"Or we can go in an omnibus," said Rollo. "Yes, uncle George," he added eagerly, "let us go on the top of an omnibus." Mr. George was at first a little disinclined to adopt this plan; but Rollo seemed very earnest about it, and finally he consented. "We can get up very easily," said he; "and when we are up there we can see every thing." "I am not concerned about our getting up," said Mr. George. "The difficulty is in getting down." However, Mr. George finally consented to Rollo's proposal; and so, going out into the Strand, they both mounted on the top of an omnibus, and in this way they rode down the Strand and through the heart of London. They were obliged to proceed slowly, so great was the throng of carts, wagons, drays, cabs, coaches, and carriages that encumbered the streets. In about an hour, however, they were set down a little beyond the Tower. "Now," said Mr. George, "the question is, whether I can find the way to the dock gates." "Have you got a ticket?" asked Rollo. "No," said Mr. George; "I presume a ticket is not necessary." "I presume it _is_ necessary," said Rollo. "You never can go any where, or get into any thing, in London, without a ticket." "Well," said Mr. George, "we will see. At any rate, if tickets are required, there must be some way of getting them at the gate." Mr. George very soon found his way to the entrance of the docks. It was at the end of a short street, the name and position of which he had studied out on the map before leaving home. He took care to be set down by the omnibus near this street; and by this means he found his way very easily to his place of destination. The entrance was by a great gateway. The gateway was wide open, and trains of carts, and crowds of men,--mechanics, laborers, merchants, clerks, and seamen,--were going and coming through it. "We need not have concerned ourselves about a ticket," said Mr. George. "No," said Rollo. "I see." "The entrance is as public as any street in London," said Mr. George. So saying, our two travellers walked on and passed within the enclosures. As soon as they were fairly in, they stopped at the corner of a sort of sidewalk and looked around. The view which was presented to their eyes formed a most extraordinary spectacle. Forests of masts extended in every direction. Near them rose the hulls of great ships, with men going up and down the long plank stairways which led to the decks of them. Here and there were extended long platforms bordering the docks, with immense piles of boxes, barrels, bales, cotton and coffee bags, bars of iron, pigs of lead, and every other species of merchandise heaped up upon them. Carts and drays were going and coming, loaded with goods taken from these piles; while on the other hand the piles themselves were receiving continual additions from the ships, through the new supplies which the seamen and laborers were hoisting out from the hatchways.