A SHORT VOYAGE WESTWARD
Two days later found our friends on board a steamer bound for the Gulf
of Maracaibo. The weather was all that could be desired, and for the
most part all were in excellent spirits, the single exception being
Hockley, who still mourned the loss of his money and timepiece.
“It’s a shame we didn’t catch Dan Markel in Macuto,” said the lank
youth more than once. “I think we might have done it if the professor
hadn’t been so slow to act.”
“We did all we could,” had been Mark’s answer. “But that Markel is a
mighty slick one, and we’ll have to get up bright and early to corner
him.”
Although the others did not know it, Professor Strong had given Hockley
a severe lecture on the return to La Guayra, telling the youth of the
folly of associating with a man of Markel’s character, and of the
further foolishness of drinking and trying to be a so-called sport.
“You will ruin both your health and your character by such actions,”
the professor had said. “A young man who will act in that fashion shows
a lack of common sense. I want no more of it.” And though Hockley had
felt strongly inclined to “talk back” he had not had the courage to do
so.
The steamer sailing from La Guayra to the Gulf of Maracaibo made a stop
at Curaçao, so that little could be seen of the coast line between La
Guayra and Cape St. Roman, at the entrance to the gulf. The stop at
Willemstad was of short duration and nobody of the party went ashore.
Then the course was straight around the cape into the gulf, which is
nothing less than an inlet of the Caribbean Sea, seventy-five miles
deep and about twice as broad.
The Gulf and the Lake of Maracaibo are connected by an irregular strait
twenty miles long and five to ten miles wide. The lake itself is a
hundred miles long and three quarters that in width. It is very deep,
so that large vessels can sail on it almost from end to end. But big
vessels cannot get in or out because the strait is shallow and filled
with shifting bars of sand.
“What a picturesque spot,” was Sam’s comment, as the steamer made her
landing at Maracaibo, which is situated upon the strait. “And it looks
as if they did a big business here.”
“Yes, a very large business is done here,” answered Professor Strong.
“They export millions of pounds of coffee and cocoa each year, besides
hides, cotton, and other articles of commerce.”
They were soon ashore and took a trip on the street railways, which
stretch a dozen miles or more in various directions. On every side was
the greatest of activity, the wharves being as full of life as those at
New York city. There were electric lights and telephones the same as at
Caracas.
“They are up-to-date, that’s sure,” said Mark. “Anybody who comes down
here expecting to find a howling wilderness will have his eyes opened.”
“The country would progress even more rapidly were it not for many
things beyond human control,” returned the professor. “But the heat is
at times terrific and the fever lays many low, and then they have had
some awful earthquakes and tidal waves here.”
After the ride the party visited various public buildings and public
parks, with their statues of Bolivar, Guzman Blanco and other
celebrities.
“We are now in the State of Zulia,” said Professor Strong, “and not
over ninety miles from the eastern boundary of Colombia. This State
contains about 100,000 inhabitants, of which 30,000 live in this city.
A good deal of the trade you see here comes over the mountains from
Colombia on mule back. Several railroads are contemplated, and when
they are built Maracaibo will be one of the most important points for
shipping in the northern part of South America.”
The party stopped for two days at Maracaibo, visiting several towns in
the vicinity, which, however, were of small importance. On the second
day Frank proposed that they hire one of the native boats for a short
sail on the lake.
“Just so we can tell the folks at home that we sailed on Lake
Maracaibo,” he said.
“Hurrah, just the thing!” cried Sam. “I’d like that first rate.”
The others were equally enthusiastic, and soon a boat was procured,
something similar to a sloop, but with the sail running directly to the
masthead. A native was in charge who could speak a little English, and
he agreed to take them down the lake for a distance of a dozen miles
and bring them back early in the evening.
With a basket filled with good things procured at their hotel, the
party embarked at one of the long, low piers, and soon the mainsail was
set and they were speeding away over the clear waters of the lake at a
rate of seven knots an hour. The craft was a staunch built affair and
minded her helm to perfection.
“I see you know how to handle her,” said Mark, to the boatman, who
rejoiced in the name of Salvador.
“_Si, señor,_” was the answer. “I been a boatman since a little baby so
big,” and Salvador smiled broadly.
“What do you do with the boat, fish?”
“Fish when weather good, _señor_. When weather no good carry cocoa and
t’ings, or go to sleep.”
