THE EXCURSION WITHOUT RUNNING AWAY.
The second cutter was a wreck on the water, and the crew saved
themselves by climbing up the bow of the steamer which had run down
the boat. They received prompt assistance from those on board, and, as
the cutter did not sink, and would not have done so, having no
ballast, even if she had been cut in two, the crew were so well
trained that not one of them was guilty of the absurdity of jumping
overboard, and therefore no one was even very wet.
It appeared to be one of those cases where both parties had struggled
to avoid the catastrophe, but the more they struggled the worse was
the situation. If the cutter, on the one hand, had continued on her
course, she would have escaped. If the steamer, on the other hand, had
not changed her course when the calamity was threatened, the boat
could have avoided her. The change of purpose in each had confused the
other, and rendered unavailing the attempt to avoid the collision. The
boat would have gone clear of the steamer if the latter had not put
her helm to starboard. But the catastrophe was accomplished so quickly
that there was not much time to philosophize; and as nothing worse
than a stove boat had resulted from it, there was not much reason to
complain. We are not aware that any one did complain; and we only
state the appearances, not the facts.
The steamer started her wheels again after the cutter had been secured
and made fast astern. The captain spoke only a few words of English,
and Sanford found it quite impossible to hold a conversation with him.
But Ole Amundsen was at hand in this emergency.
"Tell him he needn't stop for us, Ole," said the coxswain.
"Don't you want to return to the ship?" asked the astonished waif.
"No, no," replied Sanford, in a low tone, so that some of the doubtful
members of his crew might not hear him. "Where is the steamer going,
Ole?"
"To Christiania, stopping at all the ports on the coast," answered
Ole, when he had obtained the information from the captain.
"All right; we will go to the first place where she stops," added
Sanford. "Don't say a word to the rest of the fellows, Ole."
"The first port she stops at is Lillesand," said Ole.
"Very well; we will go there."
Ole explained to the captain that the boys he had picked up wished to
go to Lillesand, where they could join their ship. This plan exactly
suited the young Norwegian, for he did not like the idea of being
landed at Christiansand, or taken back to the ship.
"Where are we going? Why don't he put us on shore, or on board of the
ship?" demanded Burchmore.
"It's a mail steamer; she is very late," replied Ole.
"But is she going to carry us off, because she is in a hurry?"
"Only to a port up here a little ways. We can come right back in
another steamer," Ole explained; and Burchmore was satisfied.
Now, the captain had certainly declared that he was in a great hurry,
and was not willing to wait for the boat which had put off from the
ship; but he proposed to hail a boat which was passing, and send his
involuntary passengers to the town in her. Ole assured him his
companions wished to go to Lillesand, and he was too glad to avoid any
delay. As the first cutter followed the steamer, it was decided, after
consultation with the captain, to turn the stove boat adrift, so that
it could be towed back to the ship by the first cutters. Sanford cast
off the painter, and the pliant master of the steamer was glad to get
rid of this check upon the speed of his boat. The boys watched the
water-logged craft till it was picked up by the first cutter, and then
passing behind an island, the squadron was out of view.
"How came you here, Ole?" asked Rodman.
"Came in the boat; but I didn't think you were going to smash her. I
thought I was killed that time, sure," laughed the waif.
"But how came you in the boat?" inquired Wilde.
"I got in, of course; nobody put me in."
"When?"
"When it hung at the davits in the ship, just before the pilot came on
board."
"What do you get in there for?"
"My education has been neglected, and I have to do a great deal of
thinking to make up for it. I don't like to be disturbed when I'm
thinking; so I got into the boat, and covered myself with the sail."
"Tell that to the fishes," snuffed Wilde.
"You can, if you wish; I don't speak their language," laughed Ole.
"But really, Norway, what did you get into the second cutter for?"
said Sanford.
"The pilot was a first cousin of mine, and I was afraid he would whip
me for making faces at him when I was a baby. He never forgets
anything."
"Nonsense!"
"Well, if you know better than I, don't ask me any more about it."
