Up The Baltic Part 23

"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 c.o.xswain. "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 part.i.tion 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 pa.s.senger. 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 a.s.sistance 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 princ.i.p.al will be worried about us."