[A]Leopold I. died Dec. 10, 1865, and was succeeded by his son, Leopold II.
[A]Leopold I. died Dec. 10, 1865, and was succeeded by his son, Leopold II.
"Nearly all the people of Belgium are Roman Catholics, there being but about thirteen thousand Protestants and two thousand Jews; but the largest religious liberty is allowed to all sects. A portion of the salary of ministers of all denominations is paid from the national treasury. While the Catholics receive seven hundred thousand dollars from the state, the Protestants obtain eleven thousand, and the Jews two thousand dollars. The salary paid by the state to the archbishop is four thousand two hundred dollars, and to a bishop about three thousand.
"The history of Flanders is substantially the early history of Belgium. Many changes were made in the territorial limit of the country from time to time, in the hands of its different owners. The first mentionof this country in history is in the time of Julius Cæsar, who conquered the Low Countries, and the Romans held them till the year 400, when they were joined to the empire of the Franks. They formed part of the vast realm of Charlemagne.
"After the Romans had abandoned the territory, several independent nobles established themselves in the southern part of the Netherlands. Among them were the Counts of Flanders, who became very powerful and influential men. They are to be regarded as the founders of the Flemish provinces. Having no male heirs, their possessions went to the house of Burgundy. Philip, Duke of Burgundy, married Margaret, Countess of Flanders, and, upon the death of her father, she brought to him the country of Flanders and other valuable possessions.
"During the succeeding hundred years, Namur, Brabant, Limbourg, Hainault, Holland, Zealand, Friesland, and Luxembourg, all of which now belong to Holland and Belgium, were added to the territories of the Dukes of Burgundy. At this period appears the powerful but rash and cruel Charles the Bold. His life was spent in open or secret strife with Louis XI., king of France, whose suzerain, or nominal vassal, he was. The king was instrumental in stirring up rebellion in several cities of the Low Countries, which the duke put down with his accustomed severity.
"Charles, in revenge, having leagued with some discontented French princes, Louis secretly fomented an insurrection in Liége. When the blow was first struck, the crafty king was paying a visit to his cousin of Burgundy, as he called the duke, who,on hearing the news, retained his sovereign as a prisoner, threatening to kill him for his perfidy. The cunning prince tried to pacify his enraged host. He was but partially successful, and could only obtain his liberty by submitting to the most humiliating terms. The duke compelled his royal guest to march in person with him to the revolted city, and assist his vassal in putting down the rebellion he had himself instigated.
"Charles the Bold was slain in battle, and his death ending his line of dukes, Louis seized upon several of the provinces. Mary, the daughter of Charles, was married to the Archduke of Austria, who claimed the Burgundian provinces in right of his wife. He obtained possession, however, of only Franche-comté and the Low Countries. The conflicting claims for these territories kept Austria and France at war for a long time.
"The Archduke Maximilian, who married Mary of Burgundy, became Emperor of Germany on the death of his father. He had two children by her, Philip and Margaret, the former of whom married Joanna, daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. They were the parents of Charles V., Emperor of Germany and King of all Spain. During this period the Low Countries were governed by Maximilian, Philip, and Charles, deriving their right from Charles the Bold.
"Charles V. was succeeded as King of Spain by Philip II., his son, who also inherited the Flemish provinces. Mr. Motley's incomparable History of the Rise of the Dutch Republic, commences at this point, with the abdication of Charles V., and the accession of Philip II. I hope all who have not readthis work will do so, as many of you can, here in the midst of the scenes described in its glowing pages.
"Philip was a bigot and a tyrant, and his despotism, which included the establishment of the Inquisition, drove the people to madness, and provoked them to rebellion. During the reign of Charles V. the Reformation had made considerable progress in Germany, and its principles were firmly planted in the Low Countries. Philip imposed upon himself the duty of rooting out the obnoxious doctrines, and of restoring the supremacy of the Catholic church.
"After his accession to the Netherlands, the king remained four years in the country, and then departed for Spain, from which he did not again return. He made his sister regent, and she was to be assisted by Granvelle, Bishop of Arras. William, Prince of Orange, and the Counts Egmont and Horn, were associated with the bishop as councillors, but they had no real power or influence.
"The despotic conduct of Granvelle, and the attempt on his part to introduce the Inquisition, by order of his royal master, excited the most desperate opposition. The people organized under the lead of the Prince of Orange, and Egmont and Horn, and an insurrection broke out in Flanders, in 1566. These Protestant rebels have been styled iconoclasts, or image-breakers, for they broke into the churches, overturned the images, defaced the valuable paintings, and otherwise injured the church property.
"The famous Cathedral of Notre Dame, which you can see from the deck of the ship, was ravaged by the mob. The statues of Christ, the Virgin, and the Saintswere hurled from their pedestals; the rich paintings, the choicest works of Flemish art, were cut to pieces; the organs were torn down, the altars overturned, and the gold and silver vessels used in the mass were carried off. For three days these tumultuous proceedings continued, and were suppressed only when the fury of the mob had ceased, by the Knights of the Golden Fleece, of which the Prince of Orange was a member. The career of this remarkable man is closely identified with the history of the Netherlands during this period. He was opposed to the violence of the mob, not only from prudential motives, but because his own religious views were not yet in sympathy with the Protestant reformers, though he afterwards fully embraced their doctrines.
"The patriots of the Low Countries were, in the beginning of these troubles, both Catholic and Protestant; but the sacrilegious conduct of the mob detached the former from the cause, and as the Catholics were more numerous in the southern than in the northern provinces, they finally turned the scale in favor of Philip II. in their own section, while the people of Holland established their independence.
"Philip then sent the savage and relentless Duke of Alva to suppress the new religion in the Netherlands. Egmont and Horn were beheaded at Brussels, and the Prince of Orange retired into Germany, appealing to the Protestant princes for assistance. With an army he had raised in Germany, and with money obtained there and of Queen Elizabeth of England, he marched into the Netherlands, and called his people to arms. A long and terrible war ensued, inwhich the Dutch suffered up to the limit of human endurance, and displayed a heroism which is without parallel in the history of the nations.
"The Prince of Orange was created Stadtholder; almost unlimited powers were conferred upon him, and for years he struggled against the most stupendous obstacles. The Dutch, being a maritime people, established a navy, which inflicted many heavy blows upon the Spanish power. The severity of Alva so goaded the Netherlanders that the whole country was in arms against him. He failed to reduce them to subjection, and was recalled. His next two eminent successors died of fever, and the Duke of Parma was then sent as regent of Philip. In 1579 the northern provinces declared their independence, and established the Dutch Republic, or the Seven United Provinces, of which the Prince of Orange was stadtholder.
