by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER IX.
THE EXCURSION WITHOUT RUNNING AWAY.
The second cutter was a wreck on the water, and the crew savedthemselves by climbing up the bow of the steamer which had run downthe boat. They received prompt assistance from those on board, and, asthe cutter did not sink, and would not have done so, having noballast, even if she had been cut in two, the crew were so welltrained that not one of them was guilty of the absurdity of jumpingoverboard, and therefore no one was even very wet.
It appeared to be one of those cases where both parties had struggledto avoid the catastrophe, but the more they struggled the worse wasthe situation. If the cutter, on the one hand, had continued on hercourse, she would have escaped. If the steamer, on the other hand, hadnot changed her course when the calamity was threatened, the boatcould have avoided her. The change of purpose in each had confused theother, and rendered unavailing the attempt to avoid the collision. Theboat would have gone clear of the steamer if the latter had not puther helm to starboard. But the catastrophe was accomplished so quicklythat there was not much time to philosophize; and as nothing worsethan a stove boat had resulted from it, there was not much reason tocomplain. We are not aware that any one did complain; and we onlystate the appearances, not the facts.
The steamer started her wheels again after the cutter had been securedand 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 doubtfulmembers of his crew might not hear him. "Where is the steamer going,Ole?"
"To Christiania, stopping at all the ports on the coast," answeredOle, when he had obtained the information from the captain.
"All right; we will go to the first place where she stops," addedSanford. "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 togo to Lillesand, where they could join their ship. This plan exactlysuited the young Norwegian, for he did not like the idea of beinglanded at Christiansand, or taken back to the ship.
"Where are we going? Why don't he put us on shore, or on board of theship?" 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 inanother 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 theship; but he proposed to hail a boat which was passing, and send hisinvoluntary passengers to the town in her. Ole assured him hiscompanions wished to go to Lillesand, and he was too glad to avoid anydelay. As the first cutter followed the steamer, it was decided, afterconsultation with the captain, to turn the stove boat adrift, so thatit could be towed back to the ship by the first cutters. Sanford castoff the painter, and the pliant master of the steamer was glad to getrid of this check upon the speed of his boat. The boys watched thewater-logged craft till it was picked up by the first cutter, and thenpassing 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. Ithought 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 onboard."
"What do you get in there for?"
"My education has been neglected, and I have to do a great deal ofthinking to make up for it. I don't like to be disturbed when I'mthinking; 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 whipme for making faces at him when I was a baby. He never forgetsanything."
"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 cutterthan he had been to solve the mystery of being in a water-loggedbateau, out of sight of land. It only appeared that while the studentscovered the rail and crowded the rigging to see the land, he had puthimself 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 leftalone in the cutter. At sea, every precaution was taken to provide forthe safety of the crew in case of any calamity. Each boat was providedwith a sail, a mast, a compass, and several breakers of water, and aquantity of provisions was ready to be put in when needed. Ole stowedhimself beneath the sail, which lay under the middle board, extendingfore and aft. Before De Forrest took his place in the stern-sheets,Stockwell had discovered the absentee, and communicated the fact ofhis presence to those near him. The crew of the second cutter wereentirely willing to keep his secret, as they were that of any one whoneeded their help. Among such boys it was regarded as dishonorable inthe highest degree to betray any one; and, indeed, the principaldiscountenanced anything like "tale-bearing," to which the studentsgave a very liberal construction. Sanford had proposed that De Forrestshould take a walk on shore, in order to give Ole an opportunity toescape from his confinement, which, on account of the singularobstinacy and suspicion of that officer, had threatened to beindefinitely continued, till the collision came to his aid.
"How's this?" said Stockwell, as he seated himself by the side of thecoxswain, 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 runningaway."
"Don't say a word. We got spilled out the boat, and it was not ourdoing. We obeyed De Forrest's orders to the very letter, so that nofault can be found with us."
"Of course not."
