exed at the idea that he
should not benefit, as he thought he ought to do, by the gift his
messmate had received.

"How can you ask that?" said Ben. "Haven't we got the Bible to show us
in the first place, and if we can't make up our minds clearly on the
matter from it, which, I allow, is possible, then cannot we pray to be
guided aright? and does not God promise that He will hear our prayers,
and send the Holy Spirit to guide us?"

"Yes, I know all that," answered Tom, turning away. In truth, Tom ought
to have known it as well as Ben, for his father had frequently told him
the same; but, though he had heard, the words had passed from one ear
out at the other: he had not taken them in.

Early in the day the master had stated the hour at which the coast-line
of South America would be seen; for the mountains Ben had discovered are
several miles inland, and are many thousand feet high--indeed, the range
of the Andes is one of the highest in the world. It now appeared at the
hour the master said it would, standing up rocky and broken, from the
very margin of the ocean. As the frigate drew nearer, the land looked
very dry and barren, and utterly unworthy of the name it bears.

"If you were to see it in winter, just after the rains are over, you
would speak very differently of it," observed Mr Martin, who had been
there before. "Never judge of things, and, above all, of countries, at
first sight. At the right time this country looks as green and fresh
and beautiful a country as you need ever wish to see."

In the afternoon the frigate anchored in the bay of Valparaiso, which is
lined by lofty hills, underneath one of which, and climbing up the
sides, the town is built.

Ben was very anxious to go on shore, that he might inquire among all the
sailors he could meet if any of them had heard anything of his brother
Ned. Mr Charlton knew this, and arranged that he might have the
opportunity of carrying out his plans as far as possible. Whenever a
boat left for the shore, Ben was therefore allowed to go in her. Soon
after their arrival, a boat in which Ben went was sent from the frigate
under command of a midshipman, who had some commission to perform in the
town. On leaving the boat, the midshipman said, "Two of you will remain
as boat-keepers; the rest may step on shore, but are not to stray out of
sight of the boat. Remember, these are the captain's orders."

"Ay, ay, sir," was the answer; but no sooner had the