“Doesn’t look much like America, though,” said Joe.
The exploration party reached the Empire with thirty minutes to spare, and they took chairs on deck to watch the busy dock below.
All too soon the whistle of leaving blew, and visitors scrambled down the gangplank. Then, with one long blast the ship slowly steamed out to sea, leaving Porto Rico behind.
At last they were on the final stretch. There would be no more stops till they reached South America. Then only short stays at Paramaribo and Cayenne, which were important seaport cities about two hundred miles apart.
“How long will it be until we again see land?” asked Bob, as he and the others sat on deck.
“Two days,” replied his father. “No doubt that they’ll seem like a long time, too.”
And they did. Bob and Joe were no more vexed than the others, however, for the men were also anxious to get started into the unknown. But when at last they did sight South America they forgot the past and looked into the future.
The boys, with their cameras in hand, were the first to reach the prow. They were closely followed by their fathers and the professor, who also crowded in for a first view.
At first, land was only a speck far out on the horizon. Then only gradually did it take on form and color.
“We’re nearing Paramaribo,” pronounced Mr. Holton, as he made out the outline of the city.