you and I go to work and help the steamer along a little? It would be
doing a great service to the cause of hemp, and enable me to sleep
besides." The Mechlenberger looked incredulous. "How are we to do it?" he
asked at length. "Oh, nothing easier!" I answered. "Just put a couple of
these handspikes in the lee scuppers--so! and hold her steady!" At this
the Mechlenberger, who was a very genial and good-natured fellow, could
scarcely help laughing, the absurdity of the idea struck him so forcibly.
Seeing, however, that I looked perfectly in earnest, he was kind enough
to explain the erroneous basis of my calculation, and accordingly entered
into an elaborate mathematical demonstration to prove that what we gained
by lifting we would lose by the additional pressure of our feet upon the
decks! After this I was prepared to believe the story of the old
Nuremberger, who, when about to set out on his travels, got on top of his
trunk and took hold of each end for the purpose of carrying it to the
post station. The question about the hemp was too good to be lost, and my
young friend had too strong a business head not to perceive the
delightful verdancy of my character. He accordingly took the earliest
opportunity to mention it to his comrade, Herr Batz, the rope-maker, who
never stopped laughing about the mistake I had made till we got to St.
Petersburg. They were both very genial, pleasant fellows, and took a
great fancy to the Herr American who thought Herr Batz was going to hang
himself, and who had proposed to steady the steamer by means of a
handspike. Such primitive simplicity was absolutely refreshing to them;
and, since they enjoyed it, of course I did, and we were the best of
friends.

On the present occasion, after we had passed the usual compliments it
was proposed that we should hire a boat, as the night was fine, and
take a trip down to the Kamennoi Island. I was delighted to have two
such agreeable companions, and readily acceded to the proposition. A
young Russian in the hemp business accompanied us, and altogether we
made a very lively and humorous party. I was sorry, however, to be
prejudiced in the estimation of the Russian by having the hemp and
handspike story repeated in my presence, but finally got over that,
and changed the current of the conversation by asking if the Emperor
Alexander would send me to Siberia in case I smoked a cigar in the
boat? To which the Russian responded somewhat gravely that I cou