П’ятнадцятирічний капітан

           "AndmayIknow,myyoungfriend,"heasked,"howyoufindyourselfonthiscoast?"

           But,atthatmoment,withoutwaitingtillthenovicehadrepliedtohisquestion,theunknowntookoffhishatandbowed.

           Mrs.Weldonhadadvancedasfarasthesteepbank,andshethenfoundherselffacinghim.

           Itwasshewhorepliedtothisquestion.

           "Sir,"saidshe,"weareshipwreckedoneswhoseshipwasbrokentopiecesyesterdayonthesereefs."

           Anexpressionofpityspreadovertheunknown’sface,whoseeyessoughtthevesselwhichhadbeenstranded.

           "Thereisnothingleftofourship,"addedthenovice."Thesurfhasfinishedtheworkofdemolishingitduringthenight."

           "Andourfirstquestion,"continuedMrs.Weldon,"willbetoaskyouwhereweare."

           "Butyouareonthesea-coastofSouthAmerica,"repliedtheunknown,whoappearedsurprisedatthequestion."Canyouhaveanydoubtaboutthat?"

           "Yes,sir,forthetempesthadbeenabletomakeusdeviatefromourroute,"repliedDickSand."ButIshallaskwherewearemoreexactly.OnthecoastofPeru,Ithink."

           "No,myyoungfriend,no!Alittlemoretothesouth!YouarewreckedontheBoliviancoast."

           "Ah!"exclaimedDickSand.

           "AndyouareevenonthatsouthernpartofBoliviawhichborderson

           Chili."

           "Thenwhatisthatcape?"askedDickSand,pointingtothepromontoryonthenorth.

           "Icannottellyouthename,"repliedtheunknown,"forifIknowthecountryintheinteriorprettywellfromhavingoftentraversedit,itismyfirstvisittothisshore."

           DickSandreflectedonwhathehadjustlearned.