"But do not the vessels which ply between Chili and Peru come within sight of this coast?" interposed Mrs. Weldon.

"No, madam; they keep out so far to sea that there would not be the faintest chance of your hailing one."

"You seem to have another question to ask Mr. Harris," Mrs. Weldon continued, addressing d.i.c.k, who still looked rather doubtful.

d.i.c.k replied that he was about to inquire at what port he would be likely to find a ship to convey their party to San Francisco.

"That I really cannot tell you, my young friend," rejoined Harris; "I can only repeat my promise that we will furnish you with the means of conveyance from San Felice to Atacama, where no doubt you will obtain all the information you require."

"I hope you will not think that d.i.c.k is insensible to your kindness, Mr. Harris," said Mrs. Weldon, apologetically.

"On the contrary," promptly observed d.i.c.k; "I fully appreciate it; I only wish we had been cast ash.o.r.e upon a spot where we should have had no need to intrude upon his generosity."

"I a.s.sure you, madam, it gives me unbounded pleasure to serve you in any way," said Harris; "it is, as I have told you, not often that I come in contact with any of my own countrymen."

"Then we accept your offer as frankly as it is made," replied the lady, adding; "but I cannot consent to deprive you of your horse. I am a very good walker."

"So am I," said Harris, with a bow, "and consequently I intend you and your little son to ride. I am used to long tramps through the pampas. Besides, it is not at all unlikely that we shall come across some of the workpeople belonging to the hacienda; if so, they will be able to give us a mount."

Convinced that it would only be thwarting Mrs. Weldon's wishes to throw any further impediment in the way, d.i.c.k Sands suppressed his desire to raise fresh obstacles, and simply asked how soon they ought to start.

"This very day, at once," said Harris quickly.

"So soon?" asked d.i.c.k.

"Yes. The rainy season begins in April, and the sooner we are at San Felice the better. The way through the forest is the safest as well as the shortest, for we shall be less likely to meet any of the nomad Indians, who are notorious robbers."

Without making any direct reply, d.i.c.k proceeded to instruct the negroes to choose such of the provisions as were most easy of transport, and to make them up into packages, that every one might carry a due share. Hercules with his usual good nature professed himself willing to carry the entire load; a proposal, however, to which d.i.c.k would not listen for a moment.

"You are a fine fellow, Hercules" said Harris, scrutinizing the giant with the eye of a connoisseur; "you would be worth something in the African market."

"Those who want me now must catch me first," retorted Hercules, with a grin.

The services of all hands were enlisted, and in a comparatively short time sufficient food was packed up to supply the party for about ten days' march.

"You must allow us to show you what hospitality is in our power," said Mrs. Weldon, addressing her new acquaintance; "our breakfast will be ready in a quarter of an hour, and we shall be happy if you will join us."

"It will give me much pleasure," answered Harris, gaily; "I will employ the interval in fetching my horse, who has breakfasted already."

"I will accompany you," said d.i.c.k.

"By all means, my young friend; come with me, and I will show you the lower part of the river."

While they were gone, Hercules was sent in search of Cousin Benedict, who was wandering on the top of the cliff in quest of some wonderful insect, which, of course, was not to be found. Without asking his permission, Hercules unceremoniously brought him back to Mrs. Weldon, who explained how they were about to start upon a ten days' march into the interior of the country. The entomologist was quite satisfied with the arrangement, and declared himself ready for a march across the entire continent, as long as he was free to be adding to his collection on the way.

Thus a.s.sured of her cousin's acquiescence in her plans; Mrs. Weldon proceeded to prepare such a substantial meal as she hoped would invigorate them all for the approaching journey.

Harris and d.i.c.k Sands, meantime, had turned the corner of the cliff, and walked about 300 paces along the sh.o.r.e until they came to a tree to which a horse was tethered. The creature neighed as it recognized its master. It was a strong-built animal, of a kind that d.i.c.k had not seen

[Ill.u.s.tration: They came to a tree to which a horse was tethered.]

before, although its long neck and crupper, short loins, flat shoulders and arched forehead indicated that it was of Arabian breed.

"Plenty of strength here," Harris said, as after unfastening the horse, he took it by the bridle and began to lead it along the sh.o.r.e.

d.i.c.k made no reply; he was casting a hasty glance at the forest which enclosed them on either hand; it was an unattractive sight, but he observed nothing to give him any particular ground for uneasiness.

