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Updated: June 11, 2025
In an hour the train stopped at its destination; but it was after six o'clock, and there was no time for Professor Mapps to make any long speeches, though Bruges had a history hardly less exciting than that of Ghent. It takes its name from the great number of bridges which it contains; for the place, like Ghent, is cut up by canals.
Mapps, glancing at the shore, intent upon renewing his favorite topic, "Fort St. Laurent must have been here; and this is where Van Speyk went down, or rather went up." "Who was Van Speyk?" "He was the commander of a Dutch gunboat, in the revolution of 1830. His vessel wouldn't come about what do you call it?" "Missed stays, sir," replied Captain Haven.
Mapps, and the allusion to the dog afforded the professor an opportunity to tell a story. "While the prince was asleep in his camp, near Mechlin, the Spaniards attempted to murder him," said he, "and would probably have succeeded had if not been for this little dog.
Mapps insisted upon the students' attention, and he paused till his hearers had gratified their curiosity. Mr. Lowington did not appear to be quite satisfied with the conduct of Perth, and, reaching over the shoulder of the second master, he took the paper from the atlas. Of course this act produced a sensation among the boys; the most insignificant event creates a sensation in the school-room.
With only a few exceptions, therefore, the "call to lecture," on the present occasion, was a welcome one. The boats were lowered, and all hands in the Josephine, including the professors, went on board of the ship, leaving the vessel in charge of the adult forward officers. Mr. Mapps had already made his preparations in the steerage, and on the foremast hung a large Dutch map of the Netherlands.
You couldn't say he talked about it, but he made other people talk about it.... He was quite impervious to satire on such points, for when, goaded to madness, Miss Mapp had once said that she was one of the Mapps of Maidstone, he had merely bowed and said: "A very old family, I believe," and when the conversation branched off on to old families he had rather pointedly said "we" to Miss Mapp.
At nine-o'clock in the morning, the polls were opened for the election of officers. A box was placed on the fife-rail, at the mainmast, in which the ballots were deposited, under the inspection of Professor Mapps. "Have all the students voted?" called the professor, when the voting was suspended. "If so, I declare the poll closed."
The great ship canal to Amsterdam commences at this point, which is the only place on the coast of Holland where the deep water extends up to the shore, the tide rushing through from the Zuyder Zee keeping the passage open. The party had an opportunity to examine the mighty sluices and gates, and to observe the stupendous dikes, before described by Mr. Mapps.
Arbuckle, and the next morning proceeded to Strasburg. After a short delay, the party continued the journey, crossing the Rhine into Germany, and halting at Offenburg, a small town, where hotel accommodations had been bespoken. After supper, the excursionists were collected in a large room, and Professor Mapps took a position in front of them. "Young gentlemen, where are we?" he asked.
"I'll settle it with him when I get a good chance," growled Shuffles, as he went to the rail and looked over into the water, in order to conceal his disappointment and chagrin. "Young gentlemen will bring in their votes for first lieutenant," said Professor Mapps, as he placed the box on the fife-rail again.
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