“It hits me that way, Ken. I’ll admit though, I can’t figure out any logical reason he’d have for not wanting us to go on to find Appleby Corning.”
The conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Mr. Livingston. He reported that repairs on the sled boat should be completed in another hour or two. The delay, however, would put them a day behind in their schedule.
The Scout leader was inclined to brush aside Jack’s theory that Haredia and Ferd Baronni might have conspired together.
“I doubt it,” he replied. “Haredia is an irresponsible fellow with an ugly disposition. He took a dislike to our party and is being most uncooperative. I question though, that he and the company agent have any close connection.”
“Haredia tried to delay us by choosing the wrong passageway,” Jack pointed out.
“His attitude, I think, resulted from inefficiency. He was unwilling to admit a mistake.”
No more was said, for just then the boatman sauntered back from the plantation house. Mr. Livingston joined him and they returned together to the wharf.
Jack and Ken watched the repair work for awhile, but there was nothing they could do to help. The intense heat presently drove them to shade.
As they flicked mosquitoes, Mr. Ferendez, the genial plantation owner, came up with Warwick and Willie. The three struck up a friendly conversation.
“Mr. Ferendez has been telling us about Santa Marta,” Willie asserted, munching a banana. “He says it’s situated on a good harbor, and has weekly steamers to New York and New Orleans.”