BATHING AT MACUTO
During the 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 here they 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 they made 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 a _bodega_, 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 the _bodega_, 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. From the 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.