But before very long he began to overhaul the things in the stern sheets, as if he were searching for something, and could not find it. Then he said, “Boys, just look about you and see if there is a bottle in the boat.” We couldn’t find any, and then the captain broke out against the mate, saying that he had purposely set him ashore without a drop of spirits, though he knew he couldn’t live without it. So I saw that the captain’s reformation would only last till he could get at the bottle again. It was very lucky for us that the mate had not put any strong liquors in the boat; for if he had done so the captain would certainly have made himself unfit to manage the boat and would very likely have capsized it and drowned us all. I had noticed a little piece of white paper lying on the bottom of the boat, and when the breeze fluttered it I saw it had writing on it. So I pointed it out to the captain, and he read it out loud, for he was a poor scholar and could not read unless he pronounced every word, and spelled all the long ones. I picked the note up afterwards and have kept it to this day. Here it is: HONORED CAPTAIN: I take the great liberty of saying that we are now in latitude 29°, your calculations not having been quite right, through no fault of yours. You will find a small river, if you pull straight ashore, but the entrance to it won’t be easy to find unless you bring two tall pine trees in a line. If I may humbly advise I would say don’t stop on this coast, for you might meet some bad characters, but steer northerly for about eighty miles, where you will find a settlement. With my duty to the young gentlemen, and wishing you health and a prosperous voyage I am your humble servant, JOHN MARCH. CHAPTER II. ASHORE. When the captain had read the mate’s letter he was more angry than ever, and said that Mr. March was the most cruel and cowardly hypocrite that ever lived. I did not know what to think, for though the mate had turned pirate, and stolen the captain’s ship, he had saved the captain from being murdered by the crew and had saved Tom and me from what would have been worse than being murdered. It was certain that he was a very bad man, but for all that he did seem to be kind-hearted, and it was good in him to write that letter, for without it we could never have found the river.