CHAPTER XX
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.”