"Philip was so incensed at the success of the Prince of Orange that he offered a large reward to any one who would take his life, and a fanatical Burgundian shot him at Delft, in 1584. With this event Mr. Motley closes his History of the Rise of the Dutch Republic.
"Belgium adhered to Spain, or, rather, the Duke of Parma succeeded in reducing it to subjection after the murder of the stadtholder. In 1598 Philip gave the Flemish provinces to his daughter Isabella. But on her death without children, the country again reverted to Spain. After more than a century of strife, including the Thirty Years' War, the repeated quarrels between England and Spain, and France and Spain, and the War of the Spanish Succession, during whichperiod the Low Countries were often the battle-ground, Belgium passed into the hands of the Austrians.
"In settling up the disastrous strife of the century, the treaty-making powers had given several of the Belgian fortresses to Holland, in order to check the ambition of France, and the Dutch closed the Scheldt. After an interval of peace under Maria Theresa of Austria, her son, Joseph II., attempted to break through portions of the treaties, and obliged the troops of Holland to evacuate his territory, but he could not open the river. He was rash in his proceedings, and a rebellion was organized against him.
"About this time commenced the French Revolution, whose influence extended to the Low Countries, and in 1789 the Austrian garrison at Brussels was forced to surrender. But the people were not united, and their dissensions enabled the Austrians to regain their power. The French Directory sent an army to assist the Belgians, the Austrians were driven from the country, and Belgium was incorporated with France.
"Napoleon, while he controlled the destinies of France, devoted much attention to the Flemish provinces, and especially to the city of Antwerp. When you go on shore you will see immense docks and fortifications built by him. He intended to make it a great naval station, and it would have been of vast importance to him in carrying out his plans for the invasion of England. The works on the opposite side of the river, called 'Tête de Flandre,' were the beginning of an immense military town. During this period England was almost continually at war withFrance, and several expeditions were sent against Holland and Belgium.
"When Napoleon abdicated, the Flemish Provinces were restored to Austria; but when the allies who had overthrown Napoleon finally disposed of their conquests, Holland and Belgium were united, and given to the Stadtholder, who had adhered to the allies. He was styled William I., King of the Netherlands.
"The two sections could not agree; the Dutch regarded Belgium as a conquered province, and were not at all conciliatory in their treatment of the new acquisition. The Belgians were essentially French in their habits, and disliked the Dutch. In 1830 they revolted against their masters, the insurrection extended to the principal cities, and the king called upon the great powers who had given him the country. A congress assembled in London at his request, which, however, decreed the independence of Belgium.
"The people first elected a son of Louis Philippe king; but he declined, and Leopold was then chosen. King William, of Holland, protested, and in spite of the treaty, held the city of Antwerp. A French army was sent to the assistance of Leopold; Antwerp capitulated, but it was not till 1839 that Holland made a treaty with Belgium, acknowledging her independence. Leopold strengthened his position by marrying a daughter of the King of France; and his son and heir, the Duke of Brabant, was married to Marie, Archduchess of Austria.
"In 1848, when Louis Philippe was overthrown in France, some disturbance occurred, and Leopoldoffered to abdicate; but his proposition was not accepted, and he wisely and skilfully led his government through all the troubles of that excitable period. He is a wise and prudent statesman, and as such has had a great deal of influence in Europe.
"Now, young gentlemen, I trust you will not be satisfied with this meagre sketch of the interesting country we are now visiting, but will read up the subject so that you will understand it better."
Mr. Mapps left his position, and the studies of the morning were commenced. After dinner the usual shore liberty was given, the allowances paid in French francs, a supply of which had been procured in London, and the students were landed. Instead of going on shore immediately, Dr. Winstock and Paul paid a visit to the Victoria and Albert.
At the gangway they found the steward of the ship, who volunteered to conduct them through the vessel. There was nothing strikingly peculiar in the exterior of the yacht, except that she had large, square windows, composed of a single pane of glass, in her upper saloons and cabins; but the steward informed the visitors that these were replaced in heavy weather by wooden shutters, having only the small, round ports in them.
Between the paddle-boxes was a large open space, covered over by the hurricane deck. On each side, abaft the wheels, was a small apartment, or pavilion, with large glass windows, elegantly cushioned and furnished, where the royal passengers could sit in rough weather, and look out upon the sea. On the hurricane deck was a spacious dining-saloon.
From the open space between the wheels, the steward conducted Dr. Winstock and Paul to a passage-way, at the after end of which was a saloon called the breakfast-room. Its length corresponded with the width of the vessel, and one side was round, being formed at the stern of the vessel, in which were several of the large square windows, so that the apartment was very light and pleasant.
On each side of the passage-way were several apartments, arranged in suits. Returning to the open space amidships, the party entered the forward room on the starboard side.
"This is the room of the first lady in waiting," said the steward, as they went in.
"I should say the first lady in waiting was well accommodated," said Paul, laughing, as he glanced at the spacious apartment.
"But she may be a countess," replied the steward, leading the way to the next room. "This is the queen's bed-chamber."
There was a large bed in this room, which looked just like anybody's bed; but it was by no means so elegant as the young republican had anticipated. The apartment was rich and costly in its furnishings, but there was none of the magnificence which one would have expected to find in the room of a queen.
"This is the dressing-room of Prince Albert," added the steward, entering the next room. "Her majesty allows no one to occupy it since the death of his highness."
Beyond this, on the same side, were shown several rooms appropriated to the use of the princesses.They corresponded in style with those of the queen; but in nothing connected with the yacht was there any gaudy display. The party went to the opposite side, and were shown several rooms like those they had just seen, which were occupied by the princes. The forward room on the port side was the drawing-room. It was larger than any other except the breakfast-room, but did not appear to be extravagantly furnished; everything seemed to be provided for comfort rather than show.
The conductor then led them forward, where, on each side of a passage, were four rooms, each provided with a handsome, narrow bedstead, which the steward said were for the use of the lords and ladies in waiting. Forward of these, in the bow of the vessel, was the kitchen, a three-cornered room like that on the Young America, with a large galley or cooking-range in the middle.
Below the royal apartments, in the after part of the ship, were the cabins for the servants. As the steward led his guests towards the gangway, Dr. Winstock took out his purse.
"Never mind that just now," interposed their conductor, "especially as there is the captain."
