S. B. C. Samuels “The sun rode high, the breeze was free, High dashed the diamond spray, And proudly o’er the dark blue sea The steamer ploughed her way.”

Aboard of the Hague, the children, watching the distant spires and domes of Hamburg “melt into air” as the vessel bore, with almost imperceptible motion rapidly towards the North Sea, began to realize that they would see no more of Wernier. And though their sorrow but faintly came home to them, they were sad and thoughtful.

Adele whispered mournfully to Herbert, “O, let us go below! It is so like going out in the Europa, with dear mamma, before she died in the wreck. O, Herbie, I cannot bear the cruel, cruel sea. Take me below.”

So Herbert and Adele went to the cabin, and Eric suggested to Nettie that they should follow.

“No,” said Nettie, “I like to stay here. Eric, see that boy look at you; I think he wants to speak.”

Eric looked around, and saw a boy of his own age steadfastly regarding him. When he caught Eric’s eye, he bowed and hastened forward, holding out his hand.

“Eric Hyde?” he said.

“Yes,” said Eric. “Do you know me?”

“I never saw you before; but I know you, for all that,” said the boy.

“How?” said Eric, astonished, and interested, too.

“I knew you by your voice. I used to live next door to you in New York. I was blind then, and auntie sent me out to Hamburg, to the famous oculist Dr. Francis. He has given me my sight, and I am going home alone. Auntie doesn’t know about it yet; she only knows that the operation was performed two months ago, and that Dr. Francis had no doubt of its success. Won’t she be surprised to see me walk into the parlor, and to hear the whole story from me?”

“Hurrah!” cried Eric, excitedly, tossing his cap high in the air.

“I remember you well,” said Nettie; “I am Nettie Hyde. Don’t you, Eric?”

“Yes,” said Eric. “I used to pity you so! Isn’t it just jolly!”

“Do you know,” said the boy, whose name was Allan Ramsdell, “I never saw a steamer before to-day! I have been blind so long, ever since I was four years old. I’ve got the key of my state-room here, but I don’t know where to go to look for the room.”

“I’ll show you,” volunteered Eric. “And, Nettie, if you will go down for Adele and Herbie, we’ll go all over the steamer.”

Nettie ran quickly into the cabin, eager to impart the news of their new acquaintance. Mrs. Hyde was glad of anything that would interest Adele, and urged her to go upon deck with Herbert. Mr. Nichols was resting from the fatigue of the ride. Mrs. Nichols, always feeble, did not feel equal to the exertion of climbing the companion way, the stairs from the upper deck to the cabin, and Mrs. Hyde wished to remain with her; so the children began their exploring expedition alone.

The great steamship was now out in the blue sea. The wide decks were gradually being cleared of passengers as they sought their narrow state-rooms, and as the children were quiet and orderly, no one interfered with them.

“This is the dining-hall,” announced Eric, as the five heads peered in at the door of a long saloon, where tables were ranged for the accommodation of the passengers.

Behind this saloon was the kitchen, a hot, steaming place, where men, mostly cooks, in dirty white jackets, rushed helter-skelter into each other and around the room.

“Too many cooks spoil the broth,” said Herbert, in an undertone, which remark so tickled the others that they all ran off laughing, till they met a stout, dignified “yellow man,” holding the store-room keys, and wearing a cleaner jacket than the others. He was the steward, and, being cross, scolded the children roundly for getting in his way. In the lower cabin were the steerage passengers. These had no saloon with tables arranged for their accommodation. They ate plain bean soup from tin mugs, and hard ship biscuit from their hands, and their table was a long board, let down from above by ropes. They stood around the board while eating, and when the meal was finished, the temporary table was drawn up out of the way.

By the time these observations had been made Mrs. Hyde joined them; and after speaking kind congratulations to Allan, and inviting him to attach himself to their party, she warned the children of the approach of dinner, and requested them to prepare for it.

Allan was very grateful to Mrs. Hyde for her kindness, and thanked her politely. He travelled with her to his aunt’s door, and was such a gentlemanly, companionable boy that they all became very much attached to him. It would be pleasant to take the trip from Hamburg to the western coast with our party; but that is impossible, as Eric has considerable journeying to do in another direction, and we are to accompany him. But the voyage was a pleasant one, and the children saw and learned many new and wonderful things before they reached their destination. We must not forget that little Froll left Hamburg snugly packed in a cage, and intrusted to mauma’s care for the voyage. She was quite a favorite aboard the vessel, and made much merriment by her absurd pranks, and at Hague was safely landed, and transported to the hotel.

At Hague, too, the Hydes and Allan Ramsdell left the vessel, after a sorrowful parting with Mr. and Mrs. Nichols and Herbert and Adele.