at. They tossed up who was first to
have charge of Spider. Paddy Desmond won, and away they started.

"Look out that you don't run foul of any of the great Dons of the
island, or lose your way," shouted their messmates.

"No fear," answered Tom; "we've got Spider as a pilot."

Spider did show the way in a vengeance, for Desmond's horse finding a
strange creature clinging to its mane, dashed off at headlong speed
through the streets and round the Savannah, followed by the rest,
shouting and laughing, till the foot of the mountains was reached. Then
up they went, not by the high road, but by a rough pathway, which led
they did not know where. That, however, was of small consequence; it
must take them to some place or other, and they had little doubt of
finding their way back. On they pushed, scrambling along regardless of
the hot sun, the dust, the flies, and other stinging creatures, laughing
and shouting, and belabouring each other's steeds, Gerald, as at first,
with Spider before him, bravely keeping the lead. They had not been
unobserved, for Lieutenants Rogers and Adair were riding leisurely along
the road round the Savannah as they passed at some distance.

"There goes my young hopeful of a nephew," exclaimed Adair. "I must
look sharper after the lad than _I_ have done when he gets on shore, or
he'll come to grief, and my good sister, his mother, who doats on him,
will break her heart."

"I must keep a taut hand on Tom, too, for whom I feel myself
responsible," observed Jack. "I was glad to have him on board the
frigate, but I did not reflect on the anxiety he would cause me."

"Mercifully Providence watches over midshipmen, or the race would soon
become extinct, and there would be no such promising young officers as
you and I to be found," said Adair. "There go a number more of them.
Happy fellows! Well, it was not so long since we were like them, Jack."

The two lieutenants continued their ride, bound on a visit which shall
be mentioned presently. The midshipmen galloped along till their
horses' knees trembled under them. They had left the more cultivated
country, and entered a wild region, the forest closing in on every side;
birds of gorgeous colours flew by or rose from the thickets; beautiful
butterflies fluttered in the glades, and monkeys gambolled in the trees,
looking down on them from the branches overhead, chattering loudly as
they passed.

"We've paid a pretty high price, I've a noti