Paul wondered if the doctor intended to insult a person of so much consequence as the steward of the queen's yacht must be, by offering him money. He glanced at the captain, who was a fine-looking man, in naval uniform, as the steward led the way to the accommodation steps. The doctor slyly slipped a couple of English shillings into the man's hand, and they went down into their boat.
"What did you give him, sir?" asked Paul.
"Two shillings."
"Well, it seems to me the steward of any American passenger steamer would be angry if you gave him two shillings for his services."
"If I had not met these men before, I should not have dared to do it; but it is expected," replied the doctor.
The boat pulled up to the Quai Vandyck, and Paul for the first time put his foot upon the continent of Europe.
"Where shall we go first, Paul?" asked Dr. Winstock, when they landed upon the quay.
"I don't know, sir; I think I shall be interested wherever we go. This is a big city—isn't it?"
"Its population is hardly more than half of what it was in the days of its greatest prosperity. In the days of Charles V. it is said that twenty-five hundred vessels were frequently seen at one time in the river. It had two hundred thousand inhabitants, and was then the richest and most thriving commercial city in Europe. You perceive that this long line of quays affords plenty of wharf room. Indeed the name of the city is said to be derived from a Flemish phrase, 'aen't werf,' which means on the wharf, or on the quay."
"Mr. Motley tells another story about its name. He says the people claim that the city is very old, and that a giant by the name of Antigonus, established himself on the river at this place, and set up a kind of custom-house. He required half the merchandise of those who went up the river. He used to cut off the right hands of those who attempted to smuggle, and throw them into the river. In this wayHandwerpen, or hand throwing, came to be the name of the place," said the young commander.
"I suppose that story is as true now as it ever was. But where shall we go?" asked the doctor.
"I want to get a little nearer to that Cathedral," replied Paul.
"That is really the most noted thing in Antwerp, and we will walk up there; and I think we shall be able to see the pictures on the church, which are required to produce an income. The Cathedral used to be open till one o'clock, free to the public, but the curtains were carefully drawn over these great works of art; after this hour visitors were admitted upon the payment of one franc, and the pictures were exhibited. Doubtless the same regulation is in force now."
A walk of a few moments brought them to the Place Verte, a little park enclosed, with a colossal statue of Rubens in the centre.
"Everything in Antwerp is Rubens," said the doctor. "The people believe in him still, and almost worship his memory."
"Why should they? He was only a great painter—was he?" added Paul.
"He was more than that: he was quite distinguished as a statesman and a diplomatist. He was ambassador to England, Holland, and other countries. His celebrity as an artist, and his influence with the crowned heads of several nations, caused him to be regarded with deep interest by the people. He lived in a splendid mansion, for the immense income which he derived from his pencil enabled him to support anelegant establishment. He had a great number of pupils, and at one period in his career they painted no inconsiderable part of his pictures. He had orders from all the crowned heads of Europe, and in many of his works he could only make the designs and give the finishing touches to them. He was very industrious, and painted rapidly, as he must have done to produce so many pictures."
"He humbugged his customers then—didn't he?"
"His assistants did only the heavy work, while Rubens furnished the design, and gave the work its finishing touches. The celebrated sculptors do not perform all the drudgery of chiselling out a statue. Wherever you go in Antwerp, you will hear of Rubens. You will find his works in all the galleries, you will visit his house in the Rue Rubens, his pictures will be shown to you in every church, and you will see his tomb in St. Jacques."
"They have Rubens on the brain, as we should say at home," laughed Paul.
"Yes, and they have it badly. From this point you have a good view of the Cathedral," added the doctor, as they paused near the statue of Rubens, where they could see the building over the tops of the trees.
"The steeple is very handsome. It is of the most beautiful and delicate workmanship you will see."
"I should think it would blow down."
"It is banded together with a framework of iron, and the stones are held together with copper bolts."
"How high is it?" asked Paul, as he gazed up at the lofty spire.
"There you have me, Paul! I don't know. InMurray's Guide-Book it is set down at four hundred and three feet. The man up in the tower there says it is four hundred and sixty-six. Other authorities put it at less than four hundred. My guide assured me it was one hundred and forty-seven French metres in height; but this, reduced to English measure, would give four hundred and eighty-three feet. My own idea is, that Murray is right," replied Dr. Winstock, as they walked over to the church.
"What's this?" asked Paul, pointing to a beautiful iron canopy in Gothic style, near the foot of the church tower.
"That's a draw-well. It is the handiwork of Quentin Matsys."
"I don't know him."
"He was a blacksmith until he was twenty years old, when he fell in love with the fair daughter of a painter. The story goes that the father would not permit his daughter to marry any man that was not an artist, and the blacksmith abandoned his anvil for the easel. He had a genius for art, and soon painted better than his masters. He won his bride, and achieved a great reputation in his new art. The picture of The Misers, which you saw at Windsor Castle, was executed by him."
They bought a couple of tickets and were admitted to the church. The interior was grand and imposing; but the chief attraction was the pictures, which were now unveiled, and a small audience was present examining them. Several artists were making copies of them. In the south transept hangs Reubens's masterpiece, The Descent from the Cross.
Paul did not pretend to be a connoisseur in paintings, and could neither understand nor appreciate the fine writing he read about them in books, or the "hifalutin" which affected men bestowed upon them; but in the presence of the grand old painting, he was awed and silenced. It produced a deep impression upon his mind and heart, and for the first time in his life he realized the sublime in art. The figure of The Dead Christ seemed to be real, so painfully natural were the hanging head of the Savior, and the relaxed muscles of the body. The young student gazed long and earnestly at the picture, studying it as a whole and in detail.
It is said that Rubens paid this picture as the price of the land on which he erected his house in Antwerp. In the north transept of the Cathedral hangs its companion piece, The Elevation of the Cross; but its reputation is far inferior to his masterpiece, grand as it is.
Paul walked about the church, and examined other pictures and works of art; and then, after paying the keeper of the tower a franc, they commenced the long ascent to the spire and chimes.
"These churches and these pictures are certainly very fine," said Paul, as they stopped at a window to rest. "We don't have them in our country. There isn't a church there that will compare with any of these cathedrals, to say nothing of the celebrated pictures, such as we have just seen."
"That's very true; and I am thankful that our people make a better use of their money. Here in Belgium, as in most countries of Europe, poverty is thecurse of the people. They do not receive the reward of their labor. The government and the church take the lion's share of their earnings, and thus keep them down. This Cathedral was commenced in 1352, and finished in 1411, though another spire was to have been built. Nearly sixty years were employed in its erection, and probably it cost millions of dollars. Of course the people had to pay for it. The greater portion of the expense of it lies dormant here, it being merely an ornamental structure. It gratifies people's tastes, it is true; but God could be acceptably worshipped in a less costly edifice. If the capital locked up in this church had been invested in schools, colleges, and other educational institutions, it would be a blessing to the country. What is paid in Europe to build these grand structures for worship, and to support the trappings of royalty, is in our own country appropriated to public schools; and the nation reaps the benefit of them every year of its existence."
