he
answered. "As that city is in the hands of your friends, I conclude
that you would wish to go there. If not, I will keep you on board and
land you at Jamaica, or any other English island where you may desire to
remain."

"By all means let me go on shore at Angostura," I said, "for I am as
anxious as ever to help to drive the Spaniards out of the country."

The doctor and the padre were greatly pleased when they found that the
schooner was about to proceed up the Orinoco.

"I shall thus be able to recover my chests," observed the former; "it
would have broken my heart to leave them. I shall also, I hope, be able
to remain till I see the patriotic cause triumphant, and you, Barry,
settled happily at home. You make a very good soldier; but you are cut
out for something better than shooting your fellow-creatures, and
running the risk of being shot in return."

"And I shall be able to get back to my people; and, I hope, have liberty
to preach the gospel to them in quiet," observed the padre.

We were soon out of the Caribbean Sea, when, the wind shifting to the
north-east, we ran along the eastern shore of the beautiful island of
Trinidad. The yellow water amid which we afterwards sailed showed us
that we were off the mouth of the mighty Orinoco. The shores on both
sides of the river were so low that we could see only the mangrove
bushes rising out of the water, with tall trees farther off. Having
taken a pilot on board, and the wind being from the eastward, we sailed
rapidly up the stream, notwithstanding the strong current running
against us. The river being in the hands of the patriots, who commanded
it with strong flotillas of flecheras or gun-boats, we sailed on without
molestation from the Spaniards, and at last, after a voyage of ten days
or more, reached Angostura.

Hearing that General Bolivar had already left the place with his forces,
and was marching towards the plains of Apure, my friends and I
determined to follow him. Finding that we could perform two or three
hundred miles or so of the distance by water, we engaged a canoe to take
us up.

When bidding farewell to my friend Captain Longswill, he put a purse
into my hand; observing,--"You are in want of funds, and you or your
uncle can repay me some day if you have the opportunity. If not, you
are welcome to the money; I have made a successful voyage, and can spare
it."

I thanked him much for his generosity, for I was unwilling to be
in