Part 32 (1/2)

”No I have never seen him Know of him only by hearsay He is rather well educated, and, I hear, sometimes speaks with a southern drawl, but he even varies that to suit himself”

”I shall be better satisfied when I know Jim is safe,” concluded Jo

”Indeed we all shall,” said the professor, and addressing Juarez, ”What do you make out about the natives, who down the cliff side?”

”I knew that they were natives by their dress, or lack of it,” said Juarez ”They had but very little clothing on, and I believe that two of the party were ill, for the other four at tiht,” asserted the professor ”Probably it was a pilgri”

With occasional help and the aid of a stick which Jo cut to a proper length and fashi+oned in the foret back to the boat with co toward the yacht

Arriving on board they found that the steward had not yet returned

”A good thing for hiainsay

”Now, boys,” advised the professor when a late supper had been eaten and a short consultation had been held, ”you had better get off to your bunks Even if you don't feel inclined to sleep, you will get some needed rest, and that is important, as we are likely to have a hard day's work ahead of us for to-morrow”

CHAPTER XXIII

THE CHIEF OF RARIHUE

Before dawn of the nextthe party were all on deck ready for a start as soon as it was light enough to see their way through the woods

Hardly had they assembled, however, when there came one of those sudden terrific storms which are so frequent in the southern seas The downpour lasted about a half hour to the regret of Jo and Tom, who had hoped to readily strike and follow the trail of Jim and his captors Some other plan would now be necessary

”I think,” said the professor, who, in the absence of Jim, had tacitly assuo prepared for an overnight stay”

”Why do you think it will take us so long?” questioned Jo

”That is so we cannot tell,” responded the professor ”We don't knoe may have to contend with We have a powerful and wily enemy in Captain Beauchay rather than by force”

”Have you got any plan, professor?” asked Toeneral way,” replied the professor ”We shall have to act as see to be done?” asked Too to the place where you saw the column of smoke”

”What do you expect to find there that we did not?”

”Nothing, perhaps, but I think that that is the highest point on the island,” explained the professor, ”and froet a fair idea of the size and shape of the place and the character of the country”

”And fron,” said Berwick

”Exactly Now, then,” he went on a et away Be careful, boys, for it is more than likely that our ht of the co before the co at her anchor on the inco tide the shore loomed heavy and black, a thick blot in the inky darkness There was almost an unnatural stillness over the harbor, the only sound to break the quiet being the soft lap, lap, of the ever restless waves beating against the side of the vessel

Their voices sounded so unnaturally loud when they spoke to one another that they all unconsciously dropped their tone to a whisper

Despite his protests that he was in fit condition to accompany the others, it was decided that Juarez should remain on the yacht