Ole was no more inclined to explain how he came in the second cutter
than he had been to solve the mystery of being in a water-logged
bateau, out of sight of land. It only appeared that while the students
covered the rail and crowded the rigging to see the land, he had put
himself into the boat. When the hands were called to man the braces,
he, having no duty to perform, had not answered the call, and was left
alone in the cutter. At sea, every precaution was taken to provide for
the safety of the crew in case of any calamity. Each boat was provided
with a sail, a mast, a compass, and several breakers of water, and a
quantity of provisions was ready to be put in when needed. Ole stowed
himself beneath the sail, which lay under the middle board, extending
fore and aft. Before De Forrest took his place in the stern-sheets,
Stockwell had discovered the absentee, and communicated the fact of
his presence to those near him. The crew of the second cutter were
entirely willing to keep his secret, as they were that of any one who
needed their help. Among such boys it was regarded as dishonorable in
the highest degree to betray any one; and, indeed, the principal
discountenanced anything like "tale-bearing," to which the students
gave a very liberal construction. Sanford had proposed that De Forrest
should take a walk on shore, in order to give Ole an opportunity to
escape from his confinement, which, on account of the singular
obstinacy and suspicion of that officer, had threatened to be
indefinitely continued, till the collision came to his aid.
"How's this?" said Stockwell, as he seated himself by the side of the
coxswain, on one of the settees on the quarter-deck of the steamer.
"How's what?" asked Sanford.
"It seems to me that we are clear of the ship, and without running
away."
"Don't say a word. We got spilled out the boat, and it was not our
doing. We obeyed De Forrest's orders to the very letter, so that no
fault can be found with us."
"Of course not."
"If De Forrest had not ordered me to shove off, I shouldn't have done
so."
"Then the boat might have been ground up on the rocks."
"Do you see anything green in my eye?" replied Sanford, suggestively.
"You don't mean to say that you smashed the boat on purpose?"
"Certainly I don't mean to _say_ anything of the sort. I obey orders
if I break owners, or boats either, for that matter."
"What are you going to do next?"
"I don't know. The programme is to go back in the steamer that returns
to Christiansand to-morrow night."
"O, then you mean to go back."
"Your head's as thick as the broadside of an iron-clad. Of course I
mean to go back."
"Immediately?"
"In the next boat."
Stockwell did not exactly like the sharp way with which Sanford dealt
with his innocence. Certainly the coxswain and himself had talked
about an excursion to the interior of Norway without running away; but
now, though the circumstances favored the plan, his friend plainly
announced his intention to return to Christiansand and join the ship.
But it could be said of the coxswain that his ways were dark, and
Stockwell was more inclined to wait than to question him. In two hours
the steamer arrived at Lillesand, and the party went on shore. The
place was only a small village, but they found accommodations for the
night.
"What time does the steamer for Christiansand leave this place?" asked
Sanford, as the party gathered at the station-house, which is the
hotel, post-office, and establishment for furnishing horses to
travellers.
"To-morrow evening," replied Ole.
"To-morrow evening!" exclaimed the coxswain. "That will never do! What
time?"
"About eight o'clock," answered the waif, whose devotion to the truth
did not prevent him from stating the time two hours later than the
fact warranted. "She may be two or three hours later."
"The squadron sails for Christiania to-morrow afternoon," added
Sanford. "The ship will be gone before we can get there."
"She will not go without us," suggested Burchmore.
"Yes, she will," said Stockwell, who was beginning to fathom the dark
ways of the coxswain. "The principal will suppose we have gone on to
Christiania."
"That's so."
"But what are we to do?" demanded Tinckner.
"That's the question," added Sanford, with a blank look, as though he
considered the situation as utterly hopeless.
"We are not so badly off as we might be," said Boyden.
"I don't see how it could be any worse," replied Sanford. "But I don't
know that it is our fault. The captain of the steamer would not stop,
after he had picked us up; at least, I don't know anything about it;
but Ole said he wouldn't stop."
"He could not stop," protested the waif, vehemently. "He had only just
time enough to reach Frederiksvaern in season for the other steamer. If
he lost her, he would be turned off. He wouldn't stop for love or
money."
"No matter, for that; here we are, and what are we going to do? It's
no use to cry for spilled milk," continued Stockwell. "The ship will
go to Christiania, and won't come near this place. Mr. Lowington will
expect to find us there when he arrives, and all we have to do is to
make good his calculation. We have plenty of money, and we can get
there somehow or other."
Involuntarily, every fellow put his hands into his pocket; and then,
if not before, they recalled the suggestion of the coxswain, made
before they took their places in the cutter, that they should bring
their money and their pea-jackets; but then, it seemed simply absurd
that the boat had been smashed by his contrivance.
