And as to the
_danger_ of the expl'ite, we'll weather it somehow. The little beauty
has showed us already what she can do, and with a couple of prime
seamen--which I take it no man will deny _we_ are--to handle her, take
my word for it, she'll carry us round as safe as e'er a craft that
floats."

"There's another thing I've been thinking of within the last hour,"
continued I. "We talked of going into Buenos Ayres when we first made
up our minds to take the route round the Horn; but even that short
detention I should now like to avoid if possible. Want of water is
really the only cause which would _compel_ us to call there, though I
confess I should like to write a line to Ada from thence, to let her
know we had safely reached so far--"

"As to the first," interrupted Bob, "I feel no consarn whatever. We are
pretty certain to fall in with heavy rains afore we get very far south;
and if the wind happens to be light we can easily spread one of the
sails so as to catch the water, and one good heavy thunder-shower would
fill our tank for us, and as to letters, why, we shall perhaps have such
another chance as this here that we've just had, and that disposes of
the second difficulty. If we _don't_ get any rain before, there's a
splendid harbour on the southernmost side of the Gulf of Saint Matias,
hereaway on our starboard-bow, somewheres about two or three days' sail
to the south'ard of Buenos Ayres, and we can fill up our water there.
I've been into the place once, and a fine snug anchorage it is."

This was a great relief to me, for in my present feverish state of
excitement it seemed to me that any stoppage, unless absolutely
unavoidable, would be more than I could endure.

By this time it was Bob's watch on deck; but I felt that it would be
utterly impossible to sleep if I turned in, so I insisted that he should
go below instead, and, after some argument, he consented.

In about ten minutes more, certain sounds arising through the companion
told me that my friend was too thorough a seaman to be kept awake by
excitement, and I found myself alone and at liberty to indulge in the
new hopes which had so lately been awakened within my breast.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

THE SEA-SERPENT.

The breeze, though it continued light and rather baffling at times,
still held when the sun rose next morning; and on looking astern, I
found that the homeward-bound ships had all disappeared; and of the
outward-bound craft, our light