THE GÖTA CANAL
Fru Banker agreed to return to Stockholm by way of the Göta Canal.
Herr Banker assured her that they would be home two days before
Midsummer Eve; and so she was satisfied.
[Illustration: THE GÖTA CANAL
_Swedish Travel Information Bureau, Inc._]
The attractive little canal boat pulled out of Gothenburg's cobbled
docks. The Göta River made a lazy pathway through fields and meadows.
It was like floating through land, and one could almost touch the horses
and cows in the pastures close by.
Erik felt just the way he did at the circus. There was so much to see
that he could not possibly see it all. The river was so narrow in
places that at times it seemed as though the ship would stick between
shores. But the captain always steered them through safely.
The boat was lifted up and down for seventy-two locks. Erik never tired
of watching the lock gates opening and closing.
[Illustration: THE LOCK AT TROLLHÄTTAN, ON THE GÖTA CANAL
_Swedish Travel Information Bureau, Inc._]
Frequently the boat would stop to take on passengers and freight. At
these times, Erik and Johan would jump off and wander about the
countryside. It was upon one of these excursions that something happened
to them.
They had been passing medieval castles along the route. Among them was
Bohus, once a powerful stronghold, whose two ruined towers are now
called Father's Hat and Mother's Cap.
Another was Läcko (=leck´o=) Castle, which sits upon Lake Väner
(=Ve´ner=), the largest lake in Europe, except for those in Russia. Erik
was charmed with Läcko's fierce mystery.
But as the great bulk of Vadstena (=vaud´stan-a=) Castle came into view
across Lake Vätter (=vet´ter=), Erik felt a thrill of pride. He could
hardly wait to visit it.
Whenever the boys left the boat, Fru Banker cautioned them to remember
to return in time. For, should they be late, the boat would go off
without them.
Now, however, as they examined Vadstena Castle, with its ancient moats
and ramparts, they forgot this advice. Their minds were filled with
pictures of the days when Sweden was at war, when Gustavus Vasa
(=gus ta´vus vä´sa=), who built it, gained independence for the Swedish
people.
[Illustration: GUSTAVUS VASA (STOCKHOLM)
_Swedish Travel Information Bureau, Inc._]
Wandering farther and farther from the boat, the boys talked of their
hero.
"I heard," said Erik, "that once Gustavus Vasa dressed himself as a
peasant and went from village to village, trying to raise an army with
which to fight the Danish King."
Johan gave him a look which plainly said, "Everybody knows that," and
added, "He had to give up, though. He started to leave the country,
hungry and discouraged, when the people of Dalecarlia sent ski-runners
after him and brought him back."
"There is a ski competition every year," barked Erik, "and the
ski-runners cover the same ground that Gustavus Vasa traveled that day!"
He'd show Johan!
But Johan calmly returned, "I've been there. I've seen his statue at
Mora, which is the finish of the race."
Erik glared. Then suddenly and for no reason, except that he had nothing
more to say, he cried, "I'll race you!"
They ran off in the opposite direction from the river and their boat.
Like two wild creatures, they dashed across a road, where bicycles, like
metal flies in swarms, rang bells of fury at them. An old gentleman,
carrying a basket on the handlebars of his bicycle, became so flustered
that he wobbled from side to side and nearly toppled over.
The boys ran on. At last, breathless, they stopped. The race was a tie.
They were now at the other end of the village and, all at once, they
both remembered.
"The boat!" they gasped. Back they started, dizzy and tired, stumbling
wearily. "It won't wait!"
Erik had sunk down on the side of the road, and Johan now collapsed
beside him.
"We--can--t-take the next b-boat!" he puffed. "It leaves t-tomorrow and
will get us to S-Stockholm a day later."
"That will be all right," said Erik. "We're in no hurry."
It was like an adventure to Erik, and he was enjoying it. He did not
realize what a day later would mean. He did not realize that it would
bring him to Stockholm only the day before Midsummer Eve, when Greta was
to be married to the Baron.
After a while they felt refreshed, so they decided to return to the
river bank and find out whether, by any chance, the boat had waited for
them.
[Illustration: THE BOYS FELT REFRESHED]
They hardly expected this; but it is exactly what had happened. Herr
Banker had persuaded the captain to hold the boat.
Herr Banker had growled angrily, "Those young rascals have forgotten the
time. It's fortunate that their heads are connected with their bodies,
else they'd forget them, too, and leave them somewhere."
He was trying to cheer Fru Banker, but she was distressed and quite
certain that the boys were at the bottom of the river.
At last the captain said that he could wait no longer. So Herr Banker,
his wife, and Inga prepared to go ashore, when along came Erik and
Johan. They were just in time to clamber on board as the boat pulled
away.
Fru Banker was so glad to see them that she hugged them both and forgot
to scold.
But Herr Banker said, "I am going to punish you. I had planned to take
you to Uppsala (=up´sa-la=) with me for Midsummer Eve, but now I shall
send Erik home as soon as we return to Stockholm."
Erik was disappointed. He had always wanted to see the famous Uppsala
University, founded by Gustavus Vasa, five centuries ago.
Yet, in a way, he was glad that he was going home. This punishment of
Herr Banker's would mean that he could spend Midsummer Eve with Greta
and Nils. How happy they would be after he had given Herr Banker's
letter to Fru Hansson!
But Johan pouted and whined, "Oh, please, father, take Erik and me to
Uppsala for Midsummer Eve. Please, please!"
Johan seemed to be able to work miracles with that word, "please." Erik
could see that Herr Banker was beginning to weaken.