castle or -chateau of the present king. The estate is his private property, and he -pays all the expenses of keeping it, even to the soldiers who are -sometimes on duty there. The castle is built on the side of a hill, with -an entrance from the lawn, though the principal one is on the other -side, one story higher. The party entered at the rear, and came into -small apartments, cosily furnished. The skins and heads of several<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[343]</a></span> -deer, killed by the king, are displayed here. Up one flight the rooms -are larger, but they are entirely different from those usually found in -palaces. They are elegantly but simply furnished, and contain a great -variety of objects of art, with small paintings of the best artists: -indeed, everything about them indicates the highest taste and -refinement. The queen's rooms are very cosy and home-like. Up stairs are -the apartments of the Grand Duchess of Baden, the king's daughter, and -of the crown prince. His majesty's bed-room is exceedingly plain, having -a narrow bed with chintz curtains. On the wall over the bed hangs a -water-color picture, given him by the queen at their silver wedding. -Near this chamber is the king's working room; and the students gazed -curiously at the books open on the table, the pens with which his -majesty wrote, and various other articles he used. In the room are -chairs for the ministers when he holds a council here. The view from the -windows of the lawn, the lake, and the grove is very fine. Babelsberg, -for quiet beauty and taste, cannot be surpassed.</p> - -<p>The students did not enter the Marble Palace on the banks of the lake. -In the water are several miniature vessels and a little steamer, all of -them for the amusement and instruction of the little folks. Passing the -Russian village, which contains eleven houses like those to be found in -Russia, belonging to the better class in the country, built by a party -sent here by Nicholas, the sight-seers arrived at the gardens of Sans -Souci. They are rather stiffly laid out, with plenty of fountains, -statues, fish-ponds, and other ornaments. On a hill, with a very long -flight of steps leading down to the principal avenue of the garden, is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[344]</a></span> -the Palace of Sans Souci,—"without care,"—built by Frederick the Great -in 1745. At the end of the terrace are the graves of his favorite dogs, -and of the horse he rode in many of his battles. In his will he directed -that he should be buried among them, but his request was not heeded. In -the palace the room where he breathed his last is shown. A clock, which -he always wound up himself, stopped at the instant of his death, and -still indicates the time—twenty minutes past two.</p> - -<p>On the hill near the palace is the historic windmill of Sans Souci, -separated from it only by a road. Frederick the Great wished to extend -his grounds in the direction of the mill, but the miller refused to sell -it. In a lawsuit with the owner the king was defeated, and submitted to -the decision. He was so well pleased with Prussian justice, that he -pulled down the original mill, which was a very small one, and erected -for the miller the present one, on a much larger scale. In the reign of -Frederick William IV., the miller who owned it, doubtless a descendant -of the one who defeated the monarch at law, became embarrassed, and -offered to sell it; but the king settled on him a sum sufficient to -extricate him from his difficulties, declaring that the mill was a -national monument, and belonged to Prussian history.</p> - -<p>Not far from the mill is the orangery of the palace, and the Raphael -Saloon. The New Palace is the one built by Frederick the Great at the -close of the Seven Years' War, to prove that his funds were not -exhausted. It contains seventy-two apartments, many of them very gaudy. -Some have walls and floors of fantastic marble mosaics. There is a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[345]</a></span> -hall whose walls are all composed of shells, and in one various kinds of -minerals are inlaid on the sides. Some relics of the great monarch are -shown. In the library is a copy of his works, with notes and criticisms -by Voltaire, whom Frederick admired and invited to his palace. The New -Palace is now one of the residences of the crown prince, Frederick, who -married the Princess Royal of England. In the Antique Temple, near it, -is a statue of Queen Louisa, the work of Rauch, who labored fifteen -years upon it, and it is regarded as even superior to the one on her -tomb.</p> - -<p>From this palace the company went to the Garrison Church, where, under -the marble pulpit, above ground, is the tomb of Frederick the Great and -Frederick William I. The sexton opens the tomb, and visitors are -permitted to gaze upon the coffins of the two monarchs. That of the -great king is a large and perfectly plain metallic coffin. His sword -formerly lay upon it, but was stolen by Napoleon, who visited the tomb. -On each side of the pulpit hang the eagles and standards taken from the -French by the Prussians, and their presence seems to be a just -retaliation for the theft.