all the
fine scenery,--which we shall do at Mayence,-we can then go up to
Strasbourg, and take the railroad there for Paris--the same way that we
came."

"Yes," said Rollo, "I shall like that."

Rollo liked it simply because it would make the journey longer.

When at length, at the end of the tour in Germany, our travellers were
approaching Cologne on the Rhine, Rollo began to look out, some miles
before they reached it, to watch for the first appearance of the town.
He had been riding in the coupe of the diligence[1] with his uncle; but
now, in order that he might see better, he had changed his place, and
taken a seat on the banquette. The banquette is a seat on the top of the
coach, and though it is covered above, it is open in front, and so it
affords an excellent view. Mr. George remained in the coupe, being very
much interested in reading his guide book.

[Footnote 1: The stage coaches on the continent of Europe are called
_diligences_.]

At length Rollo called out to tell his uncle that the city was in view.
The windows of the coupe were open, so that by leaning over and looking
down he could speak to his uncle without any difficulty.

Mr. George was so busy reading his guide book that he paid little
attention to what Rollo said.

"Uncle George," said Rollo, calling louder, "I can see the city; and in
the midst of it is a church with a great square tower, and something
very singular on the top of it."

Mr. George still continued his reading.

"There is a spire on the top of the church," continued Rollo, "but it is
bent down on one side entirely, as if it had half blown over."

"O, no," said Mr. George, still continuing to read.

"It really is," said Rollo. "I wish you would look, uncle George. It is
something very singular indeed."

[Illustration: COLOGNE IN SIGHT.]

Mr. George yielded at length to these importunities, and looked out. The
country around in every direction was one vast plain, covered with
fields of grain, luxuriant and beautiful beyond description. It was
without any fences or other divisions except such as were produced by
different kinds of cultivation, so that the view extended interminably
in almost every direction. There were rows and copses of trees here and
there, giving variety and life to the view, and from among them were
sometimes to be seen the spires of distant villages. In the distance,
too, in the direction in which Rollo pointed, lay the town of Cologne.
The roofs