ed--somewhere in
Yucatan or on Mosquito Coast."

"That's right, doctor; you did."

"Very well, then; according to your calculations at noon to-day, we
shall be within sight of land about mid-day to-morrow."

"Dessay we shall, among the cays and reefs and little bits of islands
yonder."

"Then you will fulfil your part of the agreement at mid-day."

"Drop you and your boat out at sea?"

"Yes," said Uncle Dick.

"I say; doctor, air you mad?"

"I hope not."

"Well, I begin to think you must be, for this is about the most
unheard-of thing a man could do. You and this boy of yours have got to
live."

"Of course," said my uncle.

"Well, what are you going to live on?"

"If I must explain, the stores contained in the cases you have of mine
below."

"Hah!" cried the captain; "well, that's right, I suppose. But what
about fresh water?"

"There is the cask, and a little tank belonging to the boat. They are
both full, and we shall never be out of sight of land while on the
coast. Afterwards we shall be journeying up the different rivers."

"But when you've eaten all your stores, what then, doctor?"

"I hope we shall never be in that condition," said my uncle, "for we
shall husband our stores as reserves, and live as much as we can upon
the fish we catch and the birds we shoot."

"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the captain. "Going up the rivers, air you?"

"Yes."

"Then you'd better try and ketch the sea cows. They're big as
elephants, and one o' them'll last you two, six months if she don't go
bad."

"Thank you," said my uncle, smiling; "but we shall be content with
smaller deer than that."

"Well, I guess I don't like letting you go doctor," said the captain.

"So it seems," said my uncle quietly. "Pray why?"

"Don't seem fair to young squire here, for one thing."

"Have you any other reason?" said my uncle.

"You two can't manage a boat like that."

"We have managed a bigger one before. Any other reason?"

"Well, yes; you two'll come to grief, and I don't want to be brought to
book for setting you adrift on about the maddest scheme I ever heerd
tell of."

"Ah, now we understand one another," said my uncle, quietly. "Well, you
may set you mind at rest, sir. I am the best judge of the risks to be
run, and you will never be called to account for my actions."

"Well, don't blame me if you both find yourselves on your backs with
fever."

"Never fear, captain," said my uncle. "If it is calm i