ainted and fixed up as to
disguise the fact. The arms were of inferior quality, the provisions
adulterated so shamefully as to be hardly fit for human food, and the
merchandise taken for traffic with the natives of the Land of Promise
consisted mainly of shop-worn remainders; yet for everything the
highest price was charged and paid.

To crown all, the ships were commanded by coarse, brutal, and ignorant
captains, jealous of and hostile to one another, and caring little for
the authority of the council. But Donalblane knew nothing of this,
and, beyond warning him to be very careful to keep his own counsel and
to be chary of making new friends, his uncle had not given him any hint
of it.

Proud of his substantial wooden chest, containing not only an excellent
outfit of clothes, but a good pair of pistols, a sword, and a small
quantity of beads and trinkets wherewith to do a little trafficking
with the natives on his own account, he stood on the deck of the
largest of the little fleet of five vessels one bright day in July 1698.

CHAPTER III.

OFF TO DARIEN.

Five ships, not one of them really fit for the long and perilous
voyage, composed the expedition, and they looked gay enough as,
bedecked with flags and crowded with excited people, they swung at
their moorings ready for departure.

The heart of Scotland beat high with hope. It was her first attempt at
founding a colony, although her sons had done so much to help in the
founding of English colonies, and now all the glory and the gold to be
won in the new world would be hers, and hers alone: no other nation
should have any share in them.

Donalblane felt something of this patriotic enthusiasm stirring his
young heart. He was not wholly selfish in his desire to be a member of
the expedition. Of course, his head was full of wild dreams of what
wonders he would see, and the great things he would do in his own
interest. But above it all rose a national pride that did him credit.
He was a Scot to the backbone; and whether he realised all his own
expectations or not he was passionately eager that the great scheme
itself should be accomplished, and that his country should take a proud
place among the nations.

His uncle, having bidden him good-bye and God-speed, had returned to
the quay, and Donalblane, leaning over the bulwarks, was waiting
somewhat impatiently for the anchor to be hoisted and the sails set,
when a hand was laid gently on his shoulder