Through Forest and Stream | Page 3

that I felt ready to take the poor fellow's part the next time he was in trouble.
"Everyone nearly seems the same to me," he said drearily. "I don't know why I come to sea. Thought it was all going to be adventures and pleasure, and it's all kicks and blows, just because I'm a boy."
The poor fellow looked enviously at me, and sniffing loudly, walked on.
"It ought to be stopped, uncle," I said. "The poor fellow's life is made miserable."
"Yes, Nat. It is terrible to see how one man can make other people's lives a burden to them. I'm a regular tyrant to you sometimes."
I laughed.
"Why, Aunt Sophy says you spoil me," I cried.
"Well, we will not argue about that, my boy," said my uncle; "we've too much to think about. In twenty-four hours we shall be afloat with our boat to ourselves; and the sooner the better, for if she's out of the water much longer we shall have her leaky."
He walked to where our half-decked boat lay in its chocks, with all her tackle carefully lashed in place, and I could not help feeling proud of our possession, as I thought of the delights of our river trips to come, and the days when we should be busy drying and storing skins on board, for it was planned out that we were to make the rivers our highways as far as possible, and live on board, there being a snug cabin under the half-deck, while well-oiled sail-cloth was arranged to draw over the boom, which could be turned into the ridge pole of a roof, and shut in the after part of the boat, making all snug at night, or during a tropical downpour.
"She's rather too big for us, Nat," said my uncle, "and I hope they will have no accident when they lower her down."
"Oh, I hope not, uncle," I said.
"So do I, my boy, but they were clumsy enough in getting her on board. However, we shall have troubles in plenty without inventing any."
We stood together, leaning over the side and talking about our plans, which were to collect any new and striking birds that we could find, while specially devoting ourselves to shooting the quetzals, as they were called by the natives, the splendid trogons whose plumes were worn by the emperors of the past.
"And I'm not without hope, Nat," said my uncle, "that in course of our journeys up in the mountains, in the parts which have not yet been explored, we may find the Cock of the Rocks. I see no reason whatever why those birds should not inhabit suitable regions as far north as this. It is hot enough in Central America, as hot as Brazil, and far hotter than Peru."
"What about humming-birds, uncle," I said.
"We shall find plenty, and perhaps several that have never before been collected; but we must not want ordinary specimens. We must not overload ourselves, but get only what is choice."
Our conversation was interrupted by the coming of the captain, who looked at us searchingly.
"Well, doctor," he said; "been thinking it all over?"
"Yes," said Uncle Dick, quietly.
"And you're going to let me take you in to Belize?"
"Indeed I'm not," said my uncle quietly. "I made all my plans before I started, and explained to you before we sailed from Port Royal what I wished you to do."
"Well, yes, you did say something about it."
"The something was that you should drop me where I wished--somewhere in Yucatan or on Mosquito Coast."
"That's right, doctor; you did."
"Very well, then; according to your calculations at noon to-day, we shall be within sight of land about mid-day to-morrow."
"Dessay we shall, among the cays and reefs and little bits of islands yonder."
"Then you will fulfil your part of the agreement at mid-day."
"Drop you and your boat out at sea?"
"Yes," said Uncle Dick.
"I say; doctor, air you mad?"
"I hope not."
"Well, I begin to think you must be, for this is about the most unheard-of thing a man could do. You and this boy of yours have got to live."
"Of course," said my uncle.
"Well, what are you going to live on?"
"If I must explain, the stores contained in the cases you have of mine below."
"Hah!" cried the captain; "well, that's right, I suppose. But what about fresh water?"
"There is the cask, and a little tank belonging to the boat. They are both full, and we shall never be out of sight of land while on the coast. Afterwards we shall be journeying up the different rivers."
"But when you've eaten all your stores, what then, doctor?"
"I hope we shall never be in that condition," said my uncle, "for we shall husband our stores as reserves, and live as much as we can upon the fish we catch and the birds we shoot."
"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the