"Was it for this, Sanford, that you told us to bring our money?" said
Burchmore.
"I should say a fellow ought always to carry his money with him. No
one can tell what will happen to him when he goes away from the ship,"
replied the coxswain. "You can see that it's lucky you have it with
you. We might have to spend the summer here if we had no money. When
will a steamer go from here to Christiania, Norway?"
"Next Friday--just a week from to-day," replied the Norwegian, very
seriously.
"A week!" exclaimed Burchmore.
"That is not long; a week is soon gone."
"But we can't stay here a week," protested Tinckner.
"I don't want to do it," added Sanford; "but if we have to do it, I
suppose I can stand it as well as the rest of you."
"We can't any of us stand it," said Wilde. "Who's going to stay a week
in such a place as this? I'm not, for one. I'll swim up to
Christiansand first."
"Can't we hire a boat, and go back to Christiansand?" Burchmore
proposed. "It is not more than twenty miles, and it would be a fine
sail among these beautiful islands."
"All right; look up a boat, Norway," replied Sanford, as though
entirely willing to adopt this plan.
Ole walked about the place for half an hour, accompanied by three of
the boys. Perhaps he was careful not to find what he wanted; at any
rate, no boat seemed to be available for the purpose desired, and when
the excursionists met again, it was reported that no boat suitable for
the accommodation of the party could be found.
"Then can't we engage horses, and go round to Christiansand by land?"
inquired Burchmore.
"In carioles?" queried Ole, with an odd smile.
"Carioles or wagons; anything we can find."
"You can, but it will take you a day and a half," replied Ole.
"A day and a half to go twenty miles."
"About seventy miles by land," added Ole. "You must go almost up to
the north pole before you can cross the river."
"O, nonsense!" exclaimed Burchmore, who could not help feeling that
Ole was not altogether reliable on his figures and facts.
"If you don't believe it, go and ask the postmaster, or any one in the
town," continued the waif.
"That's all very well to talk about asking any one, when no one speaks
a syllable of English."
"I will do the talking for you."
"Of course you will; you have done it all thus far."
"I don't mean to say that you must really double the north pole, or
that it is just seventy miles by land; but it's a long distance," Ole
explained.
"No matter how far it is; we will go," added the pliant coxswain. "I'm
willing to do whatever the fellows wish. It shall not be said that I
was mulish."
"But if it is seventy miles, or anything like it, we couldn't get to
Christiansand before the ship left."
"That's just what I was thinking," answered Sanford, with a puzzled
expression on his face. "Ole says it is a long way, and I have been
told that these Norwegians are very honest, and will not lie; so I
suppose he has told the truth."
It was barely possible that the waif had learned to lie in England,
where he had acquired his English.
"I suppose we must give up the idea of going in a boat, or going by
land. We can only wait till the steamer comes," continued Burchmore,
putting on a very long face.
"We can't stand that," protested Wilde.
"Well, what are you going to do?" demanded Burchmore.
"Can't you tell us, Norway?" said Tinckner.
"I know what I should do if I were in your situation, and wanted to
make a sure thing of it."
"Well, what?" asked Burchmore, gathering a hope from the words of the
waif.
"I should go to Christiania."
"But how?"
"By land, of course."
"It's up by the north pole."
"It is about a hundred and fifty miles from here by water, and it
can't be any more by land," said Sanford. "But I don't care what you
do; I will do as the others say."
"I like the idea," added Stockwell. "It is the only safe thing we can
do. If we go back to Christiansand, we shall be too late for the ship.
If we wait for a steamer to Christiania, she will be gone when we get
there."
"How much will it cost to go to Christiania in this way?" inquired
Wilde, who did not feel quite sure that his funds would stand such a
drain.
"Here are the prices in the post-house," said Ole, as he led the way
to a partition on which the posting was put up. "For one mile, one
mark six skillings."
"We know all about it now," laughed Rodman. "What's a mark, and what's
a skilling?"
"Twenty-four skillings make a mark, and a skilling is about a
halfpenny English," Ole explained.
"About a cent of our money," continued Rodman. "One mark and six
skillings would be thirty skillings, or about thirty cents."
"That will never do," interposed Wilde, shaking his head. "One hundred
and fifty miles, at thirty cents a mile, would be forty-five dollars;
and I suppose we have to pay for our grub besides."
