On the Way

           Itwasnotwithoutacertainapprehension—nothingseemedtojustifyit,however—thatDickSand,threehundredstepsfromthesteepbankoftheriver,penetratedintothethickforest,thedifficultpathsofwhichheandhiscompanionsweregoingtofollowfortendays.Onthecontrary,Mrs.Weldonherself,awomanandamother,whomtheperilswouldmakedoublyanxious,hadeveryconfidence.Twoveryseriousmotiveshadcontributedtoreassureher;first,becausethisregionofthepampaswasneitherveryformidableonaccountofthenatives,noronaccountoftheanimalswhichwerefoundthere;next,because,underthedirectionofHarris,ofaguidesosureofhimselfastheAmericanappearedtobe,theycouldnotbeafraidofgoingastray.

           Hereistheorderofproceeding,which,asfaraspossible,wouldbeobservedduringthejourney:

           DickSandandHarris,botharmed,onewithhislonggun,theotherwithaRemington,keptattheheadofthelittletroop.

           ThencameBatandAustin,alsoarmed,eachwithagunandacutlass.

           BehindthemfollowedMrs.WeldonandlittleJack,onhorseback;then

           NanandTom.

           Intherear,Acteon,armedwiththefourthRemington,andHercules,withahatchetinhisbelt,closedthemarch.

           Dingowentbackwardsandforwards,and,asDickSandremarked,alwayslikeanuneasydogseekingascent.Thedog’swayshadvisiblychangedsincethe"Pilgrim’s"shipwreckhadcastitonthissea-coast.Itseemedagitated,andalmostincessantlyitkeptupadullgrumbling,ratherlamentablethanfurious.