"That's so," replied Paul, emphatically; "and when any foreigner says anything to me again about our want of costly cathedrals, I shall call his attention to our schools."
"That's right; you are an American to the core," laughed the doctor.
"But I don't see any reason why we should not have as great painters in the United States as in Europe," added Paul.
"I do see the reason. Probably we have just as much talent for art in our nation, but the people find that it doesn't pay so well as developing the resources of a new country. When it is possible in Americafor a man to win the wealth and distinction which Rubens won, we shall be as successful in art as Europe has been; for Washington Allston, Benjamin West, and others have demonstrated the capacity of our people in this direction. The encouragement which artists receive makes the men. There are not many persons in our country who are willing to pay ten, fifty, or a hundred thousand dollars for a picture. So much money in a painting is dead capital among an energetic people who need all they can get to carry on agricultural, commercial, and manufacturing enterprises."
"Of course people will follow that calling which pays best, either in money or in reputation."
"Certainly, and the number of Dutch and Flemish artists assures us that painting has been a cherished art in the Low Countries. Vandyck was another celebrated painter of this country. He was born in Antwerp, and was a pupil of Rubens. There is a story that The Descent from the Cross was thrown down by the carelessness of a student, and badly injured by the fall. Vandyck, who was then a pupil of the great Flemish master, undertook to repair the mischief with his brush, and did it so well that Rubens declared the work was superior to his own. This story is current in the guide-books, and in the mouths of thecommissionaires, who point out the places on the face of the Virgin and on the arm of one of the Marys where the pupil touched it up. But there is no truth in it, since the picture was hung up in the Cathedral before Vandyck entered the studio of Rubens."
"I suppose these people like to tell good stories, whether true or not."
"Yes; and you will find a man up in this steeple who believes that his spire is the tallest in the world," added Dr. Winstock.
They continued on their long ascent till they reached the region of the bells, where they found the attendant who glories in magnifying the wonders of the chimes and the spire. He had a small furnished apartment, which the visitors were invited to enter, and where he dispensed refreshments, of which no total abstinence man could partake. The doctor, knowing what the man had to say, skilfully turned his attention away from his favorite topic, until they were sufficiently refreshed—not by theeau de vieandnoyau, but by the rest—to explore the bell towers.
The bells composing the chime were fixed in the lofts, which were filled with wires, cranks, and other machinery, used in operating them. In one place there was a bank of keys like those of an organ, where a person could play any tune he pleased upon the bells. The keeper had a history to relate of each bell, many of which were contributed by kings, princes, and lords, and bore their names. In another tower there was an immense bell, at the baptism of which—for church bells are duly consecrated in Catholic countries—the Emperor Charles V. stood as godfather. It requires sixteen men to ring it; but its peals rouse the Antwerpers only on great occasions, such as a visit of the king.
Dr. Winstock and Paul waited among the chimes till they had played the hourly tune, and then continued their progress to the heights above. The custodian of the steeple said there were six hundred and sixteen steps from the bottom to the top, and a person does not care to make the journey more than once in his lifetime. The winding stairs passed close to the Gothic openings of the tower, and they had an opportunity closely to observe the delicate workmanship of the structure, which Charles V. said should be kept in a glass case, and Napoleon compared to Mechlin lace.
At last, out of breath, they reached the highest point of the spire, and looked far down upon the lofty roof of the church. The buildings of the city looked like card houses, and a company of Belgian soldiers, marching in the streets, appeared like the pygmies who inhabited them. In the distance could be seen the towers of Ghent, Brussels, Mechlin, and Flushing, the wandering Scheldt, and the low country for a vast distance. The magnificent view, and the information it afforded, amply repaid them for the toil of ascending, and Paul made the Cathedral the subject of an entire letter to Miss Grace Arbuckle.
It was easier to go down than to come up, and when they had passed out into the Place Verte, the doctor declared that he must lunch before he walked any farther. The Hotel de l'Europe faced the Park, and Paul was desirous of seeing the interior of it. They entered through an archway, there being no doors on the street. There was a spacious area, or court-yard, through which alone the house could be reached. In other respects the establishment was similar to those in the United States.
On the continent, as in England, none but working people take breakfast much before nine o'clock, and the hour varies from this time till noon. Of late years the practice in American hotels corresponds with that of European ones. In the dining-room of the Hotel de l'Europe there are many small tables, and one or two long ones, the latter being used at table d'hôte, which is served at five o'clock. A hotel bill is added, to give the reader an idea of the prices:—
Place Verte.
Note à M. Smith,Chambre No. 40, A.Fr. Cen.Août 4.½ Poulet et Salade,3.001 Thé Complet,1.50Appartement,2.50Bougie,.50Service,1.005.1 Déjeûné et Bifstek,3.001 Bifstek, Pomme de Terre,1.50——13.00Pour Acquit,J. W. Barber."
"One Thé Complet" consists of simply tea and bread and butter, and as a franc is about twenty cents, its price is thirty cents. A centime is the hundredth of a franc, and fifty centimes is ten cents. If the guest adds a beefsteak and potatoes, or any other dish, to his meal, it just doubles the cost. The "bougie" is acandle, which is charged all over Europe, at from a quarter of a franc up to a franc. The traveller also pays for his soap, or provides it himself. When an "old stager" pays a franc for a candle, or a piece of soap, he rolls the part unused up in a paper and puts it into his trunk; and, if at his next stopping-place, he finds a candle in his room, he orders the waiter to remove it, and will not submit to be charged for it.
Table d'hôte is a more formal meal, and in some large hotels much parade is made over it. The bill of fare is usually very meagre compared with that of the Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York, and every dish in the programme is presented to the guest. The charge for this meal, at first-class houses outside of Paris, is usually four francs, or eighty cents.
Dr. Winstock and Paul took a seat in theSalle à manger. The student was principally anxious to know what they had to eat, and in what manner they served it, for he was of an inquiring mind, and fond of making comparisons. The most common lunch consists of cold chicken and salad, the latter being simply lettuce prepared with oil and vinegar. Paul was disappointed, for the lunch differed hardly a shade from the same thing at home. Even the gentlemanly Belgian waiter, dressed in seemly black, spoke good English, and the "demi-poulet" was wasted upon him.
