"Oh, I hope not, uncle," I said.

"So do I, my boy, but they were clumsy enough in getting her on board.

However, we shall have troubles in plenty without inventing any."

We stood together, leaning over the side and talking about our plans, which were to collect any new and striking birds that we could find, while specially devoting ourselves to shooting the quetzals, as they were called by the natives, the splendid trogons whose plumes were worn by the emperors of the past.

"And I'm not without hope, Nat," said my uncle, "that in course of our journeys up in the mountains, in the parts which have not yet been explored, we may find the c.o.c.k of the Rocks. I see no reason whatever why those birds should not inhabit suitable regions as far north as this. It is hot enough in Central America, as hot as Brazil, and far hotter than Peru."

"What about humming-birds, uncle," I said.

"We shall find plenty, and perhaps several that have never before been collected; but we must not want ordinary specimens. We must not overload ourselves, but get only what is choice."

Our conversation was interrupted by the coming of the captain, who looked at us searchingly.

"Well, doctor," he said; "been thinking it all over?"

"Yes," said Uncle d.i.c.k, quietly.

"And you're going to let me take you in to Belize?"

"Indeed I'm not," said my uncle quietly. "I made all my plans before I started, and explained to you before we sailed from Port Royal what I wished you to do."

"Well, yes, you did say something about it."

"The something was that you should drop me where I wished--somewhere in Yucatan or on Mosquito Coast."

"That's right, doctor; you did."

"Very well, then; according to your calculations at noon to-day, we shall be within sight of land about mid-day to-morrow."

"Dessay we shall, among the cays and reefs and little bits of islands yonder."

"Then you will fulfil your part of the agreement at mid-day."

"Drop you and your boat out at sea?"

"Yes," said Uncle d.i.c.k.

"I say; doctor, air you mad?"

"I hope not."

"Well, I begin to think you must be, for this is about the most unheard-of thing a man could do. You and this boy of yours have got to live."

"Of course," said my uncle.

"Well, what are you going to live on?"

"If I must explain, the stores contained in the cases you have of mine below."

"Hah!" cried the captain; "well, that's right, I suppose. But what about fresh water?"

"There is the cask, and a little tank belonging to the boat. They are both full, and we shall never be out of sight of land while on the coast. Afterwards we shall be journeying up the different rivers."

"But when you've eaten all your stores, what then, doctor?"

"I hope we shall never be in that condition," said my uncle, "for we shall husband our stores as reserves, and live as much as we can upon the fish we catch and the birds we shoot."

"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the captain. "Going up the rivers, air you?"

"Yes."

"Then you'd better try and ketch the sea cows. They're big as elephants, and one o' them'll last you two, six months if she don't go bad."

"Thank you," said my uncle, smiling; "but we shall be content with smaller deer than that."

"Well, I guess I don't like letting you go doctor," said the captain.

"So it seems," said my uncle quietly. "Pray why?"

"Don't seem fair to young squire here, for one thing."

"Have you any other reason?" said my uncle.

"You two can't manage a boat like that."

"We have managed a bigger one before. Any other reason?"

"Well, yes; you two'll come to grief, and I don't want to be brought to book for setting you adrift on about the maddest scheme I ever heerd tell of."

"Ah, now we understand one another," said my uncle, quietly. "Well, you may set you mind at rest, sir. I am the best judge of the risks to be run, and you will never be called to account for my actions."

"Well, don't blame me if you both find yourselves on your backs with fever."

"Never fear, captain," said my uncle. "If it is calm in the morning, as soon as we are within sight of land--"

"What land?"

"Any land on or off the coast, I shall be obliged by your getting my boat over the side, and the stores and chests out of the hold and cabin, so that we can get everything stowed away, then you can take us in tow, and I can cast off as soon as I like."

"All right," said the captain, and he went forward once more, while we two stayed on deck watching the wonderful sunset, till the great golden orange ball dipped down out of sight behind the clouds, which looked like ranges of mountains rising from some glorious sh.o.r.e.

We were not long afterwards made aware of the captain's reason for going forward, his voice rising in angry bullying tones, and we soon found that he and the fierce carpenter were engaged in a furious quarrel, which ended as quickly as it began, the captain making his reappearance, driving the ship's boy before him, and hastening the poor fellow's sluggish, unwilling movements by now and then giving him a kick.

CHAPTER TWO.

OUR START.