</p> - -<p>The old Royal Palace, or <i>Residenz</i>, commenced in 1660, is a very large -building, with interminable suites of rooms, some of them -occasionally used at the present time. Within it are shown several -articles belonging to Frederick the Great, as one of his flutes, some -music composed by him, and his old boots. His little dining-room -contains a table, in which is a slide, to enable him to dispense with -the attendance of a servant. The apartment is provided with double -doors, so that he could entertain a friend without being over-heard.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[346]</a></span></p> - -<p>The party then returned to Berlin before five in the afternoon. At -quarter of eight in the evening, they took places in the <i>schnellzug</i>, -or fast train and arrived at Dresden about half past twelve. In half an -hour more, most of them were asleep at the Hotels de Bellevue, Victoria, -Saxe, and Stadt. The Bellevue, on the bank of the Elbe, is one of the -pleasantest and best kept hotels in Europe.</p> - -<p>Dresden is the capital of the Kingdom of Saxony, whose territory is a -thousand square miles smaller than the State of Massachusetts, but has a -population of two million four hundred thousand. It is an independent -state, except that its army is under the control of the King of Prussia -in time of war. Its royal house is one of the oldest in Europe, and in -the tenth century gave an Emperor to Germany. The population of Dresden -is one hundred and fifty-six thousand. It is in a healthy and pleasant -region, and has many attractions, so that it has long been regarded as a -desirable residence by Americans. Hundreds of families from the United -States live there, not only because it is cheap and pleasant, but -because the place affords the best advantages for education, while its -art collections and curiosities are not excelled by many of the capitals -of Europe.</p> - -<p>Not many of the students appeared the next morning before nine o'clock, -though most of them had slept all the way from Berlin to Dresden. -Palaces and museums with waxed floors are very tiresome. One needs a -week properly to digest the sights of the capital of Saxony; but our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[347]</a></span> -party were to do what they could in a single long day. Mr. Ferdinand -Spott, one of the most honest, faithful, and reliable <i>commissionaires</i> -to be found in Europe, was engaged to engineer the sight-seeing, and to -make arrangements for a visit to the Saxon Switzerland the next day.</p> - -<p>Dresden is on both sides of the Elbe, the old city being on the left -bank, and the new on the right. They are joined by a noble stone bridge, -fourteen hundred feet long, originally built with funds procured by the -sale of dispensations from the pope of indulgences to eat eggs and -butter during Lent. One of its arches was blown up by Davoust, to favor -the retreat of the French army after the battle of Dresden, but was -promptly restored by the Emperor of Russia. Near the bridge, in the old -city, is a large square, part of it beautifully laid out in groves, -gardens, and winding walks, with a pond and island in it. On or near -this square are most of the attractions to strangers. The Hotel de -Bellevue is on the river, in one corner. Next to it, on the river, is an -extensive restaurant and beer garden. The theatre which stood in the -centre of the square has been destroyed by fire, a temporary structure -of wood taking its place. On one side stands the Zwinger, originally -intended as the vestibule of a vast palace, the rest of which was never -erected, contains the Armory and Museum of Natural History. Opposite the -bridge is the Catholic Church, a very odd and profusely ornamented -structure. The royal family are Catholics, though the great majority of -the people are Lutherans. Next to this is the <i>Schloss</i>, or palace, and -connected with it is the picture gallery.</p> - -<p>The principal attraction of the palace is the Green Vaults, a series of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[348]</a></span> -eight apartments, taking their name from the former color of the -furnishings, in which are kept the treasures of the kingdom, and an -immense variety of curious, rare, and costly articles. Only six persons -can be admitted at one time, and the fee for this or any less number is -two thalers, or a dollar and a half. An arrangement was made by which -the entire party could see them in the course of the day. A portion of -the students went to the picture gallery first, another to the Green -Vaults, and a third to the Armory in the Zwinger, so as to avoid -uncomfortable crowds.</p> - -<p>One room in the Green Vaults is said to contain jewels to the value of -fifteen million dollars, which is only a portion of the riches of the -palace. The Saxon princes were formerly the wealthiest monarchs in -Europe, the silver mine of Freiberg yielding them an immense revenue. -They used much of their riches in accumulating valuable and costly works -of art, jewels, trinkets, and curiosities. The first room contains -articles in bronze; the second, carvings in ivory, of the most elaborate -description; the third, Florentine mosaics; the fourth, gold and silver -plate, used at the banquets of the kings; the fifth, vessels and -articles cut from various minerals; the sixth, figures in ivory and -wood, and jewels and trinkets; the seventh, the regalia worn by Augustus -II., who was elected King of Poland, at his coronation. The eighth -contains a collection of jewels and other costly articles, calculated to -astonish and bewilder a simple republican—rubies, diamonds, sapphires, -and emeralds, chains, collars, crosses, rings, swords. The court of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[349]</a></span> -the Great Mogul is composed of one hundred and thirty-two figures, of -pure gold enamelled, which cost nearly fifty thousand dollars.