The Boy Chums in the Gulf of Mexico / or, On a Dangerous Cruise with the Greek Spongers

le robbed his word

," Charley repl

ols will not. My advice to you strangers is to keep out of places like this and not to mak

e was giving us some pointers about the sponge business.

r for this place. Lucky you haven't any of you drank your coffee yet. You'd be waking up in some alley bye-an

re do such a thing in broad dayl

after it happened, for there was always a dozen Greeks ready to go on the stand and swe

. As they passed through the crowd they could not help but notice the wrathful

learn about the sponge business that we forgot caution. Besides, one does not look for such tricks in a l

he little party with a closer scrutin

going into the sponge

heard tell of," answered Captain Westfield, cautiously, "but it's mi

of it. You are a pretty husky, determined-looking lot and would soon get on to the

d Charlie, modestly. "We are willing to take a few

a store over on the next street in the American section. Business is slack at this time of day and

an not give you exact figures but I know that all engaged in the business are making big money. All these big buildings you see have been built out of sponging, and they do not represent a hundredth part of the money made out of the business. There is an enormous amount sent back to Greece every month through the post-office and bank here. I know Greeks who landed h

him as he led the way along a soft

ral large buildings standing close to the

e each was a pile of rough sponges from which they were clipping the spoilt parts with great shearing shears. In

e looking at," Mr. Driver said, as he turned away.

the shore of a quiet little land-locked harbor, blazed dozens of small camp-fires over which sat great iron kettles. On pieces of canvas laid upon the ground were piles of fresh beef and mutton. Over each pile worked several Greeks cutt

t it in its own fat, put it into stone jars, and pour the fat over it. As soon as the fa

as it smells, it must be de

ousy. "Golly, I bet dey can't cook like dis nigger," he d

a hundred in number and were of all sizes and designs. They made a pretty sight lying gracefully close together in the little harbor. But the old sailor soon stro

turnin' out tight, neat seaworthy little crafts with no tools b

rmous depth for their size. True to their love for bright colors the Greeks had pai

, which inclined aft at an angle of f

st to be set that way," he declared

rry a big square sail, but most of them are equipped with engines also. They

lose at hand and the little party, full of curiosit

n wearing a marshal's badge was slipping a pair of handcuf

esting, passionately. "I'll go along with you without any trouble.

sed against you at your tr

, and work the schooner. It was a case of making them obey orders and get her off before the seas or lose my ship. I only wish I had shot more of them. T

s-an open mutiny, compelling him to shoot-but every Greek in his crew will go on the stand and swear that it was a c

ng to be a captain,"

dog's life, out alone for months with a gang that doesn't speak a word of English. As long as the captain is content to be a mere figurehead he can get along without serious trouble, but the minute he runs counte

in, as they turned to go. "Which of t

oftily on the water as a floating swan. The grace and beauty of exquisite lines marked her out from the man

e Captain. "I wish we owned her. I