by James Otis
CHAPTER XXXIII.
HOMEWARD BOUND.
One can readily fancy what a feeling of perfect content had come overthe boys after finding themselves once more with nearly all the crew ofthe Sea Dream.
There was no longer anything to cause anxiety; the vengeful Indians hadbeen left far behind, and the fear of an attack was among the things ofthe past.
"I used to think it would be mighty nice to go into some such place aswe have just left," Neal said to Teddy, while the two were sitting underthe awning aft, some distance from their companions; "but now we knowwhat the reality is like, I've had enough."
"I suppose our story would sound pretty fair if it was put into a book;but whoever wrote it couldn't be all the time telling about how hungryand tired we were, how the mosquitoes and flies nearly ate us up, howthoroughly we were frightened the greater portion of the time, nor howdisagreeable it is to be where there's precious little chance for afellow to keep clean."
"That is why adventures seem so nice when you read about them, for allthe trifling things which serve to make a person uncomfortable in bothbody and mind are omitted."
"Yes," Teddy said very emphatically, "one day would be enough for anyfellow I know, and the idea of going where there is likely to be plentyof chance for adventure will never again have any fascination for me."
In this strain the boys talked until dinner was served on deck, whichwas not a particularly well cooked meal, after which the conversationbecame general.
The re-united party spoke chiefly of Mr. Walters' determination toremain with Cummings, and while listening to it Jake forgot all elsesave the wonderful sights he had seen in the famous city.
"I have a good mind to stay with you," he finally said. "The idea that Ihave been where silver could be had for the labor of carrying it away,and didn't get any, makes me angry with myself. Now that Mr. Walters hasconcluded to try his hand at it I believe I'll do the same thing."
Poyor looked up quickly, shook his head very decidedly, and Cummingssaid emphatically:
"Then it will be necessary for you to go alone; I've been there oncewith you, and it was only by the rarest good fortune that we succeededin coming away alive, therefore I'm not disposed to try the samedangerous experiment again."
"I suppose you think I would make a fool of myself once more?"
"I am positive of it. When your opinion chanced to be at variance withours you would go straight on without giving the slightest heed to theconsequences. It is best for you to stay with the boys."
Jake had nothing more to say; but later in the day he told Neal andTeddy privately that he believed he would venture into the swamp alone.
"I could do it as well as Poyor can. They want to make out that it is avery dangerous venture."
"You thought the same on the night when that beautiful scar waspresented, and also when you wandered away from the cave, unable to findyour way back," Neal replied with a laugh.
Then Jake had a desperate fit of the sulks from which he did not recoveruntil the schooner was standing up the coast under the influence of thestrong night breeze.
The voyage to Progresso from this time on occupied but a few hours. Theclumsy looking vessel proved to be a good sailor, and on the followingafternoon she had dropped anchor in the harbor, twenty-four hours beforethe next steamer was advertised to leave.
There was yet plenty of chance to bid good-by to those who intended toremain behind, and the last moments were spent together rather thanvisit the quaint town, for no one could say whether they would meetagain.
Jake made no further preparation to join the treasure seekers, and Nealfelt positive that if they had allowed him to make one of the party hiscourage would have failed him at the last minute.
Not until a late hour in the night was there any attempt to break up thegathering. Each felt a certain repugnance to so doing, and if Mr. Emeryhad not finally insisted on retiring all might have remained under theawning until morning.
"It is good-by as well as good-night," Cummings said as he arose. "We donot care to stay here very long for fear some of the Chan Santa Cruz mayrecognize us, and by daybreak I propose to be on our way to Merida, fromwhich point we shall return to the hut where we first saw thecastaways."
"We can at least count on hearing from you," Mr. Emery said. "The boyswill be eager to learn how your venture succeeded."
"It is not convenient to post a letter where a journey of fifty miles onfoot is necessary to reach a mailing place; but you shall hear from usat the first favorable opportunity."
With Jake, Cummings and Poyor spent but little time; neither had anyespecial love for him after all that had happened; but with the boys theIndian was almost affectionate.
"If the gods will listen to Poyor's prayer your lives shall be free fromclouds," he said gravely, and laying his hands on their heads he wentthrough a certain ceremony as if blessing them, after which he did notspeak again.
If good wishes were of any avail both Walters and Cummings should havesucceeded in their attempt to carry away treasure from the Silver City;but whether they have yet been able to do so neither Neal nor Teddyknow, for not a word has been heard from them since that parting in theharbor at Progresso.
The trip home was as uneventful as is usually the case when one travelson a steam vessel, and at about the time when the Sea Dream should havearrived the castaways landed in New York before the news of the yacht'sdestruction had been learned.
As a consequence neither Teddy's parents nor Neal's mother had beenanxious concerning them, and the home coming was a very tame affair, ascompared with what both had been through.
Even at this late day the boys are speculating as to whether the whitemen and the Indian ever succeeded in their desires, and both believe thenews will soon come that Cummings has been able to read the inscriptionson the monuments at Copan by the aid of his researches in the SilverCity.
THE END.
