Page:Dick Sands the Boy Captain.djvu/211

 A STRANGER. 185 will fumish you wîth the means of convçyance ffiom San Felîce to Atacama, where no doubt you will obtaîn ail the information you require." " I hope you will not thînk that Dîck is insensible to your kindness, Mr. Harris/' said Mrs. Weldon, apolo- getically. " On the contrary," promptly observed Dîck ; " I fuUy appreciate ît ; I only wish we had been cast ashore upon a spot where we should hâve had no need to întrude upon his generosity." " I assure you, madam, it gîves me unbounded pleasure to serve you in any way," said Harrîs ; " it is, as I hâve told you, not often that I come in contact with any of my own countrymen." " Then we accept your offer as frankly as it is made,** replied the lady, addîng ; " but I cannot consent to deprive you of your horse. I am a very good walker." " So am I," said Harrîs, with a bow, " and consequently I intend you and your little son to ride. I am used to long tramps through the pampas. Besîdes, it îs not at ail un- likely that we shall come across some of the workpeople belongîng to the hacienda ; if so, they will be able to give us a mount." Convinced that it would only be thwartîng Mrs. Weldon's wishes to throw any further impediment in the way, Dick Sands suppressed his désire to raîse fresh obstacles, and simply asked how soon they ought to start. " This very day, at once," said Harris quickly. " So soon ?" asked Dick. "Yes. The rainy season begîns in April, and the sooner we are at San Felice the better. The way through the forest is the safest as well as the shortest, for we shall be less likely to meet any of the nomad Indians, who are notorious robbers." Without making any direct reply, Dick proceeded to - instruct the negroes to choose such of the provisions as were most easy of transport, and to make them up înto packages, that every one might carry a duc share. Hercules wîth his usual good nature professed hîmself wîlling to