“I noticed that, too,” Harry responded. “And I didn’t hear much but English spoken. It seems to me that Uncle Sam has done most of this thing himself, and that it’s mainly his own boys that are taking it in.” “But it’s early days yet,” said Philip, with a prodigious yawn, “to make—aw!—comparisons.” “That looks more like late hours than early days,” Harry suggested. “Let’s turn in.” In a few minutes their clothes were on two chairs, and their heads were sunk into adjacent pillows. [Illustration: VIEW FROM THE ISLAND AT NIGHT.] CHAPTER III _The Party Separates_ — _Harry Goes to the Battle-Ship_ — _The Government Building_ — _The Convent and the Caravels_ — _The Movable Sidewalk._ Sunday proved a welcome relief after the long journey of Saturday, followed by the fête night at the Fair; and they were glad to begin the busy week that was to follow with one restful day apart from bustle and confusion. At breakfast Monday morning, one of the dishes Mr. Douglass ordered was steak; and, as he sawed through it, he remarked: “This is tough!” “But I thought you didn’t approve of slang?” Harry inquired, with an air of grave interest. “I wasn’t thinking so much of how I said it as of the fact,” Mr. Douglass replied. “But the proverb says that ‘shoemakers’ children are always the worst shod,’ and so we ought to expect poor beef in Chicago, the great beef-market of the continent; but I don’t like to waste my strength on mere beef while there is so much before us. What are your plans?” “If you don’t mind,” said Harry, after a moment’s pause, “I’m going to ask you to let me ‘paddle my own canoe.’ It is hard for three to keep together in a crowd.” “That’s true,” Philip agreed; “and especially when one is near-sighted. I think I tried to follow seven different wrong men yesterday.” “Yes,” added Harry; “‘Follow my leader’ is a difficult game to play when we are all leaders and followers at the same time.” “All right,” the tutor said. “To-day, then, we will separate. I may not go to the Fair at all, for I have several letters on my mind. Remember, we came away on very short notice. What will you do, Philip?” “Oh, I think I shall spend a long while in the Art Galleries. It’s a good place to go to by one’s self, for two people seldom agree about pictures—especially boys.” So, after breakfast, Harry, with a proud feeling of being his own master, set forth by himself. He had a very clear idea of what he wished to do first. He meant to go to the model of a United States man-of-war—the “Illinois.” He had read much about the White Squadron, and felt that he would never have so good an opportunity to understand just how a man-of-war was worked. [Illustration: BUILDING THE BATTLE-SHIP. NOVEMBER, 1891.]