"We are first-class, and we have got into the wrong coop," said Scott. "That's so," added Lincoln. "We will change our baggage." "Perhaps we may be mistaken. This may be the Czar's cabin," suggested Scott. At this moment a short man, wearing a very long black frock coat, entered. When he saw the passengers, he promptly removed his cap, and bowed, so that the students concluded he was one of the stewards. "I say, Knockmyheadoff, is this the first-class cabin?" demanded Scott. The man smiled sweetly, and shook his head. "He don't speak English," said Lincoln, producing his ticket, and showing it to the steward. The man glanced at it, bowed, smiled, and swung his hands about to indicate that it was all right. "Do we belong in here, or not?" asked Scott. "What's the matter?" said a short, stout man, entering the cabin at this moment. "Do we belong here, sir?" added Lincoln, showing him the ticket. "Yes, sir; this is the first-class cabin." "Do you belong to the boat, sir?" "I do. I am the captain." "Good! and you speak English like an American," added Scott. "I can speak it some. I have been in New York." "Have you? Give me your hand!" shouted the joker. "I am glad to see a man who has been in the United States." The captain took the joker's offered hand. "I have been in New York and San Francisco," he added. "You are my friend for life. My name is Scott." "And you are a seaman?" "Salt as the inside of a pickle barrel. Allow me to introduce you to Commodore Lincoln, in command of our squadron at Cronstadt." The captain took off his cap to Lincoln, and accepted his offered hand; but he seemed to be a little puzzled at his title. "What steamer is this, captain?" "The _Stafet_, Captain Ekovetz." The conversation was continued for some time. The steward was sent for the bags in the other cabin, and orders given to make the Americans as comfortable as possible. The captain was very zealous to serve his passengers, and they all went on deck together. "Can you tell me, captain, when a steamer, which left Tver on Wednesday, arrives at this place?" asked the doctor, who had joined the students below. "She should be here now, sir," replied the captain; "but I think she has not come yet." "Two of our young men ran away from us at Tver, and must have taken this steamer." "Ran away--did they?" laughed the captain. "This is a bad country for them, then, for we don't have any _habeas corpus_, or anything of that sort. The police will stop them, if you wish it." "I do wish it."