by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER XIII.
THE MEETING OF THE ABSENTEES.
Scott and Laybold, after imbibing a single glass of "finkel" each,which proved to be more than they could carry, retreated into a narrowlane, to escape the observation of a party of officers who were ontheir way to the landing. Neither of them had any inclination forintoxicating drinks, and had taken the stuff without knowing what itwas. But they were conscious that everything was not right with them.They found it quite impossible to walk in a straight line, and eventhe problem of standing up was not demonstrated to the entiresatisfaction of either of them. Talking was not without itsdifficulties, for their tongues seemed to be double their ordinarythickness, and their lips and other organs of speech were not asmanageable as usual. For a time the effects of the potent liquorincreased upon them, and as they had taken it in a hungry condition,they realized its full power.
They staggered up the lane, conscious that they were making aridiculous figure, though the solemn Swedes hardly smiled as theyobserved the effects of the national beverage. They dreaded anencounter with any of the officers, or others connected with thesquadron; but in this unfrequented lane they were not likely to meetany of their shipmates. As there is more power in four legs than intwo, however weak in detail they may be, the tipsy students lockedarms, and leaned on each other, one attempting to counteract theobliquities of the other. They wandered along without knowing whitherthey were going, till they came to a small public house, which had abench in front of it for the accommodation of the topers whofrequented the bar-room. By mutual consent, and without argument, theunfortunate couple aimed for this seat as soon as they saw it, for itpromised a grateful respite from the perils of locomotion. The"finkel" was now doing its utmost upon them. Their heads were dizzy,and everything was wofully uncertain; still they knew what they wereabout, and had sense enough left to dread the consequences of theirindiscretion. After they had seated themselves, they glanced at eachother, as if to ascertain the condition one of the other.
"Lay--bold," said Scott.
"Well, old fellow," replied the other, with a desperate attempt tostiffen his muscles.
"We're zrunk," added Scott, trying to laugh.
"I know that."
"We're very zrunk."
"I'm not zbad zyou."
"I don't zknow."
The conversation extended no further then, for speech required aneffort they were incapable of making. Scott gaped violently, andseemed to be sick; but his contortions ended in his falling asleep,with his head tipped back against the wall. Laybold, more nice in thedisposition of his helpless body, stretched himself on the bench, andwas soon lost to all consciousness of the outer world. The publicanwho kept the house came out and looked at the juvenile tipplers.Doubtless he had seen too many drunken sailors to misapprehend theircondition. He understood the matter perfectly, and being a thriftySwede, he was disposed to turn their condition to his own emolument.He had sundry vacant chambers in his hotel, whose revenues swelled thesum total of his annual profits, and it hurt his feelings to have themremain unoccupied. Besides, the air was chilly, and the youngstrangers might take cold, and contract a severe illness by suchexposure. But whether he was a publican or a Samaritan in hisintentions, he decided to remove the strangers to the rooms beneathhis hospitable roof. Summoning the porter to his aid, they jointlybore Laybold to his apartment, and laid him on the bed, which, inspite of the low character of the house, was a model of Swedishneatness. When Scott's turn came, he offered some resistance to thegood intentions of the publican; but his head was too thoroughlymuddled for successful opposition. Between the effects of sleep and"finkel" he could not obtain a very clear idea of what was going on.He was placed on another bed in the room with his shipmate. They wereboth comfortably disposed on their clean couches, the pillows nicelyadjusted beneath their heads, and their bodies covered with blankets.
The two students were very tired as well as very tipsy, and theirslumbers were deep and heavy. It was after nine o'clock, though it wasstill light in the chamber, and the young tars usually retired, whennot on watch, before this seemly hour. "Finkel" and fatigue did therest, and they slept, without rocking, till long after the early sunbroke into the windows of their apartment. We have seen the effect of"finkel" upon one unaccustomed to the use of liquor, and upon boys offifteen or sixteen it could not but be entirely overpowering. It is adangerous fluid, and is taken by the Swedes at all times, being thefirst thing at meals, and especially at the inevitable "snack" thatprecedes a regular dinner. There is, doubtless, good ground for thefear which has been expressed that the people of Sweden are in dangerof becoming "a nation of drunkards."
Scott was the first to open his eyes and come to his senses. He raisedhimself in the bed, shook off the blanket, and then jumped out uponthe floor. He did not comprehend the situation, and was unable, in hisown words, to "figure up how he happened to be in that room."
