g us. The voyage proved a speedy one, with a singular
lack of ungentle weather: good omen, we thought, for the success of our
enterprise. On the way our captain's plans, which had been somewhat
uncertain at the first, took fixed shape. We passed south of the main
isles of the Indies, steering for the eastern seaboard of the Isthmus
of Panama. We cast along the shore for two days seeking an anchorage,
and we found what we sought in a wooded creek, fringed and thronged
with islets. A winding river emptied into the creek, and the banks
were so thickly clothed with forest as almost to shut out the light of
the sun. Dismasting our ship, we thrust her into a tiny bay o'erhung
by giant trees, and neither from river nor bank could a glimpse of her
be obtained. For a day we worked, making all snug aboard; then we
loaded ourselves with provisions and arms, and set out to cross the
isthmus to Panama itself, intending to rob the Spanish nest of the
golden eggs that daily were laid therein.

"There is little to tell of the story of our march to the Pacific. We
cut our way for days at a time through woods that were well-nigh
impassable. We climbed mountains, threaded defiles, waded through
stream and swamp. Our backs bent beneath the weight of our burdens;
giant thorns tore, first our clothes, then afterwards our flesh. The
sun roasted us by day; mists enwreathed and chilled us by night; a
myriad insects bit us, and roaring beasts and lurking reptiles harassed
our steps. Some of us were quickly down with fever, and added to the
burdens of our comrades, for they bore us upon rude litters of boughs.
Oxenham fought shy of the native villages, not being minded to give
rumour the chance to herald our approach to the golden goal we sought.

"By good hap we came upon a stream at the foot of some hills, flowing
westwards. We followed it for a while, until we felt assured that it
was navigable, and also that it emptied itself into the Pacific. Then
we halted, built huts for our sick, cut down timber and set about the
making of a stout pinnace that would carry us on the rest of our quest.
We also scoured the woods for game and fruits, and harvested the waters
for fish. When our boat was builded, our sick were also upon their
feet again. We had brought with us three light cannon; these we
mounted on our little craft, rigged up mast and sail, and went down the
swift current, westward ho! once more.

"It was no longer possible t