"It would come to ten or twelve pounds, and Wilde has only ten
pounds," added Rodman.
"No, no; you are all wrong. That means a Norwegian mile--about seven
of ours. It would be only four and two sevenths cents a mile; say, six
or seven dollars to Christiania; and the grub would cost as much
more," said Stockwell. "Three pounds will cover the whole expense,
and that won't break any body."
After considerable discussion, it was agreed to adopt the plan
proposed, and Ole was instructed to make the necessary arrangements
with the station-master. The party went out to the stable to examine
the carioles. They were a kind of gig, without any hood or top, with a
small board behind, on which stands or sits the boy who drives the
team back to the station after it has left the passenger. Tourists
generally purchase the carioles in which they ride, and are not
bothered with the boys. The students were not very nice about their
accommodations; and finding that when two persons went in the same
vehicle only half a fare extra was charged, they decided to engage but
five carioles. As the law did not require the station-master to keep
this number of horses in waiting, it was necessary to send "forbud"
before the party started. This was an order to all the stations on the
road to have five horses ready, and may be forwarded by mail or by
special messenger, the expense of which was paid by the young
tourists.
It was solemnly agreed that the expense should be equally divided, and
Burchmore was elected cashier and paymaster. With the assistance of
Ole, he changed twelve pounds into Norwegian money, and found himself
heavily loaded with the small coins of the country, which would be
needed in making change at the stations. After all this important
business had been disposed of, the party walked all over the town and
its suburbs, and were duly stared at by the astonished people.
"We ought to write a letter to Mr. Lowington, and tell him how we are
situated," suggested Churchill, as they were returning to the station.
"Exactly so; and carry it to him ourselves," replied Stockwell. "I
move you that Burchmore be appointed bearer of despatches."
"I mean to have the letter sent by mail," added Churchill.
"We shall be in Christiania as soon as any mail, if there is no
steamer for a week," said Sanford.
"True; I didn't think of that," continued the proposer of this
precaution. "The principal will be worried about us."
"Let him worry," replied the coxswain; "that is, we can't do anything
to relieve his mind."
"I don't see that we can," added Churchill.
For the want of something better to do, the students turned in at an
early hour in the evening, and turned out at an early hour in the
morning. They all slept in the same room, some of them in beds, and
the rest on the floor; but those who slept on the floor were just as
well satisfied as those who slept in the beds. After a breakfast
consisting mainly of fish, they piled into the carioles. They were
all in exceedingly jolly humor, and seated themselves in and on the
vehicles in various uncouth postures. One boy in each cariole was to
drive the horse, and he was carefully instructed to do nothing but
simply hold the reins, and let the well-informed animal have his own
way. The horses were rather small, and very shaggy beasts; but they
went off at a lively pace. At the first hill they insisted upon
walking up, and most of the boys followed their example. Behind three
of the carioles were the small boys who were to bring the teams back.
These juvenile Norwegians were as sober and dignified as though they
had been members of the Storthing, refusing to laugh at any of the
wild tantrums of the crazy students.
At the first station, where the road from Lillesand joins that from
Christiansand to the north, the horses ordered by "forbud" were in
readiness, and the party had only to pass from one set of carioles to
another. The grim post-boys did smile faintly when they received their
perquisites, and others, just as immovable, took their places for the
next post. The road now lay along the banks of a considerable river,
and the scenery was rather interesting, though by no means grand. They
passed an occasional farm; but generally the buildings were of the
rudest and shabbiest description, though occasionally there was a neat
residence, painted white or yellow, with roof of red tile. The boys
walked up all the hills, leaving the sagacious horses to take care of
themselves. All the students voted that it was jolly to travel in this
manner, and there was no end to the sky-larking and racing on the
road. At noon, they stopped long enough to dine, and at night found
themselves at Tvetsund, at the foot of Nisser Lake, where they lodged.
As this was as far as they had sent their "forbud," they decided to
proceed by boat through the lake, a distance of about twenty miles.
The next day was Sunday, which was always observed with great
strictness on board of the ship, no play and no unnecessary work being
permitted. There was a little church in the village, but none but Ole
could understand a word of the preacher's prayer or sermon; so that
the students voted it would be useless for them to go there. Four of
the party, still controlled by the influences which prevailed on board
of the ship, did not wish to travel on Sunday; but when it was
represented that the ship might leave Christiania before the party
arrived, they yielded to the wishes of the other five, and procuring
boats, they proceeded on their way. At the head of the lake they took
the road, and walked about seven miles to Apalstoe.
