Chapter 32 Summary

The most sought out city of the excursion, Athens, is reached with yet another disappointing obstacle. The ship is not allowed to dock and must stay far back away from the land and under quarantine for eleven days. Mark Twain's disappointment lasts only a short time before he and three of his comrades decide to sneak ashore. First, they are sure to ask all passersby if it is likely that they would get caught, what sort of punishment would be involved, and how harshly that punishment would be enforced. When they are assured that the guards are sharp and the penalty for sneaking ashore would be severe, the four men climb into a couple of rowboats in the middle of the night and enter Athens. They aren't exactly undetected. Packs of dogs follow them around, barking at every step. In fact, the passengers...