. Lowington, as he stepped over
the side into the boat.

At two o'clock all hands embarked in a ferry-boat, which conveyed them
to the Tete de Flandre, opposite Antwerp, where the Ghent railway
station is located. By the good offices of the governor of Antwerp, a
special train had been procured for their accommodation, and the
carriages were to be at the disposal of the principal for the entire
round of the Belgian cities. By this arrangement, the tourists were
enabled to make the tour in the brief space allotted to it. They were to
spend a day in the capital, but only one or two hours in each of the
other places.

In Belgium about two thirds of all the railways are owned or leased by
the government, which runs the roads, and even those which are in the
hands of corporations will eventually revert to the state. They are
exceedingly well managed, and very few accidents occur upon them; but
they run at a low rate of speed, compared with the English railways. The
fares are about three cents a mile, which is below the average in
Europe.

Mr. Lowington selected a compartment in one of the carriages, and
arranged his party so as to transact the disagreeable business on hand
during the trip. Dr. Winstock and Paul sat at one end of the section,
and Mr. Stoute and Terrill at the other, while Mr. Lowington and
Professor Hamblin occupied the middle seats. The two students were
allowed to occupy the places at the windows, so that they could see the
country which they passed through; for the principal deemed this as
important for them as their lessons; in fact, it was a study of
geography. The train moved off, bearing the company through a low
country, not very attractive in itself, though the little farms,
gardens, villages and towns were full of interest to young men like
Paul.

"Now, Mr. Hamblin, I am ready to hear your complaints," said Mr.
Lowington, after the train had passed out of the station. "Captain
Kendall, you may give your attention to it, though you can look out of
the window at the same time."

"Am I to be confronted with that boy?" demanded the professor,
indignantly.

"That boy!" replied Mr. Lowington. "I am to hear what you and Captain
Kendall have to say. Go on, if you please, sir."

"You will remember that one of the students, McDougal, was sent on board
of the ship, this morning," Mr. Hamblin began, though he was utterly
disgusted because he was obliged to make his complaint in the presence
of Paul.