to which no man has thus far penetrated; and I can see no reason why we
should not find one of them. Now, what say you?"

"Simply, that I agree with every word you have said, Phil, and am quite
ready to go to the world's end with you," answered Dick. "Now, when do
we start, and which way do we go?"

"Well," returned Stukely, "our first business is to get safely away from
Cartagena; and the sooner the better. For it is evident that the
authorities have somehow obtained an inkling of the fact that two
Englishmen belonging to the band who have wrought them so much damage
have been lurking hidden in the city; and if my estimate of the Spanish
character be correct I believe they will take a good deal of trouble to
find us; and if they find us we may rest assured that they will clap us
into the Inquisition, by hook or by crook. Therefore, I say, let us get
away to-night, immediately after dark, so that we may have a chance to
put as many miles as possible between ourselves and Cartagena before
daylight. Then, as to which way we should go, the interior is where we
are bound for, and the interior lies to the southward, therefore when we
get out to sea, let us steer south, and enter the first river of any
importance that we happen to come to, knowing that all rivers lead to
the interior."

"Agreed!" exclaimed Dick. "We will leave here as soon as the darkness
is deep enough to conceal our movements; and we will begin our voyage by
slipping across the bay and going out to sea by way of the channel at
the back of the island of Baru, by which means we shall reach the open
sea some twenty-five miles south of Cartagena, and so avoid the risk of
being seen and informed upon by any of the local fishing boats. I would
that I had one of Mr Bascomb's charts with me; but as I haven't we must
e'en do without it and trust to memory. I have some recollection of
having seen a river of some importance marked on the chart not very far
south of this; and if we hug the shore pretty closely we can scarcely
fail to find it."

This matter settled, they proceeded to take stock of their possessions,
which totalled as follows: a pair of pistols each, the locks of which
had fortunately been fitted with new flints immediately before the
disastrous attempt to force a way to the Inquisition at Cartagena; two
powder horns full of powder; thirty bullets each, together with a
considerable quantity of greased rags to serve as wadding; a good,
service