Part 14 (1/2)

There were traces of tears in her eyes. Cora softly slipped her hand into that of the pretty refugee.

CHAPTER XI

IN SAN JUAN

The anchor splashed into the blue waters of San Juan Bay. The s.h.i.+p swung around at her cable, and came to rest, and then up came the small boats with their skippers, eager to obtain fares and the transportation of baggage. Sailing craft there were, puffing tugs, old-fas.h.i.+oned naphtha launches and the more modern gasoline launches, all-swarming about the steamer.

”Look at that!” cried Jack, as he viewed the scene before him. ”What does it all mean? Why don't we go up to the dock in regular style, and not stop away out here?”

”There aren't any really good docks in San Juan, though there may be some built soon,” said Mr. Robinson. ”We'll have to go ash.o.r.e in some of these craft. They're all right. I'll see to our luggage.”

”Well, this is some difference from New York,” commented Jack.

”Yes, and that's the beauty of it,” remarked his sister. ”It is the change that is going to do you good, Jack dear,” and she smiled at him, brightly.

”I'm beginning to feel better already, Sis,” he answered, and there was a keener look in his eyes that had been so tired, while his checks were flushed with the warmth of the air, and the excitement in antic.i.p.ation of new scenes.

”Well, get ready, girls!” called Mr. Robinson, ”Get all your furbelows and fixings together, and we'll go ash.o.r.e in one of these boats. My! but it's warm!”

It was hot, with the heat of the tropics, for the rainy season was not yet fully over, though it was approaching its end, and more pleasant weather might be expected.

Porto Rico, I might explain, nearly resembles the climate of Florida, though it is not quite so hot in summer, nor so cold in winter. It is nearly always like June in Porto Rico, the thermometer then, and in July, reaching its maximum of eighty-six, the average being seventy-two.

Mr. Robinson bargained with the skipper of a large and new motor boat to take him, his party and their baggage ash.o.r.e, and when the trunks and bags had been transferred, off they started over the blue waters toward the small, docks, at which were congregated many small fis.h.i.+ng craft.

”Oh, but it is beautiful!” exclaimed Cora, as she looked down into the waters, which were of an intense blue, even close to sh.o.r.e. That is characteristic of this coral land, the ocean near the coast being always that blue, except where it is colored by the inflowing of some large stream.

Before them lay the city itself, a city of many white buildings, the color of which met and blended with the tints of the mountains beyond, and those tints varied from olive green, into olive brown, indigo, and, in some places, even to the more brilliant ultramarine.

The motor girls gazed at the scene with eager eyes, and into those of Inez came tears of joy, for she was, every minute, coming nearer and nearer to the land she loved--the land where her father was a prisoner.

Up to the small dock puffed the motor boat, and when Mr. Robinson demanded to know the price, the boatman named a sum that instantly brought forth a voluble protest from the Spanish girl. At once she and the boatman engaged in a verbal duel.

”Mercy!” exclaimed Bess. ”What can have happened? Is he some brigand who wants to carry us off?”

”Or a pirate?” suggest Jack. ”He looks like one. Wally, have you a revolver with you?”

”Don't you dare!” cried Belle, covering her ears with her hands.

”He want to charge two pesos too much!” explained Inez, when she had her breath. ”It is not lawful!” and once more she expostulated in Spanish.

The boatman, with a shrug of his shoulders, as much as to ask, ”How can one quarrel with a woman?” accepted the amount Inez picked out from the change Mr. Robinson held out, and then they went ash.o.r.e, their luggage being put on the pier.

The boatman was sullen about the failure of his trick, until Mr.

Robinson, who was an experienced traveler, slipped him a coin, which must have been large enough to make up for the disappointment, for the man murmured: ”Muchas gracias!” and fell to with a will to help the travelers get their belongings into a carriage.

”What did he say to papa?” asked Bess, of Inez.