They had a
belief, the old sailor stronger than the rest, that there were
Portuguese forts along the coast, chiefly to the southward, and that by
keeping along shore they might reach one of these. There were such
establishments it is true--still are; and though at that time there were
some nearer to the point where their ship had been wrecked, none were
near enough to be reached by the starving castaway, however
perseveringly he might travel towards them.

Ignorant of the impracticability of their attempt, our adventurers
entered upon it with a spirit worthy of success--worthy of the country
from which they had come.

For some time the maherry was led in hand, Old Bill being its conductor.
All four had been well rested during the day; and none of them cared to
ride.

As the tide, however, was now beginning to creep up into the sandy
inlets, to avoid walking in water, they were compelled to keep well high
up on the beach; and this forced them to make their way through the soft
yielding sand--a course that required considerable exertion.

One after another now began to feel fatigue, and talk about it as well;
and then the proposal was made that the maherry, who stepped over the
unsure surface with as much apparent lightness as a cat would have done,
should be made to carry at least one of the party. They could ride in
turns, which would give each of them an opportunity of resting.

No sooner was the proposition made than it was carried into execution;
Terence, who had been the one to advance it, being hoisted up to the
hump of the camel.

But though the young O'Connor had been accustomed the saddle from
childhood, and had ridden "across country" on many an occasion, it was
not long before he became dissatisfied with the saddle of a maherry.
The rocking, and jolting, and "pitching" as our adventurers termed it,
from larboard to starboard, fore and aft, and alow and aloft, soon
caused Terence to sing out "belay"; and he descended into the soft sand
with a much greater desire for walking than the moment before he had had
for riding.

Harry Blount took his place; but although the young Englishman had been
equally accustomed to a hunting saddle, he found that his experience
went but a little way towards making him easy on the hump of a maherry;
and he was soon in the mood for dismounting.

The son of Scotia next climbed upon the back of the camel. Whether it
was that natural pride of prowess which oft impels his