resolution. Though she should be dying on the road, she would not
complain beyond the absolute necessity of her nature. She fully
recognised his thoughtful tender kindness, for though he thus
cautioned her, he never told her that the dangers which she feared
were the result of her own choice. He never threw in her teeth
those prayers which she had made, in yielding to which he knew that
he had been weak.

Then came the morning of their departure. The party of travellers
consisted of four besides the baby. There was Mr. Arkwright, his
wife, and an English nurse, who was going to England with them, and
her brother, Abel Ring, who was to accompany them as far as the
Serapiqui River. When they had reached that, the real labour of the
journey would be over.

They had eight mules; four for the four travellers, one for the
baby, a spare mule laden simply with blankets, so that Mrs.
Arkwright might change in order that she should not be fatigued by
the fatigue of her beast, and two for their luggage. The portion of
their baggage had already been sent off by Punt' Arenas, and would
meet them at the other side of the Isthmus of Panama.

For the last four days the rain had ceased,--had ceased at any rate
at San Jose. Those who knew the country well, would know that it
might still be raining over those vast forests; but now as the
matter was settled, they would hope for the best. On that morning
on which they started the sun shone fairly, and they accepted this
as an omen of good. Baby seemed to lay comfortably on her pile of
blankets on the mule's back, and the face of the tall Indian guide
who took his place at that mule's head pleased the anxious mother.