“Go to sleep is good,” laughed Frank. “That’s one thing everybody down
here seems able to do.”
Mark and Frank had purchased some fishing tackle in the town and as
they sailed they threw out lines behind for trolling. Salvador showed
them how to bait up to the best advantage and soon Mark found he had a
bite. He hauled in without delay and brought on deck a bass weighing
all of a pound and a half.
“First haul!” he shouted, highly pleased.
“Here is another,” cried Frank, and brought in an equally big fish. All
examined the catches with care but saw little difference from the fish
caught nearer home.
“Any electric eels here?” asked the professor of the boatman.
“I have heard of a few but I never see them, _señor_.”
“Electric eels?” repeated Hockley. “Do they come from Venezuela?”
“Yes, we’ll find them in the Orinoco, Hockley,--big ones too. We will
have to be careful when we go fishing there, unless we want to get a
shock.”
“Pooh! I’m not afraid of an eel,” returned the other. “I saw an
electric eel once, in an aquarium at Chicago, but he didn’t have much
electricity in him.”
“Then he must have been almost exhausted. A strong healthy electric eel
can give a man as much of a shock as anybody wants, I can assure you.”
Inside of two hours the boys had a string of ten good sized fish, and
then the professor told them they had better stop the sport as it
delayed the progress of the boat. So the lines were hauled in, after
which they progressed faster than ever. A stiff breeze was blowing and
the sky was cloudless.
“We couldn’t have a nicer day for this trip,” said Darry, and all
agreed with him.
Salvador knew of a beautiful grove on the shore of the lake, and to
this he directed their course. There was a little stretch of sand,
backed up by a grove of stately palms, and behind this some rocks and a
waterfall.
“Oh, if only I had my camera,” sighed Sam. He had brought along a
photographic outfit but unfortunately had left it at the hotel. The
rocks and the waterfall looked very inviting, and they took their
dinner in sight of the place but under the palms, for the sun was hot
in spite of the breeze.
After the meal some of the boys stretched out for a rest. Sam wished to
go swimming but at this the native boatman shook his head.
“No go here,” said Salvador. “Go in water, maybe git bit by crab. Bad
crab here.”
“Crabs?” said Sam. “I haven’t seen any.”
“Me show you,” returned the boatman and led the way along the sand.
Procuring a sharp stick, he walked along until he came to a round hole
close to the water’s edge. He thrust the stick into the hole. Instantly
came a scattering of sand and an ugly looking brown crab came into
view, hissing viciously and with his eyes bulging from their sockets.
Sam sprang back to get out of harm’s way but the crab leaped into the
lake and sank from sight.
“What an ugly beast!”
“Him more ugly if you stick toe in his hole,” grinned Salvador. “Maybe
him bite toe off.”
“I believe you,” and Sam gave a shudder. “A nice beach for swimming
truly!”
“The land crabs of South America are all more or less dangerous,” said
Professor Strong, who had watched proceedings from a distance. “Some of
them are poisonous and all will give you a nasty bite if they get the
chance. You must never bathe unless you feel certain there is nothing
around to harm you.”
It was not until half an hour later that they prepared to leave the
spot. Some clouds had come up and Salvador said he was afraid they
might be in for a blow before nightfall.
“I wouldn’t mind a little wind, just for the excitement,” said Frank.
“Yes, but we don’t want too much,” returned the professor. “They are
as liable to have squalls on Lake Maracaibo as they are on any of our
great lakes at home.”
“Do you think we’ll get a squall?” cried Hockley, in something of alarm.
“I trust not, Hockley. If it blows too heavily we’ll have to run in
shore somewhere until it is over.”
They were soon aboard the boat, the mainsail was hoisted, and away they
ran, in the direction of the town. The wind was so fresh that the spray
flew in all directions so that it was impossible to find a dry spot.
Hockley grumbled at this, but there seemed no help for it.
“As it is warm it won’t hurt you,” said Professor Strong. “As soon as
we reach the hotel I will see to it that all have dry clothing.”
An hour later found them out of sight of land and bowling along as
swiftly as ever. The sky was now growing darker, the sun having gone
behind a heavy bank of clouds. Presently the wind died out completely,
leaving the sail flapping idly.
“We’re getting a calm instead of a storm,” said Frank. “And just as we
were making such good time, too!”
“It’s the calm before the storm, Newton,” answered Professor Strong.
“We’ll get more wind than we want in half an hour.”