</p> - -<p>The Armory contains one of the finest collections of armor and -historical relics in Europe. In one room is a cabinet given by the -Elector of Saxony to Martin Luther, which contains several articles that -belonged to the reformer. In another are the coronation robes of -Augustus the Strong, the horseshoe he broke with his fingers, and his -iron cap, weighing nineteen pounds. The saddle of Napoleon, the boots he -wore at Dresden, and the shoes he wore at his coronation, are to be -seen. One room contains a tent taken from the Turks at the siege of -Vienna, with various memorials of John Sobieski, who saved the city. The -rooms were all full of interest, but the students were obliged to hasten -through them.</p> - -<p>The picture gallery contains twenty-seven hundred original paintings, -including some of the best works of the old and of modern masters. The -most celebrated picture is the <i>Madonna di San Sisto</i>, of Raphael. The -Madonna is rising to heaven with the infant Jesus in her arms, while -Pope Sixtus, from whom the picture takes its name, is gazing at them -with reverential awe. Below are two cherubs looking upward. Opposite the -pope is the kneeling form of St. Barbara, while the background of the -picture is made up of "the innumerable company of angels," whose faces -cover the canvas, but are hardly noticeable at first. This painting cost -forty thousand dollars, and occupies an apartment by itself at one -corner of the building. At the opposite end, another room is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[350]</a></span> -appropriated solely to the Madonna of Holbein, which is his masterpiece. -It represents the burgomaster of Basle, with his family, praying the -Virgin to save his dying child. She is laying down the infant Jesus, to -take up the sick child. The gallery contains many other remarkable works -by Correggio, Titian, Paul Veronese, Van Dyck, Rubens, Rembrandt, Albert -Dürer, and, indeed, pictures by nearly all the old masters.</p> - -<p>In the afternoon some of the party rode to the Great Garden, where there -is a palace of Augustus II., with eight pavilions for his favorites, and -then to the Japanese Palace, so called from the style of some of its -rooms, in the new city. It is near the bank of the Elbe, with extensive -gardens on the river. It contains antiquities, statuary, mostly ancient, -bronzes, collections of porcelain and Dresden china, and some Roman -tombs, with urns filled with the ashes and burned bones of the dead.</p> - -<p>In the evening at six o'clock many attended the opera, which was, "The -Master Singer of Nuremberg," by Wagner, introducing Hans Sachs, the -author of so many German ballads. The music seemed like a general crash, -and the students were unable to appreciate it. The next morning the -whole company took the train for Pötzscha.</p> - -<p>"There is our king," said Mr. Spott, as the train stopped at a station.</p> - -<p>"Where? Where?" demanded the students.</p> - -<p>"The old gentleman in a white hat, and that is the queen with him."</p> - -<p>Most of the students got out of the cars. The king had no attendants<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[351]</a></span> -whatever, a single policeman clearing the way for them. He wore a dark -coat, with striped pants, and the queen was dressed with equal -simplicity. There was no mark by which they could be distinguished from -other people, and the king might easily have been mistaken for a -merchant or farmer. Mr. Lowington thought that he looked like General -Anderson, of Fort Sumter fame. Their majesties were attending their -daughter, the Duchess of Genoa, who was on her way to Italy, simply -coming to see her off. The queen wept like other people, and the king -looked very sad.</p> - -<p>The party arrived at their destination, crossed the river, and walked -through a wild region, abounding in narrow passes, deep glens, and -headlong steeps. Near the end of the walk they came to a remarkable -chasm, which looks like an immense dry dock. It is nearly a thousand -feet deep, with perpendicular sides of basaltic rock, like the Giant's -Causeway. The students cried out with wonder and admiration as they -gazed into the deep abyss, in which they looked far down upon the tops -of the tall trees. The party wandered about over rocks, peeping over -cliffs, till they came to the hotel on the highest hill. Near it is an -observatory, which commands a fine view of the winding Elbe, of -Königstein, a fortress on a rock twelve hundred feet high. Crossing a -bridge, they stood upon the Bastei, which is a flat rock, surrounded by -an iron railing. It rises nearly a thousand feet perpendicularly from -the bank of the river, and commands a splendid view of the valley -beneath. A precipice extends for miles along the right bank of the Elbe; -and nowhere in Europe is so much picturesque scenery crowded into so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[352]</a></span> -small a space as in the Saxon Switzerland. The party returned to Dresden -by steamer from Schandau, the descent to which from the Bastei is, in -part, by a deep ravine over bridges, and through clefts in the rocks, -wild and full of interest. The boat passes Pillnitz, the summer -residence of the king, and the students saw the palace and grounds.