Jake threw himself on the ground, asking as he did so:
"Can you tell me how near we are to a sea-port? We have just landed from a pleasure yacht which was destroyed by fire, and haven't any idea where we are."
"You are now in Yucatan, and probably know perfectly well how near to the coast, for——"
"In Yucatan?" Jake repeated in surprise.
"Exactly, and not so very far from the famed Silver City of the Chan Santa Cruz Indians."
"That last information doesn't seem to be very important so far as we are concerned; but it does surprise me to know we are in this section of the country, for our captain was quite positive we should strike the coast of Cuba."
"Tell me how such a mistake was made."
"That is exactly what I don't know myself; but it won't take long to explain why we are here."
Then Jake told the story of the cruise in the Sea Dream, of the unaccountable conflagration, and the fatal landing on the coast, concluding by saying:
"As a matter of course we are most anxious to reach some place from which we can find a steamer or sailing vessel going to the United States. Probably you can give us the proper information, and by that means get rid of unexpected and, perhaps, unwelcome visitors."