t
Boyton was in the country, and for what purpose, but he surrendered
under his assumed name "Delaport," an engineer.

He was paroled, and went to Ancon, a village on the coast that had been
deserted, and no Chilean guards had been placed there.

Plans were laid for his escape; but he found it impossible to get off to
a steamer.

He procured a little boat and spent most of the time on the islands off
the coast and among the caves, his American friends in Lima sending him
provisions. For a companion he had a young Peruvian officer who also
thought it well to keep under cover. For three weeks they
amused themselves fishing, hunting, exploring, and several times they
rowed far out to sea, in the hope of being picked up by some passing
steamer and taken north, but the hope was not realized.

From almost any other country in the world escape would be easy. But
north and south of Peru lay thousands of miles of sun-parched pampa,
on the west lay the rolling Pacific patrolled by the enemy's ships,
eastward lay the Cordilleras soaring into the clouds--the only passage
through them held by Chilean soldiers.

One morning while they were cruising among the outer group of islands,
Paul noticed a cave opening into one of them, the entrance to which was
far above the water and so peculiar in its appearance that he determined
to explore it. Backing the boat in and taking a shot gun, he jumped
ashore, while his companion pulled quickly away to keep the boat from
being dashed against the island which was formed of an almost
perpendicular rock. Boyton climbed to the entrance of the cave and found
it ran like a slanting shaft through the island. Far below he could
see the green, surging water lashing the adamantine walls. Picking his
way down over the slippery rocks which almost choked up the passage, he
had proceeded about half way down the incline, when his attention was
attracted by a strange cry. Turning, he saw something that appeared to
be neither bird, animal nor fish; but partaking something of the
character of all three. He had often heard of the existence of such
creatures in the remote caverns, but had scarcely credited it.
Fishermen had spoken of them though few claimed to have ever seen one.
They are called ninas del maris-children of the sea. He had heard they
were gentle and affectionate in captivity but savage in their wild
state.

He raised his gun to shoot; but on second thought conc