this moment were Peaks and his
prisoner, and Blaine, the head steward, who was on the lookout for
them.

CHAPTER XIV.

THROUGH THE SOUND TO COPENHAGEN.

Mr. Lowington was almost forced to the conclusion that the experiment
of permitting the students to manage their own finances was a failure.
If it could be a success anywhere, it must be in the northern
countries, where none of the boys spoke the language, and where
the lighter intoxicants were not so common as in the more southern
portions of Europe. Though he was not aware that any pupils had made
an improper use of their money, the non-arrival of the crew of the
second cutter, and the disappearance of Scott and Laybold in
Gottenburg, seemed to have some relation to the condition of
their funds. But he was willing to carry the experiment as far as
practicable, and to restore the obnoxious rule only when it was
absolutely necessary to do so. Two thirds of the students could be
safely trusted to manage their money matters, and it was not pleasant
to restrain the whole for the benefit of the minority.

After the boys had walked all over Gottenburg, they were weary enough
to retire at eight bells in the evening, especially as they were to
turn out at two o'clock the next morning, for the trip up the Goeta
Canal. At the appointed time, the steamer came alongside the ship,
where she took the excursionists on board, the boats of the other
vessels conveying their crews to the Young America. As it was still
dark, not a few of the boys finished their nap in the little steamer.
About eight o'clock, she reached the long series of locks by which the
canal passes the Falls of Trollhaetten, and the excursionists walked
for a couple of hours through the beautiful scenery, and embarking
again in the steamer, arrived at Wenersberg, where they obtained a
view of the Wenern Lake, and proceeded by special train to Herrljunga,
and thence, by regular train, to Gottenburg, where they arrived before
eight in the evening. The wind was fair, and the squadron immediately
sailed to the southward.

The principal was annoyed by the absence of not less than a dozen of
the students; but he had every confidence in the zeal and discretion
of Peaks, who was to take charge of the cutter's crew, and he left the
head steward at Gottenburg to find Scott and Laybold. He feared that
the success of these wanderers would encourage others to follow their
example, and increased vigilance seemed to