CHAPTER XIII.

[2]“To a good cat, a good rat!”

“To a good cat, a good rat!”

CHAPTER XIII.THE REAL THIEF.

Eric, when he reached the hall, was called by the landlord, who said,—

“I am having the rooms searched, at Monsieur Lacelle’s request, for your little monkey. Will you come with me? We may catch her more easily.”

Eric was very glad to assist in the search. When nearly all the front rooms had been thoroughly examined, to no purpose, the little truant was found at last in the upper story asleep, on a soft cushion, in the sunlight. Eric stole up softly and took possession of her.

She awoke with a loud chatter of defiance, and tried to escape, but Eric held her fast.

The landlord then ordered a servant to close all the windows in the front of the hotel, excepting those of Count D’Orsay, whose room was above that of the two boys.

Eric hastened, at his request, for Froll’s collar and chain, which were fastened upon her, and then she was released upon the balcony under the window of the boy’s room, the landlord, Eric, Johnny, and Mr. Van Rasseulger watching her movements with intense interest.

Meanwhile the count and Mr. Lacelle were stationed behind the window curtains, on the lookout for the marauder.

Presently there was a sliding, scrambling, shuffling noise, and the thief came in through the window—not Eric, nor Johnny, but a being very insufficiently attired, and possessed of a long black tail; no less a personage than the little monkey, Froll.

She walked straight to the table, climbed upon it, seized the ring, purse, and a gold pencil which Mr. Lacelle had laid there.Then she withdrew to the window, but to her rage and disappointment it was shut tight, and the two gentlemen confronted her.

The little beast recognized Mr. Lacelle, and coolly handed him her stolen freight, which was quickly restored to its rightful owner.

Thoroughly convinced of his unjust cruelty to Eric and Johnny, Count D’Orsay descended to the balcony, offering sincere and earnest apologies.

Eric and Johnny, by turns hugging and scolding Froll, freely forgave the indignity put upon them, and shook hands cordially with the mortified count.

Mr. Lacelle was in his glory. He shook hands with the monkey, stroked the boys’ heads, and called Mr. Van Rasseulger “my dear” in his excitement; telling everybody how he had instantly surmised the true offender, on hearing of Froll’s disappearance, and recalling the scene at Gravenhaag, when she had stolen his glasses, climbing in then through the open window. Finally he expressedan opinion that Froll had formerly belonged to an unprincipled master, who had trained her to climb in at windows and take away valuables.

And here we will take an opportunity to remark that this was really the case, and that Eric subsequently learned that the man of whom Mr. Nichols bought her was arrested and imprisoned for practising with another monkey the same trick.

Count D’Orsay could not be pacified until Mr. Van Rasseulger promised that the boys should visit him at theHôtel D’Orsay, on their return to France.

His conscience smote him for his unjust severity and unkindness, all the more for the frank, confiding way in which the two little heroes begged him to forget the incident.

When they shook hands cordially with him, a glad cheer ascended from the throng of servants and spectators, whose honest hearts took a lively interest in the affair.

The boys and Froll were made much of;and Mr. Lacelle delighted Johnny for hours with accounts of the wonders of the sea, so that the young gentleman, completely fascinated, made up his mind to be a submarine diver when he grew up.

Froll’s collar was tightened, and she was fastened to her cage, after having a bountiful feast of nuts.

When the evening was about half spent, a waiter brought a large parcel to the door. It was addressed to “The Two Young Gentlemen at Room No. 37,” and contained books, toys, games, and confectionery, of which the count begged their acceptance.

“This has been a day of adventures,” said Eric, as he and Johnny were retiring late at night.

“Yes,” answered Johnny, sleepily, nestling between the sheets, “it has been a day of adventures, beginning with the wonderful clock, and ending with—Froll’s—Froll’s—the count—” and with a little more indistinct muttering, Johnny was fast asleep.Eric had read his chapter, and said his prayers with Johnny; but now, as he looked at his little cousin asleep, a sudden impulse seized him, and falling upon his knees by the bedside, he prayed that his influence over Johnny might always be for good, and that God would bless the bright, loving little boy, and make him a lamb of His fold for the good Shepherd’s sake.

CHAPTER XIV.PERCY, BEAUTY, AND JACK.

Mr. Van Rasseulger decided to take the boys to Heidelberg, and there await Dr. Ward. It was inconvenient for him to do this, but he was unwilling to let them travel alone with the monkey again, for Froll was certainly a serious trouble.

