vian government from New York. In his capacity of a newspaper
correspondent, Boyton went on board the man-of-war to inspect her, with
an idea that he might have an opportunity sometime to feel her bottom
with a one-hundred-and-fifty pound torpedo. He was escorted through the
vessel by her Captain and took copious notes of her construction and
armament. As he was over-going the side into the boat to return to
shore, an English engineer spanned him carefully and remarked: "Your
face seems familiar to me. Where have I seen you before?"

Paul replied that he could not possibly tell as his duties led him to
all parts of the world, and he hurriedly entered the boat.

The next day they set sail and on the 24th, sighted Dead Man's Island at
the mouth of the Guayquil river. From a certain point the island bears a
startling resemblance to a gigantic man afloat on his back. Hence its
name. They steamed up the river about sixty miles to Guayquil. The
chattering of parrots and paroquettes along the shore was almost
deafening. Flocks of them would hover over the vessel for several
minutes at a time and fly back to the forest.

Guayquil is one of the hottest towns on earth, though not one of the
cleanest. The stenches arising from the filthy streets and byways
are overpowering, and fever flags fly from nearly every third or fourth
house. The steamer lay in the middle of the river while discharging
her cargo into lighters and the passengers took advantage of the wait
for a trip across into the city. From the landing place crowds of
boys followed them, offering monkeys and alligators for sale. The latter
were from six inches to three feet long, strapped on boards to keep
them from biting. They are much quicker and more savage than the North
American alligator.

After the cargo was discharged, the vessel was again put under way and
on the 26th they anchored off Paita, the first Peruvian port. Paul took
a long walk on the beach at that place, and for the first time saw the
curious, blood red crabs that dwell in myriads along the shore. At a
distance they look like a big red wave; but as they are approached,
quickly disappear into holes in the sand, and on looking back, they
are seen in countless thousands in the rear. Their habits are similar to
the hermit crab. They are small and not edible, quick as rats
and difficult to catch.

Chimbote was the next place in Peru at which the steamer anchor