"Never mind, doctor; I shall not run after them. Running away has been so common that I have ceased to worry about it," said the principal. "They will come back when their money is all gone, if not before." "Probably they intend to see Moscow," added the surgeon; "and they may appear before the fourth division returns." The Volga party returned to St. Petersburg with the second division, and the next afternoon were on board of their vessel, attending to their studies, for the students on board were kept at work, because it is easier to be busy than to be idle. On the 25th day of June, all hands had returned, having seen all of Russia it was practicable to see, and the squadron went seaward, bound for Königsberg. The officers below Beckwith and De Forrest were moved up two grades, to fill the vacancies caused by the absence of the runaways, and the two highest in rank in the steerage were sent into the cabin. On the passage there were two examinations in seamanship, in which Cantwell obtained very high marks. On the voyage, which lasted four days,--for there was very little wind,--the captain performed his duty to the entire satisfaction of the principal, and without being obliged to ask for instructions. On Tuesday afternoon the squadron anchored off Pillau, a town of four thousand inhabitants, having a strong fortress at the entrance of the _Haff_, a nearly landlocked bay, at the head of which Königsberg is situated. "All hands, attend lecture," called the boatswain, after breakfast the next morning, and while the signal was flying on the ship. The students gathered in the steerage, where the professor of geography and history had hung up a map of Prussia on the foremast, which he had colored to suit the occasion, so as to show the rapid enlargement of the country by annexation. "Young gentlemen," Mr. Mapps began, "Prussia is now one of the most powerful states of Europe. We may say of her as of the United States, 'Westward the course of empire takes its way,' for Prussia had a small beginning in the eastern part of its present territory, and now extends westward beyond the Rhine. Contrary to my usual custom, I shall commence with the history of the country. At the present time, Prussia is divided into eleven provinces, the most eastern of which is Prussia Proper--the part in which we now are. The region was originally inhabited by the Lithuanians, who were conquered by the Goths. They were compelled to embrace Christianity by the Poles in the eleventh century; but the conquerors were soon repelled, and in their turn defeated, the barbarians holding a part of Poland for a time. In the thirteenth century they were the terror of the adjoining countries, and repelled an army sent against them by Germany. The Teutonic Knights finally conquered Prussia." "What were they, sir?" asked a student.