After we had filled our glasses I proposed `the health of Captain
Conway,' which was drunk with grateful enthusiasm.

`Two glasses all round I think will do for young people like ourselves,
' said the Captain smiling; `now for my plan. I submit it to
you, and let you judge for yourselves.'

`We will be guided by your superior judgment and experience,' we
answered.

`Well, hear first what I have to propose. You say you wish to join
the Patriots. Now the best and the only way to attain your end is to
try and reach Buenos Ayres.'

`But the blockade, Captain,' said Fairfax.

`Very true. But if you are the young men I think you are, you
will not let half a dozen Brazilian blockades be any obstacle in your
way. As it is, Montevideo is no longer safe for you. You say you do
not care about returning to the States without accomplishing something
more than selling soda-water by the glass. I like your spirit.—
When I was a young man I felt just so. As to your agreement with
Mr. Bedrick that is of no force. He has shamefully deceived you (we
had told the Captain the history of the affair of our coming out to
South America, while in the boat) and you have nothing to reflect upon
yourselves for leaving him. Besides, you can no longer stay in the
city. By this time your house has been searched, and I have no doubt
the town will be strictly overhauled to find you; for it is death to make
any attempt to join the Patriots; and if you are taken you will be likely
at the very least to be thrown into the calaboose, and be kept there
till the war is over. The American Consul could not save you after
your open expressions of attachment to the service of the enemy. I
am not sure that you will be safe on board my vessel many hours, or
you should remain as long as you like. I have no doubt I run great risk
in bringing you on board; for if they should find you here, my vessel
would be confiscated.'

`We will leave it this moment, Captain,' I answered warmly, `rather
than involve you in any danger.'

`This is noble in you, but I have begun to save you, and I never do
things half way. There is no doubt but that when they find that you
are not on shore, they will search every American vessel in port. Now
hear the plan I have thought of for your safety, and also for bringing
about your wishes. I have on board swinging at the quarter deck, a
whale boat, which I picked up off San Salvador, adrift. It is almost
new, staunch, and will do service. The mate has amused himself in

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calm weather, in making a mast and sail for it, as he thought it would
be handy to pass to and from the vessel in, when we should lay in the
outer roads from Buenos Ayres, which are two leagues from the landing.
Now this boat, which is worth about eighty dollars, is at your
service, and you may pay me for it in Boston when you can. You
shall take her with four oars, mast and sail, and try to reach Buenos
Ayres in her. It is a perilous attempt I allow, and requires bold hearts
and steady nerves to go through with it successfully. But I have great
faith in you, my lads, and have no doubt you will achieve the adventure
handsomely, and do honor to Yankee land.'

We assurred him that we would try to do so, and thanking him for
his offer told him with one voice that we would make the attempt to
reach the blockaded city.

`There can be no more danger before us than now surrounds us,'
said Fairfax; `but ready as I am to undertake it, I don't see how we
are to get out of the harbor, much more reach Buenos Ayres.'

`It will be a delicate affair to manage, young gentlemen, and will
require all the coolness and energy you possess to carry it through.—
But I feel confident that you will succeed, young men, if success
is possible. About twelve o'clock to-night would be a good time
to start, for you will be less likely to fall in with the guard-boats,
for at that time they generally pull in to relieve duty. By muffling
your oars, two of you pulling, one at the helm, and the fourth to look
out at the bows, you may be able to pull safely out among the fleet in
the harbor. Once outside the guard-ship, and half your danger is
over. You will then step your mast and make sail on her and run for
the British frigate Doris, which is, you know, anchored about five
miles out in the river. By the time you get up with her, you will be
far enough out to put your helm up river and steer right for the blockading
squadron, which you know stretches across the river about five
leagues above this city. The blockading squadron you will find anchored
within gun-shot of each other, from shore to shore, making a
chain of vessels a mile and a half apart, and sixty miles long. Through
this squadron you will have to pass; and as you will come in sight of
the lights of the vessel before day, (for the wind is fresh and fair for
you outside) I should advise you to strike your sail when within a mile
or so of them, take the bearings of the two nighest vessels and pull
mid-way between them. In the darkness, and your boat lying so low
in the water, you will not be discovered like a larger vessel. If you
get through in safety, as I hope you will, you had best pull on again a
mile or two before you set your sail. Then you will have the river all
before you for an hundred and twenty miles; but as there will probably
be cruisers stealing about for many leagues above the squadron,
you must keep on the constant look out, and pull into the land when
you see any thing suspicious looking. For the rest, you will be guided
by circumstances and your own judgment. In four or five days you
ought to be at Buenos Ayres, if all succeeds with you. Now you have
my plan and can embrace it or not at your pleasure. The whale boat
is at your service, and I shall order Jack the cook to boil some beef
and pork for you; the steward shall put in a bag of buscuit and some

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wine, and I will lend you a chart of the river, a compass and a spy-glass,
so that you may be able to detect the enemy's colors at a distance
and keep out of their way.'

The kind Captain having ended, we thanked him with grateful enthusiasm
and pledged ourselves to be guided by his directions and reach
Buenos Ayres or die in the attempt.