</p> - -<p>On the following morning the students and the instructors returned to -the squadron, arriving at a late hour in the evening. As the vessels -were to remain a few days at Swinemünde, Paul Kendall and Shuffles -decided to visit Leipzig, Magdeburg, and Hamburg. Lincoln was about to -be graduated, and was allowed to remain with them and the Kinnairds, -Miss Gurney being the principal attraction to him.</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[353]</a></span></p> -</div> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> - -<p class="center mt2 title5">GREAT CHANGES IN THE SQUADRON.</p> - - -<p>The party that remained in Dresden went to Leipzig in the afternoon, and -found very comfortable quarters in the Hôtel de Pologne. They visited -the usual round of sights; but it must be acknowledged that they did so -rather from a sense of duty, than because they were interested in most -of them. Doubtless they were troubled by that bugbear of travellers—the -fear of missing a sight about which some one in the future might -inquire. If they failed to see it, tourists more fortunate in their own -estimation would assure them they had lost the most interesting object -in the city. Lincoln missed his good friend, the doctor, very much, -though, as far as company was concerned, Miss Julia Gurney was an -excellent substitute. But Mr. Kinnaird was exceedingly well informed, -and was able to impart all needed information.</p> - -<p>The population of Leipzig is nearly a hundred thousand. The productions -of the printing press form one of the most important branches of -commerce. Three fairs are held here every year, the principal of which -is just after Easter; and the commercial transactions at all of them -amount to nearly fifty millions of dollars. Like the fair at Nijni,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[354]</a></span> -they attract visitors from the most distant parts of Europe, and even -from Asia, and formerly, during the Easter Fair, the population of the -city was doubled. On this occasion the booksellers from all parts of -Germany, with many from adjoining countries, assemble to make sales and -exchanges of books, and to settle their accounts. The booksellers of -Leipzig have an exchange, or <i>bourse</i>, of their own.</p> - -<p>The party took carriages and rode through the streets. There are many -quaint old structures to be seen in the Great Market-place, for the town -is very old. The allied monarchs met in this square after the battle of -Leipzig, in 1813, which the Germans call the <i>Völkerschlact</i>, or Battle -of the Nations, because the affairs of Europe were settled for the time -by it. Nearly five hundred thousand men were engaged in the battle, with -sixteen hundred cannon. It lasted three days; but as the troops of -Napoleon were outnumbered by those of the allies nearly two to one, the -emperor was disastrously defeated in the end, and came very near being -captured himself. The bridge over the Elster was prematurely blown up, -and twenty-five thousand of the French had to ford the stream. -Poniatowski, the brave Polish prince, who commanded a corps of his -countrymen in the Grand Army, was drowned in crossing.</p> - -<p>"I suppose you have read Göthe, commodore," said Mr. Kinnaird, as he -ordered the driver to stop in a street near the market-place.</p> - -<p>"Very little in German, sir."</p> - -<p>"Of course you have seen the opera of Faust. This is Auerbach's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[355]</a></span> -cellar, where some of the scenes in the poet's tragedy are laid," added -Mr. Kinnaird, as he pointed to the lower part of an old building. "It is -still a wine and beer shop. It is said that Göthe used to drink deep in -this place himself."</p> - -<p>The party drove to the University, which is one of the oldest and most -extensive in Germany, and has eight hundred students. An excursion to -the Castle of Pleissenburg, and to the suburbs, where a view of the -battle-field was obtained, completed the day, though in the evening the -tourists went to the Schützenhaus, which is a beer garden, with the most -elaborate decorations. The place is illuminated with lights of all -colors, and contains castles, grottoes, waterfalls with crimson lights -under them, and a great variety of other attractions.</p> - -<p>The next day the travellers went to Wittenberg to see the memorials of -Luther, and thence to Magdeburg, to examine the grand old cathedral. -Spending the night here, the party went to Hamburg the next day. Lincoln -was particularly interested in the little steamers which ply on the -Alster, a large sheet of water in the rear of the city. The -Jungfernsteig, the principal street, borders on this lake, which opens -by a narrow passage, under a bridge, into the Great Alster, on which are -the summer residences of the principal merchants and other wealthy men. -The tourists remained but a day in Hamburg, and then proceeded to Lübec, -where, after a ride through the streets, and a visit to its old church, -they embarked in a steamer for Swinemünde. The trip down the river from -Lübec to the Baltic is very interesting, for the river is so narrow, -that the boat seems to be making its way through the back yards and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[356]</a></span> -gardens of the farm-houses on its banks.