ack_
continued her course. No enemy appeared, but occasionally a few country
people were seen on the banks, who seemed, simply from curiosity, to be
watching the brig as she glided by.

A vigilant lookout was kept, on the bare possibility that the midshipmen
might have made their escape, and gained the bank, in the hopes of being
taken off by any passing vessel. Jose, however, was still confident
that they had been carried off to the north, and were not likely to be
found in that part of the country.

The current being strong, and the wind light, the _Supplejack_ made but
slow progress. At last she reached a place at which Jose had desired to
be landed; he had friends in the neighbourhood, he said, and felt
confident that he should gain tidings of the midshipmen.

The river was here wide, and as she kept close on the opposite shore,
even should the enemy appear their field-pieces were not likely to do
much harm to the brig. The wind had again fallen, and the delay,
indeed, had there not been an important object to be obtained, could not
have been avoided. Farther on, where the river narrowed at Rosario,
Jose told them that they might expect to meet with considerable
opposition. Perhaps that was his reason for not desiring to accompany
them further. As soon as the brig had brought up, a boat was lowered,
and Adair conveyed their very doubtful friend to the shore. He took ten
men, armed with muskets, beside the crew, in case the boat should be
attacked.

"Set your mind at ease on that point," said Jose "they are my friends
hereabouts, and bear no enmity to the English."

As the boat approached, several country people were seen coming down the
steep bank with fowls and vegetables, which they were perfectly ready to
sell. Jose was recognised by several persons, who seemed surprised at
seeing him, but he had a talk with them, after which they became
thoroughly friendly and willing to communicate information. Terence
learnt from them that the squadron had passed up, and had already got
considerably higher than Rosario, where Jose had told Jack that he might
expect to be attacked.

"Probably Rosas, after the lesson he received at Obligado, is unwilling
again to interfere with us," thought Terence. "Perhaps, however, he
expects by allowing us to pass up, to catch us all in a net, and so
prevent our return. If he does that same he will find that he is
mistaken, and that he has not yet learnt what British seame