`I know that you will, my lads. And that you shall not want for
arms to defend yourselves with in case of need, I will let you have a
pair of boarding pistols a piece, and a cutlass!'

As he spoke he took from a rack half a dozen old Turkish sabres,
but in good condition.

`These I bought in Smyrna at auction, with half a dozen more like
them. They belonged to a Turkishpirate who was captured and brought
in there while I was there. Doubtless they have done some service in
their day. The pistols, also, are Turkish, and although something
long in the barrel, are good fire-arms. Help yourselves to them, and
if you get to Buenos Ayres safely, you may pay me for them when you
can. Remember,' he added, smiling, `that I only loan them to you;
so that you are not at liberty to surrender them to any Portuguese
rogues that may give you chase!'

`We shall bear it in mind, Captain,' answered Fairfax in the same
spirit; and if you never see them again be assurred it will be because
we are not living to restore them.'

`Don't be rash, boys; but if you let the Brazilians capture you I
shall be very much disappointed in you.'

`From what I have seen of Brazilian prisons I would rather die
than go into one,' I answered. `But, Captain Conway,' I added suddenly,
`how did you learn our danger and hear that we were to be arrested?
'

`After I left you at the coffee house, I passed out and went on my
way to the Consul's. Just before me walked two Brazilian officers,
one of whom had come out of the coffee house before me. They were
conversing, and hearing the word `Americanos,' I quickened my pace
and listened, as one was talking to the other in a loud, animated tone.
They did not heed me behind them, and so I overheard that one of
them had heard `four young Americans' in the coffee house propose
to join the patriots, and planning a way of escape through the gates.
He further said that they had spoken against the Governor-General, the
Emperor, and the Brazilians in a mass!'

`This was true,' said Fairfax.

`Did the officer whom you heard speaking, wear a scarlet, round
cap, with a gold chain, and a green jacket?' I asked. `And was he
tall and very slim?'

`Yes.'

`I saw the fellow and caught his eye. He seemed to be smoking and
paying no attention to us!' I said indignantly.

`He was a spy and has betrayed you, or rather you betrayed yourselves,
' said the Captain. `Coffee houses are not safe places to speak
one's mind in, especially in Montevideo with an enemy at the gates.—
Well, this man, whom I knew could be only speaking of you, said to

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the other, that you had spoken enough to show that you were both enemies
and traitors to the Emperor, and that he was hastening to have
you arrested. Upon hearing this, I immediately turned back in great
alarm to put you on your guard, and found that you had quitted the
place. I hastened to your lodgings and learned from a black woman,
who stood in the door, that you were not in. I then went from place
to place for you, where I supposed you might be, and finally after going
a second time to your house, fell in with you.'

We thanked the noble Captain for his kind efforts in our behalf, and
assurred him that we should never forget him; and here I pay this public
tribute to his generosity of heart. I know not whether he be living
now or not; but if he is, and his eyes chance to fall upon these pages
he will see that he is remembered, though many years have elapsed
since we met him.

A little before midnight all the preparations were made. The whale
boat which was but eighteen feet long, sharp at both ends, with four
thwarts, or seats, was lowered into the water, and drawn along under
the starboard gangway. In it the mate had placed a bag of boiled
corn beef, and a bag of biscuit, not forgetting a box of wine, the compass,
spy-glass, and chart of the river. The latter was valuable to us,
to enable us to find out where we were as we run up along the shore.
We now came on deck with our pistols, ammunition and sabres, and
passed them into the stern of the boat. The mast and sail were snugly
furled together, and laid traversly along the thwarts in the centre.—
The oars were also muffled by binding canvass upon the part that played
in the row-locks, and placed upon the seats. A dark lantern was
also supplied and put in the locker with the compass. All these preparations
without the least possible noise, for a vessel of war was close
by us.

Every thing being reported by the mate as ready, the Captain once
more called us into the cabin, and repeated some of his previously-given
instructions, particularly enjoining the strictest silence as we passed
out of the harbor,

`Give every order in a whisper. Choose your helmsman and your
look-out, while two take the oars, and keep each to his station till you
get fairly clear of the port. If you are challenged by any of the Brazilian
vessels of war that you pass near, answer one of the `Doris,' in
a clear, free manner, and you will be suffered to pass, as you will be
taken for the Doris' (the British frigate that lays outside) boat which
often goes off with her captain as late as this; and `Doris' is his reply
when challenged. I trust, however, that you will manage to creep
along so stealthily that you will not be observed. If you are you must
trust to your presence of mind to take care of yourselves. Perilous as
the path is before you, it is quite as dangerous for you to remain behind.
So my brave young countrymen, good night, and God bless you
It is time you were off!'

He shook us warmly by the hand all round, and tears glistened in
his manly eyes. We, ourselves, did not part with him without some
emotion. At the side he again took leave of us, and as we descended
his last words were,

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`If you love me, don't let me be told to-morrow that the Brazilians
have you in their hands. Remember that you are Yankees, and that
each one of you is equal to twenty of these Portuguese. Good bye,
boys, and move along as quiet as a fish two feet under water!'