elt bound in no way beyond our
agreement, but with you it has been altogether different. Had we been men
of your own race you could not have treated us more kindly. We have been
comrades and companions. If we saved your life, you must remember that you
saved mine; say nothing, therefore, of an obligation. Hurka and I will
always remember our journey with you as one of the most pleasant that we
ever took. The toil has not been great, for we always went with the
stream, while as to danger, we have both passed through many vastly
greater perils. If you are satisfied with our services we are content, and
more than content."

Two days later Stephen took his place in a large boat, with a long cabin
on deck, carrying a mast and great sail. He parted with the Indians with
deep regret, and watched them as, after looking after the boat until it
had gone far down, they turned and went along the shore to a little craft
on which they had arranged for a passage, and which was to start half an
hour after he sailed. Then Stephen turned round to look at his
fellow-passengers. One end of the deck was reserved for the whites. Here
was a priest who had been up at Barra on a visit, two traders who had
disposed of their merchandise and were returning to Para, an old
Portuguese official, his wife, and two daughters, who had, he learnt, been
staying for a month with a married daughter at Barra; besides these, there
were three or four petty traders, who had come up from villages on the
bank to replenish their stock of goods.

In the fore-part of the vessel were fully a score of natives, among whom
were several women. An awning was extended over the after part of the
upper deck, and it was not long before Stephen entered into conversation
with his fellow-passengers. Hitherto he had thought of nothing but
obtaining his passage, laying in a stock of provisions--for he was warned
that each passenger catered for himself--and saying last words to his
Indian companions; he had, therefore, had no time to obtain news of what
was going on. After telling them that he had come down the Madeira, and
had been laid up for more than eight months by illness, he said to the
priest:

"I have now been some sixteen months away from all news, and feel like a
man who has dropped from the moon."

"Then you are ignorant," the priest said in surprise, "that the southern
portion of Brazil has declared Dom Pedro emperor."

"Dom Pedro!" Stephen repeated in surprise. "