The Russian gentleman directed the drivers where to go, and they started. Descending a gentle slope, the party came to the fair grounds; but they were not to examine these till their return from Kazan. The road was very dusty, and in wet weather the mud is very deep. Crossing the Oka River on a bridge of boats, the travellers entered what is properly the town, and soon reached the point on the river where the steamers lay. There were several of them at the quay, and it was difficult to determine which was the right one, since neither the doctor nor the students could read her name on the ticket or on the boat. But the card was shown to a man, who pointed to the right steamer, and they went on board of her. As in other parts of Europe, porters always stand ready—too ready, sometimes—to carry the travellers' baggage, and one who cannot speak the language has only to show his ticket to one of them, and he will be conducted to the right place.
The party, having first-class tickets, hastened aft to where the best cabin is usually located, and went below. The accommodations were not elegant, certainly. There were no berths, only divans around the apartment, which the students made haste to secure, by placing their bags upon them. Having performed this necessary duty, they returned to the deck to examine the steamer, and see the strange sights. The craft was rather odd in shape, her bow and stern being depressed more than the part amidships, so that the deck sloped down, going forward or aft. The "bridge" is a platform between the paddle-boxes, of considerable size, which only first-class passengers are permitted to occupy. Upon it is the steering-wheel, which is about six feet high.
"See here! How's this?" said Scott, as he led the way forward. "What is this coop for?"
It was a house on deck, containing a stairway, and a small room with a table in it. The apartment was handsomely furnished, and was even luxurious compared with the after cabin.
"Let us go in, and see," replied Billy Bobstay; and they entered.
Descending the stairs, they came to a cabin in the forward part of the vessel, with a broad divan around it, like the other, but covered with drab cloth. It was very neatly furnished, and provided with every convenience except berths.
"We are first-class, and we have got into the wrong coop," said Scott.
"That's so," added Lincoln. "We will change our baggage."
"Perhaps we may be mistaken. This may be the Czar's cabin," suggested Scott.
At this moment a short man, wearing a very long black frock coat, entered. When he saw the passengers, he promptly removed his cap, and bowed, so that the students concluded he was one of the stewards.