</p> - -<p>During the last days of this journey, the country had been greatly -excited by the prospect of a war with France. When they arrived at -Swinemünde, on Saturday morning, they learned that war had actually been -declared, and that direct communication with France, whither the -Kinnairds intended to go, had ceased. They decided, therefore, to return -to England immediately.</p> - -<p>The tourists were warmly welcomed on board of the ship, and the -unexpected intelligence of war was anxiously discussed. But the -disturbed condition of France and Germany did not affect the plans which -the principal had already matured. About thirty of the students were to -be graduated, and as some of them intended to enter college, it was -necessary that they should be sent home. The principal had arranged that -the graduates should proceed to the United States in the Josephine, -under the charge of Mr. Fluxion, who was to return in the vessel with an -equal number to be admitted to the Academy. A dozen "old salts" were to -remain in the Josephine and return in her, so that the schooner should -have some besides green hands to work her. Among the graduates were -Lincoln, Cumberland, Judson, Norwood, and several of the officers of -each of the consorts.</p> - -<p>The Josephine had already been prepared for her voyage, and her new crew -were sent on board of her. The ship's company elected their own officers -from the highest in rank, and Cumberland was chosen captain, and Lincoln -first lieutenant.</p> - -<p>"Then you are to leave us, commodore," said Miss Gurney, when Lincoln<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[357]</a></span> -came on board of the ship, after the arrangements were all completed.</p> - -<p>"I am sorry to say I am," replied he, rather gloomily.</p> - -<p>"And I shall never see you again?"</p> - -<p>"I hope we shall meet at no distant day. I haven't completed my tour in -Europe yet, and I intend to return soon, to travel in England and on the -Continent."</p> - -<p>"O, I am so happy! I hope you will come soon," replied Miss Gurney.</p> - -<p>"But we will not part to-day, unless Mr. Kinnaird insists upon doing so. -As you are going to England, I am permitted to invite you to take -passage in the Josephine to Christiansand, where you can take the -steamer to Hull."</p> - -<p>"O, thank you! I shall be delighted to go; and I hope the passage will -be a real long one. I will ask Mr. Kinnaird at once."</p> - -<p>This gentleman consented, and in the middle of the afternoon the -Josephine sailed. Unhappily, she made a quick passage to Christiansand, -and landed the Kinnairds much sooner than Julia desired. They were just -in season for the Orlando, and the parting was very hasty between the -young friends, each of whom promised to write early and often to the -other. Lincoln had to take a great deal of pleasant badinage from his -shipmates on account of the young lady, and the probability is, that at -some future time they will be more intimately associated in the -relations of life.</p> - -<p>The sending away of over forty of the students from the three vessels, -and the departure of the Josephine, entirely broke up the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[358]</a></span> organizations -of the Young America and Tritonia. But the prospect was entirely -satisfactory to those who remained, for most of those who had held the -highest offices were removed, and the way to promotion was open to -others. It was the beginning of a new school year, and this was the only -time when changes from one vessel to another could be made, though the -squadron could not be fully organized till the return of the Josephine -with the new students.</p> - -<p>Scott had taken a fancy that he should like to sail in one of the -consorts, and had requested the principal to transfer him to the -Tritonia. Wainwright, in order to be with his friend, had made the same -request, which was granted in both instances. A whole day was spent in -making transfers from one vessel to the other, for not all who desired -to change could be accommodated. At the close of the day the two ships' -companies had been detailed. The officers were next to be chosen for the -rest of July, and for August. As but little school work had been done -during the current month, the merit-marks were added to those of the -preceding month, and it was soon ascertained who were eligible to office -in the cabins.</p> - -<p>De Forrest and Beckwith were not candidates. Both of them had applied -for a transfer to the Tritonia, but for obvious reasons their request -was not complied with. They had been constantly on the lookout for a -chance to run away, but the eye of Peaks, the boatswain, seemed to be -always upon them.