So on the morning of the following day they took the steamer for an eighty mile sail down the Rhine.

The landlord, Mr. Lacelle, and Count D’Orsay bade them an affectionate adieu, after the two former had been sincerely thanked for their kindness to the young strangers, and the latter had begged them to renew their promise of a visit before they returned toAmerica. To Mr. Van Rasseulger he extended an urgent invitation to visit him, whenever it should be convenient to him.

Just before they left, Mr. Lacelle requested Eric’s address, saying that he had written to Mr. Montgomery about the box of money, and would forward his reply to Eric.

The boys were not sorry to leave Strasbourg, because Mr. Van Rasseulger had told them he should propose to the doctor to obtain horses there, and travel on horseback through the Black Forest, and over the mountains, to Munich, in Bavaria.

They were enchanted with this idea, and during their sail down the Rhine lost much of the beautiful scenery about them in mutual conjectures as to whether uncle Charlie would like the proposition. When they reached Heidelberg, the doctor was already there, waiting for them.

He was quite well satisfied with the plan, and said he would give the boys two days toexplore Heidelberg, and would meantime be making the necessary arrangements.

The boys did not like Heidelberg particularly, and Eric’s shoulders were shrugged expressively when his uncle told him he was to be a student in the university, after his school course was completed.

The only building of which they took any notice was the Church of the Holy Ghost—a large structure with a very high steeple, divided so that Protestant and Roman Catholic services were held in it at the same time.

But perhaps the picturesque old town might have had more attraction for them, had not Dr. Ward and Mr. Van Rasseulger been looking up good horses to purchase for the journey.

They soon found just what they wanted—a large, powerful horse for the doctor, and a couple of small horses, almost ponies, for the two boys.

It was amusing to see the different evidencesof delight manifested by Eric and Johnny.

Eric’s face flushed with glad emotion, and a quiet “Uncle John, how good you are!” was all that he said.

But Johnny danced around the horses, wild with delight, throwing his cap in the air, dancing and hurrahing with all his might, and bestowing kisses indiscriminately upon his good papa and the dumb animals.

One of the horses was coal black, with a white star upon his forehead, and one white foot; he was for Eric.

Johnny’s was a bright bay, with four white feet and a white nose: and the doctor’s was a chestnut-colored horse, with a darker mane and tail.

Of course the first great question was, what they were to be called.

“I have named my horse ‘Perseus,’” said the doctor, “in honor of the illustrious slayer of the Gorgon Medusa, and the deliverer of Andromeda.”

“I’ll call mine ‘Jack,’ in honor of papa,” said roguish Johnny.

“And mine,” exclaimed Eric, “shall be Bucephalus.”

Eric had just finished reading a classical history, and was greatly interested in the account of Alexander’s power over Bucephalus.

These names were soon abbreviated to “Percy,” “Beauty,” and “Jack.”

After the horses had been duly admired, Mr. Van Rasseulger took the boys with him, selected saddles, with travellers’ saddle-bags, rubber cloaks, a couple of blankets, and two tin boxes for provisions, with an inside compartment for matches. The rubber cloaks were made with hoods, which could be drawn over the head, completely protecting it.

Dr. Ward provided himself with similar apparel, and numerous little things which the boys had no idea would be necessary, and even Mr. Van Rasseulger overlooked.

The next morning everything was in readiness. The blankets, light overcoats, rubbercloaks, and a change of clothing, were made into a roll, and strapped behind the saddles. The tin cases were filled for luncheon, and deposited in the saddle-bags, and the boys declared themselves in readiness.

But when the doctor presented them each with a light knapsack, a tiny compass to wear upon their watch chains, and a pocket drinking cup, they instantly discovered that they could never in the world have got along without them.

The horses were pawing the ground, impatient to be off, their long manes and tails floating in the cool morning breeze, their noble forms quivering with life and excitement.

Johnny, divided between regret at parting with his father, and delight at the novel excursion; Eric, eager and excited, with mischievous Froll, demure enough just now, seated composedly upon his shoulder; the doctor coolly testing the saddle girths, andMr. Van Rasseulger seeing them off, happy in their pleasure.

“Be good and kind to my boy, as you have always been, Eric,” he said, bidding his nephew “good by.”

“You mean, uncle John, as you have always been to me,” Eric replied, with gratitude beaming in his eyes. “And Johnny is a dear little fellow; no one could help being good to him.”

