ved the
master, who had heard Adair's remarks, giving at the same time a nod to
Mr Mildmay, who blushed an acknowledgment of being the author of the
poetical simile.

The two youngsters were very greatly disappointed when they found that
they had got some way to the south of the line without having made
acquaintance with Neptune and his charming family.

Rio was at length reached, and Gerald and Archie had time to pay visits,
in company with the good-natured master, to many of the localities with
which they were acquainted when there before, though unable to get up
the harbour, as they wished to call on the officious old magistrate, the
Juiz da Fora who had imprisoned them and Higson. They remained,
however, only long enough to take in a stock of fresh provisions and
water, and then steered eastward across the Atlantic to the Cape of Good
Hope.

About sixteen days after leaving Rio, land was sighted.

"What, have we got to the Cape already?" exclaimed Desmond, who heard
the cry from aloft.

"No, my lad; if you had been attending to your day's work you wouldn't
have asked the question," answered Green. "The land ahead is the island
of Tristan d'Acunha, not the most delectable of spots for the residents,
though I believe there are some on it. We are going to put in to get
some more fresh mutton and beef, with any vegetables they are able to
spare."

"Hands shorten sail and bring ship to an anchor!" shouted Adair soon
afterwards, and the corvette brought up before a green slope, spotted
with small whitewashed buildings, the hill becoming more rough and
craggy till it reached an elevation of eight thousand feet above the
sea. The other side of the island, as they afterwards discovered, rose
sheer out of the water in a vast precipice to the summit. Between the
anchorage and the shore was a prodigious mass of enormous seaweeds,
inside of which the water was perfectly calm, forming a safe harbour for
small craft. Off it appeared two small islands, known as Inaccessible
and Nightingale. To the latter, Billy and Dicky Duff were anxious to go
and catch some of the birds, from which, as they were informed by the
irrepressible Paddy Desmond, the island took its name. Its feathered
inhabitants are, however, only the wild sea-fowl which seek their prey
from among the denizens of the ocean.

"You will not find any friends here, Jos, I suppose?" said Adair to the
master.

"It is possible, as I have never been off the