"Laybold, ahoy!" shouted he, after he had examined the apartment, andmentally confessed his inability to solve the problem. "Laybold! Allhands on deck!"
"What is the matter?" cried Laybold, springing up, only half awake.
"I'll be muzzled if I know what the matter is, but I believe that theNorway god--what's his name?--Odin, came aboard the ship last night,and turned her into a country tavern," replied Scott, going to thewindow, and looking down into the lane below.
"How came we here?" asked Laybold, rubbing his eyes.
"That's more than I know; but I think we have been transplanted by thespirits."
"The spirits?" gaped Laybold.
"Yes; I believe they call them 'finkel.' We were tight last night, myboy."
"I remember all about it now. I dreamed that somebody lugged me inhere."
"You didn't exactly dream it, for here we are. We are in a prettyscrape."
"That's so," added Laybold, shaking his head. "We didn't mean to runaway, but that's just what we have done."
"We didn't run a great way; for, if I remember rightly, running wasn'tour _forte_ last evening. Who runs may reel, if he can't read, and Ireckon we did more reeling than running. But what's to be done?"
"I don't know."
"In the first place, where are we? It's no use to lay out a coursetill we know the ship's position."
They were utterly unable to determine this question. Each of them hada tolerably vivid recollection of their unfortunate condition on thepreceding evening, and even that he had been carried by a couple ofmen; but they had no idea of time or locality. They washed themselvesat the sink in the room, combed their hair with their pocket-combs,and looked then as though nothing had happened. Their heads were alittle light, but they did not absolutely ache, and they realized buta small portion of the after effects of a regular "spree." Having madetheir simple toilet, they decided to explore the premises, and maketheir way back to the ship. Leaving the chamber, they descended aflight of steps, and, in the hall below, encountered the Samaritanlandlord.
"_God morgon_," said the latter, with a jolly smile on his face; andit was probable that he had taken his morning dose of "finkel." "_Hurstar det till?_" (How are you?)
"Nix," replied Scott, shrugging his shoulders.
"You are English," added the landlord, a large portion of whosecustomers were foreign sailors.
"No; Americans."
"I'm glad to see you."
"I'm glad to see you, too, if you can tell us how we happen to behere."
"Too much 'finkel,'" laughed the publican, as he proceeded to explainthe situation, and to enlarge upon the fatherly interest which hadinduced him to take them in for the night.
"All right, my hearty. I see you can keep a hotel," added Scott. "Howmuch have we to pay?"
"Two rigsdalers; but you want some breakfast."
"I do, for one," replied Scott.
"So do I," said Laybold. "We only had a little lunch last night, andthat 'finkel' spoiled my appetite--or the fish spawn. I don't knowwhich."
About five o'clock they sat down to brea
kfast, which consisted of agreat variety of little things, such as the small fishes, herrings,smoked salmon, sausages. The coffee was magnificent, as it generallyis in Sweden, even on board of steamers, where, in our own country, itis least expected to be good.
"What is this?" said Scott, taking up half a great brown biscuit.
"That's Swedish bread. We bake it once in six months," replied thelandlord.
"Not bad," added Scott, as he tasted the article.
"This is Graham bread, I suppose," said Laybold, as he took a slice ofthe coarse brown bread. "Bah! it's sour."
It always is; and both the students rejected it, though they ate ahearty meal of white bread, herring, salmon, and sausage.
"Now, how much?" asked Scott, when they were ready to go.
"One rigsdaler and fifty oere each--three rigsdalers in all."
"Cheap enough," said Scott. "Two lodgings and two breakfasts foreighty-one cents."
The students walked through the lane in which they had made theirdevious way the night before, to the main street on the canal. At thelanding-place there were no boats belonging to the squadron, andeverything looked exceedingly quiet on board of the ship. Seatingthemselves on the pier, with their legs hanging over the water, theydecided to wait till a boat came to the shore.
"We shall catch it for this," said Laybold.
"No more liberty for a month at least," said Scott, shrugging hisshoulders after his fashion.
"I don't think it's fair. We didn't mean to get drunk, and didn't knowwhat 'finkel' was," added Laybold. "I don't half like to go on boardagain."
"Nor I; but I suppose we must face the music," answered Scott,dubiously. "I'm glad we didn't go on board while we were boozy. Thefellows would have laughed at us for a year, if we had."
"That's so; and Lowington would have put us in the brig."
"I don't exactly like to explain the reason why we didn't go on boardlast night; I always was a bashful fellow."