"If De Forrest had not ordered me to shove off, I shouldn't have doneso."
"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 ordersif 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 returnsto 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 Imean to go back."
"Immediately?"
"In the next boat."
Stockwell did not exactly like the sharp way with which Sanford dealtwith his innocence. Certainly the coxswain and himself had talkedabout an excursion to the interior of Norway without running away; butnow, though the circumstances favored the plan, his friend plainlyannounced his intention to return to Christiansand and join the ship.But it could be said of the coxswain that his ways were dark, andStockwell was more inclined to wait than to question him. In two hoursthe steamer arrived at Lillesand, and the party went on shore. Theplace was only a small village, but they found accommodations for thenight.
"What time does the steamer for Christiansand leave this place?" askedSanford, as the party gathered at the station-house, which is thehotel, post-office, and establishment for furnishing horses
totravellers.
"To-morrow evening," replied Ole.
"To-morrow evening!" exclaimed the coxswain. "That will never do! Whattime?"
"About eight o'clock," answered the waif, whose devotion to the truthdid not prevent him from stating the time two hours later than thefact warranted. "She may be two or three hours later."
"The squadron sails for Christiania to-morrow afternoon," addedSanford. "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 darkways of the coxswain. "The principal will suppose we have gone on toChristiania."
"That's so."
"But what are we to do?" demanded Tinckner.
"That's the question," added Sanford, with a blank look, as though heconsidered 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'tknow 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 justtime enough to reach Frederiksvaern in season for the other steamer. Ifhe lost her, he would be turned off. He wouldn't stop for love ormoney."
"No matter, for that; here we are, and what are we going to do? It'sno use to cry for spilled milk," continued Stockwell. "The ship willgo to Christiania, and won't come near this place. Mr. Lowington willexpect to find us there when he arrives, and all we have to do is tomake good his calculation. We have plenty of money, and we can getthere somehow or other."
Involuntarily, every fellow put his hands into his pocket; and then,if not before, they recalled the suggestion of the coxswain, madebefore they took their places in the cutter, that they should bringtheir money and their pea-jackets; but then, it seemed simply absurdthat the boat had been smashed by his contrivance.
"Was it for this, Sanford, that you told us to bring our money?" saidBurchmore.
"I should say a fellow ought always to carry his money with him. Noone 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 withyou. We might have to spend the summer here if we had no money. Whenwill a steamer go from here to Christiania, Norway?"
"Next Friday--just a week from to-day," replied the Norwegian, veryseriously.
"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, Isuppose 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 weekin such a place as this? I'm not, for one. I'll swim up toChristiansand first."
"Can't we hire a boat, and go back to Christiansand?" Burchmoreproposed. "It is not more than twenty miles, and it would be a finesail among these beautiful islands."
"All right; look up a boat, Norway," replied Sanford, as thoughentirely willing to adopt this plan.
Ole walked about the place for half an hour, accompanied by three ofthe boys. Perhaps he was careful not to find what he wanted; at anyrate, no boat seemed to be available for the purpose desired, and whenthe excursionists met again, it was reported that no boat suitable forthe 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 tothe north pole before you can cross the river."
"O, nonsense!" exclaimed Burchmore, who could not help feeling thatOle was not altogether reliable on his figures and facts.
"If you don't believe it, go and ask the postmaster, or any one in thetown," continued the waif.
"That's all very well to talk about asking any one, when no one speaksa 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, orthat it is just seventy miles by land; but it's a long distance," Oleexplained.
"No matter how far it is; we will go," added the pliant coxswain. "I'mwilling to do whatever the fellows wish. It shall not be said that Iwas mulish."
"But if it is seventy miles, or anything like it, we couldn't get toChristiansand before the ship left."
"That's just what I was thinking," answered Sanford, with a puzzledexpression on his face. "Ole says it is a long way, and I have beentold that these Norwegians are very honest, and will not lie; so Isuppose 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 byland. 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 tomake a sure thing of it."
