m this
steamer, don't we? And in the usual course of events we might have some
difficulty in finding another; but here is our opportunity ready made
for us. Chili is apparently at war with some other country; and the
thing for us to do is to get ashore and enlist in the Chilian navy.
They are sure to want all the men they can lay hands on. We have had
plenty of experience; and you may be certain that no awkward questions
will be asked. They will accept us, and be more than glad to get us;
thus, you see, we shall have employment immediately, instead of having
to wait, perhaps, several months for it. We are indeed in luck's way!
The only question is, How are we to get ashore? for I don't suppose the
`old man' will grant any leave, under the circumstances. We will try
him first, however, and if he refuses we shall have to think of some
other means of getting away from the ship. Let us go to your cabin and
talk the matter over; this is a business which we had better decide as
soon as possible."

He slipped his arm through Douglas's and the pair went off to the
latter's cabin, where they spent the whole afternoon in making plans,
with the result that, by the evening, they had perfected all their
arrangements. They applied to the captain for leave in the usual way,
but, as they had anticipated, it was refused, so they had to look about
for some means of getting away from the ship without being observed, and
they managed it very simply, thus.

The next morning a boat laden with fruit came out to the _Pericles_, in
the hope that her crew would purchase some, as the ship had been ordered
by the authorities to remain at her moorings until further notice, in
consequence of the wharfage being required for military purposes. Jim
and Terry thereupon got into conversation with the man in charge of the
boat, and made arrangements with him to come off that same night in a
small skiff and take them ashore.

It required both time and money to induce the fellow to fall in with the
scheme, but he at last consented; and he proved as good as his word, for
at nine o'clock that evening he quietly dropped alongside, gave the pre-
arranged signal, and a few minutes later both the young men, with all
their belongings, were being pulled ashore to seek their fortune in a
new land and under another flag. They little knew, when they stepped
ashore at the Custom House quay, what adventures were in store for them,
what trials they would be