</p> - -<p>The principal decided that the office of commodore should be suspended -until the return of the Josephine. The next day, after a great deal of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[359]</a></span> -electioneering, the officers were chosen. In the ship, Cantwell was -elected captain, Sheridan first and Murray second lieutenant. In the -Tritonia, Scott and Wainwright, as well as several of the former -officers, were eligible, and the canvassing was particularly lively in -this vessel. Morley and Greenwood had been respectively first and third -lieutenant, but the voters were now brought together for the first time -in one organization, and they were not disposed to recognize former -distinctions. Scott worked for Wainwright, and to the intense disgust of -Morley, he was elected. The joker's popularity was sufficient to have -elected him to the highest position, if he had not worked for his -friend; but to the added disgust of the former first lieutenant of the -Tritonia, Scott was elected to this place. Morley and Greenwood were -chosen second and third lieutenants; but they were intensely -dissatisfied with the result. Allyn, who had been third master before, -became the fourth lieutenant.</p> - -<p>The elections were completed, and the new officers put on their -uniforms. In the ship, Clyde Blacklock's merit-marks gave him the -position of first midshipman, with a place in the cabin; and probably he -was the happiest student in the squadron. The vessels had been -provisioned and otherwise prepared for their long voyage to -Constantinople, and after a few days' practice to enable the officers -and seamen to feel at home in their new stations, they sailed from -Swinemünde.</p> - -<p>The Bangwhangers continued to afford much amusement to the members of -the order. A lodge had been organized in each vessel, and Scott was made -Grand Chief Bangwhanger. The joker was at work on a new degree, for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">[360]</a></span> -which the members are impatiently waiting, and which will be fully -<i>exposed</i> in the future.</p> - -<p>Paul Kendall desired to see more of the western part of Europe, and he -and his lady decided to make a journey by land through Warsaw, Cracow, -and Vienna, down the Danube, and to Constantinople by the Black Sea. -Shuffles and his wife concluded to go with them, and the two yachts, in -charge of the sailing-master, departed with the squadron. The voyage was -a pleasant and a prosperous one, though there was a great deal of -trouble in the cabin of the Tritonia, until the vessels reached the -English Channel, where they put into Cowes to obtain fresh provisions. -The exciting events which occurred in the Tritonia, during the voyage, -and what the students saw and did among the Greeks and the Turks, will -be related in <span class="smcap">Cross and Crescent, or Young America in Turkey and -Greece</span>.</p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -</div> -<p class="center mt3"><i>LEE AND SHEPARD'S NEW JUVENILE BOOKS.</i></p> - -<hr class="book-divider" /> -<div class="books"> -<p class="center title3">The Three Great Writers for the Young,</p> - -<p class="center title2 mb0"><i>OLIVER OPTIC</i>,</p> -<p class="center mt0">Author of Sixty Juvenile Books,</p> - - -<p class="center title2 mb0"><i>SOPHIE MAY</i>,</p> -<p class="center mt0">Author of "Little Prudy," "Dotty Dimple," -and "Flyaway Stories,"</p> - -<p class="center title2 mb0"><i>ELIJAH KELLOGG</i>,</p> -<p class="center mt0">Author of "Elm Island" and "Pleasant Cove -Stories,"</p> - -<p class="center mt2 title4">HAVE CONTINUED STORIES IN</p> -<p class="center title2">"The Best Juvenile Publication in the World,"</p> -<p class="center mt2 title2">OLIVER OPTIC'S MAGAZINE,</p> -<p class="center mt2 title4">PUBLISHED ONCE A MONTH,</p> -<p class="center mt2 title4">$2.50 per Annum, 25 cts. per Number.</p> - -<p class="center mt2">Illustrated Games, Illustrated Natural Science, Illustrated Mechanics,<br /> -and Household Science for Boys, Illustrated Fancy Work for<br /> -Girls, Stories in Ancient and Modern History, Frontier<br /> -Sketches, Hunting Adventures, Fishing Sketches,<br /> -Proverb Poems, Dialogues, Declamations, Letter<br /> -Bag, Puzzle Department, Full-page Pictures<br /> -and Illustrations in great variety, all<br /> -handsomely printed, makes it</p> - -<p class="center mt2 title4">"Pleasant to the Eye, the Hand, and the Mind."</p> - -<hr class="book-divider" /> - -<p class="center mt2">—>Specimens prepaid by mail, Free, on application to</p> -<p class="center mt2 title4">LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.</p> -<p class="center mt2 title5">LEE, SHEPARD & DILLINGHAM,</p> -<p class="right">47 & 49 Greene St., New York.</p> -</div> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="center mt3"><i>LEE AND SHEPARD'S NEW JUVENILE BOOKS.</i></p> -</div> -<hr class="book-divider" /> -<div class="books"> -<p class="center title3">KATHIE STORIES.</p> -<p class="center mt2 title5"><span class="smcap">By Miss A. M. Douglas.</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/i_373.jpg" width="400" height="617" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="center mt2">Six vols. Illustrated. Per vol., $1.00.</p> - -<ul class="lists"> -<li>Kathie's Three Wishes.</li> -<li>Kathie's Aunt Ruth.</li> -<li>Kathie's Summer at Cedarwood.</li> -<li>Kathie's Soldiers.</li> -<li>In the Ranks.</li> -<li>Kathie's Harvest Days.</li> -</ul> - -<p class="center mt2"><i>Sold by all Booksellers and Newsdealers.</i></p> -</div> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="center mt3"><i>LEE AND SHEPARD'S NEW JUVENILE BOOKS.</i></p> -</div> -<hr class="book-divider" /> -<div class="books"> -<p class="center mt2 title2">YOUNG AMERICA, AHOY!