Northern Lands; Or, Young America in Russia and PrussiaOptic, Oliver
General
Northern Lands; Or, Young America in Russia and Prussia
Optic, Oliver
Prussia (Germany) -- Description and travel -- Juvenile fiction; Russia -- Description and travel -- Juvenile fiction
"Certainly; but we sail for Danzig to-night," replied the commodore.
"We are going to Danzig to-morrow," suggested Mr. Kinnaird.
"Then we shall certainly see your ship. But I wonder where Mr. De
Forrest and Mr. Beckwith are," added Julia.
"They are in the next room, with the rest of our people," answered
Lincoln, who had seen the principal pointing the way for them.
"They must be delighted to see all their friends again."
Lincoln thought not, but he did not say so. The two officers entered
the dining-room, and joined their companions. After dinner, the
principal had an interview with the Kinnairds, and as Miss Gurney
manifested so much interest in the ship, Mr. Lowington invited them
to go to Danzig in her, and the pretty maiden leaped with rapture at
the idea. The invitation was accepted, and at seven o'clock in the
evening all hands were on board. De Forrest and Beckwith had looked
about them for a chance to escape; but none was offered, and they
were compelled to go to the ship. They were required to take off their
uniform, and clothe themselves in seamen's dress at once. They were
stationed without delay by Cumberland, the first officer. Of course
they were heartily disgusted, for both of them had occupied places in
the cabin for several months, and it was not pleasant to return to the
steerage, and do duty before the mast. The fact that Miss Julia Gurney
was on board added a hundred fold to their mortification. De Forrest
determined not to appear on deck till he was obliged to do so; and
then, unhappily, he was stationed on the mizzen topsail-yard in furling
and setting sail, and at the spanker sheet in tacking and wearing.
Two spare state-rooms in the after cabin of the Young America were
appropriated to the guests. The principal was always glad to have
ladies come on board of the vessels of the squadron, because he
believed that female society had a refining influence upon the
students. During the preceding winter he had remodelled the interior
of the ship, so as to have more state-rooms for the accommodation of
occasional passengers. Miss Gurney was delighted with her room and
the cabin, and perhaps more than anything else with the gentlemanly
young officers, who were, of course, put on their good behavior. At
supper she was placed on the right of the commodore, while Mr. and
Mrs. Kinnaird were on the right of the captain. Lincoln was very much
pleased with the fair girl, and, after the meal, escorted her to the
deck.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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