midshipman
disappeared up the street, than the men all jumped on shore to look out
for a grog-shop. Not one was to be seen, and on that account the place
had been selected by the captain for the landing of the boat's crew. In
vain they searched.

"Now, Ben Hadden, here's a job for you," said the coxswain of the boat,
when they had come back and sat down in rather a sulky mood. "Just you
scud up the street, and bring us down a couple of bottles of
arguardiente. You are certain to find some place where they sell it,
and there's five shillings for yourself. I know you want money to send
to your mother; Tom told me so. Very right in you. Come, be sharp
about it, there's a good lad."

"Thank you, Brown," said Ben, not moving from his seat; "but you forget
that Mr Manners said it was the captain's orders no one should go out
of sight of the boat. Even if you were to offer me five pounds for
mother, I couldn't go--"

"Oh, nonsense, boy!" answered Brown; "it isn't the money you care about,
I know, but do it just to oblige us."

"No, no, Brown. I have been taught always to do right, whatever comes
of it, and never to do wrong, even if it seems as if no harm would come
of it," said Ben firmly.

"All right, I daresay, boy; but surely there's no harm in getting some
grog in this hot weather," argued Brown.

"It's against orders, it's against the regulations, it's disobedience,"
returned Ben. "We were ordered not to go out of sight of the boat, and
unless we do the arguardiente cannot be got."

"Oh, this is all shilly-shallying humbug!" exclaimed Brown angrily.
"Come, a couple of you, with me, and we'll have the liquor, and be back
in a jiffy."

"Remember, Brown, if you do, and I am asked, I'll speak the truth, I'll
warn you," said Ben undauntedly.

"And I'll break your head, if you do!" exclaimed Brown, springing out of
the boat, followed by two of the other men, while the rest soon
scattered themselves about the quay, leaving Ben sitting in the boat.
He, at all events, determined not to move, though the proper
boat-keepers deserted their post. He sat on for some time, watching
people passing on shore: blacks, and brown men, the aboriginal natives
of the country, and white people descended from Spaniards, in their
varied and picturesque costumes; and two or three processions passed, of
priests, in white and purple dresses, and some in gold and scarlet, with
banners of the Virgin Mary and saints, and crucifix