“No,” finished Mark. “Once was enough. Now we are all safe away from it, I never want to see the island of Martinique again.”
And the others agreed with him.
Let me add a few words more, and then we will bring to a close this tale of sight-seeing and adventures in the West Indies.
What Mr. Newton and Mr. Robertson had written in their letters concerning their injuries was true. Although painful, none of the burns were serious, and they were both doing as well as could be expected. In a few days each was able to walk a little, and inside of a month both were practically as well as ever.
For the time being all business in Martinique, and a good part of that in St. Vincent, came to a standstill, and this being so nothing could be done regarding the dyewood scheme the two gentlemen had had in mind. Consequently the pair returned to the United States at the first available opportunity.
“Take good care of yourselves in the future, boys,” said Mr. Robertson, on leaving.
“And let the active volcanoes alone,” added Mr. Newton.
And all of the party agreed to heed the advice.
During the time spent in St. Vincent the boys made one trip northward toward La Soufriere. But though they inspected the great volcano from a distance they took good care to keep out of the zone of fire.
“It’s a fearful spot,” said Mark. “Worse even than around Mont Pelee. It’s a regular Inferno on earth,” and the others said the same.