“I hope he will grow like his cousin,” said Mr. Van Rasseulger, with a hearty smile; “and, Johnny-boy, you must be very obedient to uncle Charlie. Do right, be a gentleman, and grow stout and healthy for papa.”

“We will write from Baden and Ulm,” said the doctor. “We ought to get there by next week.”

After a few more words of parting they set off, and were soon out of sight.

Three hours later, as Mr. Van Rasseulger,on his way to Vienna by rail, passed a turn in the road, the three travellers were in sight for an instant, apparently in good spirits and prime condition.

He was extremely pleased with this unexpected view of them, and for some time after they had again disappeared the wealthy New York merchant lay back in his cushioned seat, building hopes of high promise upon the future of Johnny’s life.

Poor Johnny! he had been almost spoiled at home, but under the doctor’s firm guidance and Eric’s good influence, was wonderfully improved. The bright, merry little fellow was exhibiting his true character, long hidden by ill-advised indulgence.

CHAPTER XV.THE LAST.

Up the banks of the beautiful Rhine, through picturesque hamlets, over high, rugged mountains, and in the glory and grandeur of the forests, our horseback travellers sought and found the best of all treasures—health and happiness.

The Swabian Mountains, and the Schwarz Wold, or Black Forest,—a group of mountains covered with forests,—through which they rode thirty-seven miles, required from them the greatest endurance.

Nevertheless, upon the woody mountains, steep and difficult to climb as they were, they found several thriving villages, wherethey were kindly received, and where all their wants were generously supplied.

But on one occasion, when a violent storm arose, and they were near no village, they were obliged to take shelter in an empty barn, and there remained through the night, sleeping, with their horses, upon the hard, board floor, with their knapsacks for pillows.

And Johnny had one thrilling adventure.

They had encamped for the night upon a small plateau, and, before dismounting, Johnny rode back to the edge, and was looking down upon the plains beneath, when suddenly he felt the ground give way from above where his horse was standing, and in an instant horse and rider, covered by a bank of sand, were sliding helplessly down the mountain. The shower of sand smothered their cries, and neither the doctor nor Eric noticed their disappearance at first. But presently Eric, turning to speak to him, exclaimed,—

“Where in the world is Johnny?”

The doctor looked hastily up. Seeing the fresh earth at the edge of the plateau, he rushed to the spot, examined it, and exclaiming, “Heavens! the child has fallen down a slide!” prepared to descend in the same place.

“Eric, stay up there, and take care of the horses,” he said, and was soon out of sight.

Eric secured the horses, and then crept to the place from which the doctor had disappeared. He found, just beneath him, a long line of large troughs, open at both ends, and overlapping each other like shingles. It extended entirely down the side of the mountain, and to his horror Eric saw at its foot a lake.

“O, Johnny, Johnny! my dear little cousin! And uncle Charlie, too—they will surely be killed!” he cried, in agony. For he knew at once that they had gone down a timber slide, and was afraid they would be drowned in the lake.

And now I suppose I must tell you what a timber slide is.

The Black Forest Mountains are covered with large and valuable trees, which are felled and sold by their owners; and as it would be decidedly inconvenient to take horses and carts up the mountain, and utterly impossible to get them down with a heavy load of those giant trees with sound necks, an ingenious Swiss invented the cheap and rapid way of getting the trees off the mountain by means of a slide, formed of immense troughs lapped together, and terminating in the lake, where the heavy logs are chained together and floated to a railway or wharf, just as they are done in our own country by the loggers of the Maine forests and other woody regions.

Of course a descent in one of these slides, under ordinary circumstances, would be extremely dangerous to human life and limb. But it fortunately happened that neither the doctor, Johnny, nor Jack wereseriously injured, for the slide had been disused for some time, and in consequence of an accident, somewhat similar to Johnny’s, had been partially removed, and a high, soft bank of sand lay at its new terminus.

Johnny and Jack were pitched violently into this, and rescued from their very uncomfortable position by a party of English travellers encamped near by.

Many were the exclamations uttered at the marvellous and sudden entrance of our young friend upon the quiet beauties of the twilight scene, and bewildered Johnny scarcely knew whether to laugh or cry.

His first anxiety was for Jack, but the English gentleman who drew him from the sand-bank would pay no attention to the horse until he was convinced that Johnny was unhurt. Assured about this, he patted and soothed poor frightened Jack, and walked him carefully over the soft greensward,to see if he appeared at all lame; and then Johnny was delighted enough to hear the horse pronounced all right.

