arren, almost insular, promontory, which runs into
the Atlantic to the eastward of Rio de Janeiro. We stood on, the land
appearing to be of a great height behind the beach, till we came in
sight of the Sugar-loaf Mountain; the light land wind preventing us from
entering the harbour, we had to stand off and on during the night.

"Well, I've made up my mind to get a precious good tuck out," I heard
old Growles say to the boatswain; "I suppose the skipper will order a
good store of provisions aboard after the talk we had with him the other
day."

"Not so sure of that, old ship," said the boatswain; "but if he doesn't,
he'd better look out for squalls, as he said to us."

The other men were rejoicing in the expectation of a hearty meal and
wholesome food, and so indeed were Mark and I; for we were not better
off than the rest, except that Mark occasionally got some pickings at
the captain's table, and now and then, when he could manage it, brought
me some.

Next morning a sea-breeze setting in, we stood towards the harbour, and
as the fog lifted, several small islands near its mouth came into sight,
and the Sugar-loaf Mountain loomed up high on the left, while on the
right we saw the battlements of the Castle of Santa Cruz, which stands
at the foot of the mountain. As we passed under the guns of the
fortress, we were hailed by a stentorian voice, which came out from
among the stone-built walls, but the speaker was not seen.

"What ship is that? Where do you come from? How many days out?"

The captain answered the questions through his speaking-trumpet as we
glided by. We at length came to an anchor about a mile from the city of
Rio de Janeiro, in one of the most beautiful and picturesque harbours in
the world. I can't stop to describe it, or the fine-looking city, or
the curiously-shaped boats filled with black, brown, and white people,
though the whites were decidedly in the minority; indeed some of them
could be only so called by courtesy. To our disappointment no one was
allowed to go on shore. The captain and second mate almost immediately
took a country boat and pulled for the landing-place.

"I suppose they intend to send us off some grub," said old Growles, in a
voice loud enough for them to hear; but they took no notice, and pulled
on. We waited in anxious expectation for the arrival of the provisions,
but no boats appeared. It looked very much as if the captain had
forgotten our necessities. At la