Up The Baltic Part 7

"So do I," laughed Mrs. Kendall. "I think it is a capital idea to have a professor tell us all about a country before we attempt to see it. I used to read about the Nors.e.m.e.n, but I have forgotten all about them now, and I want to refresh my memory."

"I wish all our boys had the same view of the matter," said Mr.

Lowington.

"We will come on board before nine to-morrow morning, sir," added Paul, as he handed his lady up the steps over the rail.

Descending to the boat, the three oarsmen shoved off, and pulled for the sh.o.r.e, where they landed. The boat had not reached the land, before another barge, the counterpart of the first, and similarly manned, left the Feodora, and pulled alongside the s.h.i.+p. Mr. Robert Shuffles, the owner and commander of the second yacht, a.s.sisted his wife up the ladder to the deck of the s.h.i.+p, where they were cordially received by the princ.i.p.al. The yacht Feodora was only six months older than the Grace, for which she had served as the model. Shuffles had not come into possession of any inheritance yet, but his father was as liberal as he was wealthy, and gave his son an annual allowance, which enabled him to marry and keep a yacht. He and Paul had been intimate friends since they were graduated from the Academy s.h.i.+p, and they had made their plans in concert. He had married Lady Feodora a year before, and she had now dropped her aristocratic t.i.tle, and become a republican lady. Like her husband, she had acquired nautical tastes, and was even more enthusiastic than he in antic.i.p.ating the pleasures of a yacht cruise up the Baltic, and up the Mediterranean.

Shuffles had not been so fortunate as Paul in finding needy graduates of the Academy to officer his yacht, and a fat old s.h.i.+pmaster served as first officer in the Feodora, while the second mate was a young tar, not yet of age. Having paid their respects to the princ.i.p.al, the young couple returned to the boat, and followed Paul to the hotel on sh.o.r.e.

"That's the way to go about Europe," said Sanford, who was sitting on the rail with several of his s.h.i.+pmates.

"What's the way?" asked Stockwell.

"Why, as Kendall and Shuffles do it--in a yacht, with no Latin and geometry to bother their heads, and no decks to wash down on a cold morning."

"That's so; but those fellows were the lambs of the squadron, we are told," laughed Stockwell. "They didn't have black marks; didn't pick upon the professors, and didn't run away from the s.h.i.+p."

"What has all that to do with yachting?" asked Rodman.

"They were good boys, and therefore they have yachts as their reward," replied Stockwell, laughing.

"Pelham was as good as Shuffles, but he has no yacht, and has to work on a salary for his living."

"He has the fun of it all the same, and Paul Kendall will not overwork him. But I haven't a word to say against them. They were all good fellows, if they were the s.h.i.+p's lambs."

"All the second cutters!" shouted the boatswain's mate, after his pipe had sounded through the s.h.i.+p.

"That means us," said Sanford. "Take your money and pea-jackets, fellows. Something may turn up before we come back."

"Ay, ay," replied Stockwell. "Pa.s.s the word to all our fellows."

In a few moments the fourth cutters appeared in the waist, with pea-jackets on their arms, and touched their caps to De Forrest, the fourth lieutenant, who appeared as the officer detailed to go in the boat, which now, as formally, was called the professors' barge, because it was generally appropriated to the use of the instructors.

It was pulled by eight oarsmen, and Sanford was the c.o.xswain. The party who had been considering the plan for an independent excursion on sh.o.r.e without incurring the perils and penalties of running away, were the crew of the second cutter. The fact of being together so much in the boat, had united them so that they acted and plotted in concert.

"What are you going to do with those pea-jackets?" asked De Forrest, when he saw their extra clothing.

"It's rather chilly up here in the evening, and we thought we might want them, while we were waiting," replied Sanford.

"I don't think it is very cold, and as to the evening, the sun don't set till about eight o'clock," added the officer, as he went aft to the professors who were going on sh.o.r.e, and reported that the boat was ready; for it had already been lowered into the water, and made fast to the swinging boom.

Her crew went over the side, and seated themselves in the cutter.

"Ready!" said the c.o.xswain, as the stern-sheets of the barge ranged alongside the little stage at the foot of the ladder. "Up oars!"

Up went the eight oars to a perpendicular position, where they were held till the boat should be ready to go.

"I wonder where Ole is," said Sanford.

"s.h.!.+" whispered Stockwell, who pulled the bow oar, shaking his head with energy.

"What do you mean?" demanded the c.o.xswain, in a low tone, for he was very much mystified by the pantomime of the bow oarsman.

"Don't say a word."

"Where is he?" persisted Sanford, who was not willing to have a secret kept from him even for a moment.

Stockwell pointed into the bottom of the boat, and then looked up at the sky, with an affectation of cunning, while the rest of the crew smiled as though they were in possession of the secret. Sanford said no more, and joined the bowman in studying the aspect of the sky. Ole was in the boat to act as guide and interpreter, and if they chose to leave without running away, everything seemed to be favorable to the enterprise. Mr. Mapps and Dr. Winstock presently descended the steps, and seated themselves in the boat, followed by De Forrest.

"All ready, c.o.xswain," said the latter.

"Ready! Let fall!" said Sanford, as he shoved off the stern of the cutter. "Give way--together!"

The well-trained crew bent to their oars, and the boat shot away from the s.h.i.+p towards the sh.o.r.e. Mr. Mapps was going to the town to obtain some additional material for his lecture the following morning, and the surgeon intended to call on Paul Kendall and lady at the hotel.

"This is a very picturesque town, doctor," said Mr. Mapps, as he gazed at the high, rocky steeps which surround Christiansand.

"Very; and I am rather sorry we are not to see more of the environs of the place," replied the surgeon. "I understand we sail to-morrow night."

"I dare say the students will see enough of Norway before they leave it."

"We want to go into the interior," said De Forrest. "There is fine fis.h.i.+ng in the streams of Norway."

"Very likely Mr. Lowington will take you into the interior from Christiania," suggested Dr. Winstock.

"I don't exactly see how it is possible to do so," added Mr. Mapps.

"The only conveyance of the country is the cariole, which seats but one person--perhaps two boys; and our squadron has nearly two hundred students. I am afraid there are not carioles enough in Christiania to carry the whole of them."

"I think it's too bad we can't have a trial at the salmon," pouted De Forrest.

"Perhaps, if you waited till July, you might catch them," replied Mr.

Mapps.

"We should be contented with trout, then."

"I have no doubt Mr. Lowington will do the best he can for you," said Dr. Winstock, as the boat neared the pier.

"In, bows!" called the c.o.xswain; and the two bowmen tossed and boated their oars, taking their stations in the fore-sheets, one of them with the boat-hook in his hand. "Way enough!" added Sanford; and the rest of the crew tossed their oars, and then dropped them upon the thwarts, with a precision which seemed to astonish the group of Norwegians on the wharf, who were observing them.

The two gentlemen landed, and walked up to the town together, leaving the barge to wait for them.

"Part of you may go on sh.o.r.e for half an hour, if you wish, and walk about," said De Forrest to his crew.

"I don't care about going ash.o.r.e," replied Sanford.

"Nor I either," added Stockwell; and so they all said, very much to the astonishment of the fourth lieutenant, who naturally supposed that boys who had been at sea about four weeks would like to stretch their legs on the solid land for a short time.

"Don't any of you wish to go on sh.o.r.e?" he inquired.