Turning round, he said abruptly,-

"Did you meet a Portuguese last night, named Negoro?"

"Negoro? who is Negoro?" asked Harris, in a tone of surprise.

"He was our ship's cook; but he has disappeared."

"Drowned, probably," said Harris indifferently.

"No, he was not drowned; he was with us during the evening, but left afterwards; I thought perhaps you might have met him along the river-side, as you came that way."

"No," said Harris, "I saw no one; if your cook ventured alone into the forest, most likely he has lost his way; it is possible we may pick him up upon our road."

When they arrived at the grotto, they found breakfast duly prepared. Like the supper of the previous evening it consisted mainly of corned beef and biscuit. Harris did ample justice to the repast.

"There is no fear of our starving as we go," he observed to Mrs. Weldon; "but I can hardly say so much for the unfortunate Portuguese, your cook, of whom my young friend here has been speaking."

"Ah! has d.i.c.k been telling you about Negoro?" Mrs. Weldon said.

d.i.c.k explained that he had been inquiring whether Mr. Harris had happened to meet him in the direction he had come.

"I saw nothing of him," Harris repeated; "and as he has deserted you, you need not give yourselves any concern about him." And apparently glad to turn the subject, he said, "Now, madam, I am at your service; shall we start at once?"

It was agreed that there was no cause for delay. Each one took up the package that had been a.s.signed him. Mrs. Weldon, with Hercules' help, mounted the horse, and Jack, with his miniature gun slung across his shoulder, was placed astride in front of her. Without a thought of acknowledging the kindness of the good-natured stranger in providing him so enjoyable a ride, the heedless little fellow declared himself quite capable of guiding the "gentleman's horse," and when to indulge him the bridle was put into his hand, he looked as proud as though he had been appointed leader of the whole caravan.

CHAPTER XVI.

THROUGH THE FOREST.

Although there was no obvious cause for apprehension, it cannot be denied that it was with a certain degree of foreboding that d.i.c.k Sands first entered that dense forest, through which for the next ten days they were all to wend their toilsome way.

Mrs. Weldon, on the contrary, was full of confidence and hope. A woman and a mother, she might have been expected to be conscious of anxiety at the peril to which she might be exposing herself and her child; and doubtless she would have been sensible of alarm if her mind had not been fully satisfied upon two points; first, that the portion of the pampas they were about to traverse was little infested either by natives or by dangerous beasts; and secondly, that she was under the protection of a guide so trustworthy as she believed Harris to be.

The entrance to the forest was hardly more than three hundred paces up the river. An order of march had been arranged which was to be observed as closely as possible throughout the journey. At the head of the troop were Harris and d.i.c.k Sands, one armed with his long gun, the other with his Remington; next came Bat and Austin, each carrying a gun and a cutla.s.s, then Mrs. Weldon and Jack, on horseback, closely followed by Tom and old Nan, while Actaeon with the fourth Remington, and Hercules with a huge hatchet in his waist-belt, brought up the rear. Dingo had no especial place in the procession, but wandered to and fro at his pleasure. Ever since he had been cast ash.o.r.e d.i.c.k had noticed a remarkable change in the dog's behaviour; the animal was in a constant state of agitation, always apparently on the search for some lost scent, and repeatedly giving vent to a low growl, which seemed to proceed from grief rather than from rage.

As for Cousin Benedict, his movements were permitted to be nearly as erratic as Dingo's; nothing but a leading-string could possibly have kept him in the ranks. With his tin box under his arm, and his b.u.t.terfly net in his hand, and his huge magnifying-gla.s.s suspended from his neck, he would be sometimes far ahead, sometimes a long way behind, and at the risk of being attacked by some venomous snake, would make frantic dashes into the tall gra.s.s whenever he espied some attractive orthoptera or other insect which he thought might be honoured by a place in his collection.

In one hour after starting Mrs. Weldon had called to him a dozen times without the slightest effect. At last she told him seriously that if he would not give up chasing the insects at a distance, she should be obliged to take possession of his tin box.

"Take away my box!" he cried, with as much horror as if she had threatened to tear out his vitals.

"Yes, your box and your net too!"