"Where shall we go now, Paul?" asked the doctor, as they left the dining-room.
"I leave that to you, sir. You seem to be quite at home here," replied Paul.
"We will take a carriage, and we can do up the city in a few hours."
A one-horse barouche was called, and acommissionaire—a kind of guide or interpreter, who assists strangers in doing their business, or in seeing the sights of the city—presented himself to be employed; but Dr. Winstock, who was familiar with the place, declined his services.
"What was that man?" asked Paul, as the carriage drove off to the Rue des Sœurs Noires, where the Dominican Church of St. Paul is located.
"He is acommissionaire, interpreter, orvalet de place. Many travellers regard such men as swindlers; but for my own part I have found them very useful. When I first visited Antwerp I employed one. I found him intelligent and gentlemanly, and, so far as I could judge, not disposed to swindle me himself or to let others do so. I paid him five francs a day, and I am sure he saved me more money than I paid him, besides taking me in the easiest and most convenient way to the various points in the city."
"I should think such men would be very necessary, especially to those who cannot speak the language."
"In Amsterdam and Rotterdam I should have been on my beam-ends without them. I never could imagine where they obtained their bad name, unless it was from Englishmen, who are generally afraid of being cheated, and take the alarm before there is any real danger."
The driver stopped before the Church of St. Paul, and the passengers alighted. There was nothing worthy of note in the church; but outside of it, in a kind of garden, one of the most singular and remarkable exhibitions is open to the visitor. It is called"Calvary," and is a representation of the "several stages," as they are termed, in the life of Christ. An artificial mound is raised on the side next to the church edifice, which is covered with a kind of rock-work, in imitation of Mount Calvary. In various parts of the area are placed the statues of saints, angels, patriarchs, and prophets.
On the summit of the mound is represented the crucifixion, with a figure of the Savior on the cross. At the foot of it is the sepulchre, which is claimed to be a perfect copy of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem, though travellers who have seen it say it bears no resemblance whatever to the original. In the tomb, on a kind of shelf, rests the crucified Christ, represented by a figure clothed in silk and muslin!
Near the tomb an ideal of Purgatory is exhibited, consisting of wood carvings. The making-up of the scene appears to be a kind of cage, like those one sees in a menagerie, with bars in front of it to prevent the escape of the unhappy mortals temporarily confined there. Within the den are carved and painted several figures of men, in the midst of darting, leaping flames, upon whose faces there is an expression of intense anguish. Doubtless the intention of those who conceived this astounding exhibition was to impress upon the mind of the spectator the sufferings of the unrepentant wicked. It is hardly possible that this effect could ever have been produced upon the minds of sensible men. The spectacle is not only in exceedingly bad taste, but it is positively repulsive, not to say sacrilegious.
Such was the opinion of Paul Kendall, who could hardly conceal his disgust; and ten minutes in the place exhausted his patience. He was silent, so deep was his feeling of dissatisfaction, until he was again seated in thevoiture. The next objects of interest were the docks and basins, which were reached after a short drive from St. Paul's. They merely passed along the quay, making no stop, as the works could be seen from the carriage.
"That is the house of the Hanseatic League," said the doctor, pointing to a large ancient building.
"What is the Hanseatic League?" asked Paul, who had never even heard of it.
"It was a commercial alliance between some of the cities of Germany for the protection and development of their trade. It had its origin in the thirteenth century, for the purpose of preventing piracy and shipwreck, and to encourage commerce, and, indeed, all branches of industry. It established great warehouses or factories in different parts of Europe, and became an exceedingly powerful association, so much so that it dictated the policy of sovereigns on their thrones, and even declared and carried on war with several of the powers of Europe. In the fourteenth century, the League defeated the King of Norway and Sweden. It unseated the King of Sweden, and gave his crown to another, and having declared war against Denmark, sent a fleet of two hundred and fifty ships, and thousands of troops to carry it on. In fact, the association prepared for war with England, and Edward IV. made important concessions to avoid it. Ofcourse the crowned heads were jealous of its power and influence, and it was eventually broken up; but it laid the foundation of the commercial policy of the nations. The League died out in 1630; but Hamburg, Lubec, and Bremen formed a new one, under the name of the Hanse Towns; and Frankfort-on-the-Main afterwards joined them."
"I have heard of the Hanse Towns," added Paul; "but I never knew what the term meant before."
"The docks and basins here are mainly the work of Napoleon. The great conqueror intended to make Antwerp the first seaport of the north. The mouth of the Thames is less than a hundred miles from the mouth of the Scheldt, and he knew that, with a naval station equal to any in the possession of England, he could, in time of war, cripple or destroy the commerce of his great rival. He expended ten millions of dollars on these docks, basins, and fortifications. The English were alarmed, and in 1809 sent the Walcheren expedition, which obtained a foothold on that island, but were defeated by disease and death, for seven thousand British soldiers perished by marsh fever. By the peace of Paris in 1814, after the battle of Waterloo, it was stipulated that the dock-yards should be destroyed, for they were a standing threat to the maritime powers; but these basins were preserved for commercial purposes. The largest one will accommodate thirty-four ships of the line."
The travellers continued on their way through some of the principal streets till they arrived at the Church of St. Jacques, which is richer in its ornaments than the Cathedral, containing exquisitely wrought marbles,carved wood, painted glass. This magnificent church contains the burial vaults of the noble families of the city, and among them that of Rubens, which is marked by a white marble tablet with a long inscription upon it, embedded in the pavement of his private chapel. The Holy Family, which forms the altar-piece of the church, was painted by the great master. In 1793, when the mob, incited by the furious spirit of the French Revolution, broke into the church, pillaging altars and tombs alike, that of Rubens was spared from desecration by the universal respect for his memory, though not another tomb in St. Jacques escaped their impious touch.
The house of Rubens, situated in a street of the same name, was visited; an outside view of the Bourse, or Exchange, the Hotel de Ville, or Town Hall, and of other public buildings, was obtained. The Citadel, built under the direction of the cruel Duke of Alva, to overawe the rebellious Antwerpers, was an object of interest. After the expulsion of the Spaniards in 1577, the people, including those of high and low degree, men, women, and children, assisted in its demolition; but it was speedily rebuilt, and has played an important part in subsequent sieges and insurrections. The city is surrounded by a continuous line of fortifications and ditches, extending from a point on the river below the city to a point above it; and outside of this line there are a number of detached forts to keep a hostile force from approaching near enough to the city to shell it.
