reets on to the line of quays.

"We are ever so much too far to the right," James Allen said as they
looked round. "I fancy that is the ship's light not far from the shore
half a mile away on the left. I hope we shall find some boatmen to take
us off; it would be rather awkward finding ourselves here for the night
in a place where no one understands the language."

"I think we should manage all right," Wilfrid said. "We know the way
from the place where we landed up into the part where the hotels are,
and are sure to find people there who understand English. Still I hope
it will not come to that. They would be in a great fidget on board if we
were not to turn up to-night."

"I do not think they would be alarmed," James Allen replied. "Every one
is in bed and asleep long ago, and we should be on board in the morning
before the steward went to our cabin and found that we were missing. I
consider we are quite safe in that respect, but Atherton might be doing
something if he found we did not come back."

"He might do something, perhaps," Wilfrid said; "but I am quite sure he
would not alarm my father and mother about it. He is the last sort of
fellow to do that."

CHAPTER IV.

A ROW ON SHORE.

While Wilfrid and the Allens were talking they were walking briskly in
the direction of their landing-place. They had arrived within a hundred
yards of it, when a party of four men who were lying among a pile of
timber got up and came across towards them. They were rough-looking
fellows, and James Allen said, "I do not like the look of these chaps. I
think they mean mischief. Look out!" As he spoke the men rushed at them.
James Allen gave a loud shout for help and then struck a blow at a man
who rushed at him. The fellow staggered backwards, and with a fierce
exclamation in Portuguese drew a knife. A moment later Allen received a
sharp stab on the shoulder, and was knocked to the ground. The other two
after a short struggle had also been overpowered and borne down, but in
their case the robbers had not used their knives.

They were feeling in their pockets when the step of a man approaching at
full speed was heard. One of the robbers was about to run off, when
another exclaimed: "You coward! It is but one man, which means more
booty. Out with your knives and give him a taste of them as he comes
up!" A moment later the man ran up. The leader stepped forward to meet
him, knife in hand; but as he struck his wrist was gra