"Well, what?" asked Burchmore, gathering a hope from the words of thewaif.
"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 itcan't be any more by land," said Sanford. "But I don't care what youdo; I will do as the others say."
"I like the idea," added Stockwell. "It is the only safe thing we cando. 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 getthere."
"How much will it cost to go to Christiania in this way?" inquiredWilde, who did not feel quite sure that his funds would stand such adrain.
"Here are the prices in the post-house," said Ole, as he led the wayto a partition on which the posting was put up. "For one mile, onemark six skillings."
"We know all about it now," laughed Rodman. "What's a mark, and what'sa skilling?"
"Twenty-four skillings make a mark, and a skilling is about ahalfpenny English," Ole explained.
"About a cent of our money," continued Rodman. "One mark and sixskillings would be thirty skillings, or about thirty cents."
"That will never do," interposed Wilde, shaking his head. "One hundredand 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 tenpounds," added Rodman.
"No, no; you are all wrong. That means a Norwegian mile--about sevenof ours. It would be only four and two sevenths cents a mile; say, sixor seven dollars to Christiania; and the grub would cost as muchmore," 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 planproposed, and Ole was instructed to make the necessary arrangementswith the station-master. The party went out to the stable to examinethe carioles. They were a kind of gig, without any hood or top, with asmall board behind, on which stands or sits the boy who drives theteam back to the station after it has left the passenger. Touristsgenerally purchase the carioles in which they ride, and are notbothered with the boys. The students were not very nice about theiraccommodations; and finding that when two persons went in the samevehicle only half a fare extra was charged, they decided to engage butfive carioles. As the law did not
require the station-master to keepthis number of horses in waiting, it was necessary to send "forbud"before the party started. This was an order to all the stations on theroad to have five horses ready, and may be forwarded by mail or byspecial messenger, the expense of which was paid by the youngtourists.
It was solemnly agreed that the expense should be equally divided, andBurchmore was elected cashier and paymaster. With the assistance ofOle, he changed twelve pounds into Norwegian money, and found himselfheavily loaded with the small coins of the country, which would beneeded in making change at the stations. After all this importantbusiness had been disposed of, the party walked all over the town andits suburbs, and were duly stared at by the astonished people.
"We ought to write a letter to Mr. Lowington, and tell him how we aresituated," suggested Churchill, as they were returning to the station.
"Exactly so; and carry it to him ourselves," replied Stockwell. "Imove 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 nosteamer for a week," said Sanford.
"True; I didn't think of that," continued the proposer of thisprecaution. "The principal will be worried about us."
"Let him worry," replied the coxswain; "that is, we can't do anythingto 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 anearly hour in the evening, and turned out at an early hour in themorning. They all slept in the same room, some of them in beds, andthe rest on the floor; but those who slept on the floor were just aswell satisfied as those who slept in the beds. After a breakfastconsisting mainly of fish, they piled into the carioles. They wereall in exceedingly jolly humor, and seated themselves in and on thevehicles in various uncouth postures. One boy in each cariole was todrive the horse, and he was carefully instructed to do nothing butsimply hold the reins, and let the well-informed animal have his ownway. The horses were rather small, and very shaggy beasts; but theywent off at a lively pace. At the first hill they insisted uponwalking up, and most of the boys followed their example. Behind threeof the carioles were the small boys who were to bring the teams back.These juvenile Norwegians were as sober and dignified as though theyhad been members of the Storthing, refusing to laugh at any of thewild tantrums of the crazy students.