</p> -<p class="center mt2 title3">100,000 Boys and Girls,</p> -<p class="center mt2 title5">WHO ACCOMPANIED THE ACADEMY SHIP</p> -<p class="center mt2 title4">"YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD,"</p> - -<p>As recorded in the first series of Log Books, under the titles of -"Outward Bound," "Shamrock and Thistle," "Red Cross," "Dikes and -Ditches," "Palace and Cottage," and "Up the Rhine," are hereby notified -that the "<span class="smcap">Young America</span>," -refitted and provisioned by her old commander, -is again afloat, and continuing her voyages abroad. The account of her -trip, and the adventures of her crew, will be given to our Boys and -Girls under the title of</p> - -<p class="center mt2 title3">UP THE BALTIC;</p> -<p class="center mt2 title5">—OR,—</p> -<p class="center mt2 title4">Young America in Norway, Sweden,</p> -<p class="center mt2 title4">and Denmark.</p> -<p class="center mt2 title4">WRITTEN BY OLIVER OPTIC.</p> -<p class="center mt2 title5">A handsome 16mo volume. Illustrated. Price $1.50.</p> -<p class="center mt2 title5">TO BE FOLLOWED BY</p> - -<ul class="lists"> -<li>Northern Lands,</li> -<li>Cross and Crescent,</li> -<li>Sunny Shores,</li> -<li>Vine and Olive,</li> -<li>Isles of the Sea.</li> -</ul> - -<hr class="book-divider" /> - -<p class="center mt2"><i>Sold by all Booksellers and Newsdealers.</i></p> -</div> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="center mt3"><i>LEE AND SHEPARD'S NEW JUVENILE BOOKS.</i></p> -</div> -<hr class="book-divider" /> -<div class="books"> -<p class="center mt2 title5">WONDERLAND STORIES.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/i_375.jpg" width="400" height="488" alt="" /> -</div> - - -<p class="center">To be completed in six vols. Illustrated. Cloth, $1.25; cloth, -gilt edges, $1.50; cloth, full gilt, $1.75.</p> - -<ul class="lists"> -<li>Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.</li> -<li>The House on Wheels.</li> -<li>Letters Everywhere.</li> -<li>The Inn of the Guardian Angel.</li> -</ul> - -<p class="center">(<i>In Press.</i>)</p> - -<p class="center mt0 mb0">The Russian General.</p> -<p class="center mt0">Through the Looking Glass, and what Alice saw there.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>These books are all healthy in tone, and written in a sprightly, -attractive manner, which makes them very agreeable reading for young -people.</p> - -<hr class="book-divider" /> - -<p class="center"><i>Sold by all Booksellers and Newsdealers.</i></p> -</div> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -</div> -<p class="center mt3"><i>LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS.</i></p> - -<hr class="book-divider" /> - -<div class="books"> - -<p>By the Author of "Spartacus to the Gladiators."</p> -<p class="center title3">ELM ISLAND STORIES.</p> -<p><i>To be completed in six vols. Ill. Per vol., $1.25.</i></p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p class="left"><i>LION BEN OF ELM ISLAND.</i> 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25.</p> - -<p class="indent">"Elm Island lays off the coast of Eastern Maine, a wild and -romantic region, and the incidents of the story are recorded as -happening when this country was just emerging from its struggle for -independence. It is a capital story of the rough-and-tumble life of -the early settlers."—<i>Chicago Journal of Commerce.</i></p> - -<p class="left"><i>CHARLIE BELL, THE WAIF OF ELM ISLAND.</i> 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25.</p> - -<p class="indent">"This volume tells the story of Charlie Bell, who was thrown upon -Elm Island like a waif from the ocean, and adopted by Lion Ben. -With Yankee boys he shares the exciting adventures of a new country -and a rude state of society."</p> - -<p class="left"><i>THE ARK OF ELM ISLAND.</i> 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25.</p> - -<p class="indent">This volume of the series is by no means inferior in interest to -its predecessors, dealing principally with adventures at sea, which are -always delightful to boys.</p> - -<p class="left"><i>THE BOY FARMERS OF ELM ISLAND.</i> 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25.</p> - -<p class="indent">The forth volume of the series gives, in graphic and earnest style, -the efforts of the three lads to transform Elm Island from a -wilderness to a fruitful and productive land. It is full of life, -adventure, and fun.</p> - -<p class="left"><i>THE YOUNG SHIPBUILDERS OF ELM ISLAND.</i> 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25</p> - -<p class="indent">"Mr Kellogg is winning laurels as a writer for and educator of -youth. Health and vigor are in his writings, and the lad has more -of the first-class man in him after the perusal."—<i>Providence Press.</i></p> - -<hr class="book-divider" /> - -<p class="center mt2 title5">Sold by all Booksellers and Newsdealers, and sent -by mail, postpaid, on receipt of price.</p> -<p class="center">LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.</p> -</div> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="center mt3"><i>LEE AND SHEPARD'S NEW JUVENILE BOOKS.</i></p> -</div> -<hr class="book-divider" /> -<div class="books"> -<p class="center mt2 title4">THE BECKONING SERIES.</p> -<p class="center mt2 title5"><span class="smcap">By Paul Cobden.</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/i_377.jpg" width="400" height="627" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="center">Illustrated. Per vol., $1.25.</p> -<p class="center title4">1. Who Will Win? 2. Going on a Mission.