," observed the officer, who
was looking through his glass; "those are the Andes or Cordilleras, sure
enough, though seventy miles off at least--it may be many more than
that."

Ben thought that he must indeed have a sharp pair of eyes, if he could
see an object seventy miles off; yet he found that the officer was
correct. All the men aloft now saw the mountains, and very soon they
could be perceived by those on deck. Shortly after the sun rose,
however, thin and light mists ascended, and veiled them from view.
Still the ship sailed on with a fair breeze, hour after hour, and no
land appeared. Ben began to fancy that he must have been mistaken. He
was somewhat surprised, therefore, when he was sent for into the
captain's cabin.

"I find that you were the first to see land this morning, boy Hadden,"
said the captain in a kind tone. "There is no great merit in that, but
after a long passage it might be of much consequence, and I wish to
reward you. You, however, rendered me a far greater service when you
discovered the iceberg rounding Cape Horn. I shall not forget that. In
the meantime I present you with a sovereign, to show you that I approve
of your conduct on that and other occasions."

Ben, thanking the captain, left the cabin, highly pleased at the praise
he had received, and very glad also to get the sovereign; not that he
might spend it on himself, but that he might send it home to his mother;
and he had some notion that he could do so by some means or other, but
how, he could not tell. He would consult Mr Martin.

"Oh, it was to get that gold sovereign which made you so eager about
going aloft of late," observed Tom, who was somewhat jealous of his
companion.

"Yes. I wanted it to send to my mother," answered Ben quietly.

"But she can't want it. I never send my mother anything, nor does
father, that I know of," exclaimed Tom. "Much better, Ben, to spend it
like a man ashore. We could have rare fun with it, depend on that."

"My mother is a widow, and that is one reason why she should want the
money, though yours doesn't," said Ben. "Then, though I came to sea in
the hope of finding Ned, I also came that I might get money to take care
of mother in her old age; so I think it right to send her the first
sovereign I have got, and I hope that it will be followed by many more."

"You are always talking about doing right in this thing and that; but
how do you know what is right?" exclaimed Tom, v