the tramp were much exhausted.

"We will not make a fire tonight," Ned said. "We must be careful of
our powder. I don't want to be driven to use sticks for getting
fire. It is a long and tedious business. We will be up at daybreak
tomorrow, and will push on till we find water. We will content
ourselves, for tonight, with a bit of this smoked venison."

They found it dry work, eating this without water; and soon
desisted, gathered some grass to make a bed, and were asleep a
short time after it became dark. They were now in an open district,
not having seen a tree since they started in the morning, and they
had therefore less fear of being disturbed by wild beasts. They
had, indeed, talked of keeping watch by turns; but without a fire,
they felt that this would be dull work; and would moreover be of
little avail, as in the darkness the stealthy tread of a lion would
not be heard, and they would therefore be attacked as suddenly as
if no watch had been kept. If he should announce his coming by a
roar, both would be sure to awake, quickly enough. So, lying down
close together, with their spears at hand, they were soon asleep,
with the happy carelessness of danger peculiar to youth.

With the first streak of daybreak, they were up and on their way.
Until midday they came upon no water, their only excitement being
the killing of an armadillo. Then they saw a few bushes in a hollow
and, making towards it, found a small pool of water. After a hearty
drink, leaves and sticks were collected, a fire made, and slices of
the smoked deer's meat were soon broiling over it.

"This is jolly," Tom said. "I should not mind how long I tramped,
if we could always find water."

"And have venison to eat with it," Ned added, laughing. "We have
got a stock to last a week, that is a comfort, and this armadillo
will do for supper and breakfast. But I don't think we need fear
starvation, for these plains swarm with animals; and it is hard if
we can't manage to kill one occasionally, somehow or other."

"How far do you think it is across to the other coast?"

"I have not an idea," Ned said. "I don't suppose any Englishman
knows, although the Spaniards can of course tell pretty closely. We
know that, after rounding Cape Horn, they sail up the coast
northwest, or in that direction, so that we have got the base of a
triangle to cross; but beyond that, I have no idea whatever.

"Hallo!"

Simultaneously, the two lads caught up their spears an