Part 13 (1/2)
”It is because I know zat man--I know him when I am in New York before. He try to find out from me about my father,” and a s.h.i.+vering, as if of fear, seemed to take possession of the timid girl.
”Do you mean he belonged to the political party that put your father in prison?”
”Zat is it. Oh, but zese politics! I know not what zey mean, but zey are trouble--trouble always. Now zat man he is here--he is looking for me, I am sure.”
”Nonsense!” exclaimed Cora, determined, whether she believed it or, not, to make light of the matter, for Inez was certainly much alarmed.
”I don't believe he even knows you are on board,” Jack's sister went on, ”But we'll speak to Mr. Robinson about it. He'll know what to do. Do you think that man saw you?”
”I know not, Senorita Cora. But I am much afraid!” There was no doubt of that; the girl's eyes and every movement, showed her alarm.
”Come along!” Cora forced herself to say brightly. ”We'll soon settle this matter. We'll find out who that man is, and--”
”Oh, no! No, Senorita. Do not trouble. It you should do zat, zis man would only make matters worse for my poor father. Let him alone!”
”And have you, and us, worrying all the time on this voyage? Indeed, I'll not.”
This was not Cora's way. She never shrank from doing what she considered to be her duty. In this case, her duty lay in finding out whether or not there was a real, or fancied enemy, of Mr. Ralcanto's aboard.
The man who had caused this little flurry of excitement, had, by this time, gone down to his stateroom. Other belated pa.s.sengers were hurrying aboard, the last consignment of freight was being brought to the dock, and preparations for leaving were multiplying.
”I might as well wait until I can see him, you can point him out to me again,” said Cora, ”and then I'll show him to Mr. Robinson. He can speak to the captain, and find out who the big man is.”
”Very well, Senorita,” a.s.sented Inez. ”But I do not wish to give annoyance. I have already been such a burden--”
”Nonsense!” Cora cried. ”We've undertaken this business of getting your father out of that political prison, and we're going to do it.
I think we're going to start now.”
There was little doubt about it. Bells were jingling, whistles were blowing and men were hoa.r.s.ely shouting. Then the gang-plank was pulled to the dock, away from the steamer's side, just after a last belated pa.s.senger had run up it.
Mooring ropes were cast off, and then with a blast from her siren, that fairly made the decks tremble, the s.h.i.+p was slowly pushed out into the river to drop down the harbor, and so on her way to Porto Rico.
It was just before the pilot was about to leave, that Cora got a chance to carry out her intention of drawing the attention of Mr.
Robinson to the mysterious man who had so seriously alarmed Inez.
The personal baggage of our travelers had been put away in the respective staterooms, and they were all up on deck watching the scenes about the harbor. Inez, who was standing near Mrs. Kimball and Cora, suddenly gave a start, and touching Jack's sister on the arm, whispered:
”There he is! And he is looking right at me!”
Cora turned quickly. She did behold the gaze of the fat man directed in rather scrutinizing fas.h.i.+on on the Spanish girl, and, as he saw that he was attracting attention, he quickly averted his eyes. In appearance he was a Cuban or Spaniard, well dressed and prosperous looking, but not of prepossessing appearance.
At that moment Mr. Robinson strolled past, talking to the captain whom he knew, for the twins' father had long been engaged in a branch of the coffee importing business, and had much to do with s.h.i.+ps.
”Now is my chance,” thought Cora. ”I'll find out who that man is.”
She whispered to Inez to keep the mysterious stranger in view, while she herself went to speak to Mr. Robinson and the captain. She had previously been introduced to the commander, and found him most agreeable.
Cora quickly explained to Mr. Robinson the little alarm Inez had experienced, and requested him to find out, from the captain, who the man was.