d been brought
up and educated by Angela and myself, and was warmly attached to us. In
disposition he was bright and courageous, in features almost European;
there could be little doubt that he was descended from some white
castaway, who had landed on the coast and been adopted by this tribe. He
said it would break his heart if we left him behind, so we took him with
us, and he has ever since been the faithful companion of my wanderings and
my trusty friend.

My wife and I slept in our tent, Kidd and Yawl on the sloop. As the sails
were not bent nor the boat victualled, I had no fear of their giving us
the slip in the night. In the morning Ramon and the _arrieros_ returned
with their lading, and by sunset we had everything on board and was ready
for a start.

The next thing was to settle our course. I wanted to reach a port where
I could turn some of my diamonds into cash and take shipping for England,
the West Indies, or the United States. We were between Valparaiso and
Callao, and the former place, as being on the way, seemed the more
desirable place to make for. But as the prevailing winds on the coast are
north and northwest a voyage in the opposite direction would involve much
beating up and nasty fetches, and, in all probability, be long and
tedious. For these reasons I decided in favor of Callao, and told Kidd to
shape our course accordingly.

"Just as you like, sir," he said; "it is all the same to Yawl and me where
we go. But it's a longish stretch to Callao. Don't you think we had better
make for some nearer place? There's Islay, and there's Arica; and I doubt
whether our water will last out till we get to Callao."

"We must make it last till we get to Callao," I answered, sharply; "except
under compulsion I will put in neither at Islay nor Arica."

"All right, sir! We are under your orders, and what you say shall be done,
as far as lies in our power."

Kidd's answer was civil but his manner was surly and defiant, and it
struck me that he might have some special reason for desiring to avoid
Callao. But I was resolved to go thither, so that in case of need I might
claim the protection of the British consul, whom I was sure to find there.
I was by no means sure that I should find one either at Islay or Arica. I
knew something of the ways of Spanish revenue officers, and as I had no
papers, it was quite possible that (in the absence of a consul) I might be
cast into prison and plundered of all I possessed