PERCY, BEAUTY, AND JACK.
Mr. Van Rasseulger decided to take the boys to Heidelberg, and there await Dr. Ward. It was inconvenient for him to do this, but he was unwilling to let them travel alone with the monkey again, for Froll was certainly a serious trouble.
So on the morning of the following day they took the steamer for an eighty mile sail down the Rhine.
The landlord, Mr. Lacelle, and Count D’Orsay bade them an affectionate adieu, after the two former had been sincerely thanked for their kindness to the young strangers, and the latter had begged them to renew their promise of a visit before they returned to America. To Mr. Van Rasseulger he extended an urgent invitation to visit him, whenever it should be convenient to him.
Just before they left, Mr. Lacelle requested Eric’s address, saying that he had written to Mr. Montgomery about the box of money, and would forward his reply to Eric.
The boys were not sorry to leave Strasbourg, because Mr. Van Rasseulger had told them he should propose to the doctor to obtain horses there, and travel on horseback through the Black Forest, and over the mountains, to Munich, in Bavaria.
They were enchanted with this idea, and during their sail down the Rhine lost much of the beautiful scenery about them in mutual conjectures as to whether uncle Charlie would like the proposition. When they reached Heidelberg, the doctor was already there, waiting for them.
He was quite well satisfied with the plan, and said he would give the boys two days to explore Heidelberg, and would meantime be making the necessary arrangements.
The boys did not like Heidelberg particularly, and Eric’s shoulders were shrugged expressively when his uncle told him he was to be a student in the university, after his school course was completed.
The only building of which they took any notice was the Church of the Holy Ghost—a large structure with a very high steeple, divided so that Protestant and Roman Catholic services were held in it at the same time.
But perhaps the picturesque old town might have had more attraction for them, had not Dr. Ward and Mr. Van Rasseulger been looking up good horses to purchase for the journey.
They soon found just what they wanted—a large, powerful horse for the doctor, and a couple of small horses, almost ponies, for the two boys.
It was amusing to see the different evidences of delight manifested by Eric and Johnny.
Eric’s face flushed with glad emotion, and a quiet “Uncle John, how good you are!” was all that he said.
But Johnny danced around the horses, wild with delight, throwing his cap in the air, dancing and hurrahing with all his might, and bestowing kisses indiscriminately upon his good papa and the dumb animals.
One of the horses was coal black, with a white star upon his forehead, and one white foot; he was for Eric.
Johnny’s was a bright bay, with four white feet and a white nose: and the doctor’s was a chestnut-colored horse, with a darker mane and tail.
Of course the first great question was, what they were to be called.
“I have named my horse ‘Perseus,’” said the doctor, “in honor of the illustrious slayer of the Gorgon Medusa, and the deliverer of Andromeda.”
“I’ll call mine ‘Jack,’ in honor of papa,” said roguish Johnny.
“And mine,” exclaimed Eric, “shall be Bucephalus.”
Eric had just finished reading a classical history, and was greatly interested in the account of Alexander’s power over Bucephalus.
These names were soon abbreviated to “Percy,” “Beauty,” and “Jack.”
After the horses had been duly admired, Mr. Van Rasseulger took the boys with him, selected saddles, with travellers’ saddle-bags, rubber cloaks, a couple of blankets, and two tin boxes for provisions, with an inside compartment for matches. The rubber cloaks were made with hoods, which could be drawn over the head, completely protecting it.
Dr. Ward provided himself with similar apparel, and numerous little things which the boys had no idea would be necessary, and even Mr. Van Rasseulger overlooked.
The next morning everything was in readiness. The blankets, light overcoats, rubber cloaks, and a change of clothing, were made into a roll, and strapped behind the saddles. The tin cases were filled for luncheon, and deposited in the saddle-bags, and the boys declared themselves in readiness.
But when the doctor presented them each with a light knapsack, a tiny compass to wear upon their watch chains, and a pocket drinking cup, they instantly discovered that they could never in the world have got along without them.
The horses were pawing the ground, impatient to be off, their long manes and tails floating in the cool morning breeze, their noble forms quivering with life and excitement.
Johnny, divided between regret at parting with his father, and delight at the novel excursion; Eric, eager and excited, with mischievous Froll, demure enough just now, seated composedly upon his shoulder; the doctor coolly testing the saddle girths, and Mr. Van Rasseulger seeing them off, happy in their pleasure.
“Be good and kind to my boy, as you have always been, Eric,” he said, bidding his nephew “good by.”
“You mean, uncle John, as you have always been to me,” Eric replied, with gratitude beaming in his eyes. “And Johnny is a dear little fellow; no one could help being good to him.”
“I hope he will grow like his cousin,” said Mr. Van Rasseulger, with a hearty smile; “and, Johnny-boy, you must be very obedient to uncle Charlie. Do right, be a gentleman, and grow stout and healthy for papa.”
“We will write from Baden and Ulm,” said the doctor. “We ought to get there by next week.”
After a few more words of parting they set off, and were soon out of sight.
Three hours later, as Mr. Van Rasseulger, on his way to Vienna by rail, passed a turn in the road, the three travellers were in sight for an instant, apparently in good spirits and prime condition.
He was extremely pleased with this unexpected view of them, and for some time after they had again disappeared the wealthy New York merchant lay back in his cushioned seat, building hopes of high promise upon the future of Johnny’s life.
Poor Johnny! he had been almost spoiled at home, but under the doctor’s firm guidance and Eric’s good influence, was wonderfully improved. The bright, merry little fellow was exhibiting his true character, long hidden by ill-advised indulgence.