When the carriage reached the Quai Vandyck, most of the students had returned, and the boats were inwaiting. They chattered like magpies about the wonders they had seen. When Captain Kendall went on board, the mail-bag was handed to him, and the boys were eager to obtain their letters from home and elsewhere.
"A letter for you, Mr. Hamblin," said the captain, as he handed the professor a formidable envelope, postmarked "Anvers."
The learned gentleman seemed to be astonished, and bore the missive to his state-room.
Almost every one on board of the Josephine had a letter, and some had two or three. Paul had one from Grace, dated at Paris, in which she expressed a hope that, as she was to travel a few months with her father, she might see him in some of her wanderings. The young captain hoped so too, and he read the letter a second time. Probably he read it a third time after he went to his state-room, and a fourth before he retired; for boys of his age are apt to be enthusiastic in this direction.
Professor Stoute sat in the cabin. He had been all over Antwerp, and had walked a larger part of the distance than a man of his obesity could well endure in a warm day. Though he was very tired, he was very good-natured; indeed, thus far, nothing had ever occurred to disturb his equanimity. He was exceedingly popular with the boys, and if he had fallen overboard, every one of them would have jumped in after him. No one ever thought of disobeying him, and consequently he never had any trouble.
While he sat there fanning himself with a newspaper, Mr. Hamblin came out of his state-room with the huge envelope he had received in his hand. Thelearned gentleman looked perplexed; in fact, he always wore an anxious expression, as though he were in constant fear that somebody would infringe upon his dignity, or that some of the boys did not believe he was the wisest man since the days of Solomon. He always walked just so; he always sat just so; he always moved just so. He never was guilty of using a doubtful expression. He was stern, rigid, and precise, and from the beginning all the boys had disliked him; but since he had behaved so unreasonably in the squall, they could hardly endure him.
The lean professor walked up to the fat professor, and took a stand before him. He had removed the letter from the formidable envelope, and held it unfolded in his hand. He looked at the letter, and then at Mr. Stoute. The fat professor laughed, but the lean professor frowned. The jolly one knew just what the precise one wanted, but he waited patiently for the exordium.
"Mr. Stoute, may I trouble you?" he began, after he had put himself in proper position.
"Certainly, sir," replied the fat gentleman.
"If this letter had been written in Greek or Latin, I could have read it," continued Mr. Hamblin, glancing at the sheet.
"Precisely so; if it had been written in Greek or Latin I could not read it," laughed Mr. Stoute.
"My French, as I have had occasion to acknowledge to you with deep humiliation, has been neglected for more important studies. This letter appears to have been written by some distinguished person, but unfortunately he has chosen to indite it in French."
"In a word, you wish me to read it to you."
"That is what I was about to request of you. May I ask you to retire with me to our state-room?" continued Professor Hamblin, glancing at the officers who were reading their letters in the cabin.
"Excuse me, Mr. Hamblin; you forget that I carry round with me two hundred and odd pounds of flesh, besides bone and muscle, and that I have been on my feet three hours. I think, sir, if I knew this vessel was going to the bottom of the Scheldt this instant, I should go down with her rather than move. Have me excused, I pray you, and have compassion on mine infirmities," laughed Mr. Stoute.
Mr. Hamblin was vexed, but he gave the letter to his associate, who turned the sheet and glanced at the signature.
"Ah!" exclaimed he, looking at Mr. Hamblin.
"What is it? Do me the favor to read it," replied the learned gentleman, impatiently.
"It is from Monsieur Charles Rogier, the president of the council, and minister of foreign affairs," added Professor Stoute. "He is the man who organized the revolution of 1830, and the greatest man in Belgium, King Leopold excepted."
"Is it possible!" ejaculated Mr. Hamblin, struggling to keep down the smile in which his vanity sought to manifest itself. "What does he say?"
"He says that just as he was leaving Antwerp for Brussels, he heard that the very learned and distinguished Professor Hamblin was on board of a vessel at anchor in the river."
"Does he say that?" asked the learned gentleman,who, knowing that Mr. Stoute had a horrid vein of humor running through his fat frame, had, perhaps, a suspicion that he was making fun at his expense.
"That is precisely what it says."
"How should Mr. Rogier know me?" queried Mr. Hamblin.
"I was about to read his explanation on that point: he says he heard of you through a friend who was in London a few weeks since. He wished to see you and extend to you a welcome to the kingdom of Belgium; but the command of his royal master required him to leave Antwerp by the next train; and he was deprived of the pleasure of extending to you in person the expression of his distinguished consideration. He hopes when you visit Brussels you will do him the honor to call upon him at the Palais de la Nation, Rue de la Soie."
"Humph!" ejaculated the learned professor, prolonging the interjection, and trying to suppress the smile which had a sad tendency to overwhelm his dignity.
"You are fortunate, Mr. Hamblin," added Mr. Stoute; "of course he will present you to King Leopold."
"Possibly," replied the Greeksavant, stroking his chin, and frowning, to counteract the sinister influence of the smile he could not wholly overcome.
Mr. Hamblin took the letter and read the signature. It was certainly "Charles Rogier," with a flourish extensive enough for any great man. From the letter he glanced at the fat professor, who, being always good-natured, was so now. He could not get rid of alingering suspicion that his undignified associate was imposing upon him. It was a great misfortune that his own knowledge of French was so limited, and if it had not been so late, he would have gone on board of the ship to ask Professor Badois to translate the epistle to him.
Instead of doing this, he went to the record book of the Josephine, and ascertained that Duncan was marked among the highest in French. Now Duncan was a very polite and respectful student, and Mr. Hamblin had a greater regard for him than for most of his companions. Finding this promising young man on deck, he invited him to the sacred precincts of the professor's state-room. Duncan was even more polite and obliging than usual. At the request of his present host, who did not offer any explanations, he wrote out a translation of the important letter. Mr. Hamblin thanked him, and he retired.
There was no material difference between the translations of Mr. Stoute and Duncan, and the learned professor congratulated himself upon the distinction he had attained. His fame as asavanthad preceded him across the ocean. The king's chief minister courted his acquaintance. This was the homage which greatness paid to learning, and Mr. Hamblin was willing to believe that it was a deserved tribute. He soon worked himself into a flutter of excitement, in anticipation of being taken by the hand by the king's chief minister, and he slept but little during the night, so absorbed was he in the contemplation of the distinguished honor which awaited him.
"Professor Hamblin is going to court," said Duncan to his old friend the captain, when they met on deck after supper.
"To court whom?" laughed Paul.
