Her crew went over the side, and seated themselves in the cutter.
"Ready!" said the coxswain, as the stern-sheets of the barge ranged alongside the little stage at the foot of the ladder. "Up oars!"
Up went the eight oars to a perpendicular position, where they were held till the boat should be ready to go.
"Sh!" whispered Stockwell, who pulled the bow oar, shaking his head with energy.
"What do you mean?" demanded the coxswain, in a low tone, for he was very much mystified by the pantomime of the bow oarsman.
"Where is he?" persisted Sanford, who was not willing to have a secret kept from him even for a moment.
Stockwell pointed into the bottom of the boat, and then looked up at the sky, with an affectation of cunning, while the rest of the crew smiled as though they were in possession of the secret. Sanford said no more, and joined the bowman in studying the aspect of the sky. Ole was in the boat to act as guide and interpreter, and if they chose to leave without running away, everything seemed to be favorable to the enterprise. Mr. Mapps and Dr. Winstock presently descended the steps, and seated themselves in the boat, followed by De Forrest.
"Ready! Let fall!" said Sanford, as he shoved off the stern of the cutter. "Give way--together!"
The well-trained crew bent to their oars, and the boat shot away from the ship towards the shore. Mr. Mapps was going to the town to obtain some additional material for his lecture the following morning, and the surgeon intended to call on Paul Kendall and lady at the hotel.
"This is a very picturesque town, doctor," said Mr. Mapps, as he gazed at the high, rocky steeps which surround Christiansand.
"Very; and I am rather sorry we are not to see more of the environs of the place," replied the surgeon. "I understand we sail to-morrow night."
"I dare say the students will see enough of Norway before they leave it."
"We want to go into the interior," said De Forrest. "There is fine fishing in the streams of Norway."
"Very likely Mr. Lowington will take you into the interior from Christiania," suggested Dr. Winstock.
"I don't exactly see how it is possible to do so," added Mr. Mapps. "The only conveyance of the country is the cariole, which seats but one person--perhaps two boys; and our squadron has nearly two hundred students. I am afraid there are not carioles enough in Christiania to carry the whole of them."