estion," added Sanford, with a blank look, as though he
considered the situation as utterly hopeless.

"We are not so badly off as we might be," said Boyden.

"I don't see how it could be any worse," replied Sanford. "But I don't
know that it is our fault. The captain of the steamer would not stop,
after he had picked us up; at least, I don't know anything about it;
but Ole said he wouldn't stop."

"He could not stop," protested the waif, vehemently. "He had only just
time enough to reach Frederiksvaern in season for the other steamer. If
he lost her, he would be turned off. He wouldn't stop for love or
money."

"No matter, for that; here we are, and what are we going to do? It's
no use to cry for spilled milk," continued Stockwell. "The ship will
go to Christiania, and won't come near this place. Mr. Lowington will
expect to find us there when he arrives, and all we have to do is to
make good his calculation. We have plenty of money, and we can get
there somehow or other."

Involuntarily, every fellow put his hands into his pocket; and then,
if not before, they recalled the suggestion of the coxswain, made
before they took their places in the cutter, that they should bring
their money and their pea-jackets; but then, it seemed simply absurd
that the boat had been smashed by his contrivance.

"Was it for this, Sanford, that you told us to bring our money?" said
Burchmore.

"I should say a fellow ought always to carry his money with him. No
one can tell what will happen to him when he goes away from the ship,"
replied the coxswain. "You can see that it's lucky you have it with
you. We might have to spend the summer here if we had no money. When
will a steamer go from here to Christiania, Norway?"

"Next Friday--just a week from to-day," replied the Norwegian, very
seriously.

"A week!" exclaimed Burchmore.

"That is not long; a week is soon gone."

"But we can't stay here a week," protested Tinckner.

"I don't want to do it," added Sanford; "but if we have to do it, I
suppose I can stand it as well as the rest of you."

"We can't any of us stand it," said Wilde. "Who's going to stay a week
in such a place as this? I'm not, for one. I'll swim up to
Christiansand first."

"Can't we hire a boat, and go back to Christiansand?" Burchmore
proposed. "It is not more than twenty miles, and it would be a fine
sail among these beautiful islands."

"All right; look up a boat, Norway," replied Sanford, as though