y have the satisfaction of knowing that Inez and I have had
some part in saving the life of a brave English gentleman._" Then with a
few more words of adieu the letter closed.

Stephen had already felt that there was some money in the pockets of his
trousers, and he now handed his letter to the old woman and pulled out
some gold.

"No," she said, drawing back; "I would die to please my young mistress,
but not one penny would I touch from the hand of a foreign heretic."

A minute later and she was gone. The muleteer laughed at her outbreak.
"Well, well," he said, "how people differ; now, for my part, when I
receive payment for the work of my mules I care not in the least whether
it comes from a heretic's pockets or those of a good Catholic. But I did
not know that you Brazilians were heretics, senor."

"As a rule we are not," Stephen said, "but my case is an exception; I will
tell you more about it on the journey. Callao is not the town where it is
safe to be a heretic."

"No, indeed," the muleteer said with a laugh; "however, it is no business
of mine, senor. A gentleman whose name I know not, but to whom I was
recommended by a cousin of mine, who is a relation of the old woman who
has just left us, made a bargain with me to take you to the Amazon or a
river running into it. He agreed to give me my own terms. He paid me a
third of the money in advance, and said that you would pay me the
remainder at the end of the journey. He said that you were a Brazilian,
and spoke Chilian better than our tongue; though, indeed, they are so much
alike that one passes as well as the other, or did till this war began.
That account of you may be true or it may not, it is no business whatever
of mine. A man says to me, I want you to carry a bag of salt to such a
place. I agree as to the terms, and it is no matter to me whether the sack
contains salt or sand as long as the weight is the same. Your things all
came up here to-day, senor--your wallet, and your sword, and a brace of
pistols, a rifle and a bird gun. You will find everything right. I
understood that it was your wish, for some reason which was again no
business of mine, to start as soon as you arrived, and I have three mules
standing saddled in the stable if you are ready to start."

"I should certainly be glad to do so, Gomez. I have, as you say, my
reasons for wanting to be off as soon as possible."

Accordingly the three mules were at once brought round, the baggage
div