Part 13 (2/2)
”I appreciate your praise deeply, Senor Sebastian,” responded Jim, ”but my own country, Senor, I could not leave it for another.”
”Right, Senor,” replied the Spaniard, ”you have the true spirit.”
”Which way will she turn, do you suppose?” asked Jo, pointing to the vessel that was moving steadily out on the Pacific in a straight line from the sh.o.r.e.
”To the North, doubtless,” replied the Spaniard.
”Wherever she goes we must find her out,” said Jim, with grim determination.
”I wish we could follow them,” sighed Jo. ”If we could only hire a boat.”
”They have our money,” replied Jim, briefly.
”I had forgotten that,” said Jo, and his face showed his disappointment.
”Permit me to help you,” said the Spaniard, ”I am to blame for detaining you at breakfast.”
”That is generous of you, Senor,” replied Jim, ”but I do not favor going to the expense of chartering a steamer. Even if it were possible, my plan would be to follow along the coast on horseback and see what can be done when they make a landing.”
”As you are the General,” replied the Spaniard, ”we will allow you to make the plans.”
”Look!” exclaimed Jo, ”they are turning South instead of North.”
”Impossible!” cried the Spaniard. ”There is only one port within two hundred miles. I do not understand. Yes, they are surely going South.”
”Perhaps they have a secret landing place,” hazarded Jim.
”Not so,” replied the Spaniard. ”Not a harbor where they could land save one and there they would not dare to go.”
The three watchers on horseback gazed until there was little to be seen other than a smudge of smoke upon the horizon. It was no use, the Sea Eagle was holding to her southerly course to some mysterious port. The sun had now come out and was s.h.i.+ning with sheer brilliance upon the sparkling ocean.
”We must return now,” said the Spaniard. ”There is nothing more for us to do at present.”
”I think that my brother and I will start this afternoon and take the trail to the south,” announced Jim, ”wherever those fellows set foot, I want to be waiting for them.”
”I fear it is impossible to start so soon,” replied the Spaniard, ”I must go with you as I know the country to the South, every foot of it.”
”The Senor is right, Jim,” put in Jo, quickly, as he saw a frown on Jim's face and was afraid that he was going to say something abruptly.
”You will want to give Caliente a good rest, so that when we start, we will make the distance without delay. Then we have to make some preparations ourselves.”
Jim looked at his brother with a moment's dark suspicion, but it was evident that Jo was perfectly sincere in what he said.
”I will promise, Senor,” said the Spaniard with a peculiar smile, ”that when we start which will be early tomorrow morning, that we will travel far and fast enough to suit you and your horse.” There was a challenge in his voice that Jim met smilingly.
”So be it, Senor,” he said, ”I will try to be in sight at the finish.”
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