CHAPTER XXIV

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