or of your uncle's letter. However, remember what I have said, I beg
of you; and may a blessing accompany you wherever you go, as assuredly
my prayers will follow you."

I heartily thanked the kind doctor; and that very day--having said
good-bye to my school-fellows, including Rudge, who all heartily
expressed their hopes that I should not get shot, or be swallowed by an
anaconda, or eaten by a jaguar, and who regarded me with some little
jealousy on hearing that I was going to a country where I should meet
with all sorts of adventures--I set off for London.

My uncle, I found, had already engaged a passage on board a vessel bound
for Jamaica, whence he intended proceeding to the coast of Venezuela. I
had but little time to get an outfit, for two days afterwards we were
dropping down the Thames on board the good ship _Betsy_, bound out to
Kingston in Jamaica, to bring back a cargo of sugar. Next morning, when
I awoke, I could scarcely believe my senses. It seemed but an hour
since I had been at school, and I at first expected to hear the
morning-bell ring to call the boys up.

I quickly dressed and went on deck, when I found that we were already at
sea, and under all sail doubling the North Foreland. But I remembered
enough of my former voyage to be perfectly at home; and I felt as happy
as a bird let out of a cage, as it spreads its wings and soars into the
free air.

I told Uncle Denis what the doctor had said. He looked rather grave.
"I must leave you to be guided by your father," he said at length.
"Perhaps by the time we reach home the Spaniards may have been driven
out of the country, and the blessings of peace secured. We shall know
more about the matter when we get there." And he dropped the subject.

On the voyage, however, when it was calm, Uncle Denis gave me
instruction in the use of firearms. We aimed at bottles thrown
overboard as marks, and sometimes had a target rigged out at the end of
a studdingsail-boom; so I soon became a good shot, both with rifle and
pistol.

"Now, Barry," said my uncle, "let us try what we can do with the sword."
And producing some sword-sticks, he made me take one. Somewhat to my
surprise I found that he was an expert swordsman. He quickly initiated
me into the mysteries of attack and defence, which gave us plenty of
occupation, as it was seldom so rough that we could not practise with
our weapons; and many of the other passengers followed our example. I
did no