cle Paul had
been so prostrated mentally as well as physically, that it did not occur
to them to ask where the vessel was bound to, nor had the captain asked
us where we wished to go.

Captain Jan was exactly what I had pictured a Dutch skipper--short, fat,
and fond of a drop of schnapps, and fonder still of his pipe. He was
kind-hearted and good-natured in the extreme, and was evidently pleased
with the thought that he had been the means of saving our lives. His
mate Peter was in appearance very unlike him: tall and thin, with a
melancholy expression of countenance; which, however, belied his natural
disposition, for he was really as merry and kind-hearted as the skipper.

Arthur, Tim, and I went on deck for a short time, and found the sloop
slipping pretty quickly through the water; but I cannot say that we took
a "turn" on deck, for there was very little space to enjoy more than a
fisherman's walk, which is three steps and overboard. We soon returned
to the cabin to have supper, which Sambo the black, under Peter's
supervision, had exerted all his skill to cook. It was not of a refined
style of cookery, but we enjoyed it as much as if it had been the most
magnificent banquet. We had not yet made up for our loss of sleep, so
once more we all lay down in the little cabin, the kind skipper and his
mate still refusing to occupy their own berths.

Next morning, when I went on deck, I found that it was a perfect calm.
After breakfast the oars were got out; and as none of us wished to be
idle, we offered to take our turn with the rest. I should have said
that the vessel belonged to Stabroek, Guiana, then a Dutch settlement.
After having visited Trinidad, she was on her way up the Orinoco to
trade with the natives. Had my father and Uncle Paul known this, they
would certainly have requested the skipper to carry us to Stabroek.

"I am afraid that we put you much out of your way, eat up your
provisions, and keep you out of your cabin," said Uncle Paul to Captain
Jan.

"Oh no, no, my friends," answered the honest skipper. "I am glad of
your company, and that little girl has won my heart; so, if you are
pleased to remain, we will just run up the river for a week or two, and
when we have done some trading with the natives I will carry you to
Stabroek, or wherever else you may wish to go. We shall have no
difficulty in obtaining provisions and water, and I have still a good
store of schiedam, so, my friends, you will