"He has had an invitation to go to court to see the big bugs. I translated a letter for him from the minister of foreign affairs; and I suppose he's about the biggest toad in the Belgian puddle," added Duncan. "You won't be able to touch him with a ten-foot pole after that."
"We shall get along very well with him, if we only do our duty," said Paul.
"The fellows are not very fond of him; and if he puts on any more airs, they won't be able to stand it."
"Why, what's the matter, Duncan? asked Paul, anxiously, for generally everything had gone on so well on board of the Josephine, that he dreaded any trouble.
"O, nothing, nothing!" laughed Duncan; "only the fellows don't like him."
"Ben, there's something up," said Paul, earnestly. "If the fellows think anything at all of me, they won't make any trouble. If I don't complain of Mr. Hamblin, they needn't."
"I don't find any fault with him myself," protested Ben. "I don't like him, but I have always got along very well with him."
"What did you mean by mentioning this matter to me, Ben?" asked Paul.
"Nothing; only I shouldn't be surprised if the fellows were to haze the venerable patriarch a little in a quiet way. They are all down upon him."
"I am sorry for that. I hope all the fellows willdo their duty, and not get into any scrapes, replied Paul, very seriously.
"I am sorry, but I can't say that I blame them much."
"I shall blame them if they commit any act of disrespect," said the captain, decidedly. "I hope you will say what you can forward to keep the fellows from doing anything that would hurt Mr. Hamblin's feelings."
"What can I do? The old fossil doesn't treat the students like gentlemen; and if he behaves so, what can you expect of the fellows? He is cross, crabbed, and tyrannical."
"Have they just found it out?"
"No, but they were willing to bear it rather than make any trouble on board. After what he did last Saturday, they are not disposed to be so patient; and I can't blame them much."
"What happened last Saturday was between Mr. Hamblin and me, and the students needn't trouble themselves about that."
"But the fellows all like you first rate, even the worst ones we have on board; and there are some pretty hard boys here," laughed Duncan.
"If they like me, they will not get up a row."
"I will take care that all of them know just how you feel," said Duncan, concluding to end the conversation at this point, for the subject of these remarks had just come on deck.
The learned gentleman appeared to carry his head even higher, and to be more dignified, stiff, and reserved, than usual. With an invitation in his pocketto visit the greatest statesman in Belgium, he felt like a very exalted personage; for not even Mr. Lowington had been so highly favored. Mr. Hamblin was puffed up and swelled out by the honor the great man had done him, and as he walked up and down the deck, the students might have known by his air, if they had not been told of the fact, that greatness had suddenly been thrust upon him.
It presently occurred to him that the principal had not been informed of the distinguished consideration in which the government of Belgium regarded the Josephine's senior instructor. It was important that he should know it, for the fact would certainly elevate him in the estimation of the principal, and cause him to regret that in the recent difficulty he had not more fully sustained his notable professor. Besides, he wished to make some arrangements which would permit him to visit the Palais de la Nation, and to dine with the minister, if he should be invited, as he had no doubt he should be.
With as much sternness on his wrinkled face as he could assume, he walked forward to demand a boat of Captain Kendall. As he was passing in the waist, a coil of signal line dropped down from the gaff above, square upon the top of his hat, forcing it far down upon his head. Mr. Hamblin immediately threw himself into an undignified passion. When he had with some difficulty extricated his head from the linings of his hat, he looked up to see who had been guilty of this act of flagrant disrespect.
"I beg your pardon, Mr. Hamblin," shouted Grimme, a seaman, whose legs were twined aroundthe end of the gaff, while he was in the act of passing a signal halyard through an eye.
The captain had received orders from the principal to have the Josephine ready for the visit of a distinguished person on the following day, and Mr. Cleats was preparing to dress the rigging.
"You scoundrel!" roared Mr. Hamblin, gazing up at the unfortunate youth who had been the cause of his misfortune.
"Did it hurt you, sir?" asked Paul, stepping up to the professor.
"Was that done by your order, Mr. Kendall?" demanded the iratesavant.
"No, sir; it was not," replied Paul, blushing with indignation at such an insinuation.
"It is very singular that the rope should fall just at the moment I was passing," added Mr. Hamblin, sourly, as he straightened out his crumpled tile.
"I am sorry it occurred, sir," said Paul, who uttered no more than the literal truth.
Mr. Hamblin glanced around the deck at the students who were collected there. They did not seem to be sorry; on the contrary, there was a look of diabolical satisfaction in the expression of most of them, and not a few were actually laughing.
"I demand the immediate punishment of the offender," said Mr. Hamblin, irritated by this manifestation on the part of the students.
By this time Grimme had descended from his perilous perch, having completed the reeving of the halyard. Without a moment's delay, he hastened to the spot where the angry man stood, and touched his cap with the utmost deference.
"I beg your pardon, Mr. Hamblin. I hope you will excuse me," said Grimme, who really wore a very troubled look.
"You did it on purpose, you scoundrel!" growled the professor, savagely; for he could not fail to see the ill-suppressed chuckling of the students in the waist.
"No, sir! I did not, sir!" protested Grimme. "I had the end in my mouth, and was just going to drop the coil when I saw you."
"And you did drop it when you saw me."
"I did not mean to drop it then. I was going to wait till you had passed; but my foot slipped, and, in catching hold of the gaff with my hand, I let go the coil. If I hadn't dropped it, I should have fallen myself," replied Grimme, who seemed determined to make the explanation strong enough to meet the emergency.
"I don't believe a word of it! You meant to insult me!" exclaimed Mr. Hamblin, still goaded on to intemperate speech by the ill-concealed jeers of the students. "Mr. Kendall, it is your duty to punish that insolent fellow."
"I will inquire into the matter, sir. If it appears that he did the act on purpose, he shall certainly be punished," replied Paul, who, after his conversation with Duncan, could not help suspecting that this was the first step in the hazing process to which his friend had alluded.
"Inquire into it!" sneered Mr. Hamblin, with deep disgust. "I complain of the boy: that is enough."
Paul did not think so; but he made no reply to theangry man, though he ordered the alleged culprit to the mainmast, which is the locality of the high court on shipboard.
"Mr. Kendall, I desire to have the gig, for the purpose of visiting the ship."
"The gig, sir!" exclaimed Paul, to whom the professors were not in the habit of designating which boat they would have.
"I said the gig, sir," repeated Mr. Hamblin, loftily.
"I beg your pardon, sir; but the gig is the captain's boat," replied Paul, with deference.
"The captain's boat!" puffed the professor.
"Mr. Lowington directed me to use the first cutter for the professors," added Paul.
"Am I to understand that you again refuse me a boat?"
