Too THE BOY CAPTAIN.

« And are you willing to go on under these terms ?”’

A shrug of the shoulders, decidedly Frenchy in its way,
was sufficient to signify that he had no other alternative,
and Ben ordered him forward once more, saying to Miss
Dunham when they were comparatively alone again :

“IT suppose father would refuse to accept of any such
assistance; but he has never been in a position exactly
like this, therefore it is not for me to speculate upon
what he would or would not do; I shall take the chances,
and, if keeping those fellows in my sight every moment
will insure success to my plans, by this time to-morrow
we should be drawing near Macao.”

“Do you know anything about the place?”

“No; but if you will go into your father’s room you will
find a work on the China Seas, in which, unless I am mis-
taken, a brief description of the town may befound. Sup-
pose you look the matter up for the information of both?”

Miss Dunham acted upon the suggestion, and returned
a few moments later with an open volume in her hand,
holding it while Ben read the following :

“« Macao (A-Ma-ngao, ‘ Harbor of the Goddess A-Ma;’ Portuguese,
Macau), a Portuguese settlement on the coast of China. It consists
of a tongue of land one and a half square miles in extent, running
south-southwest from the island of Hiang Shang (Portuguese, Au-
cam), on the western side of the estuary of the Canton River. Bold
and rocky hills about three hundred feet in height occupy both ex-
tremities of the peninsula, the picturesque-looking city, with its flat-
roofed houses painted blue, green, and red, lying in the far from level
stretch of ground between. The forts are effective additions to the
general view, but do not add much to the real strength of the place.”