Johnny had several pretty bad bruises, which the Englishman, who was a physician, dressed for him.

By the time this was done Dr. Ward, whose descent had been much slower and more careful than Johnny’s, reached them, and his anxieties were at once quieted by Johnny’s assurance that it was

“Just the jolliest coast I ever had.”

After examining both Johnny and Jack, to assure himself of their well-being, and heartily thanking the Englishman for his kind assistance, the doctor asked permission to leave Johnny under his care until he could get Eric and the horses from the top of the mountain.

The new friend willingly undertook the care of Johnny, and the doctor hastened up the mountain to relieve Eric’s anxiety.

Johnny seated himself near the door of the tent, and a young man of the party brought him some grapes. Jack neighed wistfully for his share, for Johnny had made a great pet of him, always dividing his fruit with him.

“I’ll give you some, Jack,” he said, walking towards the horse. “Gracious, how stiff and sore I feel.”

While Jack was champing his feast with great satisfaction, an English boy, of Johnny’s size, came towards them.

“Is that your horse?” said he.

“Yes,” answered Johnny; “isn’t he a good one?”

“Ishe a good one?” asked the boy.

“I guess he is,” said Johnny, hotly; “there isn’t a better horse anywhere.”

“But papa’s groom told me,” persisted the English lad, “that a horse with four white feet and a white nose was worthless. He says,—

‘One white foot, buy him,

Two white feet, try him,

Three white feet, deny him,

Four white feet and a white nose,

Take off his skin and throw him to the crows.’”

Johnny detected a roguish glitter in his companion’s blue eyes, and with a corresponding twinkle in his own, merely answered,—

“My old nurse says,—

‘There was an old woman went up in a basket

Seventy times as high as the moon.’

I suppose you believe that, too.”

This ready answer pleased the other, and they were soon fast friends.

“What is your name?” Johnny asked.

“Arthur Montgomery,” was the reply.

Johnny wondered where he had heard the name before; but though he was sure he had heard it, he could not remember where.

He began to feel quite tired and sleepy before the doctor returned for him, and his bruises ached badly. Once he would have cried and worried every one about him, if in such an uncomfortable state; but now he bore the pain like a Spartan.

The doctor came at last, and after thanking the Englishman again, he led the tired horse, with weary Johnny upon his back, to a wood-cutter’s cottage near at hand, where they were to pass the night.

Eric welcomed them with tears of joy in his eyes.

“O, Johnny, what a narrow escape you have had!”

“We ought to be very thankful,” said the doctor.

“Yes,” said Johnny, sleepily, “I am thankful!”

He woke up just before Eric went to bed, and said,—

“That boy said his name was ArthurMontgomery. Where have I heard that name, Eric?”

“Why,” exclaimed Eric, “that was the name on the box of money I found!”

“I knew I’d heard it somewhere,” murmured Johnny, dropping off to sleep again.

Eric ran to tell his uncle.

“Ah,” said the doctor, quite pleased to be able to return a good deed, “we will see them in the morning.”

But in the morning the English travellers had disappeared, and our party could find no trace of them.

Eric was much disappointed. Now he would be obliged to wait patiently for Mr. Lacelle’s letter.

Johnny and Jack were not injured by their descent of the mountain, whose only effects were some pretty sore bruises, which Johnny tried not to mind, and an obstinacy in Jack’s disposition that no human powers of persuasion could ever remove. He could never,after that memorable slide, be induced to go near the edge of any kind of an embankment; and he always declined going aboard a steamer, until Beauty and Percy had gone safely over the gangway.

Miss VIRGINIA F. TOWNSEND’S BOOKS.

Uniform Edition. Cloth. $1 50 Each.

BUT A PHILISTINE.

“Another novel by the author of ‘A Woman’s Word’ and ‘Lenox Dare,’ will be warmly welcomed by hosts of readers of Miss Townsend’s stories. There is nothing of the ‘sensational,’ or so called realistic, school in her writings. On the contrary, they are noted for their healthy moral tone and pure sentiment, and yet are not wanting in STRIKING SITUATIONS AND DRAMATIC INCIDENTS”—Chicago Journal

LENOX DARE.

“Her stories, always sunny and healthful, touch the springs of social life and make the reader better acquainted with this great human organization of which we all form a part, and tend to bring him into more intimate sympathy with what is most pure and noble in our nature. Among the best of her productions we place the volume here under notice. In temper and tone the volume is calculated to exert a healthful and elevating influence”—New England Methodist

DARYLL GAP; or, Whether it Paid.

