istiania."

"But how?"

"By land, of course."

"It's up by the north pole."

"It is about a hundred and fifty miles from here by water, and it
can't be any more by land," said Sanford. "But I don't care what you
do; I will do as the others say."

"I like the idea," added Stockwell. "It is the only safe thing we can
do. If we go back to Christiansand, we shall be too late for the ship.
If we wait for a steamer to Christiania, she will be gone when we get
there."

"How much will it cost to go to Christiania in this way?" inquired
Wilde, who did not feel quite sure that his funds would stand such a
drain.

"Here are the prices in the post-house," said Ole, as he led the way
to a partition on which the posting was put up. "For one mile, one
mark six skillings."

"We know all about it now," laughed Rodman. "What's a mark, and what's
a skilling?"

"Twenty-four skillings make a mark, and a skilling is about a
halfpenny English," Ole explained.

"About a cent of our money," continued Rodman. "One mark and six
skillings would be thirty skillings, or about thirty cents."

"That will never do," interposed Wilde, shaking his head. "One hundred
and fifty miles, at thirty cents a mile, would be forty-five dollars;
and I suppose we have to pay for our grub besides."

"It would come to ten or twelve pounds, and Wilde has only ten
pounds," added Rodman.

"No, no; you are all wrong. That means a Norwegian mile--about seven
of ours. It would be only four and two sevenths cents a mile; say, six
or seven dollars to Christiania; and the grub would cost as much
more," said Stockwell. "Three pounds will cover the whole expense,
and that won't break any body."

After considerable discussion, it was agreed to adopt the plan
proposed, and Ole was instructed to make the necessary arrangements
with the station-master. The party went out to the stable to examine
the carioles. They were a kind of gig, without any hood or top, with a
small board behind, on which stands or sits the boy who drives the
team back to the station after it has left the passenger. Tourists
generally purchase the carioles in which they ride, and are not
bothered with the boys. The students were not very nice about their
accommodations; and finding that when two persons went in the same
vehicle only half a fare extra was charged, they decided to engage but
five carioles. As the law did not require the station-master to keep
this number of horses in waiting,