"Why, Aunt Sophy says you spoil me," I cried.
"Well, we will not argue about that, my boy," said my uncle; "we've too
much to think about. In twenty-four hours we shall be afloat with our
boat to ourselves; and the sooner the better, for if she's out of the
water much longer we shall have her leaky."
He walked to where our half-decked boat lay in its chocks, with all her
tackle carefully lashed in place, and I could not help feeling proud of
our possession, as I thought of the delights of our river trips to come,
and the days when we should be busy drying and storing skins on board,
for it was planned out that we were to make the rivers our highways as
far as possible, and live on board, there being a snug cabin under the
half-deck, while well-oiled sail-cloth was arranged to draw over the
boom, which could be turned into the ridge pole of a roof, and shut in
the after part of the boat, making all snug at night, or during a
tropical downpour.
"She's rather too big for us, Nat," said my uncle, "and I hope they will
have no accident when they lower her down."
"Oh, I hope not, uncle," I said.
"So do I, my boy, but they were clumsy enough in getting her on board.
However, we shall have troubles in plenty without inventing any."
We stood together, leaning over the side and talking about our plans,
which were to collect any new and striking birds that we could find,
while specially devoting ourselves to shooting the quetzals, as they
were called by the natives, the splendid trogons whose plumes were worn
by the emperors of the past.
"And I'm not without hope, Nat," said my uncle, "that in course of our
journeys up in the mountains, in the parts which have not yet been
explored, we may find the Cock of the Rocks. I see no reason whatever
why those birds should not inhabit suitable regions as far north as
this. It is hot enough in Central America, as hot as Brazil, and far
hotter than Peru."
"What about humming-birds, uncle," I said.
"We shall find plenty, and perhaps several that have never before been
collected; but we must not want ordinary specimens. We must not
overload ourselves, but get only what is choice."
Our conversation was interrupted by the coming of the captain, who
looked at us searchingly.
"Well, doctor," he said; "been thinking it all over?"
"Yes," said Uncle Dick, quietly.
"And you're going to let me take you in to Belize?"
"Indeed I'm not," said my uncle quietly. "I made all my plans before I
started, and explained to you before we sailed from Port Royal what I
wished you to do."
"Well, yes, you did say something about it."
"The something was that you should drop me where I wished--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 in the morning, as
soon as we are within sight of land--"
"What land?"
"Any land on or off the coast, I shall be obliged by your getting my
boat over the side, and the stores and chests out of the hold and cabin,
so that we can get everything stowed away, then you can take us in tow,
and I can cast off as soon as I like."
"All right," said the captain, and he went forward once more, while we
two stayed on deck watching the wonderful sunset, till the great golden
orange ball dipped down out of sight behind the clouds, which looked
like ranges of mountains rising from some glorious shore.
We were not long afterwards made aware of the captain's reason for going
forward, his voice rising in angry bullying tones, and we soon found
that he and the fierce carpenter were engaged in a furious quarrel,
which ended as quickly as it began, the captain making his reappearance,
driving the ship's boy before him, and hastening the poor fellow's
sluggish, unwilling movements by now and then giving him a kick.