"His son Oscar was his heir, and came to the throne at the death of his father in 1844. He was followed by his son, Charles XV., the present king, in 1859.
"The army organization is similar to that of Denmark, and about one hundred and fifty thousand men are available for service. The navy contains four monitors on the American plan, which were invented by John Ericsson, a Swede, two iron-clad gunboats, twenty-one steamers, and sixteen sailing vessels, besides a great number of floating batteries, and other stationary craft. Although only about six thousand sailors are actually in the navy, nearly thirty thousand can be had in case of war."
The professor finished his lecture, and the students hastened on deck, to see more of the sights which surrounded them.
"What's the use, Stockwell?" said Sanford, as the absentees seated themselves on the train for Malmö, under the charge of the head steward. "Blaine got his despatch from the principal last night, but he didn't say a word to us till this morning. He's playing a sharp game."
"That's so," replied Stockwell. "He don't mean to trust us out of sight again."
"Don't say a word to any fellow," whispered the coxswain. "You and I will fight it out on our own hook."
"I understand. It is plain enough that Blaine regards us as runaways, and I suppose the principal will do the same."
"Very likely; and when we get to Russia, all we shall have to do will be to count our fingers in the steerage, while the rest of the fellows are seeing the Russians," continued Sanford, who now appeared to regard "the independent excursion without running away" as a failure. "We shall not even see anything more of Stockholm. I don't like the idea."
"Well, what are you going to do about it?" asked Stockwell.
"At the first chance we will leave this train, and make our way back to Stockholm," whispered Sanford. "There is a steamer to St. Petersburg twice a week, and we have money enough to carry us through."
"We will take Ole, if you like, to do the talking for us."
The train stopped at Katherineholm about half past nine. The boys had taken nothing but the Swedish early breakfast of coffee and a biscuit, and the head steward allowed them to have a more substantial meal, each paying for himself. They entered the restaurant, where, on a large table in the centre of the room, were great dishes of broiled salmon and veal cutlets, with high piles of plates near them. Each passenger helped himself at these dishes, and then seated himself at one of the little tables. When he had finished his salmon, he helped himself to veal cutlets; beer and coffee were served by the waiters. Sanford and Stockwell hurried through the meal, and went to the counter where the woman received payment. She asked them some question and they were obliged to call Ole, to know what she said. She asked if they had had beer or coffee, which was extra, the meal being one and a half rix dalers. She gave them a tin check; for at this place they seemed to be sharper than the Swedes usually are, and the check was to enable them to get out of the restaurant. A man at the door received it, and no one was allowed to pass without it; and thus none could leave without paying for the meal.