The letters received by Mark and Frank contained news of unusual interest to them. It was to the effect that Mr. Newton and Mr. Robertson had started for the West Indies on a trip combining business with pleasure. They intended to stop off at Kingston, Jamaica, and were then going to St. Pierre, Martinique, and to Kingstown, on the island of St. Vincent. The business was one connected with the importation of certain dyes and coloring matters which the dry goods importer was anxious to obtain.
“I wish we could meet them down here!” cried Frank, enthusiastically, when telling the others the news.
“Perhaps we’ll meet them at St. Pierre,” said the professor. “I had planned to take you down there after our trip overland to Ponce. You wanted to see an extinct volcano and there is a large one there called Mont Pelee, only a few miles from the city.”
“Just the thing!” burst out Mark. “Let us write letters at once and send them to St. Pierre, so our fathers will be sure to get them on their arrival.” And the letters were sent without delay.
Two days later found them on the ancient military road which runs from San Juan to Ponce. The direct distance from the principal seaport on the north to the capital city on the south is only forty-five miles, but the road is a winding one, running from village to village and town to town, and by this the journey becomes almost twice as long. At many points the way is exceedingly hilly, so that fast traveling, especially in the hot sun, is out of the question.
“We will take our time and make a week’s journey of it,” said the professor. “That will give us time to stop off at the various points of interest. We shall go through the towns of Rio Piedras, Guaynabo, Aguas Buenas, Caguas, Cayey, Aibonito, Coamo, Juan Diaz, and others, and we may as well take in all there is to see while we are at it.”
“I’d rather get down to Ponce and put in some time there,” grumbled Hockley. “I understand there is lots to see there.” He was anxious to have a “good time” on the money he had received.
“We will have plenty of time at Ponce to see all there is worth looking up,” answered Professor Strong.
The boys had begged to be allowed to make the journey on horseback, and the professor had consented, and obtained the necessary steeds from the best livery stable in San Juan. Darry wanted a lively animal but Amos Strong shook his head.
“You’ve had runaways enough,” he said. “We want to make this journey without accident.”