“Bravo!” exclaimed Neddy, clapping his hands; “that was just how a lady should behave; and as for the poor Isda—what do you call him?—he was a fine fellow, and quite worthy to have been an Englishman!”
[4)] The materials for my little sketch of Russian manners, &c., have been chiefly drawn from the translation of a work by the German traveller Kohl.
[5)] A Russian piece of money.
[ CHAPTER XV.]
FIRST VIEW OF ST. PETERSBURG.
“Cronstadt! Cronstadt!” I heard the shout from the deck one evening when the sun was going down, and his red disk seemed resting on the heaving waters, while to the east the strong fortifications stood clearly defined against the sky, bathed in his glowing light. Being quite alone in the cabin, for every human being was on deck, I was taking my survey of the place from the open port-hole before me.
It was a very gay scene upon which I looked. Not even on the Thames, our own river, have I seen a greater variety of craft. Steam-boats, and sailing-boats, schooners, cutters, brigs and gondolas,—paddled along the water, or spread snowy wings to the breeze. I gazed upon them, and upon the formidable batteries, bristling with guns, which defend the “water-gate of St. Petersburg” as Cronstadt has been called, till the shadows of night fell around, and I could without risk of observation, join Whiskerandos in the hold.
He was in company with another rat, of rather a foreign appearance.
“My friend Dwishtswatshiksky here,” said he, “tells me that we shall soon arrive at the capital of Russia.”
“I am very glad to hear it!” cried I; “I long to be again on shore. If we had any means of landing here, I should not care if I stopped short of St. Petersburg.” I had not forgotten the pies.
“You would doubtless, little brother, from natural association, like to visit Rat Island,” said the stranger with the unpronounceable name.