l84 DICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. supplied myself with enough to carry me on to San Felice." "As to provisions," replîed Mrs. Weldon, "we hâve enough and to spare ; and we shall be more than willing to share everything with you." " That is well," answered Harris ; " then there can be no reason why we should not start at once." He was tuming away with the intention of fetching hîs horse, when Dick Sands detained hîm. True to -his seaman's instincts, the young sailor felt that he should be much more at his ease on the sea-shore than traversing the heart of an unknown forest "Pardon me, Mr. Harris," he began, "but înstead of taking so long a journey across the désert of Atacama, would it not be far better for us to follow the coast either northwards or southwards, until we reach the nearest seaport ? " A frown passed over Harris's countenance. " I know very little about the coast," he answered ; " but I know enough to assure you that there is no town to the north within 300 or 400 miles." " Then why should we not go south ? " persisted Dick. " You would then hâve to travel to Chili, which is almost as far ; and, under your circumstances, I should not advise you to skirt the pampas of the Argentine Republic. For my own part, I could not accompany you." "But do not the vessels which ply betwecn Chili and Peru come within sîght 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 haîling one." " You seem to hâve another question to ask Mr. Harris," Mrs. Weldon continued, addressing Dick, who still looked rather doubtfuL Dick replied that he was about to înquîre 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 frîend," re- joîned Harris; **I can only repeat my promise that we
