French commodores were not men to be beaten by
a difficulty. Days and nights together the ships kept at it, doing
their uttermost to reach the rendezvous off the mouth of the river.

At length they all met, and the flag of England flying from the peaks of
some, and that of France from others, in friendly proximity, with a fair
breeze they commenced their ascent of the mighty stream.

As they watched the distant shore on either hand it was difficult to
persuade themselves that they were at a considerable distance above the
mouth of the river. Still, on and on they sailed. With their glasses
they could occasionally see horsemen galloping along apparently watching
them, although no opposition was offered, indeed they were generally too
far out of the range of field-pieces, even should the enemy have
possessed any.

As the current was strong and the wind light, it was slow work, and
often they did not make ten miles a day. They had got about a hundred
miles up when the commodore gave the signal for the squadron to anchor,
and they found that they were within three miles of a place called Punta
Obligado, on the right bank of the river, where General Rosas had thrown
up some strong defences to oppose their further progress.

All hands were in high spirits at the thoughts of the fight, which they
expected would take place the next morning. Murray and the more
reflective officers, could not help thinking that fighting was a serious
matter, and that if a report that they had heard was correct, before
another day was over, many enjoying high health and spirits might be
laid low.

Jack, who brought up close to the _Tudor_, came on board with Tom to pay
their friends a visit. Their chief regret was that Higson was not there
to take part in the expected achievements of the following day.

"We never know what may happen to us when we go into battle," said
Murray, as Jack sat with him in his cabin. "In case I should fall, I
must get you to take this packet to Stella. She is ever in my thoughts,
and I am anxious to make arrangements for her future comfort and
support, for I doubt that she is as well provided for as she supposes.
Her father spent most of his fortune in the wild schemes in which he
took part, and careless as I heard he was about his own pecuniary
affairs, he probably neglected to make due provision for his daughter.
Had she married me, she would, at all events, have enjoyed a pension as
my widow, and as th