“Exactly so,” laughed Clyde.
“But don’t understand me that we mean to run away, or to keep away from the ship any longer than is absolutely necessary; for we are all good boys, and always mean to obey our officers.”
“I don’t mean to do any such thing. After I hear that the ship has left Christiania, I shall go there, find my mother, and travel where I please.”
The next morning the party started on their journey, and by the middle of the afternoon arrived at a station between Lysthus and Tinoset, where the road to the Rjukanfos branched off from that to the capital. They were compelled to wait an hour here for a change of horses. Rogues rarely believe that they are suspected, and Sanford was confident that his companions, with the exception of Rodman and Stockwell, had no idea of his intentions. Burchmore had not failed to notice the repeated conferences between those who were plotting the mischief. He was not quite satisfied with the delay which had enabled the party to catch that solitary salmon at Apalstö. He was one of the first to enter the station-house where the carioles stopped. On the table he found “The Hand-book of Norway,” which contained a large map. He was anxious to possess this book.
“Hvor?” said he, using a word he had learned of Ole, which meant “how much,” at the same time holding up the book, and exhibiting his money.
“Tre,” replied the woman in the room; by which he understood her to mean three marks, for at the same time she laughingly held up three fingers.
Burchmore paid the money, and put the book into his pocket. Retreating behind the stable with Churchill, who rode in the cariole with him, he produced the volume, and spread out the map. Without much difficulty he found the road by which the party had come. Everything was right so far, and he was satisfied that they should arrive at Kongsberg that night.
“Can you make out what’s up, Burchmore?” asked Churchill, with whom the former had discussed his doubts and fears.
“No; everything is right. Here we are, at the branching off of these two roads,” replied Burchmore, indicating the locality with the point of his knife.
“But Sanford is up to something. He, and Ole, and Stockwell are whispering together half the time. Perhaps they mean to leave us somewhere on the road.”