" answered the fellow, drawing
himself up with an attempted exhibition of dignity. "Circumstances have
brought me into my present condition."

"Your purity of blood does not much matter to us, Don Jose Gonzalves,
provided you bring back these young officers," answered Jack. "What
means have you for carrying out your plan?"

"My own talent and perseverance," replied the Don, in a self-satisfied
tone.

"Well, we must trust to that," remarked Jack. "How soon can you
commence the undertaking?"

"When I can be landed at a spot some miles higher up the river. I must
depend on you for carrying me there."

This was a disappointment to Jack and Terence, who thought that the man
would at once have set out; but he explained that General Rosas had
moved away to the northward, and that the young officers would have
certainly been carried in that direction.

Just as they reached the deck of the brig, the long-wished-for breeze
setting in, Jack gave the order to make sail.

The anchor had not left the ground, when a boat from the commodore's
ship came alongside, with a despatch for him. His directions were to
hunt down any of the enemy's vessels he could hear of, and then to
follow the squadron, which was on the point of proceeding up the river.

The signal for the fleet to weigh was already flying from the
commodore's masthead, the steamers were getting up their steam, dense
volumes of smoke issuing from their funnels, from the yards of the
sailing-vessels folds upon folds of snowy canvas were being let fall in
all directions, while the boats which had been absent were hurrying back
to their respective ships. Two or three men-of-war alone were left at
the mouth of the river, to prevent any of the enemy's vessels from
escaping, and to keep up the communication with the admiral at Monte
Video.

"Come, this is something like work; I wish we were among them,"
exclaimed Terence; "they will have rare fun going up the river."

"Our turn will come, depend on that," answered Jack; "Rosas is not
likely to let us pass without giving us a taste of his flying
artillery."

The _Supplejack_ was some hours in reaching the mouth of the river, in
which it was reported that one of the enemy's vessels, a schooner, had
taken refuge. Darkness soon coming on, Jack was obliged to anchor, and
await for daylight to proceed up it. A sharp lookout was kept, however,
to prevent any vessel from passing down during the night, without his
kno