“Some day,” he said to himself, “I will pass my examination as a captain, and then I shall go to New York in my own vessel, and pursue my inquiries with regard to the ‘Cynthia.’”

As a natural consequence, this project of personally investigating the matter of his birth soon became known, for he was candor itself.

Dr. Schwaryencrona, Mr. Bredejord and Professor Hochstedt ended by becoming interested, and finally adopted his views as their own.  The question of Erik’s birth, which had at first only been an interesting problem in their eyes, engrossed them more and more.  They saw how much Erik took it to heart, and as they were sincerely attached to him, they realized how important it was to him, and they were disposed to do everything in their power to cast some light upon the mystery.

One fine evening, just as the vacation was approaching, it occurred to them that it would be a good idea to make an excursion to New York together, and see if they could, obtain any further news about the matter.

Who first conceived this idea was a disputed point among them, and gave rise to many discussions between the doctor and Mr. Bredejord, each claiming a priority.  Doubtless it occurred to them both simultaneously; but be this as it may, the proposal was adopted unanimously, and in the month of September the three friends, accompanied by Erik, embarked at Christiana for New York.  Ten days later they had reached that city, and opened communication with the house of Jeremiah Smith, Walker & Company, from whom they had received the first intelligence.

And now a new agent appeared on the scene, whose assistance they had had little suspicion of, and this was Erik himself.  In New York he only saw what would assist him in his search.  He was up at daybreak visiting the wharves, accosting the sailors, whom he might chance to meet, working with indefatigable activity to collect the most minute intelligence.

“Do you know anything about the Canadian Transportation Company?  Could you tell me of any officer, or passenger, or sailor, who had sailed on the ’Cynthia’?” he asked everywhere.

Thanks to his perfect knowledge of the English language, his sweet and serious countenance, and his familiarity with everything pertaining to the sea, he was well received everywhere.  They mentioned to him successively several old officers, sailors, and employs, of the Canadian Transportation Company.  Sometimes he was able to find them.  Sometimes all traces of them were lost.  But none of them could give him any useful information about the last voyage of the “Cynthia.”  It took fifteen days of walking, and searching incessantly, to obtain one little bit of information which might prove valuable, among all the confused and contradictory accounts which were poured into poor Erik’s willing ears.

This one little truth however seemed to be worth its weight in gold.