In Search of an Unknown Race — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

34 VAN. ‘‘Well,-come aboard, and I'll talk with you,” he'satd —for by this time they had reached the custom-house quay. The stranger silently descended the half ruined steps behind Van, and in a few moments he was sitting in the stern with his young host. ‘Tom filled a couple of bowls with savory soup which he had prepared over the brazier, and brought them aft. As they progressed with the meal Van found himself becoming a good deal interested in the strange, shabby sailor. All attempts to draw him out failed. Whatever his secret, he guarded it well, and was careful not to make known why he was so anxious to get up the river. However, Van was conscious of a growing liking for him, notwithstanding his mysterious manner, and at length he decided to take him on board, to the sailor’s evident delight. Preparations for starting were made, and as the cathedral clock rang out the hour of midnight, the little boat shot out of the bay, to take advantage of the flood tide. The broad island studded channel connecting the Para with the Amazon was threaded in safety, and on the following forenoon the light boat had fairly entered on her voyage up the mighty river. Now Van had decided that while as first officer of the Rattler ‘‘Mr. Briscoe” was all well enoughas a matter of form, he was rather too young to be thus addressed in general conversation. So he had instructed Tom to call him ‘“ Mr. Van” or ‘‘Mr. Vance,” as he pleased, and in this way the sailor himself had adopted the same title. But it so happened that a few days after leaving Para, Eomichooksrco