th them. They will be at this place some time this
afternoon."

"What did we come up here for?" asked Sanford.

"In the first place, to get rid of four or five rix-bunkers; and in
the second, to see something of this part of Sweden. We have done
both, and ought to be satisfied."

"O, I'm satisfied!"

"You ought to be; you have four and a half bunkers less to spend. We
will loaf about this place till the principal comes with the crowd,
and when he sees what good boys we have been to look him up, and see
that he didn't get lost, he'll forgive Laybold and me for drinking
'finkel.'"

"All right. What time does the train leave for Gottenburg, Ole?" added
the coxswain, turning to the interpreter.

"Half past five," replied the waif.

No one took the trouble to examine the time-table in the
station-house, which, though in Swedish, was perfectly intelligible so
far as it related to hours and towns.

The tourists decided to improve the time they were obliged to wait
by taking a walk about the country, examining Swedish houses and
investigating Swedish agriculture. Doubtless this was a very
interesting amusement; but at quarter past five, the party returned to
the station. A long train was just departing in the direction of
Gottenburg.

"What train's that?" demanded Sanford.

"I don't know," replied Ole, with a look of alarm.

"Inquire, then," added the excited coxswain.

The party hastened into the little station. It was the regular train
for Gottenburg.

"But how's that?" cried Sanford. "You said it left at half past five."

"Yes; I looked at the time-table in Gottenburg, and it said half past
five," replied Ole. "Here is one, and I will look again."

"Better wait till morning before you look again," said Scott.

"Here it is; five--"

"That's all, Norway."

"I'm sure it was half past five in Gottenburg," pleaded Ole, whom the
coxswain had privately requested to make this blunder.

"What sort of chowder do you call this, son of Odin?" demanded Scott.

"He has made a blunder; that's all," laughed Burchmore, who, though
not in the confidence of the coxswain, at once suspected the trick,
and, to tell the truth, was not sorry for the mistake.

The mishap was discussed for an hour, and poor Ole was severely
blamed, especially by Sanford, for his carelessness; but he bore the
censure with becoming meekness.

"What's to be done?" inquired Scott, at last.

"Here's another train at 8.56," replied Ole, point