litics interest us but
little. If they do interest us, at least we do not speak of them. Silence
is golden, my son, as you have doubtless learnt for yourself in Peru. How
came so young a man as you to undertake so terrible a journey as you have
made?" he asked, changing the conversation.

"It may be, father, that I did not sufficiently recognize that silence was
golden. In any case my friends recommended me to take a long journey,
because they thought it would be better and safer for me to travel to
Brazil; and as there were reasons against my taking a passage by sea,
there was nothing for me but to strike across the continent."

"You must possess courage and resolution to have ventured out on such a
journey. Nevertheless, I can understand that your risk was greater had you
remained. You have heard, I suppose, that Peru is now independent?"

"No, indeed," Stephen replied. "Was there a great battle?"

"There was no fighting at all. The Chilian fleet so hemmed in the
Spaniards that neither supplies nor reinforcements could reach them, so
they agreed to evacuate the country. San Martin was made dictator, or
rather made himself so; but so great were the oppressions and tyrannies of
himself and his officers that there was a revolution some months ago, and
San Martin had to fly to Chili, where he has since remained, as far as I
know."

"It served him right," Stephen said. "He was an ignorant, vain, and
traitorous brute, and if the Peruvians had hung him he would only have got
his deserts."

"I can understand, my son," the priest said with a smile, "that Peru was
not a healthy place for you; and I should doubt whether, if you come to
take an interest in politics here, Brazil will be a safer place of
residence for you than Peru."

The voyage was pleasant but very slow. When the wind was favourable a
great sail was hoisted; when it was not, the boat drifted down the river.
The passengers passed the time away in eating many meals, consisting
principally of the bread and fruit they purchased at the villages where
the boat stopped, and in sipping coffee and smoking innumerable
cigarettes. Of an evening the three ladies brought out guitars, and there
was much singing by them and the male passengers, several of whom were
able to take a turn at the musical instruments. Lines were put over, and
occasionally fish caught. So week after week passed. The passengers
changed frequently, but Stephen found all to be cheerful and sociabl