WE LEAVE PANAMA
Well, the story is told, as you may easily guess.
Uncle Naboth and I ran up to Colon, and not liking that city took a
train across the isthmus to Panama, which we liked no better. The
half-caste Spaniards and natives are a miserable lot, and do not
compare either in intelligence or dignity with the isolated tribes
of the San Blas. Some day, however, when the great canal is built,
Americans will invade these parts in such numbers that the present
population will disappear.
It is a mistake to think the climate of Panama unhealthful. On the
uplands, both north and south of the depression where the canal zone is
established, it is as healthful as any tropical country in the world.
In the zone itself, which is ten miles wide, bad sanitation caused
by the carelessness of the French workmen used constantly to breed
fevers and disease. The Americans are now busily cleansing the Augean
stables and good sanitary conditions are rapidly being established. But
I will say this: that unless one has business in Panama he may readily
discover a more desirable location for a residence.
We soon returned to the wreck, which we preferred to the towns of
the isthmus, and there amused ourselves until the _Carmenia_ arrived
at Colon. Then her captain, an active and energetic young man named
Colton, took charge of the remains of the _Gladys H._ He had received
orders to remove the cargo, strip the wreck of all valuables and then
abandon her where she lay.
He brought his ship alongside with ease and as soon as he was in
charge and had given me a receipt, our people removed their personal
possessions and were rowed round to Colon, where a steamer was shortly
due that would carry us to New Orleans.
I kept an eye upon the forest for Moit, thinking he might appear to bid
us good-bye; but he did not. We warned Captain Colton not to land in
the San Blas country, but did not confide to him any part of our recent
remarkable experiences.
A few days later we caught the steamer and made a quick voyage across
the gulf. We reached Chelsea on the twelfth day of February, and were
warmly welcomed by my father, who reported the _Seagull_ nearing
completion.
The diamonds were sold for a surprising amount of money, because the
stones proved exceptionally large and perfect, and the proceeds were
equally divided between Ned Britton, Uncle Naboth and myself. We had
selected three good specimens of the “white pebbles” to sell for the
benefit of our faithful seamen, and the amount of prize money they
received from this source greatly delighted them. Nux and Bryonia would
never accept anything in the way of money at all. They said that they
belonged to Uncle Naboth and “Mars Sam,” and they knew very well that
whatever we had they were welcome to.
Neither Mr. Harlan nor his company ever blamed me for the loss of the
_Gladys H._ It was one of those fateful occurrences that mortal man is
powerless to control.
Transcriber’s Note:
The only known changes made to the original publication are as follows:
Page 27
“Of coure, Sam,” he replied _changed to_
“Of course, Sam,” he replied
Page 36
his shoes of shiney _changed to_
his shoes of shiny
Page 59
games of penocle under _changed to_
games of pinochle under
Page 94
one of the coveted “pebbles,” _changed to_
one of the coveted ‘pebbles,’
Page 102
I bequeathe to him my wealth _changed to_
I bequeath to him my wealth
Page 107
o’ diamon’s to rust under _changed to_
o’ di’monds to rust under
Page 159
daughter, with much cermony _changed to_
daughter, with much ceremony
Page 165
cannot run the macine _changed to_
cannot run the machine
Page 183
automobile with consumate skill _changed to_
automobile with consummate skill
Page 189
held it in place allowing it to _changed to_
held it in place allowed it to
Page 216
Nux was the best marksman of the two _changed to_
Nux was the better marksman of the two
Page 217
suffered in this catastrophy _changed to_
suffered in this catastrophe
Page 227
dwarf, or liliputian, or whatever he _changed to_
dwarf, or Lilliputian, or whatever he
Page 238
was a vast colonade _changed to_
was a vast colonnade
Page 259
gorgeous boquet of wild flowers _changed to_
gorgeous bouquet of wild flowers
Page 280
having doutbless been dragged _changed to_
having doubtless been dragged
Page 291
the royal princess?. _changed to_
the royal princess?
Page 292
face was palid _changed to_
face was pallid
Page 295
“What can they do” asked _changed to_
“What can they do?” asked