Page:Adrift in the Pacific, Sampson Low, 1889.djvu/178

 was strong enough to stand the voyage. The brave fellow answered for himself that he was. His wound had closed, and his appetite had returned, and all he had to do was not to eat too much. Assisted by Briant and Kate, he now took a walk on the terrace every day.

"Let us be off," he said, " let us be off. I long to be on the way home. The sea will soon set me up."

The departure was fixed for the 5th of February. The evening before, Gordon set at liberty all the domestic animals. The guanacos, vicugnas, ostriches, and all cleared off at full speed of their legs and wings, without even a "Thank you!" for the kindness that had been showered upon them.

"The ungrateful beggars!" said Garnett, "after all that we have done for them!"

"It's the way of the world!" said Service, so solemnly that there was a general shout of laughter.

In the morning the boys embarked in the sloop with the yawl in tow. Donagan was laid aft near Evans, who took charge of the tiller. In the bow Briant and Moko looked after the sails, although they trusted to the current to take them down the river.

The others, including Fan, were where fancy led them.

The moorings were cast off, and the sweeps struck the water.

Three cheers saluted the hospitable cave which for so many months had afforded the boys a shelter, and it was not without emotion that they saw Auckland Hill disappear behind the trees. In descending the river, the sloop went no faster than the current, which was very rapid. At noon, when close to the swamp in Bpg Woods, Evans anchored, for in that part of the course the river was shallow, and it was better to wait for the tide than run the risk of grounding.

During the halt the passengers indulged in a hearty meal, after which Cross and Wilcox went off snipe-shooting on the skirt of South Moors. From the stem of the sloop Donagan managed to bring down a brace