At the first station, where the road from Lillesand joins that fromChristiansand to the north, the horses ordered by "forbud" were inreadiness, and the party had only to pass from one set of carioles toanother. The grim post-boys did smile faintly when they received theirperquisites, and others, just as immovable, took their places for thenext post. The road now lay along the banks of a considerable river,and the scenery was rather interesting, though by no means grand. Theypassed an occasional farm; but generally the buildings were of therudest and shabbiest description, though occasionally there was a neatresidence, painted white or yellow, with roof of red tile. The boyswalked up all the hills, leaving the sagacious horses to take care ofthemselves. All the students voted that it was jolly to travel in thismanner, and there was no end to the sky-larking and racing on theroad. At noon, they stopped long enough to dine, and at night foundthemselves at Tvetsund, at the foot of Nisser Lake, where they lodged.As this was as far as they had sent their "forbud," they decided toproceed by boat through the lake, a distance of about twenty miles.
The next day was Sunday, which was always observed with greatstrictness on board of the ship, no play and no unnecessary work beingpermitted. There was a little church in the village, but none but Olecould understand a word of the preacher's prayer or sermon; so thatthe students voted it would be useless for them to go there. Four ofthe party, still controlled by the influences which prevailed on boardof the ship, did not wish to travel on Sunday; but when it wasrepresented that the ship might leave Christiania before the partyarrived, they yielded to the wishes of the other five, and procuringboats, they proceeded on their way. At the head of the lake they tookthe road, and walked about seven miles to Apalstoe.
"We are stuck here," said Sanford, after they had taken supper at thestation-house. "This posting is a first-class fraud."
"Why, what's the matter?" demanded Burchmore, alarmed by the manner ofthe coxswain.
"No horses to be had till Tuesday morning."
"That's a fraud."
"Well, it can't be helped," added Sanford, philosophically. "I'mwilling 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 stationthan here. Norway says we didn't send 'forbud,' which must be donewhen 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 onwith them."
"I don't believe in separating."
"We are only a day and a half from Christiania, and we shall arrive byWednesday 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 announcedthat there was excellent fishing in the vicinity. It is to be fearedthat Ole and the coxswain had created this hinderance themselves, forthe law of the country allows only three hours' delay in thefurnishing of horses. The farmers are compelled to supply them, anddoubtless twenty could have been provided in the time allowed, thoughthe young tourists were able to give twelve hours' notice. This,however, did not suit the coxswain's purposes, and as he and Ole hadoccupied the same cariole, there was no want of concert in their wordsand actions. On Monday the students went a-fishing, paying a small sumfor a license to do so, though this is not necessary in all parts ofNorway. The united catch of the whole party was one salmon, taken byBurchmore, and weighing about eight pounds. It was voted by the party,before this result was reached, in the middle of the afternoon, thatfishing in Norway was "a first-class fraud." We heard of a party ofthree, who fished two weeks, and caught eight salmon, though this wantof luck is the exception, rather than the rule, in the north.
As the party returned from their excursion, bearing the single trophyof their patience, Clyde Blacklock discovered them. He was alarmed atfirst, but when he recognized no one among them whom he had seen onboard of the ship, he concluded they did not belong to her.
"Good evening, sir," said he, addressing Sanford, who seemed to be thechief 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 onboard of the ship, and of his escape from bondage. Sanford laughed,and seemed to enjoy the narrative; but straightway the coxswain beganto tremble when he learned that Clyde had with him a Norwegian whospoke English. It was necessary to get rid of so dangerous a personwithout any delay. The Briton liked Sanford so well that he was notwilling to leave him; and, indeed, the whole party were so jolly thathe desired to join his fortunes with theirs. Sanford wrote a briefletter to Mr. Lowington, stating the misfortunes of the party, andthat they expected to arrive in Christiania on Wednesday or Thursday.
"Now, Mr. ----, I don't know your name," said Sanford, when hefound 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 ope
n 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 usknow it yet. Your man will spoil all. Send him back to Christianiathis very afternoon. Here's a blind for him; let him take thisletter."
Clyde liked plotting and mischief, and as soon as his guide had eatenhis supper, he was started for his home in the capital, glad enough togo, for he had been paid for all the time agreed upon; and Sanfordceased to tremble lest he should expose to his companions the mistakein regard to horses, or another blunder which was to be made the nextmorning.