o
and make it Amazons and go with you. Now then, what do you say to
that?"

"Do you want the plain truth?"

"I want the words of an English gentleman," said the American sharply.

"Then I must say that I feel sure he will decline."

"Why?"

"You are a perfect stranger."

"Can't help that."

"Well, I'll be frank," said Brace: "he would not like it because of a
certain English feeling of exclusiveness."

"Yes, that's it, squire; and that's where you Britishers go wrong. But
look here: do I speak plain? I'll pay a fair half of all it costs--
straightforward dollars."

"My brother would not be influenced by money. But there, take no notice
of what I say. He will be down soon: ask him."

"But I want you to back me up, squire."

"I can't do that, sir. Can't you see that it would be very
unreasonable?"

"No," said the American shortly; "can't see anything, only that I want
to go in that captain's vessel, and I don't mind whether it's up the
Orinoco or the Amazons. I wouldn't mind if it was only up this bit of a
river here to where the gold grows. They say there's plenty up there."

"Then go up this river and seek it," said Brace, "and you'll soon get
over this disappointment."

"Maybe," said the American; "but it's getting light now: the sun comes
up quickly in these parts. Let's go down to the waterside and have a
look at the skipper's boat."

Feeling that it would be a welcome change in the conversation, Brace
walked with him to where they could get a good view of Captain Banes's
brig, whose taut rigging and shapely sides began to show plainly now in
the early morning, a flash of sunlight seeming to have fallen just
beneath the bows on the head of the white painted figurehead beneath the
bowsprit; but it proved to be only the gilded Phrygian cap which the
carvers had formed, while as they walked up, admiring the trimness of
the well-kept vessel the while, there was another gleam of sunlight, but
only on the gilt name "Jason."

"Ah," said the American, "`Jason': that had hold of me as soon as I saw
it. He was the chap who went after the golden fleece, wasn't he?"

"I believe so," replied Brace.

"Yes, that's it; and if I'd had that ship I might have got a cargo of
golden fleeces, or other things that would have done as well. You'll
have to back me up, squire. I feel as if I must go."

"Impossible, sir. Charter another boat. You are prepared for such a
voyage, I suppose?"

"Prepared?"