A story of the petroleum days, and of a family who struck oil.

“Miss Townsend is a very entertaining writer, and, while she entertains, at the same time instructs. Her plots are well arranged, and her characters are clearly and strongly drawn. The present volume will not detract from the reputation she has heretofore enjoyed.”—Pittsburg Recorder

A WOMAN’S WORD, AND HOW SHE KEPT IT.

“The celebrity of Virginia F Townsend as an authoress, her brilliant descriptive powers, and pure, vigorous imagination, will insure a hearty welcome for the above entitled volume in the writer’s happiest vein. Every woman will understand the self sacrifice of Genevieve Wen, and will entertain only scorn for the miserable man who imbittered her life to hide his own wrong doing”—Fashion Quarterly

THAT QUEER GIRL.

“A fresh, wholesome book about good men and good women, bright and cheery in style, and pure in morals. Just the book to take a young girl’s fancy, and help her to grow up, like Madeline and Argia, into the sweetness of real girlhood, there being more of that same sweetness under the fuss and feathers of the present day than a casual observer might suppose”—People’s Monthly

ONLY GIRLS.

“This volume shows how two persons, ‘only girls,’ saved two men from crime, even from ruin of body and soul, and all this came about in their lives without their purpose or knowledge at the time, and not at all as they or anybody else would have planned it, but it comes about well and naturally enough. The story is ingenious and graphic, and kept the writer of this notice up far into the small hours of yesterday morning.”—Washington Chronicle

Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent by mail, postpaid, on receipt of price.

LEE & SHEPARD Publishers Boston

LEE AND SHEPARD’S HANDBOOKS.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BUGS?

INSECTS; How to Catch and how to Prepare them for the Cabinet. Comprising a Manual of Instruction for the Field Naturalist. ByWalter P. Manton.Illustrated. Cloth, 50 cents.

“Nothing essential is omitted: every boy who has any taste for natural history should have this neat little volume. The many ‘Agassiz Clubs’ which have sprung up amid the youth of the country, should add it to their libraries.”—Chicago Advance.

“OF INESTIMABLE VALUE TO YOUNG BOTANISTS.”Rural New-Yorker.

FIELD BOTANY. A Handbook for the Collector. Containing Instructions for Gathering and Preserving Plants, and the Formation of a Herbarium. Also Complete Instructions in Leaf Photography, Plant Printing, and the Skeletonizing of Leaves. ByWalter P. Manton.Illustrated. 50 cents.

“A most valuable companion. The amount of information conveyed in the small compass is surprising.”—Demorest’s Monthly.

“EVERY NATURALIST OUGHT TO HAVE A COPY FOR IMMEDIATE USE.”

TAXIDERMY WITHOUT A TEACHER. Comprising a Complete Manual of Instruction for Preparing and Preserving Birds, Animals, and Fishes; with a Chapter on Hunting and Hygiene; together with Instructions for Preserving Eggs and Making Skeletons, and a number of valuable Recipes. ByWalter P. Manton.Illustrated. 50 cents.

“We would be glad if all teachers would take this little book, study it faithfully, become interested themselves, and interest their pupils in this wonderful art.”—Practical Teacher.

HOW TO ENLARGE THE ANT TO THE SIZE OF AN ELEPHANT.

BEGINNINGS WITH THE MICROSCOPE. A Working Handbook, containing simple Instructions in the Art and Method of using the Microscope and preparing Objects for Examination. ByWalter P. Manton, M.D.Small 4to. Cloth, 50 cents.

Uniform with the author’s “Handbooks of Natural History,” and equally valuable.

PARLEZ VOUS FRANCAIS?

BROKEN ENGLISH. A Frenchman’s Struggles with the English Language. By ProfessorE. C. Dubois, author of “The French Teacher.” Cloth, 50 cents; cheap edition, paper, 30 cents.

The Professor’s famous lecture, delivered all over the country. Amusing as a narrative, instructive as a handbook of French conversation.

AN EMERGENCY HANDBOOK.

WHAT IS TO BE DONE. A Handbook for the Nursery, with useful Hints for Children and Adults. ByRobert B. Dixon, M.D.Small 4to. Cloth, 50 cents.

Dr. Dixon has produced a work that will be gladly welcomed by parents. His “remedies” are indorsed by many prominent medical men.

Sold by all booksellers, or sent by mail, postpaid, on receipt of price.

Back to Index Next