"We are stuck here," said Sanford, after they had taken supper at the
station-house. "This posting is a first-class fraud."
"Why, what's the matter?" demanded Burchmore, alarmed by the manner of
the coxswain.
"No horses to be had till Tuesday morning."
"That's a fraud."
"Well, it can't be helped," added Sanford, philosophically. "I'm
willing to walk, if the rest of the fellows say so."
"We can't walk to Christiania."
"That's so; and we should not find any more horses at the next station
than here. Norway says we didn't send 'forbud,' which must be done
when more than three horses are wanted."
"Why didn't Ole send 'forbud,' then?"
"He said we had better go by boat part of the way; it would be easier.
But part of us can take the three horses that are ready, and go on
with them."
"I don't believe in separating."
"We are only a day and a half from Christiania, and we shall arrive by
Wednesday noon. The ship won't leave before that time."
So Burchmore was persuaded to submit to his fate like a philosopher,
which, however, was not considered very hard, when it was announced
that there was excellent fishing in the vicinity. It is to be feared
that Ole and the coxswain had created this hinderance themselves, for
the law of the country allows only three hours' delay in the
furnishing of horses. The farmers are compelled to supply them, and
doubtless twenty could have been provided in the time allowed, though
the young tourists were able to give twelve hours' notice. This,
however, did not suit the coxswain's purposes, and as he and Ole had
occupied the same cariole, there was no want of concert in their words
and actions. On Monday the students went a-fishing, paying a small sum
for a license to do so, though this is not necessary in all parts of
Norway. The united catch of the whole party was one salmon, taken by
Burchmore, and weighing about eight pounds. It was voted by the party,
before this result was reached, in the middle of the afternoon, that
fishing in Norway was "a first-class fraud." We heard of a party of
three, who fished two weeks, and caught eight salmon, though this want
of luck is the exception, rather than the rule, in the north.
As the party returned from their excursion, bearing the single trophy
of their patience, Clyde Blacklock discovered them. He was alarmed at
first, but when he recognized no one among them whom he had seen on
board of the ship, he concluded they did not belong to her.
"Good evening, sir," said he, addressing Sanford, who seemed to be the
chief of the excursionists. "You have been a-fishing?"
"Yes; and ten of us have one fish to show for a whole day's work,"
laughed the coxswain.
"Poor luck; but you seem to be sailors," continued the Briton.
"We belong to the ship Young America."
"Ah, indeed!"
"That's so."
In half an hour Clyde and Sanford were on excellent terms. The former,
when he learned that his new acquaintance had not been sent after him,
was quite communicative, and even told the story of his experience on
board of the ship, and of his escape from bondage. Sanford laughed,
and seemed to enjoy the narrative; but straightway the coxswain began
to tremble when he learned that Clyde had with him a Norwegian who
spoke English. It was necessary to get rid of so dangerous a person
without any delay. The Briton liked Sanford so well that he was not
willing to leave him; and, indeed, the whole party were so jolly that
he desired to join his fortunes with theirs. Sanford wrote a brief
letter to Mr. Lowington, stating the misfortunes of the party, and
that they expected to arrive in Christiania on Wednesday or Thursday.
"Now, Mr. ----, I don't know your name," said Sanford, when he
found Clyde, after he had written the epistle.
"Blacklock," replied the Briton--"Clyde Blacklock."
"Well, Blacklock, if you want an up-and-down good time, come with us."
"Where? To Christiania? into the lion's den?"
"Not yet, but--don't open your mouth; don't let on for the world,"
whispered the coxswain, glancing at his companions.
"Not a word," added Clyde, satisfied he had found the right friend.
"We are going to the Rjukanfos to-morrow, but only one or two of us
know it yet. Your man will spoil all. Send him back to Christiania
this very afternoon. Here's a blind for him; let him take this
letter."
Clyde liked plotting and mischief, and as soon as his guide had eaten
his supper, he was started for his home in the capital, glad enough to
go, for he had been paid for all the time agreed upon; and Sanford
ceased to tremble lest he should expose to his companions the mistake
in regard to horses, or another blunder which was to be made the next
morning.