“That will give Hockley a chance to see the coffee plantation and learn how coffee is raised,” said the professor. “I will go and bring him while you boys remain with Crane.”
“It’s queer Hockley hasn’t come along on his own account,” said Mark. “His friends must be off by this time.”
“I know of no steamer sailing to-day,” put in Enrique Morano, who stood near. “His friends must be going on some sailing vessel.”
“Have you a list of the sailings?” asked Professor Strong, quickly.
“Yes, in the newspaper of yesterday. Here it is.”
The professor took the paper and read the list with care. As Morano had said there was no sailing of any steamer. The sailing vessels to leave were two in number, one bound for Cape Town, South Africa and the other bound for Rio Janeiro, Brazil.
“I thought his friends were bound for Philadelphia,” mused Professor Strong, and said no more. But his eyes took on a speculative look as though he feared Hockley had not told the exact truth in the note which had been sent.
Dinner that evening was quite an elaborate affair and lasted fully an hour. When it was over, Enrique Morano insisted upon going into town with the professor.
“I am certain you boys can amuse yourselves while we are gone,” he said, to Mark and the others. “Make yourselves at home. There are books and a piano, and in the corner are several portfolios of pictures to look over.”
“All right, I guess we’ll put in the time pleasantly enough,” was Mark’s answer, and soon the two men were gone and the boys found themselves alone, excepting for the servants that remained within call to wait on them.