"No, sir; by no means," said the captain, ready to weep with vexation at these disagreeable incidents.
He turned from Mr. Hamblin, and directed the first lieutenant to pipe away the first cutters; and in a few moments the boat was ready. The fourth lieutenant was sent in charge of the cutter. The professor went over the side into the boat; and as he made no objections, the officers concluded that he did not know the difference between the gig and the first cutter. At certain stages of the tide, there is a three-mile current in the Scheldt, with strong eddies, formed by the sweep of the river. By a miscalculation of the coxswain, the cutter fell astern of the ship, and had to pull up to her, which prolonged the passage somewhat, thereby increasing the ill nature and impatience of Mr. Hamblin.
"In bows!" said the coxswain, as the boat approached the ship; and the two bowmen tossed their oars and boated them, taking position in the bow-grating, with the boat-hooks in their hands.
"Way enough!" added the coxswain; and the rest of the crew tossed their oars.
At the gangway of the ship stairs had been rigged, at the foot of which there was a platform, for the convenience of those boarding or leaving the ship by the boats. The bowmen fastened their boat-hooks upon the platform, in readiness to haul the boat alongside, so that the passenger could step out without inconvenience. But the current was strong, and some delay ensued.
"There! let me get out!" exclaimed Mr. Hamblin, rising in the boat, and walking between the oarsmen to the bow.
"Steady, sir!" said Humphreys, the officer, as he took the arm of the professor, to prevent him from falling.
"Pull the boat up, so I can step out!" said Mr. Hamblin, impatiently, to the bowmen.
They were hauling her up closer to the platform, against the strong current, which, being in a direction contrary to the wind, made considerable sea, causing the boat to roll and jerk uneasily. When she was within a couple of feet of the platform, the professor attempted to step out.
"Steady, sir!" said Morgan, one of the bowmen, as Mr. Hamblin was about to take the step; but at that instant the boat receded from the platform, and the learned gentleman, with one foot on the plank and the other on the bow of the boat, made a very longstraddle, toppled over into the water, and disappeared in the eddies.
"My boat-hook broke!" protested Morgan, holding up the implement, from which the iron had drawn out; and after what had occurred on board of the consort, he probably deemed it necessary to make an immediate defence.
"Man overboard!" shouted several students in the ship; and immediately there was an immense commotion on board of her.
Mr. Hamblin rose to the surface an instant later, and shouted for help. The accident was observed from the Josephine, and the gig piped away in double quick time.
"Up oars! Let fall! Give way!" shouted Robinson, in the first cutter, as she drifted away from the gangway of the ship, without waiting for the orders to be repeated by the coxswain.
A few vigorous strokes of the oars brought the cutter to the spot where the professor was struggling with the dirty current. The bowmen seized him by the collar, and the crew, after no little labor, owing to the excitement of the unfortunate gentleman, succeeded in getting him into the boat. He was placed in the stern sheets, and Robinson afforded him such assistance as the circumstances would permit.
The gig, with Paul and Pelham on board, was darting through the current towards the first cutter. It was too late to be of any service; but it continued on its way, and the captain manifested his interest and sympathy as well as he could. Mr. Hamblin pressed the water from his hair, wiped his face with his wethandkerchief, and otherwise endeavored to remove the effects of his involuntary bath. He seemed to be, thus far, no worse for the disaster; but he directed Robinson to return directly to the Josephine, for obvious reasons.
The two boats came alongside together; and this time the professor, notwithstanding the discomfort of his condition, made no undue haste to leave the cutter before she was properly secured.
"I am very sorry indeed for your misfortune, sir," said Paul, politely, when he met Mr. Hamblin on deck.
"Perhaps you are!" replied he, rushing down the cabin stairs, bestowing hardly a glance upon the sympathizing commander.
He went to his state-room, and made an entire change of his clothing. The weather was warm, and he suffered no serious consequences.
"You are a very unfortunate person, Mr. Hamblin," said his associate instructor, when thesavant, clean and dry, emerged from the state-room.
"It was done on purpose, Mr. Stoute," replied he, solemnly, with compressed lips.
"O, no! It couldn't be!" protested the fat professor. "You are simply unfortunate. First, a coil of rope falls on your head, and then you fall overboard. You should be careful."
"Has that student been punished for throwing the rope upon me?"
"No, sir. I stood by during the investigation at the mainmast. It could not be proved that the act was done on purpose; and, for my part, I did not believe it was."
"I am very confident it was. I can read the expression on the faces of the boys; and I am certain there is a conspiracy among them to knock out my brains or drown me in the river."
"Boys will be boys, and they are very prone to look at the ludicrous aspect of an accident," added the stout professor. "I should not give a serious interpretation to any little signs of mirth I happened to see."
"Mr. Stoute, you allow yourself to be hoodwinked, deceived, overwhelmed, by these artful boys. You should maintain more dignity in your intercourse with them."
"There is a true and a false dignity, Mr. Hamblin. I shall endeavor to avoid the one, and cling to the other," replied Mr. Stoute, warmly, but good-naturedly.
"You are aware that I asked for the gig before I started for the ship?" continued Mr. Hamblin, impressively.
"I am; and I was also aware that the first cutter had been appropriated to the use of the instructors."
"I demanded the gig. It was refused. What did that mean?"
"It meant just what the captain said—that the principal required him to furnish the first cutter for our use."
"That is not what it meant," persisted Mr. Hamblin. "The crew of the first cutter had been instructed to tip me into the river. When I called for the gig, it deranged the plan. I am only sorry that I did not refuse to take the cutter, and insist upon having the gig; but I do not wish to make trouble."
"But why did you ask for the gig?"
"Because I saw Morgan, who, I knew, belonged in the cutter, laughing when the rope fell on my head. He would as lief drown me as not."
"I think you misjudge the boys."
"I am surprised that one who has been a teacher as long as you have does not understand boys any better," replied Mr. Hamblin, coldly. "I am satisfied that Kendall is at the bottom of all this mischief."
"I am very sure he is not," said Mr. Stoute, decidedly.
"The crew of the cutter had been prepared for their work."
It was surprising that two men who had been among boys so long took such opposite views of them; but the difference of opinion was more in the men than in the boys.
These events were the staple of conversation on deck and in the steerage among the crew; and some of the better boys heard certain indefinite remarks about "the first step" and "the second step," used by "our fellows;" but no real friend of law and order discovered anything which threw any new light upon the two misfortunes that had overtaken the senior professor, though there was a suspicion that these were the first and second steps hinted at by the doubtful ones.