the exact spot at which they should arrive, and
the time within a few hours.

The place for which the frigate was bound is called Valparaiso, in the
republic of Chili. She was, after leaving it, to go in search of the
admiral on the station, and then to proceed on her voyage across the
Pacific Ocean. Mr Martin told Ben and Tom that the Pacific is full of
groups of islands, some of them of considerable size, with lofty
mountains on them; others composed of coral, many of them measuring not
a mile from one end to the other, and raised but a few feet above the
surface of the ocean.

"Ah, among so many, what chance shall I have of finding Ned?" sighed
Ben.

"Why, as to chance, my boy, about as much chance as finding a needle in
a bundle of hay," answered Mr Martin. "But I thought, Ben, you knew
better than to talk of chance. If your brother is alive,--and you
shouldn't count too much upon that,--if it's God's will that you should
find him, you will; but, if not, though we should visit fifty islands,--
and I daresay we shall see more than that number,--you won't."

"I know, I know. I don't mean chance. Not a sparrow falls to the
ground but God sees it; but I mean that, among so many islands, it is
less likely that the frigate should visit the one where Ned may be."

"As I said before, if God means you to find your brother, even though
there were ten times as many islands as there are, and the ship was only
to visit twenty of them, or ten, or five of them, or only one for that
matter, you will find him. All you have to do is to trust in God that
He'll do what is best."

"Yes, I know that," said Ben. "Father always used to say, `Do right,
whatever comes of it.' God will take care that good will come out of it
in the end."

CHAPTER EIGHT.

DO RIGHT, WHATEVER COMES OF IT.

"Land! land!" shouted little Ben, from the foretop-masthead; for he had
been out of his hammock and aloft before break of day, that he might
have the best opportunity of seeing land if it was to be seen. "Yes,
yes, that must be the land; those are tops of mountains covered with
snow, just what Mr Martin told me might be seen before sunrise. Land!
land! away on the starboard bow!" he shouted more loudly.

The officer of the watch heard him, and was soon, with his telescope
slung over his shoulder, ascending the rigging. Ben pointed out the
direction in which he saw the snow-capped peaks.

"You have a sharp pair of eyes, boy Hadden