CHAPTER XIXBATHING AT MACUTO
Duringthe time that Darry was ill, the others took the railroad to Valencia and stopped half a day in that ancient town, which is one of the most picturesque in all of South America. They visited Lake Valencia, lying far above sea level, and Enrique Morano took them to a cathedral in the vicinity where can be seen a number of rare religious paintings. On the way back a stop was made at Victoria, once the place where Bolivar lived and where a great number of relics of the departed great man are stored.
Darry’s sickness did not last, and inside of five days he announced that he would be able to go anywhere. “But I shan’t try to run away again on a horse,” he added, with a rueful smile.
The boys had endeavored to question Hockley about his experience with Dan Markel, but could get no satisfaction. Once Hockley flew in a rage at Sam over this.
“It’s my business, not yours,” he growled. “I lost the money and the watch. You only want to crow over me, but let me tell you, if you go too far somebody will get a thrashing.”
“I don’t want to crow at all, Hockley,” returned Sam. “I thought that perhaps I might be able to help you—if this Markel ever shows himself again.”
“He won’t show himself—he’s too cute,” grumbled the other. “Now you just keep quiet about it.” And there the subject was dropped, so far as it reached the injured one.
“He’s sore, no doubt of that,” said Frank to Sam, when told of the conversation. “And I don’t blame him. Just the same, I’ll wager he went off with Markel to have a good time.”
“I think that too, Frank. Well, if he went too far, he’s had to pay for it,” returned Sam.
All told, the stay at the coffee plantation had been full of interest and the boys thanked Enrique Morano over and over again for his kindness to them.
“If you ever come to New York we’ll do all we can for you,” said Mark, heartily, and the others spoke in a similar strain.
The next day found them back to Caracas and herethey stopped but a few hours before taking a train for La Guayra. Arriving at the seaport arrangements were made for a side trip, so to speak, to the Gulf and the Lake of Maracaibo, situated to the westward. But the vessel was not to sail until two days later, so while waiting they took a little run over to Macuto, located not far from La Guayra.
“Macuto is the Bar Harbor, Asbury Park, and Coney Island of Venezuela,” explained the professor, while the party was on the way, along a highway skirting the ocean. “It is only six miles from the seaport, and is a great resort for the folks in Caracas and La Guayra who wish to escape the extreme heat of those towns. It gets a constant breeze from the north and as a consequence is usually ten to fifteen degrees more on the side of comfort.”
On arriving at Macuto the boys were somewhat disappointed to find the greater part of the beach highway given over to drinking places and general stores, while the hotels were further up on the hills behind the sand.
“Can’t we go in bathing?” asked Sam. It was a sport he enjoyed exceedingly.
“Yes, there is a bathing spot, at the end of the highway,” answered the professor, and thither theymade their way. The bathing pavilion was built in the shape of a castle, standing in the water at the end of a long wharf.
The boys were soon inside, and each paid his medio for a bathroom and the use of a towel. They soon discovered that the men bathed in one place and the women in another, and that but few suits were used. But suits were to be had at an office in a corner of the building and they procured these and all went in, including the professor, who was an excellent swimmer.
“Tell you what, this is something like!” cried Sam, enthusiastically, as he splashed about and then scooped some water up over Frank’s head. “Come on, I’ll race you!”
“Done!” answered Frank, who was also a good swimmer, and in another moment the two lads were off, while a crowd, composed largely of natives, watched them.
There was not much danger, as the bathing spot is enclosed by rows of piling, over which the surf booms constantly. The water was warm and clean. The race was to the stone wall which divides the men’s space from that of the women’s and both reached the goal at the same time.
“A tie!” shouted Mark. “Better call it off,” and they did and went in for diving and plunging and “horse play” to their heart’s content. Even Hockley seemed to thaw out over the fun and joined in as readily as anybody.
