though it was hardly daylight jack was up and dressed and on deck when the mexican pilot came aboard to take the yucatan into vera cruz. a filmy blue mist was rising from the broad surface of the harbor, making the white walled seaport seem like a dream city. dawn, like twilight, in the tropics is of brief duration, and the boy from new england scarcely had time to mark the fleeting changes of color along the eastern horizon before the sun came up, dispelling at once the lingering night mist. and with the coming of day the city and the harbor became alive. tiny sail boats put out and from wharves and jetties here and there puffing tugs made their appearance.
jack straw watched the scene with eager[41] interest. it was all so new and so very unlike what he had expected that he became thoroughly fascinated. off to the right he beheld the frowning walls of the old fortress and military prison of san juan de ulloa. he recalled stories he had heard of its dungeons where numberless horrible executions had taken place, and he wondered how many enemies of huerta lingered there at the present time. from this grim building he turned his attention to the city. the spires of the cathedral showed high above the housetops, and as jack caught sight of them there arose the most confused jargon of metallic sound that he had ever heard. it was as if a regiment of blacksmiths were beating on cracked anvils. he did not learn until he landed that these sounds emanated from the belfry of the cathedral and were caused by a group of bell ringers bent on calling the population to early mass.
in due time, after port inspectors, quarantine officers, and a host of other uniformed individuals had climbed aboard and inspected every one and everything in sight, the yucatan[42] was permitted to make her way slowly to the pringle line wharf.
jack, valise in hand, was among the first down the gang-plank, but he had hardly put foot on the dock before he was accosted by another uniformed attendant who spoke very poor english. the boy managed after a great deal of effort to understand that he was one of the customs inspectors and that he was about to make an examination of the contents of the valise. jack willingly unlocked the leather bag and permitted the swarthy searcher to tumble its contents about until he became convinced that the youth had nothing on which he could collect duty. but he did not seem satisfied. he looked at jack from head to heels, noting particularly each one of his pockets. then suddenly he pointed to where the leather wallet and drawing made the boy’s coat bulge slightly.
“what—ah—have. ah—you—ah—er—” he puzzled his brain to know how to finish the sentence in english. but finally becoming exasperated he tapped jack’s coat violently with his fingers.
[43]
“aqui! aqui! aqui!” (here! here! here!) he demanded. jack did not understand the spanish, but he knew that the leather wallet interested the inspector. he hesitated to produce it at first and tried to satisfy the dark-visaged little man by telling him that it was only a wallet. but the mexican would not be contented and in the end the boy had to reveal to him the contents of the yellow leather case. at the sight of the blue prints and sketches the native became thoroughly aroused. he tried to ask questions in english but became so very confused that he resorted to his native tongue and talked a perfect stream of spanish. and of course jack was unable to understand a word of it.
then the mexican beckoned the young american to follow him, pointing at the same time to a long low stone building near by which jack concluded was the custom house. together they hurried across the street, the inspector chattering so hard that jack’s protests were lost completely.
the man led the way through several rather poorly kept offices to the far end of the[44] building, where they entered what was evidently the room of the chief inspector of the port. an elderly and very dignified old gentleman was the sole occupant. he was seated at a desk in the far corner, but at their coming he arose and advanced to meet them. immediately the little inspector became thoroughly animated. he opened the wallet (upon which he had kept a firm grip since jack gave it to him) and spread the drawings on the table before his superior, talking very fast all the while. together the two mexicans examined each sketch, then finally the old man turned and spoke to jack.
“do you converse mexican?” he queried and jack shook his head.
the chief inspector clapped his hands twice, whereat a servant appeared, to disappear immediately upon receiving a few abrupt instructions. shortly after the servant entered again followed by a light-haired youth of about jack’s own age, and undoubtedly an american. the boy from vermont was decidedly pleased, but before he could speak the chief inspector addressed the newcomer,[45] pointing to the drawings and the wallet at the conclusion of his remarks.
“he wants to know what these drawings are,” said the interpreter; “he thinks that you are a spy in the employ of the revolutionists and that these papers are very important.”
“please tell him,” said jack with a smile, “that the drawings are valuable only to one person and he is the man who is making the electricity which lights president huerta’s palace and the streets of mexico city.”
there was a decided change in the attitude of both officials when this was translated for them. the chief inspector bowed and smiled most apologetically.
“so, se?or ryder. he is your friend?” he said; “he is a—” but he could get no further with his english, so he addressed the rest to the interpreter who imparted it to jack.
“he says that mr. ryder is a very wonderful man and that if you are his friend he is sorry that he detained you. you are free to go now,” said the american, and jack, after thanking the dignified old mexican, tucked the wallet into his pocket and left the office. in[46] the corridor of the building he was overtaken by the interpreter, who paused a moment to speak.
“my name is dave anson,” he said, “and if i can help you any, while you are in vera cruz, just let me know. i always like to help out a fellow countryman.”
“you have done a great deal for me already,” said jack, “for if it had not been for you i am afraid i would have found myself in a mighty unhappy position. i certainly am obliged to you.”
“oh, don’t mention it,” said anson, then in an undertone he added, “don’t let the old chap deceive you. i could see he was rather skeptical about what you said, but he is afraid to detain you any longer for fear you might have a little more pull than he has, so he let you go. don’t worry; you’ll be shadowed every minute that you are in vera cruz, so mind your actions. well, so long and good luck to you.” the two boys shook hands warmly and parted.
jack gave little thought to his recent experience after he left the custom house, for he had[47] a great deal to attend to. first of all he must find a banking house where he could get his american money exchanged for mexican currency. dr. moorland had given him the address of one of the few honest banking firms in vera cruz, and after a long search he located the place. he was very much surprised to find that for every one of his american dollars he received two mexican dollars in exchange. indeed, his capital was doubled and when he left the bank his trousers’ pockets and wallet were weighted down with huge silver coins. jack’s next object was to find the railroad terminal, and since an english speaking clerk had given him explicit directions as to its location he experienced little or no difficulty in finding the long low building with its dirty trainshed.
a great many of the railroad men in mexico above the grade of brakemen are americans and the young traveler had very little trouble at the station. he learned, however, that he had two hours to wait before the next train to the capital would be made up, and after buying[48] his ticket and making pullman reservations he checked his valise and started on a trip about the city.
through hot unshaded streets he wandered, peering into the curious little shops and watching with interest the swarthy people. finally he reached the broad plaza with its imposing cathedral, bandstand and line upon line of park benches. here he sat down to rest and watch a score of dirty, half-clad children playing on the sidewalk. they were apparently taking part in a game and jack tried very hard to understand the details of it. indeed he became so interested that he did not realize some one had taken the seat beside him until he felt a hand upon his arm.
“un centavo, se?or, un centavo,” pleaded a whining voice, and jack found himself accosted by a very ugly and dirty-looking mexican with a monstrous hat. though the lad did not understand his language he had little difficulty in guessing that the man was begging for money. eager to be quit of such an uncouth companion he took several small coins from his coat pocket and dropped them into[49] the beggar’s outstretched palm. but as he did so he looked up to find a man on a bench not far distant watching him closely.
he was rather well dressed when compared to others jack had noticed about the city, wearing an unusually large sombrero of much better texture than that of the beggar’s. the brim and band about the crown was embellished with indian beadwork which made it very picturesque. on being observed this man lowered his eyes and began to roll a black paper cigarette, nor did he look up again until jack left the bench and started across the plaza. however, he watched the lad’s movements from the corner of his eye until the vermonter turned toward the street that led to the railroad terminal. then he arose and followed at a distance.
