Hamburg snugly packed in a cage, and
intrusted to mauma's care for the voyage. She was quite a favorite aboard
the vessel, and made much merriment by her absurd pranks, and at Hague was
safely landed, and transported to the hotel.

At Hague, too, the Hydes and Allan Ramsdell left the vessel, after a
sorrowful parting with Mr. and Mrs. Nichols and Herbert and Adele.

CHAPTER III.

THE CITY.

It would seem strange to us to hear our native city called "the Boston,"
and stranger still to hear the staid old capital called by more names than
one.

Eric, and Allan, and Nettie were quite confused in the capital of Holland
by the variety of names given it.

"Hague," "The Hague," and "La Haye" they had heard, but upon their arrival
they found its inhabitants calling it "_Gravenhaag_," which, Mrs. Hyde
explained, meant "The Count's Meadow."

"What a comical place!" Nettie exclaimed, as they glided along through
"canal streets" to the hotel. "Mamma, if our streets were like these,
wouldn't you fret for our precious necks every time we looked out of a
window? And I don't suppose you would ever let us go out to play, for fear
we'd drown."

"Still, it is very pleasant gliding under these shady trees; and if you
look about, my dear, you will see there are also carriage roads, with
sidewalks."

"Yes," said Eric; "we've passed several."

"I like these boat roads best," said Allan, "they are so novel."

"Where are we going, mamma?" asked Nettie, "and how far?"

"To the _Vyverberg House_, my dear. I do not know the distance."

"Is it a mile?" asked Eric, of the boatman.

He shook his head, saying, "_Nein_."

But you are not to think that he meant nine miles, for "_nein_" is German
for "no."

The Vyverberg House was at the north end of Gravenhaag; so our friends had
a fine view of the town, and learned much of its history from the sober
old boatman, who, very fortunately for them, spoke English well.

He pointed out the moat, which surrounded the city and formed its
principal defense, and the drawbridges which crossed the moat.

"How different from Hamburg!" said Eric. "There, a strong wall fortified
the town, and most of its streets are now built upon its old walls of
fortification."

"The canals were similar to these," said his mother. "You did not notice
those particularly, because you always rode in Mr. Nichols's carriage."

"But this is a much better looking town than Hamburg, mamma."

"Yes, indeed; t