After the bath the entire party paid a visit to several of the leading hotels, stopping at one for a shell-fish dinner which was as delicious as any they had ever eaten. At the hotel was a native orchestra playing operatic airs and popular songs. Seeing the Americans the leader started his men to playing what was then the popular song in New York. This pleased Mark and Frank, and when a collection was taken they did not forget to contribute.
“By Jove!” cried Hockley, as they were on the point of leaving the hotel. “It’s him!”
“Him? Who?” asked Mark, who stood beside the lank youth.
“Dan Markel. He just went into that store over yonder!”
“Then you had better tell the professor and have him arrested.”
“I will.”
Professor Strong was just settling their bill when Hockley acquainted him with what he had seen.
“To be sure, we must catch him,” he cried. “Lead the way.”
Hockley set off on a run, with the professor beside him, and the others bringing up the rear. Markel had entered abodega, or grocery, which were numerous in that particular vicinity.
Markel was buying something in the shop when, on glancing up, he saw Hockley rush in, followed by Professor Strong and the others. They all made directly for the fellow, who found himself surrounded almost before he realized it.
“Give me my watch and that money,” ejaculated Hockley, in quick rage, and caught the man from Baltimore by the sleeve.
“Hullo, what’s the matter?” demanded the man, trying to put on a bold front.
“I’ll show you what’s the matter,” blustered Hockley. “Give me the watch and money I say.”
“You must be crazy. I haven’t anything belonging to you.”
“And I say you have.”
“Hockley says that you robbed him while he was in your company last week,” put in Professor Strong. “I think you had better come with us to the police station.”
“The boy doesn’t tell the truth. He drank too much and got in a crowd, and when he came out his money and watch were gone. I had nothing to do with it.”
“I say it’s not so,” ejaculated Hockley, growing red at being exposed. “You sent for my valise and robbed that, too. I can prove you sent for it by the proprietor of the Hotel Ziroda.”
At this shot Dan Markel grew pale. He felt that he was cornered and that a visit to the police station would do much to prove his guilt. He had left the watch behind him, but he had Hockley’s money—or the larger portion of it—on his person, and he did not know but that some of the bills could be identified.
“It—it’s all a mistake,” he faltered.
“You come to the police station with us,” said Professor Strong, quietly but sternly.
Dan Markel looked around. There seemed no way of escape and his face fell.
“All right, I’ll go with you,” he said, although he had no such intention. “But let me tell you that you are making a big mistake, and that you’ll have a suit for damages on your hands.”
“I’ll risk the suit,” returned the professor, grimly.
All marched out of thebodega, much to the astonishment of the proprietor, who had not understood a word of what was said. On the corner they paused.
“There ought to be a policeman somewhere——” began Professor Strong, when without warning, Dan Markel tore himself loose and leaped into the street. Several carriages were passing and in a twinkling he had darted between these and was running for an alleyway not far distant.
“He’s running away!” burst out Hockley. “Come on after him!” And he started to follow, and so did the others. But the street was so crowded that it took several seconds to gain the other side, and by that time Markel was out of sight.
“I saw where he went,” said Mark. “Into the alley way. Come on, Hockley.”
“I’m with you,” was the answer, and both boys hurried on as fast as the condition of the thoroughfare would permit.
Dan Markel was thoroughly alarmed, for he felt that if he was captured Professor Strong would see to it that he was given a long term of imprisonment.
“They shan’t get me this trip,” he muttered to himself, and seeing a doorway open close at hand, darted through this, into a large warehouse. Fromthe entrance he made his way among a number of boxes and barrels to the rear. Beyond was another alleyway and he leaped into this. With all the speed left to him he managed in a few minutes to gain the boulevard where the carriages ran between Macuto and La Guayra. A vehicle containing only a couple of passengers was passing and he leaped into this.
“I wish to get to La Guayra as soon as possible,” he said to the driver. “An extra bolivar for you if you whip up your horses.”
“Si, señor,” was the answer, and the driver cracked his whip. Away went the turnout; and that was the last seen of Dan Markel for some time to come.