cially as
there is the captain."

Paul wondered if the doctor intended to insult a person of so much
consequence as the steward of the queen's yacht must be, by offering him
money. He glanced at the captain, who was a fine-looking man, in naval
uniform, as the steward led the way to the accommodation steps. The
doctor slyly slipped a couple of English shillings into the man's hand,
and they went down into their boat.

"What did you give him, sir?" asked Paul.

"Two shillings."

"Well, it seems to me the steward of any American passenger steamer
would be angry if you gave him two shillings for his services."

"If I had not met these men before, I should not have dared to do it;
but it is expected," replied the doctor.

The boat pulled up to the Quai Vandyck, and Paul for the first time put
his foot upon the continent of Europe.

CHAPTER VIII.

ANTWERP AND RUBENS.

"Where shall we go first, Paul?" asked Dr. Winstock, when they landed
upon the quay.

"I don't know, sir; I think I shall be interested wherever we go. This
is a big city--isn't it?"

"Its population is hardly more than half of what it was in the days of
its greatest prosperity. In the days of Charles V. it is said that
twenty-five hundred vessels were frequently seen at one time in the
river. It had two hundred thousand inhabitants, and was then the richest
and most thriving commercial city in Europe. You perceive that this long
line of quays affords plenty of wharf room. Indeed the name of the city
is said to be derived from a Flemish phrase, '_aen't werf_,' which means
on the wharf, or on the quay."

"Mr. Motley tells another story about its name. He says the people claim
that the city is very old, and that a giant by the name of Antigonus,
established himself on the river at this place, and set up a kind of
custom-house. He required half the merchandise of those who went up the
river. He used to cut off the right hands of those who attempted to
smuggle, and throw them into the river. In this way _Hand werpen_, or
hand throwing, came to be the name of the place," said the young
commander.

"I suppose that story is as true now as it ever was. But where shall we
go?" asked the doctor.

"I want to get a little nearer to that Cathedral," replied Paul.

"That is really the most noted thing in Antwerp, and we will walk up
there; and I think we shall be able to see the pictures on the church,
which are required to produce an income. The