“Here, yes; but in America and in Hawaii, no. Our school system accounts for that—but here comes another man.”
All day the men booked, and when night came, word was given to get ready immediately as the boat sailed in three days.
Manuel and Gabriel stayed in town that night and were taken to the wharf to see the Suveric, the boat which was to take them to the Paradise of the Pacific.
The remaining days were ones of excitement and bustle. For the two friends, however, there was not much to do. No furniture was brought as they could get furniture cheaply in Honolulu.
“I am going to look at the old house once more before I go,” said Gabriel on the day the ship was to leave.
“Better not,” advised Manuel; “you might miss the boat.”
“There is no danger of that. The boat sails at five this evening and it is now three in the morning. All of my things are on board, so I shall have nothing to do when I come back.”
“Oh, don’t go,” said Maria; “the ship might go earlier than they say, and what would I do without you!”
“Don’t worry,” he said, “I want to put some fresh flowers on my parents’ graves, before I leave this island, never to return.”
She respected his sentiment and let him go without a murmur, but not without misgivings on both her and her father’s part.