ying
their rascally course too far. In Brazil there is practically no public
opinion. The people are on a level with those in Peru, and naturally
indolent; they have grown so accustomed to oppression that they dare not
protest against any iniquity. I foresee that it will not be long before I
too shall resign; indeed, I would gladly do so now, were it not that I am
forced to stay here to do what I can to obtain justice for the fleet. You
are but one-and-twenty and your life is before you; you have had enough
adventures to last an ordinary man for his lifetime, and you have acquired
some six or seven thousand pounds by your rescue of that treasure, and
your Chilian prize-money as lieutenant of the flag-ship. Here you ought to
get more than that, but I can see already that the fleet will be cheated
out of a great share of their prize-money. Still, however meagre the
amount the scoundrels may consider themselves bound to dole out, you ought
to get a thousand out of them as your share of the capture of a hundred
ships, to say nothing of the men-of-war and the stores. With six or seven
thousand pounds you can buy a ship, command her yourself and go in for
trade; you can settle down on a little estate in the country, or buy
yourself a share in some business. Were there any chance of further
fighting here, I would keep you with me gladly, but as it is it would be a
pure waste of time for you to remain."

Stephen took the advice, resigned, and went home. He had, of course,
written to his father as soon as he arrived in Brazil, and when the vessel
touched at Plymouth he posted a letter to prepare him for his arrival at
home. He found him somewhat altered, but the lieutenant said: "I am in
excellent health now, Stephen. Your disappearance, and Cochrane's letter
telling me that he feared that he could give me no hope whatever, broke me
down a good deal, and I felt myself that I was going downhill rapidly.
However, I have been picking up fast ever since I got your letter giving
me an account of your journey across South America. Now that I have you
home again I shall soon be completely myself. I have invested all that
money of yours in good securities, and as soon as I got your letter I sent
the order, as you requested me, to Spain, for Don Filippo Conchas. I
received a letter from him two months later acknowledging its receipt, and
saying how pleased he and his wife were to hear of your safe arrival on
the sea-coast, for they had lo