One evening they were toiling slowly up a steep range of hills which had been the prospect in front of them the whole of that day.  As they neared the summit of the range Martin halted at a stream to drink, and Barney advanced alone.  Suddenly Martin was startled by a loud cry, and looking up he saw Barney on his knees with his hands clasped before him!  Rushing up the hill, Martin found his comrade with his face flushed and the tears coursing down his cheeks as he stared before him!

“Look at it, Martin, dear!” he cried, starting up and flinging his cap in the air, and shouting like a madman.  “The say! my own native illiment! the beautiful ocean!  Och, darlint, my blessing on ye!  Little did I think to see you more,—­hooray!”

Barney sang and danced till he sank down on the grass exhausted; and, to say truth, Martin felt much difficulty in restraining himself from doing likewise, for before him was spread out the bright ocean, gleaming in the light of the sinking sun, and calm and placid as a mirror.  It was indeed a glorious sight to these two sailors, who had not seen the sea for nearly two years.  It was like coming suddenly face to face—­after a long absence—­with an old and much loved friend.

Although visible, the sea, however, was still a long way off from the Serra dos Orgos on which they stood.  But their steeds were good, and it was not long ere they were both rolling like dolphins in the beautiful bay of Rio de Janeiro.

Here Barney delivered up the gold and diamonds to his employer, who paid him liberally for his services and entertained them both hospitably while they remained in the city.  The bag of gold and diamonds which had been found on the body of the dead man they appropriated, as it was absolutely impossible to discover the rightful owner.  Barney’s friend bought it of them at full price; and when they embarked, soon after, on board a homeward bound ship, each had four hundred pounds in his pocket!

As they sailed out of the noble harbour Martin sat on the poop gazing at the receding shore while thick-coming memories crowded on his brain.

His imagination flew back to the day when he first landed on the coast and escaped with his friend Barney from the pirates,—­to the hermit’s cottage in the lonely valley, where he first made acquaintance with monkeys, iguanas, jaguars, armadillos, and all the wonderful, beautiful, and curious birds, beasts, and reptiles, plants, trees, and flowers, that live and flourish in that romantic country.  Once more, in fancy, he was sailing up the mighty Amazon, shooting alligators on its banks, spearing fish in its waters, paddling through its curious gapo, and swinging in his hammock under its luxuriant forests.  Once again he was a prisoner among the wild Indians, and he started convulsively as he thought of the terrible leap over the precipice into the stream that flowed into the heart of the earth.  Then he wandered in the lonely forest.  Suddenly the diamond mines were before him, and Barney’s jovial voice rang in his ears; and he replied to it with energy, for now he was bounding on a fiery steed over the grassy campos.  With a deep sigh he awoke from his reverie to find himself surrounded by the great wide sea.