"The Chilian squadron is absent, cruising."
"Then we must beg, borrow, or steal a trading-vessel; for go he must and shall."
It was wonderful how the doctor brightened up at these words, and still more wonderful how he allowed himself to be commanded by a stranger. But José was a strong man though not often exerting his strength, and there was that in his face which made most men chary of coming to handgrips with him.
"Come, Jack," said he, "let us go to the bay and find a ship, if we wish to save the colonel's life. Another week of this pestilence and he will be dead, and Peru can't afford to lose him just yet."
"But suppose," said I, as we rode away from the valley, "that the authorities won't allow him to be moved?"
"Why, we'll move him in spite of them. Quilca's men can be trusted to help us. 'Twill be a little campaign on our own account!" said he, with a jovial laugh.
Even José, however, could not impress a vessel that had no existence, and the bay was empty. A few boats only lay peacefully resting on the placid waters, but of a ship there was no sign. We stood for an hour staring seaward, as if our will could conjure up a vessel, and then returned to the town. We paid a visit to the governor, but he could not help us. It was unlikely there would be a vessel, he said, until Lord Cochrane returned with the squadron from Callao.
"When will that be?" I asked.
The governor gave his shoulders an expressive shrug.
"The gallant Englishman does not confide in me," he replied. "He may come to-day; he may not come for a twelvemonth."