r
to shave himself. From each berth some different description of
noise was issuing; the Lubecker was snoring loudly, Baron R---- was
twanging a guitar, Monsieur Robineau singing a barcarole, and every
body was calling out as loud as he could for something or other.
Karl, the steward, was rushing up and down the cabin, so confused
by the fifty different demands addressed to him, that he knew not
how to comply with any one of them.

"'Karl, clean my boots!'

"'Ja, Herr.'

"'Karl, some warm water and a towel.'

"'Ja, Herr.'

"'_Amis, la matinee est belle! Sur le rivage
assemblez-vouz!_--Karl, the coffee!--_conduis ta barque avec
prudence! Pecheur, parle bas!_ ... Karl, the coffee!'

"'Ja, Herr.'

"'Karl, my carpet-bag!'

"'Karl, are you deaf? Did you not hear me ask for warm water?'

"'Ja, Herr.'

"'_Jette tes filets en silence! Pecheur, parle bas!_--Coffee,
coffee, coffee!--_Le roi des mers ne t'echappera pas!_'

"'Ja, Herr.'

"'Karl, look at these boots! You must clean them again.'

"'No, you must first find my carpet-bag.'

"'Karl, you good-for-nothing fellow, if you do not bring me the
water immediately, I will complain to the captain.'

"'_Pecheur, parle bas! Conduis ta barque avec prudence!_ ... Karl,
the coffee, or by my beard I will have you impaled as soon as I am
Emperor of Turkey!'

"'Ja Herr! Ja, Herr! Ja, Herr!'"

Aided by the various talents and eccentricities of the passengers, by
the grimaces of the Frenchman, and the songs of the Tyrolese minstrels,
the time passed pleasantly enough; till, on the morning of the third day
after leaving Ystad, the Svithiod was at the entrance of Lake Maeler,
opposite the fortress of Waxholm, which presents more of a picturesque
than of an imposing appearance.

"It consists of a few loopholed parapets and ramparts, and of a
strong round tower of grey stone, looking very romantic but not
very formidable, and nevertheless entirely commanding the narrow
passage. A sentry, wrapped in his cloak, stood upon the wall and
hailed us through a speaking-trumpet. At the very moment that the
captain was about to answer, another steamer came round a bend of
the channel, meeting the Svithiod point-blank. The sentinel
impatiently repeated his summons, and for a moment there appeared