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mule。 The men； however； declared that they would finish their task；
and she was placed again upon the litter。 And then with slow and
weary step they did make their way to the river bank。 It was not
yet noon when they saw the mud fort which stands there； and as they
drew into the enclosure round a small house which stands close by
the river side； they saw the three postmen still busy about their
packages。
〃Thank God！〃 said Arkwright。
〃Thank God； indeed！〃 said his brother。 〃All will be right with you
now。〃
〃Well； Fanny；〃 said her husband； as he took her very gently from the
litter and seated her on a bench which stood outside the door。 〃It
is all over now；is it not？〃
She answered him by a shower of tears； but they were tears which
brought her relief。 He was aware of this； and therefore stood by
her； still holding her by both her hands while her head rested
against his side。 〃You will find the motion of the boat very
gentle；〃 he said； 〃indeed there will be no motion； and you and baby
will sleep all the way down to Greytown。〃 She did not answer him in
words； but she looked up into his face； and he could see that her
spirit was recovering itself。
There was almost a crowd of people collected on the spot；
preparatory to the departure of the canoes。 In the first place
there was the commandant of the fort； to whom the small house
belonged。 He was looking to the passports of our friends； and with
due diligence endeavouring to make something of the occasion； by
discovering fatal legal impediments to the further prosecution of
their voyage； which impediments would disappear on the payment of
certain dollars。 And then there were half a dozen Costa Rican
soldiers； men with coloured caps and old muskets； ready to support
the dignity and authority of the commandant。 There were the guides
taking payment from Abel Ring for their past work； and the postmen
preparing their boats for the further journey。 And then there was a
certain German there； with a German servant； to whom the boats
belonged。 He also was very busy preparing for the river voyage。 He
was not going down with them； but it was his business to see them
well started。 A singular looking man was he； with a huge shaggy
beard； and shaggy uncombed hair； but with bright blue eyes； which
gave to his face a remarkable look of sweetness。 He was an uncouth
man to the eye； and yet a child would have trusted herself with him
in a forest。
At this place they remained some two hours。 Coffee was prepared
here； and Mrs。 Arkwright refreshed herself and her child。 They
washed and arranged their clothes； and when she stepped down the
steep bank； clinging to her husband's arm as she made her way
towards the boat； she smiled upon him as he looked at her。
〃It is all over now；is it not； my girl？〃he said； encouraging
her。
〃Oh； Harry； do not talk about it；〃 she answered； shuddering。
〃But I want you to say a word to me to let me know that you are
better。〃
〃I am better；much better。〃
〃And you will see your mother again； will you not； and give baby to
her yourself？〃
To this she made no immediate answer； for she was on a level with
the river； and the canoe was close at her feet。 And then she had to
bid farewell to her brother。 He was now the unfortunate one of the
party； for his destiny required that he should go back to San Jose
alone；go back and remain there perhaps some ten years longer
before he might look for the happiness of home。
〃God bless you； dearest Abel；〃 she said； kissing him and sobbing as
she spoke。
〃Good…bye； Fanny；〃 he said； 〃and do not let them forget me in
England。 It is a great comfort to think that the worst of your
troubles are over。〃
〃Oh；she's all right now；〃 said Arkwright。 〃Good…bye； old boy；〃
and the two brothers…in…law grasped each other's hands heartily。
〃Keep up your spirits； and we'll have you home before long。〃
〃Oh； I'm all right；〃 said the other。 But from the tone of the
voices； it was clear that poor Ring was despondent at the thoughts
of his coming solitude； and that Arkwright was already triumphing in
his emancipation。
And then； with much care； Fanny Arkwright was stowed away in the
boat。 There was a great contest about the baby； but at last it was
arranged； that at any rate for the first few hours she should be
placed in the boat with the servant。 The mother was told that by
this plan she would feel herself at liberty to sleep during the heat
of the day； and then she might hope to have strength to look to the
child when they should be on shore during the night。 In this way
therefore they prepared to start； while Abel Ring stood on the bank
looking at them with wishful eyes。 In the first boat were two
Indians paddling； and a third man steering with another paddle。 In
the middle there was much luggage； and near the luggage so as to be
under shade； was the baby's soft bed。 If nothing evil happened to
the boat； the child could not be more safe in the best cradle that
was ever rocked。 With her was the maid…servant and some stranger
who was also going down to Greytown。
In the second boat were the same number of men to paddle； the Indian
guide being one of them； and there were the mails placed。 Then
there was a seat arranged with blankets； cloaks； and cushions； for
Mrs。 Arkwright； so that she might lean back and sleep without
fatigue； and immediately opposite to her her husband placed himself。
〃You all look very comfortable；〃 said poor Abel from the bank。
〃We shall do very well now；〃 said Arkwright。
〃And I do think I shall see mamma again；〃 said his wife。
〃That's right； old girl；of course you will see her。 Now then；we
are all ready。〃 And with some little assistance from the German on
the bank； the first boat was pushed off into the stream。
The river in this place is rapid； because the full course of the
water is somewhat impeded by a bank of earth jutting out from the
opposite side of the river into the stream； but it is not so rapid
as to make any recognised danger in the embarkation。 Below this
bank； which is opposite to the spot at which the boats were entered；
there were four or five broken trees in the water； some of the
shattered boughs of which showed themselves above the surface。
These are called snags； and are very dangerous if they are met with
in the course of the stream； but in this instance no danger was
apprehended from them； as they lay considerably to the left of the
passage which the boats would take。 The first canoe was pushed off
by the German； and went rapidly away。 The waters were strong with
rain； and it was pretty to see with what velocity the boat was
carried on some hundred of yards in advance of the other by the
force of the first effort of the paddle。 The German； however； from
the bank holloaed to the first men in Spanish； bidding them relax
their efforts for awhile； and then he said a word or two of caution
to those who were now on the point of starting。
The boat then was pushed steadily forward； the man at the stern
keeping it with his paddle a little farther away from the bank at
which they had embarked。 It was close under the land that the
stream ran the fast