"You didn't go with the others," said a man, coming up to them at thismoment, and speaking in broken English.
"What others? Where?" replied Scott.
"The other students. They took the steamer up the canal at two o'clockthis morning."
"Whew!" whistled Scott. "We have lost Goeta Canal and the falls."
"They will return to-night by the railroad from Wenersberg," added theman, who was an agent of the canal steamers.
"That's too bad!" exclaimed Laybold, as the man walked away.
"I don't know that it is too bad. Our leave would have been stopped ifwe had gone on board," laughed Scott, who generally took the mostcheerful view of any disagreeable subject. "Why can't we go on our ownhook?"
"I like that idea," added Laybold.
But inquiring of the agent, they learned that the canal steamers leftonly at two o'clock in the morning.
"There's a railroad, or the fellows couldn't come back that way,"suggested Laybold.
"That's so; you have more wisdom than a Duxbury clam."
They ascertained that a train left Gottenburg at noon, by which theycould reach Wenersberg the same day. They knew nothing of the plan ofthe principal, which included a special train from the canal to themain line of railway; but they desired to see more of the interior ofSweden, and they were confident they should see the excursionistseither at Wenersberg or on the way. It suited them better to make atrip even for a few hours, than to wander about a city which they hadalready exhausted. But they were obliged to wait some time for thetrain, and, after a couple of hours of "heavy loafing" about thestreets, they returned to the pier. An English steamer had justarrived, and a boat was landing her passengers.
"Who are those fellows?" said Laybold, pointing to the steamer's boat."They wear the ship's uniform."
"Right; they do, and they came from that steamer," replied Scott.
"There's Sanford! I should know him a mile off. They are the secondcutters, or I am a Dutchman."
"Right again," added Scott, as the passengers landed.
The steamer was the one in which Sanford and his companions had takenpassage at Christiania the evening before. The absentees, "on a cruisewithout running away," were sorry to see the ship at anchor in theharbor, for some of them had hoped to be too late for her. When theylanded, the first persons they encountered were Scott and Laybold, whogave them a very cordial greeting. Each party had a story to tell ofits own adventures, and Scott knew Sanford and his associates too wellto think it necessary to conceal from them the fact that he andLaybold had been the sad victims of "finkel."
"But why don't you go on board?" asked Burchmore.
"What's the use? All the fellows have gone up to Wobblewopkins, orsome other place, to see the falls, and take an inside view ofSweden," replied Scott. "We intend to go and do likewise."
"Won't you go with us?" added Laybold.
The intentions of the two were explained to the others, and theyall decided to join the party. Sanford was not without a hope thatsomething would occur to prolong the "independent trip without runningaway."
"How are you off for stamps?" asked Burchmore of the two who were bythis arrangement added to his party, for which he had thus far donethe financiering.
"We have a little Swedish money, and some sovereigns," replied Scott.
"But how many sovereigns? We may be prevented from joining the shipfor a few days, and we want to know where we are in money matters,"interposed Sanford.
"We have enough to buy out one or two of these one-horse kingdoms,like Denmark and Sweden. I have twenty sovereigns, and Laybold hasabout a thousand," answered Scott.
"No I haven't," protested Laybold, laughing at the extravagance of hisfriend. "I have only twenty-five sovereigns."
"And a letter of credit for a thousand more; so it's the same thing."
"No, no; knock off one cipher, Scott."
"Well, seeing it's you, I'll knock off just one; but not another toplease any fellow, even if he were my grandmother's first cousin,"added Scott.
"There's some difference between a hundred and a thousand pounds,"suggested Sanford.
"A slight difference," said Laybold.
"I don't expect any of us will live long enough to spend a hundredpounds in this country, which is about eighteen hundred of thesetricks-bunker dollars, to say nothing of a thousand. Why, we paid onlythree bunkers for two lodgings and two breakfasts. How's a fellow everto spend eighteen hundred bunkers? For my part, I think I'm lucky inhaving less than four hundred of the things to get rid of."
"But you needn't feel under the necessity of spending all your moneyin this country," laughed the cashier.
"My father promised to send me some more; but I hope he won't do ittill I get out of Sweden. If he does I shall be ruined. Here's poorLaybold, with a letter of credit for a hundred pounds, besidestwenty-five in cash. I pity the poor fellow. It wouldn't be so bad inLondon, where it costs a fellow from ten to twenty shillings a day tobreathe."
"I think I shall be able to survive," added Laybold.
