t us."

Mr Brazier hesitated.

"Better go, sir."

"To refuse would be showing want of confidence in him," said Brazier to
Rob, and then aloud,--

"Very well. Take care of the guns, and see that nothing gets wet."

Just then there was a whirling rush of cool wind, which rippled the
whole surface of the water.

"I shall take care of 'em, sir," said Shaddy. "Here comes the dinghy.
Better get aboard whilst you can. She'll be off that sand-bank 'fore an
hour's past. You can send us a bit of the fish, Mr Harlow. Haul us up
close, and drop some in."

"Yes, I'll look after you, Shaddy," replied Rob.

"And if this wind holds we shall soon be in the Paraguay river, sir, and
sailing into another climate, as you'll see."

They went on board the schooner, where they were warmly welcomed by the
Italian skipper, and in less time than Shaddy had suggested there was a
heavy sea on, which rocked the loftily masted vessel from side to side.
Then a sail or two dropped down, a tremendous gust of moisture-laden air
came from the south, the schooner rose, dipped her bowsprit, creaked
loudly, and as quite a tidal wave rushed up the river before the storm
she seemed to leap off the sand-bank on its crest right into deep water,
and sailed swiftly away due north.

All whose duty did not keep them on deck were snugly housed in the
cabin, listening to the deafening roar of the thunder and watching the
lightning, which flashed incessantly, while the rain beat and thrashed
the decks and poured out of the scuppers in cascades.

"They were right," said Brazier to Rob. "We're better here, but if this
goes on our boat will be half full of water, and not a thing left dry."

"Shaddy will take care of them," said Rob quietly. "Besides, most of
the things are packed in casks, and will not hurt."

Mr Brazier shook his head.

"I don't know," he said; "I'm afraid we shall have to renew our stock of
provisions and powder at Assuncion, and they'll make us pay pretty
dearly for it, too."

The storm lasted well through the night, but at daybreak the rain had
ceased. When they went on deck, there, swinging behind them, was the
drenched boat, with Shaddy seated astern, scooping out the last drops of
water with a tin, and saving that the canvas tent was saturated and
steamed slightly, nothing seemed wrong. The morning was comparatively
cool, a gleam of orange light coming in the east, and a pleasant gale
blowing from the south and sending t