“All right, heave ahead, my hearty, but don’t make it too long; I’ve got to get back and give them engines a good drink of oil.”
“Cuba is the largest of the West Indian Islands,” began Jack. “It is very mountainous, but possesses few rivers of any size. The coasts are said to be very bad. Long reefs run far out to sea.”
“Aye, aye, I’ve been aground on one of ’em on the old Ohio,” struck in Silas.
“I hope we’ll not get into any trouble of that kind,” said Tom.
“The island, which is 43,500 square miles in area, was discovered by Columbus in 1492. The Spanish occupation dates from a short period after that time. There have been numerous revolutions. In fact, the history of the island appears to be one of unrest; but since 1898, when the United States intervened and freed Cuba, there has been much less trouble. Still, as you know from the papers, there has been plenty of unrest from time to time.”
“Are there any wild animals there?” asked Tom, who liked hunting.
“Very few. Wild pigs and a few deer. There are boa constrictors, though, and large lizards of various kinds.”
“How about gold or silver?”
“Very little. Not enough to make it profitable to prospect or mine for either of them. There is plenty of iron, though, most of the mines being located near to Santiago, at the mouth of which harbor, as you know, Uncle Sam’s navy licked the Spaniards off the face of the map.”
“I wish the old Ohio could have been there,” sighed Silas; “she’d have shown how Yankees can fight. Well, thank you, lad, for your yarn. Now I’ll get below. Don’t forget you relieve me in a short time.”