CHAPTER XXIV WE LEAVE PANAMA

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Well, the story is told, as you may easily guess.

Uncle Naboth and I ran up to Colon, and not liking that city took a train across the isthmus to Panama, which we liked no better. The half-caste Spaniards and natives are a miserable lot, and do not compare either in intelligence or dignity with the isolated tribes of the San Blas. Some day, however, when the great canal is built, Americans will invade these parts in such numbers that the present population will disappear.

It is a mistake to think the climate of Panama unhealthful. On the uplands, both north and south of the depression where the canal zone is established, it is as healthful as any tropical country in the world. In the zone itself, which is ten miles wide, bad sanitation caused by the carelessness of the French workmen used constantly to breed fevers and disease. The Americans are now busily cleansing the Augean stables and good sanitary conditions are rapidly being established. But I will say this: that unless one has business in Panama he may readily discover a more desirable location for a residence.

We soon returned to the wreck, which we preferred to the towns of the isthmus, and there amused ourselves until the Carmenia arrived at Colon. Then her captain, an active and energetic young man named Colton, took charge of the remains of the Gladys H. He had received orders to remove the cargo, strip the wreck of all valuables and then abandon her where she lay.

He brought his ship alongside with ease and as soon as he was in charge and had given me a receipt, our people removed their personal possessions and were rowed round to Colon, where a steamer was shortly due that would carry us to New Orleans.

I kept an eye upon the forest for Moit, thinking he might appear to bid us good-bye; but he did not. We warned Captain Colton not to land in the San Blas country, but did not confide to him any part of our recent remarkable experiences.

A few days later we caught the steamer and made a quick voyage across the gulf. We reached Chelsea on the twelfth day of February, and were warmly welcomed by my father, who reported the Seagull nearing completion.

The diamonds were sold for a surprising amount of money, because the stones proved exceptionally large and perfect, and the proceeds were equally divided between Ned Britton, Uncle Naboth and myself. We had selected three good specimens of the “white pebbles” to sell for the benefit of our faithful seamen, and the amount of prize money they received from this source greatly delighted them. Nux and Bryonia would never accept anything in the way of money at all. They said that they belonged to Uncle Naboth and “Mars Sam,” and they knew very well that whatever we had they were welcome to. Neither Mr. Harlan nor his company ever blamed me for the loss of the Gladys H. It was one of those fateful occurrences that mortal man is powerless to control.

Transcriber’s Note:

The only known changes made to the original publication are as follows:

    • Page 27
      “Of coure, Sam,” he replied changed to
      “Of course, Sam,” he replied
    • Page 36
      his shoes of shiney changed to
      his shoes of shiny
    • Page 59
      games of penocle under changed to
      games of pinochle under
    • Page 94
      one of the coveted “pebbles,” changed to
      one of the coveted ‘pebbles,’
    • Page 102
      I bequeathe to him my wealth changed to
      I bequeath to him my wealth
    • Page 107
      o’ diamon’s to rust under changed to
      o’ di’monds to rust under
    • Page 159
      daughter, with much cermony changed to
      daughter, with much ceremony
    • Page 165
      cannot run the macine changed to
      cannot run the machine
    • Page 183
      automobile with consumate skill changed to
      automobile with consummate skill
    • Page 189
      held it in place allowing it to changed to
      held it in place allowed it to
    • Page 216
      Nux was the best marksman of the two changed to
      Nux was the better marksman of the two
    • Page 217
      suffered in this catastrophy changed to
      suffered in this catastrophe
    • Page 227
      dwarf, or liliputian, or whatever he changed to
      dwarf, or Lilliputian, or whatever he
    • Page 238
      was a vast colonade changed to
      was a vast colonnade
    • Page 259
      gorgeous boquet of wild flowers changed to
      gorgeous bouquet of wild flowers
    • Page 280
      having doutbless been dragged changed to
      having doubtless been dragged
    • Page 291
      the royal princess?. changed to
      the royal princess?
    • Page 292
      face was palid changed to
      face was pallid
    • Page 295
      “What can they do” asked changed to
      “What can they do?” asked




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