George met some friends of his on the frontier, who persuaded him to make a short tour with them in Germany, and so come to the Rhine at Cologne. "We can then," said he to Rollo, "go _up_ the river, and see it in ascending, which I think is the best way. When we get through all the fine scenery,--which we shall do at Mayence,-we can then go up to Strasbourg, and take the railroad there for Paris--the same way that we came." "Yes," said Rollo, "I shall like that." Rollo liked it simply because it would make the journey longer. When at length, at the end of the tour in Germany, our travellers were approaching Cologne on the Rhine, Rollo began to look out, some miles before they reached it, to watch for the first appearance of the town. He had been riding in the coupe of the diligence[1] with his uncle; but now, in order that he might see better, he had changed his place, and taken a seat on the banquette. The banquette is a seat on the top of the coach, and though it is covered above, it is open in front, and so it affords an excellent view. Mr. George remained in the coupe, being very much interested in reading his guide book. [Footnote 1: The stage coaches on the continent of Europe are called _diligences_.] At length Rollo called out to tell his uncle that the city was in view. The windows of the coupe were open, so that by leaning over and looking down he could speak to his uncle without any difficulty. Mr. George was so busy reading his guide book that he paid little attention to what Rollo said. "Uncle George," said Rollo, calling louder, "I can see the city; and in the midst of it is a church with a great square tower, and something very singular on the top of it." Mr. George still continued his reading. "There is a spire on the top of the church," continued Rollo, "but it is bent down on one side entirely, as if it had half blown over." "O, no," said Mr. George, still continuing to read. "It really is," said Rollo. "I wish you would look, uncle George. It is something very singular indeed." [Illustration: COLOGNE IN SIGHT.] Mr. George yielded at length to these importunities, and looked out. The country around in every direction was one vast plain, covered with fields of grain, luxuriant and beautiful beyond description. It was without any fences or other divisions except such as were produced by different kinds of cultivation, so that the view extended interminably in almost every direction. There were rows and copses of trees here and there, giving variety and life to the view, and from among them were sometimes to be seen the spires of distant villages. In the distance, too, in the direction in which Rollo pointed, lay the town of Cologne. The roofs of the houses extended over a very wide area, and among them there was seen a dark square tower, very high, and crowned, as Rollo had said, with what seemed to be a spire, only it was bent over half way; and there it lay at an angle at which no spire could possibly stand.