together for a little way along the bank as if going in the direction that
they point to. They are not likely to stay long where they are; some will
go back to the town now that there is nothing to see, others will no doubt
remain on the bank to collect wreckage that may be washed ashore, a few
may go on to the ferry and wait there for us. If there are any boats in
the river you may be sure they will soon put out to collect floating casks
and bales."

The little crowd was indeed just beginning to break up, and after going a
short distance Stephen and his companions left the river and started
south. After going two or three hundred yards they shook hands and
separated, the sailors striking more inland, while Stephen took for the
present a course that ran parallel with the sea-coast. It was already
growing dark, and Stephen was worn out with the excitement of the day, so
that after going on for an hour, he lay down in a clump of trees and went
to sleep. It was broad daylight when he awoke, and on walking to the edge
of the trees he saw a village a few hundred yards in front of him. He made
a long detour to pass it, and was proceeding along a well-beaten path when
he heard the sound of horses' hoofs behind, and looking round saw four
Spanish troopers riding towards him. Escape was out of the question, and
he walked quietly on in the faint hope that they might pass without
stopping him. This, however, was improbable; his hair was matted with sea
water, his clothes still wet--his whole appearance too evidently that of a
shipwrecked man. They stopped when they reached him.

"You are one of the men who were cast ashore last night?" a sergeant said.

"I am," Stephen replied frankly.

"My orders are to take you back to San Carlos. Where are your companions?"

"I do not know," Stephen replied. "We separated at once; I went my way and
they went theirs."

"You are a Chilian," the man said; "anyone can tell it by your speech."

Stephen by this time spoke the language so fluently indeed that he could
have passed as a native. There was, however, sufficient difference between
the dialects of Peru and Chili for it to be seen at once that he was not a
Peruvian. He did not reply directly to the question.

"We were on a trader," he said. "The captain and four of the men were
lost; five of us gained the shore. We were not on an armed ship, and
cannot be considered enemies."

"The whole race of you are enemies," the sergeant said. "