"I hope so; but you ought to hear him talk about his bankers. Topsailsand topping-lifts! His bankers! Messrs. Pitchers Brothers & Co."
"No! Bowles Brothers & Co," interposed Laybold.
"It's all the same thing; there isn't much difference between bowlsand pitchers. One breaks as easy as the other."
"But my bankers don't break."
"His bankers! Do you hear that? Well, I don't believe they'll break,for all my folks, when they travel in Europe, carry the same letter ofcredit in their trousers pocket. I had to write to my paternal parentall last year, care of Bowles Brothers & Co., 449 Strand, CharingCross, W. C. London, England. You see I've learned my lesson."
"My letters from home come through the same house," said Laybold, "andso do those of fifty other fellows."
"About the money matters," interposed Burchmore. "Shall I act for thecrowd, as I did in Norway?"
"For me, yes; and I hope you'll help Laybold out on the big financialjob he has on his hands," said Scott.
"All right," added Laybold.
"I have settled up for the fellows on the Norway trip. Now, each ofyou give me a couple of sovereigns, which I will change into Swedishmoney."
This arrangement was made to the satisfaction of all, and the cashierwent to an exchange office, where he procured Swedish paper for thegold.
"Scott, I shouldn't wonder if the principal saved you the trouble ofspending your twenty pounds before we go much farther," said Sanford.
"I shall thank him with tears in my eyes if he does," replied Scott,with a solemn look.
"I don't believe you will. When the ship came over before, everyfellow had to give up his money, and the purser doled it out to thefellows in shillings or sixpences when they went ashore."
"I'm sure it was very kind of him to take so much trouble."
"You don't think so."
"Of course I do. Only think of poor Laybold, with a letter of creditfor a hundred pounds on his hands! I'm thankful I haven't theresponsibility of spending so much money on my conscience. I shouldapply for admission to the first lunatic asylum, if I had to spend somuch."
"Nonsense! I made up my mind not to give up my money," said thecoxswain. "That rule made plenty of rows on the other cruise, and Iexpect the fellows on this cruise will be called upon to give up theirstamps very soon."
"I was going to say we could get even with the principal by spendingit all before we go on board again; but we are in Sweden, and it isquite impossible. They won't let you pay more than seventy-five centsor a dollar for a day's board in this country."
"You went to a sailor's boarding-house, Scott. When you are at afirst-class hotel, you will find that they bleed you enough."
"I hope they do better than the landlord where we staid last night; ifthey don't I shall make money in Sweden. Why, they wouldn't even pickour pockets when we were boozy on 'finkel.' I'm sure they are a greatdeal more accommodating at sailors' boarding-houses in Boston and NewYork."
"Come, be serious, Scott. Shall you give up your money when you returnto the ship?"
"Cheerfully, for there is no chance to get rid of it in this country."
"But you will want some in Russia, where everything is dear."
"I'm afraid my letter of credit will arrive by that time, and I shallbe burdened with new trials."
"Poor fellow!"
The old rule of the ship had not been enforced on the present cruise,and the principal did not intend to renew it until it was absolutelynecessary. It had caused much complaint among the wealthy parents ofthe former students, while it had wonderfully improved the discipline;but Mr. Lowington consented to make the experiment of permitting everyboy to manage his own finances.
At noon the party took their places in a second-class compartment ofthe carriage on the railway, and started for Wenersberg. Ole spokeSwedish as well as Norwegian, and acted as interpreter. Sanford hadmade peace with the waif, who was now as popular as ever with all theparty. Each of them, in turn, had tried to induce Ole to tell how hehappened to be in that boat at sea; but he still refused to explain.
The train moved off, and the tourists observed the country throughwhich it passed; but Scott could not help grumbling because the farewas only about a dollar and a quarter for fifty miles, declaring thathe should never be able to get rid of his twenty sovereigns at thisrate, and that he was threatened with a letter of credit for a hundredmore at St. Petersburg. At Herrljunga, the junction of the branch toWenersberg and the main line, the guard insisted that the touristsshould leave the carriage.
"How's this, Ole?" asked Sanford.
"Change for Wenersberg; but the train don't start till five o'clock.We must wait two hours."
"But what time does it get to Wenersberg?"
"About half past eight."
"That's a pretty go!" exclaimed the coxswain. "You made a beautifularrangement for this trip, Scott."
"What's the matter now?"
"We cannot get to Wenersberg till half past eight; and of course thatwill be too late to join the ship's company there."
