s violent flappings
before it could be again secured. In the struggle one man was knocked
insensible, so severe were the surgings of the boom, as the heavy
canvas jarred the whole ship with its cannon-like reports.

One result was a fair after breeze and a clear sky. The schooner
bowled along at a nine knot gait, while the men worked cheerily to
repair the slight injuries occasioned by the squall.

That day the trailing smoke of a steamer was indistinctly seen in the
southern horizon. The helm was instantly put about and the Wanderer
hauled up on a northeast course, which was maintained all day.

The captain and first mate took careful reckonings more than once,
verifying each other's castings of their latitude and longitude. It
became generally understood that land was close at hand and an air of
expectancy became general on board.

The succeeding night was cloudless in the earlier part. Later on a
mist slowly inclosed them as they neared the coast.

Ralph sat up late, for he was vaguely excited at the prospect of
beholding what was to him a new world. But he gave out at last and
turned in, intending, however, to be on deck at the first notice of
land. Youth sleeps sound, and his next conscious sensation was that of
being rudely shaken.

"On deck with you, boy," said the sailor who had roused him. "Going to
snooze all day?"

He leaped from his hammock, and ran up the companionway. Then an
exclamation of astonishment burst from his lips.

CHAPTER XVII.

Up the River.

The Wanderer lay in a small, land locked harbor, densely surrounded by
a strange and wonderful growth of forest, that completely concealed the
shore behind.

Near by, though hidden beyond a neck of land, one could hear the roar
of breakers. At the opposite extremity, the harbor was elongated, as
if some stream were entering beneath a giant growth of overhanging
foliage.

The little bay was no more than a quarter of a mile across, nor was
there any sign of human presence other than that presented by the
schooner and her crew. She was anchored mid-stream, and Ralph could
perceive a sluggish, muddy current making towards an inlet that was
partially concealed by several small islets, densely covered by
mangroves.

"Granger, I want you," said the second mate from the quarter deck.
"Take three hands and make ready the ship's yawl alongside."

In obedience to this, Ralph, with the requisite aid, soon had the large
boat that re