</p> -<p class="center">Others in Preparation.</p> -<p class="center"><i>Sold by all Booksellers and Newsdealers.</i></p> -</div> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="center mt3"><i>LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS.</i></p> -</div> -<hr class="book-divider" /> -<div class="books"> - -<p class="center mt2 title5">TALES OF ADVENTURE.</p> - -<hr class="book-divider" /> - -<p class="center mt2 title3">THE FRONTIER SERIES.</p> - -<p class="center"><i>Four volumes. 16mo. Ill. Price, per set, $5.00.</i></p> - - -<p class="left"><i>THE CABIN ON THE PRAIRIE.</i>By <span class="smcap">Rev. Charles H. Pearson.</span> -16mo. Illustrated. $1.25.</p> - -<p class="indent">"<i>The Cabin on the Prairie</i> is an earnest, healthy book, full of -the hardships, trials, and triumphs of life in our new -settlements."</p> - -<p class="left"><i>PLANTING THE WILDERNESS</i>; or, The Pioneer Boys. -By <span class="smcap">James D. McCabe, Jr.</span> -16mo. Illustrated. $1.25.</p> - -<p class="indent">"<i>Planting the Wilderness</i> tells of the strange adventures of real -life, which, more than the fancies of the novel writer, are of -absorbing interest."</p> - -<p class="left"><i>TWELVE NIGHTS IN THE HUNTERS' CAMP.</i> -By <span class="smcap">Rev. W. Barrows</span>. 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25.</p> - -<p class="indent">"<i>Twelve Nights in the Hunters' Camp</i>is a pleasant, stirring, -sensible book, full of life and incident, and all aglow with the -breezy freshness of woods and prairies, lakes and rivers."</p> - -<p class="left"><i>A THOUSAND MILES' WALK</i> across the Pampas and Andes of South -America. By <span class="smcap">Nathaniel H. Bishop</span>. 16mo. Illustrated. $1.50.</p> - -<p class="indent">"<i>A Thousand Miles' Walk across South America</i> is a record of the -experiences of a Yankee boy, full of enthusiasm to see and learn by -actual experience the wonders of that almost <i>terra incognita</i>."</p> - -<p class="indent">This series of books are of sterling merit, and while they closely -follow real experiences, are full of those thrilling incidents which -charm both youth and age.</p> - -<hr class="book-divider" /> - -<p class="center mt2 title5">Sold by all Booksellers and Newsdealers, and sent by mail,</p> -<p class="center mt2 title5">postpaid, on receipt of price.</p> -<p class="center mt2 title5">LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.</p> -</div> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="center mt3"><i>LEE AND SHEPARD'S NEW JUVENILE BOOKS.</i></p> -</div> -<hr class="book-divider" /> -<div class="books"> -<p class="center mt2 title5">THE FLYAWAY SERIES.</p> -<p class="center mt2 title5"><span class="smcap">By Sophie May</span>, Author of "Dotty Dimple" and "Little Prudy Stories."</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<img src="images/i_379.jpg" width="400" height="651" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="center mt2 title5">Illustrated. Per vol., 75 cents.</p> - -<ul class="lists"> -<li>1.Little Folks Astray.</li> -<li>2.Prudy's Keeping House.</li> -<li>3.Aunt Madge's Story.</li> -</ul> - -<p class="center mt2 title5">Others in Preparation.</p> - -<p class="center mt2 title5"><i>Sold by all Booksellers and Newsdealers.</i></p> -</div> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="chap" /> -</div> -<div class="books"> -<p class="center">Transcriber's Notes:</p> - -<p>Punctuation has been standardized; spelling has been -preserved as in the original publication except as follows:</p> - - <p>Page 64<br /> - the vote was not unamimous was <i>changed to</i><br /> - the vote was not unanimous</p> - - <p>Page 145<br /> - is by far the most improtant crop was <i>changed to</i><br /> - is by far the most important crop</p> - - <p>Page 158<br /> - wrested the crown from Sviotopolk was <i>changed to</i><br /> - wrested the crown from Sviatopolk</p> - - <p>Page 161<br /> - In 1845 he was succeeded was <i>changed to</i><br /> - In 1645 he was succeeded</p> - - <p>Page 164<br /> - member of the Romanof family was <i>changed to</i><br /> - member of the Romanoff family</p> - - <p>Page 167<br /> - disintered his mother's last favorite, was <i>changed to</i><br /> - disinterred his mother's last favorite,</p> - - <p>Page 176<br /> - by which vesvels may go up was _changed to_<br /> - by which vessels may go up</p> - - <p>Page 226<br /> - it is absolutely villanous was <i>changed to</i><br /> - it is absolutely villainous</p> - - <p>Page 261<br /> - eonsequently there was little to be seen was <i>changed to</i><br /> - consequently there was little to be seen</p> - - <p>Page 280<br /> - doesen't prove that I am hard of hearing was <i>changed to</i><br /> - doesn't prove that I am hard of hearing</p> - - <p>Page 294<br /> - <span class="smcap">De Forest and Julia</span> was <i>changed to</i><br /> - <span class="smcap">De Forrest and Julia</span></p> - - <p>Page 323<br /> - a shout of appause was <i>changed to</i><br /> - a shout of applause</p> - - <p>Page 345<br /> - with interminable suits of rooms was <i>changed to</i><br /> - with interminable suites of rooms</p> - - <p>Page 358<br /> - the beiginning of a new school year, was <i>changed to</i><br /> - the beginning of a new school year,</p> -</div> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Northern Lands, by William T. 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