"It isn't necessary to join them there. We shall meet them on the way,and go back with them. They will be at this place some time thisafternoon."
"What did we come up here for?" asked Sanford.
"In the first place, to get rid of four or five rix-bunkers; and inthe second, to see something of this part of Sweden. We have doneboth, and ought to be satisfied."
"O, I'm satisfied!"
"You ought to be; you have four and a half bunkers less to spend. Wewill loaf about this place till the principal comes with the crowd,and when he sees what good boys we have been to look him up, and seethat he didn't get lost, he'll forgive Laybold and me for drinking'finkel.'"
"All right. What time does the train leave for Gottenburg, Ole?" addedthe coxswain, turning to the interpreter.
"Half past five," replied the waif.
No one took the trouble to examine the time-table in thestation-house, which, though in Swedish, was perfectly intelligible sofar as it related to hours and towns.
The tourists decided to improve the time they were obliged to waitby taking a walk about the country, examining Swedish houses andinvestigating Swedish agriculture. Doubtless this was a veryinteresting amusement; but at quarter past five, the party returned tothe station. A long train was just departing in the direction ofGottenburg.
"What train's that?" demanded Sanford.
"I don't know," replied Ole, with a look of alarm.
"Inquire, then," added the excited coxswain.
The party hastened into the little station. It was the regular trainfor Gottenburg.
"But how's that?" cried Sanford. "You said it left at half past five."
"Yes; I looked at the time-table in Gottenburg, and it said half pastfive," replied Ole. "Here is one, and I will look again."
"Better wait till morning before you look again," said Scott.
"Here it is; five--"
"That's all, Norway."
"I'm sure it was half past five in Gottenburg," pleaded Ole, whom thecoxswain had privately requested to make this blunder.
"What sort of chowder do you call this, son of Odin?" demanded Scott.
"He has made a blunder; that's all," laughed Burchmore, who, thoughnot in the confidence of the coxswain, at once suspected the trick,and, to tell the truth, was not sorry for the mistake.
The mishap was discussed for an hour, and poor Ole was severelyblamed, especially by Sanford, for his carelessness; but he bore thecensure with becoming meekness.
"What's to be done?" inquired Scott, at last.
"Here's another train at 8.56," replied Ole, pointing to thetime-table. "We can return to Gottenburg in that."
"Right, Norway," added Scott.
They found a small hotel in the place, where they obtained a supper,and at the time indicated returned to Gottenburg, where they arrivedat about one in the morning. It was too late to go on board of theship, and they went directly to the little hotel in the lane, whereScott and Laybold had passed the preceding night. It was closed, butthey easily roused the landlord.
"So you have again come," said the good-natured host.
"Yes; we have again come. It is too late to go on board of the ship,"replied Scott.
"Your ship have sail to-night to Copenhagen."
"No! Impossible!"
"I have seen her sail," persisted the landlord. "I have make nomistake."
"We are dished!" exclaimed Sanford.
"The young gentleman come down at seven o'clock, and the ship havesail at nine o'clock. I know it so well as I know how to speak theEnglish."
"It must be so, then," laughed Scott; "for you have spoke the Englishmore better as nice."
"What shall we do?" continued Sanford, who seemed to be positivelydistressed at the unfortunate circumstance.
"Do? Go to bed, and go to sleep. What else can we do? You are too biga boy to cry over your misfortunes," replied Scott.
"I don't intend to cry; but I feel ve
ry bad about it."
"Dry your tears," said Burchmore. "We may as well take a biscuit, turnin, and call it half a day."
"But when will there be a steamer to Copenhagen?" asked Sanford.
"The Najaden must go Monday afternoon," answered the landlord, who,for some reason best known to himself, did not deem it prudent tomention the fact that the Kronprindsesse Louise would sail within halfan hour.
"This will never do," interposed Rodman. "We have been chasing theship now for a week, and by the time we get to Copenhagen she will begone. I move we go to Stockholm. We shall be sure to catch her there."
"Good!" exclaimed Wilde.
The proposition was fully discussed, and when a majority favored themovement, the others, among whom was Sanford, yielded an apparentlyreluctant assent. The Wadstena would start at two o'clock, and therewas not a moment to lose. The landlord was astonished at the decision,and his hotel was not filled that night, as he intended it should be.Just as the canal steamer was starting, the young tourists hurried onboard, and were soon on their way to Stockholm.
Not a quarter of a mile distant at this moment were Peaks and hisprisoner, and Blaine, the head steward, who was on the lookout forthem.
