The excited boy’s exuberant spirits went up with Eric’s guide-book to the ceiling of the room, and returned in bewilderment as the unfortunate book came down in a basin of water in which he had been sailing his magnetic ship.
“An encouraging beginning that,” remarked his father, gravely.
“I didn’t mean to, Eric,” Johnny said quite meekly; “I guess ‘twill dry in the sun.”
“Then you had better put it there,” said Mr. Van Rasseulger; “you are tearing the leaves by holding the book in your wet hands.” Johnny spread the guide-book upon a sunny window-seat, listening with interest to Eric’s proposal.
“I must study the route on the map down stairs; and if you are willing, uncle John, I will go out now with Johnny and get the tickets.”
“Certainly,” said his uncle; “but my advice would be to study a dry guide-book and the map before getting the tickets; there may be a choice of routes.”
This was excellent advice, as the boys soon found. There were three routes, and some time elapsed before they decided upon one.
At length they chose the shortest of all, as their time was limited and they wanted it all for Strasbourg. Their choice, therefore, fell upon the most direct route, it being straight across the country of France, and for a distance of about two hundred and fifty miles traversed by rail.
They consulted with Monsieur Richarte, the landlord, and their uncle, and decided to take an early train on the following morning. A ride of eight hours would suffice for the journey, and their early start would enable them to have a few hours for sight-seeing in the day and twilight.
But tourists should always allow for detention. For although Mr. Van Rasseulger saw them safely aboard the early train in the morning, an accident detained them at Vitry, and when they reached Strasbourg it was night—a dark, rainy, dismal night.