Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 81: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

72 we had left, we espied a small steam vessel coming up the river toward us. “That looks like a yacht,’ said Desklit. “It is a yacht, as I’m alive. Well, we are in for a rescue, anyhow. What flag do you make out?” ‘“T can’t see it well enough to tell,” I answered. “I am sure, however, that it is mot our own.’ “ No,” said Pedro, “ dat am de Eng- lish flag.” The yacht bore down on us and we admired her graceful lines. At last she came near enough for us to make out the figures of a man and woman standing on the bridge. “ Who are you?” came a shout from the deck of the handsome vessel. “Three men shipwrecked from an American vessel! ” I answered. “ Haul down your sail! We'll pick you up!” Pedro hauled down the sail, and we saw a boat put out from the yacht. It drew alongside our clumsy craft, and we gladly stepped into it. ‘What yacht is that?” I asked the officer in charge of the boat. “ The Flora, belonging to the Royal Botanical Society,” was the reply. “‘ It is now in charge of Professor Theo- philus Wisdom.” “Whither bound?” “ To the neadwaters of the Tapa- jos.” ‘“ For what? ” “JT don’t know. You will have to ask the professor that.” In a short time we stood on the deck of the Flora and were greeted by a spectacled old gentleman and a very lovely girl about nineteen years of age. ‘Welcome, gentlemen, welcome,” said the professor. “To be ship- wrecked on the Amazon is something, but to be shipwrecked on the Amazon and rescued by the Flora, is luck in- deed.” ‘“ Truth, nothing but the truth,” an- swered Desklit, looking into the fine blue eyes of the professor’s niece, Miss Lottie Wisdom. THE ARGOSY. Other spectacled old gentlemen came on deck, and we were introduced all around. _ “Professor,” I said, “‘ you are in charge of this expedition, and I wish to thank you for rescuing us. We do not wish to intrude upon you any lon- ger than is necessary, and will be obliged if you will put us ashore at any village such as Santerem, from which we can get passage down the river.” “My dear young friend,” said Pro- fessor Wisdom, “ this yacht would not go into Santerem for emperor, king, or president. Weare traveling with all possible speed to reach the region at the head of the Tapajos, before the flowering season of the Great Royal Orchid is passed. This orchid is known to exist, but it has been seen by only one white man. The flower is about three feet in diameter and contains all the colors of the rainbow. The Royal Botanical Society of London has com- mussioned me to find some of these or- chids, preserve a few of the blossoms, and bring home one hundred of the plants. The flowering season is be- lieved to end in June, and now it 1s May. Weare rejoiced that we had the opportunity to save your lives, and, now that you are our guests, you must remain so till the Flora returns from her quest.” “ Keyburn,” remarked Desklit, an hour later as he and I stood alone on the Flora’s deck, “ something tells me that we are going to see some fun. This trip on the Flora takes us right into the heart of the country to which Pence and his men are going, and we shall likely meet them. I am glad we are to remain on board. And, by the way, what do you think of the profes- sor’s niece? ” CHAPTER III. A MYSTERIOUS FOE. Now, as a matter of fact, I was much more concerned over the loss of the eco ECORRIC OO©